"Mobile Suit Gundam 00" on Sci Fi's Ani-Monday Series Talkback (Spoilers)

It seems Wing-like now, but we're only into the first 2 episodes. I'm sure further on we might see it develop its own distinct style. Early thoughts are fine, but let's not make unshakeable bold statements just yet.
 
I think people feel more anger towarRAB Nena's actions becuase the Trinity siblings make a pretense of being heroes, or at least morally superior people, while their actions have shown them to be anything but that. Ali on the other hand really has no pretenses; he's a bad man and he's not hiding it from anyone. An honest villain seems to be more acceptable to people then a false hero.

I will say that while I am no fan of Team Trinity, I put more blame on whoever gave them Gundams in the first place. Giving a bunch of teenagers who are clearly mentally unstable superweapons, and then telling said teenagers to go wild with them is an outright invitation for disaster. (As if that was not obvious.)
 
No, but we are talking about science fiction. There are other possibilities: Mental conditioning, cybernetic implants, alien parasites, she doesn't know its reality, possessed by Cthluhu, mental instability due to extraordinary means...

Ok, some are far fetched than others. But you can't deny that something is unusual about the Trinities. No background, custom Mobile Suits, unusual behavior, unknown origins, shadowy coverups... all classic signs that something is not what it appears to be. Something weird is going on.
 
Well, it's not like Gundam doesn't profit off of giving unstable people Gundam weapons of doom.

Still more personality than the last two "Trinities"
 
This makes me LOL, since he was one of my favorite characters too since he seems to be the only one in this show who is not a main character and can totally back up his awesomeness with his MS.

You know what I just realized is not fair? Gundam 00's first season is only 25 episodes. That's an odd nuraber so, unless Sci-Fi does something to change the schedule or Bandai decides to put the show on hiatus for a while, that means that the second part will come on in the same hour as the first.

We sub-watchers had to watch CG: R2 the whole time while waiting for this and you guys get the gooRAB first? Not cool.

(so is anyone else a total Sumeragi fanboy now? http://randomc.animeblogger.net/image/Gundam%2000/Gundam%2000%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2021.jpg)
 
I think it will go on hiatus, though I have no idea where they are at in dubbing. If it actually keeps going on TV I'll be very impressed, considering that they'll actually be dubbing it even while season 2 is still airing in Japan. That would be even faster than the turnaround for Code Geass R2.
 
I'll admit, I haven't see the sub, but I might check this series out tonight, to see what all the hype's about. I've watched Gundam shows on Toonami in the past, so seeing one on regular TV again in the US seems pretty neat. I'm also familiar with quite a few of the VAs, especially Brad Swaile. I hope he does a good job.
 
I think this is drastically off the mark. First off, who's let Ali off the hook? He is a self-centered monster that will happily do anything if the price is right. He indoctrinated child Setsuna and his compatriots to kill their parents and commit terrorism under the pretense that God wanted them to. His is a twisted personality whose foundation can't possibly be traced back to something so broad as gender. How could such behavior be considered "expected" based on that by anyone? I think Grenzer is basically on the mark, but I'd add that nobody would go and say "gosh, that Ali guy is actually not such a terrible villain."

Likewise, outrage at Nena has nothing to do with her supposedly breaking her gender role. It has to do with the fact that she indiscrimately murdered civilians, and moreover did so out of spite and seemingly for her own amusement. The fact that the attack comes out of nowhere and involves Louise and Saji also, yes, does add to the shock value of the whole thing.

Also, if you don't think the series has been serious up until this point, I'll have to adamantly disagree. Obviously the show is entertainment, but from day one it's been tackling various issues amiRABt all the action scenes. It's presented CB's ideology while also showing critical views of it and portraying how the Gundams' actions have affected the world. It's gone out of its way to show that Celestial Being has many good and bad elements, with the Thrones now being established as a very, very bad group. This both elevates the Gundam Meisters as heroes and yet casts the righteousness of their organization's cause in doubt. It's an impressive duality, really. You also have several subplots tying into very troubling issues, such as genetic engineering gone awry (Alleujah and Soma) and especially terrorism (Setsuna's past, Lockon losing his family, the entire Azadistan story). I mean, lord, between Azadistan and Alleujah taking out the super soldier facility, this series was supposed to be lacking in tragedy before now? Forgive me if I don't subscribe to that notion!

I think it's fair to say that issues have been raised that should be taken seriously. To reiterate, it is entertainment, but ultimately this doesn't say much. Every series has different merits and intentions, and it's on those specific terms that it should be judged.
 
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