Alright, time to watch G Gundam’s second episode! I’m assured by my feed that the show actually takes a while to get good, but my feed is full of liars and filthy robot-likers, so I am not fooled by their conniving ways. G Gundam will have to live or die on its own merits, based on my stringent and robot-suspicious dramatic senses. PROVE YOURSELF, G GUNDAM!
Episode 2
Ooh, now this is actually interesting. Opening with some sort of event announcer actually explaining the concept of the Gundam Fight directly to the audience. Embracing the theatricality and artifice of this very absurd concept
Using the earth as an actual seat
Even the core elements of the narrative, like Domon searching for his father, are treated like the archetypal, larger-than-life story beats they are
And messing with the fourth wall in more ways, as Domon more or less hands his picture to the announcer. Like the main stage players are being introduced by the playwright
“Chibodee Crocket.” That sure is a Gundam name
And the announcer pulls off his eyepatch, revealing even that is artifice
Neo America seems like it’s doing okay
Alright, “Maxter” is a very American Gundam name
Interesting how this particularly absurd Gundam series is also the one messing around with real-life countries
New New York basically seems like a theme park of itself – all of the world has become something like Venice. There’s a wonderful inherent sadness here
Also him being announced in a football stadium is very appropriate
And then we cut to the run-down streets
“Guess he went up to the Colonies and fulfilled his dream.” Here, the “American dream” is actually leaving America and the earth altogether. America is now the place people escape from
“Neo Italy.” Yeah, I figured the first country was Italy. Kind of a shame it got knocked out so quickly
Chibodee’s opponent gets knocked out!
It’s a good thing no one’s noticed Domon isn’t black
Using the fame of the people’s champion for as long as he’s useful
Domon, you can’t just punch someone before the match starts
If you want to challenge him to a Gundam Fight, you could just send a letter or something
Man this show has cheap animation
“I have challenged you to a Gundam Fight! NO TAKE BACKS!”
This episode actually moves a lot faster than the first one. Definitely an improvement
Interesting that America is the second episode opponent
Looks like Domon sustained some damage
The atmosphere of this Brooklyn Bridge encounter is pretty solid, too. Less flat direction than the first episode
Saved by the long-suffering ladyfriend
“All of my dreams… this is where it all began.”
“During those lonely days when no one could help me, my only consolation was my main character hair”
Ah, it’s the American Colony that looks like a tourist attraction. While the genuine article has fallen into disrepair
“And I’ll do it with these fists!” montage of Chibodee doing things with his fists
Interesting sequence of Rain approaching through disjointed shots. Much more dynamic visual storytelling this episode
Starting a Gundam Fight on the field of a giant stadium seems… unwise
I like how basically the defining feature of America here is the disconnect between its everyman heroes and its bureaucratic overseers
Hiding your Gundam in the Statue of Liberty is a good way to remember where you put it
I appreciate that we’re probably going to get that Domon butt shot every single episode
G Gundam basically turns its giant robot activations into magical girl transformations
Hah. His Gundam basically has boxing gloves
Punching his fist with your fist. The manliest way to fight
These fights just… aren’t exciting at all? Domon just wins with Manly Spirit every time, and there’s nothing of interest tactically, dramatically, or visually. It’s almost like… these are made for people who just want to see giant robots???
Chibodee, a man of the people
“I WILL BE BACK”
“Chibodee Crocket… NICE GUY”
And that does it! That episode was actually a great deal better than the first one, though this still seems extremely not my kind of thing. Straightforward hot-blooded masculinity just doesn’t do anything for me, and neither do giant robots for their own sake, so this one was pretty much destined to miss me. Not much you can do!
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