Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

[mitchermitcher]

STONE COLD MIKA

 

Kudelia's gotten to me this episode. Yep I like her. And she has a good amount of porn fanart up already. Hell, not just her, it really feels like a lot of the cast's becoming more memorable this episode. 

 

I really expected some sorta twist at the end of the episode where it turns out Mika shot blanks or something, but nope, STONE COLD.

[Maeriberii Haan]

If you look at the OP during the group shot + Barbatos, you'll notice that Barbatos have the green Graze shoulder pad it salvaged in the previous episode, which it does have in today's episode.

 

Details like this are sweet as hell. Can't wait for how Barbatos will look like later on.

 

Also appreciation for pile bunkers in gundam. sheet's amazing.

 

https://my.mixtape.moe/gwfohe.webm

[mitchermitcher]

Little attention to details like this make me happy.

 

[spoiler=TTGL-related spoiler]Yesterday I had a sudden realization. Kamina named their group Dai-Gurren, wore shades, was shirtless, rebellious, and died. Orga named their group Tekkadan, has his hair as shades, is shirtless, and rebellious. He's sooooooooooooooooo dead. God. Would be quite a twist if instead, Mika was the decoy protagonist and died.

 

[Maeriberii Haan]

Little attention to details like this make me happy.

 

[spoiler=TTGL-related spoiler]Yesterday I had a sudden realization. Kamina named their group Dai-Gurren, wore shades, was shirtless, rebellious, and died. Orga named their group Tekkadan, has his hair as shades, is shirtless, and rebellious. He's sooooooooooooooooo dead. God. Would be quite a twist if instead, Mika was the decoy protagonist and died.

 

 

[spoiler=Reply]

if mika died, inb4 today's minor moment of Kudelia asking about the surgery actually end up being important in the future when she replaced mika.

 

that'd be ridiculously weird but awesome.

 

though orga def has raised a lot of his dead flags

 

[mitchermitcher]

I would give a lot, A LOT, to see Kudelia pilot shirtless but then chances are there'd be piloting suits by the time that could happen ;_;. And Kudelia becoming a pilot feels weird, like it's not really a hime thing to do.

 

I actually don't really like that Orga made Mika do the shooting in the base rebellion part. It's like Orga's too scared to pull the trigger himself or something. It's a good glimpse into his inner character and I suppose that makes me more excited for the eventual separation of the two.

[Maeriberii Haan]

What I like about the Mika- Orga relation so far is how while it looks like Orga's the one ordering Mika around, he never really forces him to. He pretty much said that if Mika said no then he won't do it. Yeah, it does paint another shade to this. It does look like Orga wouldn't be at where he is alone, and he's actually dependent on Mika.

 

[spoiler=So...]

It really does have a lot of parallel to Simon and Kamina if this interpretation is correct. Kamina was never really feel that he's capable of doing much but puts his bravado as a front while he guides Simon. Though unlike Simon, Mika's not unsure on himself. He's...kinda hard to describe. He's a walking contradiction, as Orga said himself.

 

He's a doormat but extremely independent and carries his own values. He's a stone cold killer but is quite sentimental in actuality, as shown when he puts the lucky charms Atra made behind him before he executes Crank then sniffing it afterwards. And such, and such.

 

 

 

I like where this is going.

[BANZAI!!!!]

[spoiler=In response to the above]I don't see Orga as Kamina at all. Mika isn't in Orga's shadow and Orga certainly isn't trying to build Mikazuki up in any way. They're not equals, but they have a tremendous amount of respect for one another. Orga doesn't order, he asks, and Mika responds in the affirmative without question. From where i'm sitting, all signs point to them separating in some way, be it emotionally, physically (I'm predicting one of them may end up being a turncoat), or perhaps both. Their relationship is close, familial even, but the way the show has framed it so far tells me that there's something not exactly healthy about it. Mika shooting people at Orga's behest is not normal. 

 

 

As far as the episode is concerned, I'm officially 100% sold on this show. I really like the cast, and now that we've got the opening arc out of the way, things should start becoming a bit more interesting.

[Maeriberii Haan]

 

A breather episode, but definitely not lacking in plot development. Also the two bishies finally get more screentime.

 

Also STONE COLD Mikazuki returns.

[mitchermitcher]

ORRRRPHAAAAAAANS NAMIDAAAAAAAAAAA

 

Yep, liking the two Bishies. Fareed and the blue-haired whathisface. It was really nice to see them meet Mika this episode. Can't imagine their next meeting to be quite as...diplomatic as this one.

 

The animation/art quality in this episode's kinda low at places. Please tell me it's just the usual episode 4 tradition instead of going even lower as the show goes on.

 

It felt kinda weird to see Mika opening up to Kudelia, or him being as normal as he was this episode. Except for the STONE COLD moment, that was more expected. The guy's funked up in the head somewhere, damn.

 

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW SHOWS SPACE BATTLES. ITS TIME FOR SPACE

[Maeriberii Haan]

Yeah, they seem to be saving their budget for the next episode or something.

 

Then again, since it's a full-on breather episode after the intense first three episodes, it's understandable if they use it as a moment to cut back on budget.

[mitchermitcher]

Look at this cute bundle of QUALITY.
 

No but really, even when badly drawn she's cute af. Can't decide between her and Kudelia's hair.

[mitchermitcher]

 

It's out if any of you guys are gonna watch it now.

[Maeriberii Haan]

Oh god, Mikazuki being badass, Akihiro appearing in the nick of time and piloting the graze skillfully (without Alana-Vijyana!), Orga's crazy plan, Eugene being eugene, and lol what they did to Todo.

Also oh god they put in so much work on the opening. And they even pretty much do the 08th MS team in where they keep on changing Barbatos's parts since they just don't have the proper ones.

 

And see, Biscuit and Orga had known that Todo's a scum, though they didn't even bother telling the rest of the group first.

[mitchermitcher]

 

Lo and behold, it's out. By far my favorite episode. It's a breather episode again but this time it feels like we've been given a perspective into a lot of things. Seeing Mika deciding to learn language was pretty great but more importantly, the insight into Orga's character was gold. Frankly speaking i don't see Orga betraying anymore but instead, him slowly failing to keep up with Mika's expectations. In a sense, he and Mika are exactly like Kamina and Simon, but at the same time it's more like the exact opposite. It's pretty great. Just when I was starting to think Mika was taking up too much of the spotlight for Orga, we get this episode.

 

And well, I guess this Maruba guy might turn out to be a future ally?

[Maeriberii Haan]

 

Time to raise your flag again.

 

Man, this is intense.

[mitchermitcher]

What's going on? The previous episode was a great breather and this one's really exciting. Looks like we're on an upward slope of amazingness again.

 

I kinda like the new crew. Female pilots, and the twintail one's cute. Real cute. I can see some decent potential for great interactions between her and Mika. And the Turbine guy's pretty alright. Guy's smooth af. The guy clearly understands the value of GUTS. And speaking of guts, that maneuver had me on the edge of my seat. The OST certainly helped but the directing really did convey the energy of that. The maneuver from the other episode was also really COOL, looking forward to more of these in the future.

 

Kudelia's hairdo is OP. Kudeliabutt is OP too. DAT KUDELIA ATRA HANDHOLDING IS OP AS sheet, DAMN. funk WE EVEN GOT SOME BRO HAND HOLDING FOR SOME REASON AND I DIG IT.

[mitchermitcher]

Kinda a breather episode but I liked this one a lot too. The FAMILY theme this ep is real nice. Truly, iron-blooded orphans. Orga da true MVP this time. I swear to god he's really rising in the cuteness charts this week. Supposing Tekkadan does become a subsidiary of Teiwaz though, how long will they stay that way?(Because naturally at some point they'll defect and make their own place in the world, right?)

 

Naze is so based it's not even funny. Guy has his battleship harem, is chill as funk, has style, and is full of understanding. Better be careful or else even I'll fall for him. I do wonder if this means the Mika x the new pilot girl ship has already sunk though.

 

And hnnnnnnng the black gundam in the preview~

 

and also Barbatos's attachment~

 

[Maeriberii Haan]

Naze's going to die so hard.

 

he's raising all the death flags.

 

Orga too, but man, it's really nice to see him act uncool like here.

[The Amazing Avian]

I'm disappointed in the lack of bro hugs in this series.

[mitchermitcher]

oh the hugs will come, they will come alright

 

we've had a decent amount of bro handshaking after all. hugs are but a step away

[mitchermitcher]

 

It's out.

 

I absolutely adore the theme of family that this show seems to really be embracing. It pains my heart to imagine the day we get a traitor to the family.

 

I feel baited. The Orga blush was from the hangover. And the black Gundam was just Barbatos without the armor.

 

Kudelia giving Fumitan the necklace feels like a forebode of worse things to come. Which of the two will kick it first? And I love Kudelia's costume in this episode. She seems to get a lot of costumes in the show and I'm very glad for that.

 

And holy sheet is that a flashback I see in the episode preview. Is that Shota Mika? Yesssssssssss.

[mitchermitcher]

 

Merrybit Stapleton is a 10/10 name. And is definitely going to die later on after capturing Orga's affections.

 

f***, the entire episode is full of death flags. Legit thought Akihiro was going to kick it but then Mika saves the day, that smooth bastard. But he's still totally gonna die at some point. And Takaki too. And Biscuit. Or maybe Okada's just playing around with death flags and won't actually kill anyone but that would be kinda boring so I hope not. Please don't die, but at the same tie, please die eventually, some of you.

 

Current!Atra looks as young as she was in the flashback. Guess that's what malnutrition does to your growth, damn.

 

Next episode's titled Human Debris so chances are Akihiro's going to die and Takaki's going to take his place. And Akihiro's brother is totally going to appear later on in the series as a jaded villain and will probably stay that way until he has a heart to heart with Takaki and then change sides and die the same episode. I'M CALLING IT. I'M OKADA IN DISGUISE.

 

EDIT:  WHOOPS NEVER MIND. IS THAT AKIHIRO'S BROTHER IN THE PREVIEW

[Maeriberii Haan]

 

underrated gif of the episode.

 

dat Naze smugface and Mika flatface

[Maeriberii Haan]

 

Ouch.

[mitchermitcher]

Okada's first(or well, second) victim! I suppose that played out the way it was expected. It was either him or the older brother. And the debris kids from the other side talking about rebirth was a sweet scene, which only made it hurt more.

 

Jesus, Mika gets a homeboxed lunch made by his wives, guy's living the dream.

 

That hammer is ridiculously OP and I'm kinda glad we had some opposition that's a genuine threat.