I Have Opinions on Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (PART 1)

[@aoto8897]

WfM homely lacks many things that makes a Gundam, a Gundam. 1. It doesn’t have an actual big War, only small conflicts. 2. It has no real big mobile armor fight (a mobile armor that can destroy a town/city). 3. The masked figure (the mom) doesn’t fight the protagonist in a mobile suit fight. 4. The story ends in an unsatisfying way. All the antagonists are redeemed, and no one faces any consequences, and somehow it all just ends in a happy ending. 5. The main character doesn’t develop much (but that’s not a new thing in Gundam), Sulleta remains the same throughout the series, and the only change she goes through is go from a good girl who listens to her mom to a girl who disobeys her mom. Also her love story with Miorine barely develops, and we barely see them spend time together. They just feel together for the sake of the plot. 6. No world-building (we don’t even see Mercury) 7. Rushed story with so many unexplained stuff. And the ending eliminated any possibility for a sequel.

[@natebuilds]

I completely agree. I find WFM to be an extremely forgettable entry in the series. I wish they gave it a full 50 episodes, I think it would have so much more room to be developed and fleshed out.

[@animefanservice5364]

Good review, but I do believe you are wrong on something. Miorine did NOT force Suletta into a courtship. This was not her intention, She verbally told Suletta to stay out of it but Suletta did not listen. This is WHY Miorine took Aerial herself, she did not want Suletta to get involved. Miorine wanted to fight her own battle herself. Again, Miorine clearly did not want Suletta to be involved. AND mind you Miorine had said by the greenhouse how her fiance is chosen by whoever wins. Suletta heard this, even reacted in shock, but didn't realize about the "prize" until after she won. As for episode 2, Miorine had an escape plan and was going to go through with it. Between finally going to earth, or save Suletta and Aerial she chose to save Suletta. Why? Maybe it's because Suletta was the only person to treat her like an actual human being and stuck up for her. Miorine did NOT have to go save her, but she did. Also ever since Episode 1 when Suletta told Miorine that Aerial is family to her, notice how in dire circumstances Miorine mentions saving "Suletta and Aerial" not just Suletta. She cares for Aerial because Suletta said she was family and she knows if Aerial was scrapped it would destroy Suletta. Miorine is very selfless and a lot of people don't notice/miss these small details that mean a lot to her character. Edit: I am excited for seaosn 2 and seeing how their relationship develops, even after that great finale. I would love for them to leave the subtext and commit to the bit when it develops even more. As a lesbian who loves these two a lot it would mean so much to me, and other people as well. I really like these two a lot, and I'm hoping they BOTH survive in the end, and Suletta finally breaks free from the puppet strings Prospera has on her. I really like the writing and pacing of the show, and I'm looking forward to S2.

[@sixwingproductions]

i agree, their relationship is way better than hollywood's in your face being gay is my entire character way of representation. doing that only portrays queer people as sexualy obsessed nymphomaniacs, the only western good portrail ive seen was officer west in thw rookie where he was gay but it was no different than the relationsips of the straight characters not the end all be all of his character. and i feel like making it subtext more just shows in the universe of this show it's not a big deal and somewhat normal so no need to make a big show of it.

[@mayajade6198]

I definitely get the hesitance and suspicion towards the show. I'll be honest, I felt the same way going into this video. "Don't be another dumbass who says the romantic angle 'came out of nowhere after ten episodes of setting them up as friends.'" That kind of paranoia is endemic to folks like us, I think. Always having to be on edge, watching for any clues we can pick up on to figure out whether or not someone or somewhere is safe for us, and that attitude ends up invading everything we do, even the media we watch for enjoyment. I think it's clear that Witch From Mercury wouldn't be half as successful as it is if it weren't for the fans getting so invested in the relationship of its two leads. The animation, music, and mech fights are beautiful, but all anyone actually talks about with this show is Suletta and Miorine. They carry the show, and I hope Sunrise knows that their relationship is what people are here for, and that we came here because we thought they might give us something no one else would. I picked up Witch From Mercury because for the first time in a long time it felt like there was a Gundam show that was made for _me._ Not just made for boys to sell model kits where other audiences are merely _allowed_ to watch too, but one that said to me, "what you want matters, and we think it's worth giving it to you." Also this show has Utena, Shakepeare, witches and occult symbolism, idiot lesbians, and giant robots who are also cute girls. You can't tell me this show wasn't made for me specifically.

[@EmpReb]

"I think it's clear that Witch From Mercury wouldn't be half as successful...." That's where your wrong. Witch is defiantly different but if they Did a Modern version of wing with twist that would sold like hot cakes. What Mercury had to do, since the prologue was defiantly Gundam, was keep the old fans from getting too left out to hang while trying it's new twist but by episode 12 we just ended up where we always do in gundam at this point: A reason for the war and the hero MC accepting he or she is the pilot of the Gundam now to matter what. Or in other Gundam shows will fight no matter watch. Cour 2 is gonna be nuts. I think we heading somewhere IBO or victory at this rate.

[@branchygiraffe]

I like how it sets up the change in mood a lot more and it’s so much more sudden, in something like zeta our characters dragged into the conflict right off the bat but the setup of the normal school life makes the change into the dark stuff a lot more jarring and effective imo

[@RobinTaters]

yeah Suletas kill switch getting flicked like that was kinda brilliantly jarring

[@echs457]

I think the jarring aspect of it works in quite the opposite way. anyone who's seen a gundam show saw it coming from a mile away, and the newbies seem to be turned off by it. They did a poor job at setting us up for it by only giving us two main characters to genuinely care about in this situation. That's mediocre writing at best. We have no reason to care about it because there are no stakes. who is at risk of dying? no one except mirorine really. Grunts die, but those don't really count because they're grunts and this isn't about them. and most of the characters we've spent time with can fuck off at any time without being missed. Guel's father didn't have enough of a relationship with him for his death to be meaningful. We know suletta isn't going to be hurt because they told us the gundam got upgraded already.

[@mayajade6198]

@@echs457 Death isn't the only stake a story can have. Most of the talk I've seen isn't worried about whether Suletta or Miorine will _die,_ it's about whether they'll be _okay_ when it's all over. If their relationship will survive. That's what the show is about, after all. Their relationship.

[@echs457]

@Maya Jade you are correct, death is not the only stake. However, it does add a bigger one too it. But to elaborate on your point more, we still didn't spend enough time with them to care about them as a duo (platonically). Just the individual. Idk if I said it here, but with the way the show went, we know for certain that suletta will be fine. And she ultimately is. Miorine? Not as much. And that's because she's a much deeper character she has more to lose than suletta. If her dad dies, then what? What does that make her? Does she inherit his position or is she just a normal civilian now?

[@frankspick7544]

@@echs457 actually i think isn't has a big stake you make it out to be its but more of the cheep way to it.

[@zeonicdude3514]

That cliffhanger was beautiful, thank you. Make a lot of good points and well made as always. Can't wait for the next vid!

[@OBCDeeznutz]

Really well said on all points. I personally loved the back and forth aspect of "aw, wholesome lesbians and funny pink haired lady punching the crap out of someone" to the heart sinking monotoned singing of "happy....birthday..." from Elon Clone, to the absolute jaw drop of that final end credit scene. CanNOT wait for part 2!

[@psycojester]

Taken in a vacuum I think the relationship between our leads is progressing at a plot appropriate pace. But media doesn't exist in a vacuum and I don't fucking trust any corporate entity to take an actual stand as opposed to following a profit motivation al la Disney's 'representation'.

[@alifnajmi2595]

anime has been doing it in a decent way I guess,. There's an entire ensemble of good yuri and yaoi throughout the ages so I personally have no trust issues when this kind of topic came into light. People are scared cuz their tired of those BS Western "representation" cartoons. If you wanna make a representation in a piece of media, just make sure that it is well-written and make sense.

[@darrowgreen6367]

I'd say give them time, they haven't really known each other for that long.

[@sadierobotics]

Lot's of great points! Just wanted to point out that Miorinne doesn't need Suletta for her escape plan. Mio had her chance to escape to Earth in Episode 2, and decided to stay with Suletta instead. Also Suletta had had lots of ways out offered to her by Mio and others. If nothing else she could have simply lost a duel if she wanted out of the marriage.

[@soulsurvivor8293]

The key aspect here I think is being overlooked is that the marriage arrangment is forced. Both on Mio buy also onto Suletta by proxy as well. Suletta simply stood up for Mio when no one else would, in the the only way Suletta could with confidence. As this early on in the show, Suletta clearly has no confidence in anything but piloting, her MS/surrogate sister Areial and her Mother. By episode 11-12 Suletta has regained and strengthened her confidence & trust in Mio, and vice versa. This was ofcourse after having lost all her condifidence & trust in others, including Mio, that they had built up over the whole season. After Elan's sudden personality change, learning that her Mother lied to her to convince her that Areial is not a Gundam, her facing the harsh reality of real combat & death and finally how Mio is reacting to her having to "Suletta Spalatta" some dude to save Mio & her father; Suletta may very well lose confidence in her perception of reality, trust in others and her sense of mortality altogether. Suletta's 180⁰ from completely understandable traumatised panic attack upon seeing her own Mother kill someone; To hardened veteran killer pilot and giggly goofball klutz, slipping in the blood she had shed is creepily foreboding. It indicates something deeper is clearly amiss with her Mother and Suletta's own psyche in general. Forced marriage arrangement and the character's jokingly referencing their 'engagment' aside, their relationship is barely entered a stage of being close friends. Built on a foundation of a sort of mutual protection from the machinations & whims of the Adults in power and open hostility from their childern as fellow students. It's clearly developed into a close friendship of mutual trust and genuine desire for eachothers wellbeing. Definitely doesn't rule out developing into a romantic relationship, however it's clearly no where near that stage yet. They barely know eachother, it's great to see them forge such a deeply meaningful connection with one another in the brief time they have. It is clear that both do at leaat appear to be amicable to potentially developing their close bond into a romantic relationship. Mio obviously openly being accepting of any potential romantic grouping, regardless of gender or sexuality, isn't definitive proof that she herself identifies as such. It is however encouraging that it's only Suletta that she truely opens up to, responds to and engages with honesty emotionally. Meanwhile Suletta's sheltered upbringing being devoid of contact with other children, with only elders around her, and only having very old & outdated media for reference of 'School life'; It's understandable that she reacted the way she did initially. Even the sudden and odd proposal from Guel made Suletta react in a similar manner. Indicating that Suletta is slightly immature, clearly inexperienced and very embarrassed by open & direct romantic interactions. She is still interesting in dating but obviously feels it should be a slower & more intimately private process. Suletta seem's to want to become genuinely close to her friends. More so with any potential romantic partners, at least before doing anything more than dating that is. Obviously she is basing this off of her own limited knowledge and forementioned sheltered upbringing. There is a reason Suletta has difficulty with anything that isn't piloting Areial, her whole life has been almost nothing but piloting Areial. Just because Suletta initially had outdated & stylised preconceptions of all human interactions, not just romantic relationships, doesn't mean she isn't able to change them when presented with reality. She has demonstrated that she is clearly a thoughtful person who is able take in and reflect on challenges to those preconceptions. She is highly reciprocal to Mio's trust, vulnerability and emotional attachment to her. It's quite likely that Suletta would eventually become equally reciprocal if Mio began to be more romantic towards Suletta. Besides her mother and sister Areial, Suletta has developed the closest and most intimate bond with Mio after all. Which would make Mio the most grounded and narratively consistent basis for Suletta to form a romantic relationship with. At least more than any other character in the show thus far, given how Suletta's character development process works by challenging her misconceptions. Mecha combat, greater plot threads and many more setbacks or misunderstandings will occur obviously. I would expect a slow build up to it, if it ever actually eventuates at all. Much to the disappointment of "Mioetta" shipper's, there is a main story with other related character & narrative aspects in which that their friendship and potential romantic relationship exists. Not to mention the inevitable escalation of Mobile Suit combat and intergalactic intrigues to behold.

[@riblo72]

I tried so hard to watch WfM but the ending result was that i hat this series. I hate the characters, i hate thd story, i hate the mechas. This is the Gundam series i hate the most together with G Gundam.

[@chaoaretasty]

I'm very interested in seeing a follow up video on this I feel they've done an amazing job with it in the second cour.

[@TheKnight11563]

I personally am of the vein that if the dream couple were to remain throughout the series and lead to them being together, it needs to be done in a way that isn't really too outspoken or made such a big deal about. Let them love normally as humans, and have others accept their love as two people wanting to be with each other. The moment you start tacking on the blatant 'Yes audience, we made the girls kiss and love each other' moments, it becomes disingenuous. It becomes a social requirement that is getting checked off so people don't find it as a reason to complain about the story direction. The more natural and unembelished it feels, the better.

[@Peasham]

You can describe any scene of lesbian couples like that. You can describe multiple scenes in WFM like that. Meaningless standard.

[@Ash_Yu]

@Peasham I agree. Their comment doesn't really amount to anything other than "It's only fine if I can ignore it." Why should the main characters' romance never be made a big deal of? That's a ridiculous standard to try and force on media. Are they just supposed to gloss over the wedding?

[@BadGunpla1]

That’s not what they’re saying at all. They’re saying “let the couple BE a couple without caveats”. That’s what normalizing means.

[@Ash_Yu]

@Badgunpla since when is being "outspoken" or "a big deal" caveats? Weren't you literally just saying in this video there needs to be LESS subtext? Sure there are shows that draw awkward focus to their gay couple for the meta attention. But that's NOT the problem either WfM nor Sunrise are known for. It doesnt make sense to tell an already quite quite to stay quiet. Also if we want queer couples to be normalized than this relationship will HAVE to get a lot more attention eventually, because they're still engaged with every intent of following through with it, and it's already been mentioned that the wedding will happen around Miorine's 17th birthday. Not addressing and focusing on their romantic feelings by then would be the huge disservice, not some "girls kiss" scene.

[@Peasham]

@@Ash_Yu I like how they demand gay media never show any scenes of affection between women, but never apply that standard to straight media.

[@bradhorowitz2765]

An really cool video! A few words: 1)as a newcomer to gundam I’m surprised by how BIG the series is. The more I learn about gundam, the more I’m impressed by it. So no, don’t APOLOGIZE for getting political. LITERALLY that is what gundam IS. I hate it how a common criticism against speaking any media with politics, when depending on the media, that’s counter to what the product is trying to convey. Gundam may be a lucrative way to sell toys to impressionable boys, BUT if that was it-then the audience wouldn’t care much. It’s a series that has allusions to economics, war, adulthood, etc. and it makes sense in retrospective as much of the modern Japanese anime is rooted in some form of trying to come to terms with world war 2. 2)you are correct on how the subtext is really good for a show that again, is thought of nothing to be be more than a way to sell toys in the minds of many. As a Star Wars fan that has had to deal with the prequels and sequels-I can how say that it’s insane that gundam mercury can make me predict/understand what the characters are thinking without much words (seriously that prologue and that happy birthday moment) while a franchise that has billions of dollars can’t. 3)I think Mercury is going to to do that relationship. Why? Well because already this show broke ground by giving a girl the lead role in a gundam series. Hell, if we were gonna dive further-it already has so many women DOING what a typical robot anime would have the guys doing. In fact by my count, most of the PROMINENT men so far aren’t exactly good ppl-they are more of obstacles to the main characters. . And the cool thing is that this is all played for normal-no one questions the roles shown (except for the toxic fanboys). And the moments between our heroes are def pointing to romance-but it’s gonna take time. I mean both are kids, they have their own issues to work out, and one of them jsut flattened a guy without remorse lol. The show is giving us a slow burn (which is more real than I feel tv shows tend to do) and that will make it alll the more exciting to see how the story goes.

[@BroBomba]

"In fact by my count, most of the PROMINENT men so far aren’t exactly good ppl-they are more of obstacles to the main characters" Unfortunately, this is what makes the show difficult for me. I'm fine with a lesbian lead, i'm not fine with being made to feel the bad guy for no reason nor will I support it, and this is a seemingly all too common concept for Yuri/Lesbian content, that men are bad or are worth less than their female counter parts. The only decent men in WfM are either minor characters, dead, or have had to undergo a grueling self improvement arc that the woman have not. Its gross, and I am not afraid to call it out nor is it toxic fanboyism to do so. It's not hard to create media that makes everyone feel wanted and represented.

[@soulezwan266]

i like this series for the pov it, like watching ae view in uc timeline.

[@da1t0u]

I'd love to see your take on the next part.

[@Canes2311]

Great video man

[@sixwingproductions]

i disagree i think we need more subtext in relationships in general. this sort of non overt subtext building to them finnaly overtly confess their feelings is quite normal in anime especialy romance ones. queer or straight being to on the nose about it almost always turns into they are gay and that is their entire character that is why i prefer anime lgbtq relationships of western televsions and movies potrales of these relationships. also them growing closer from a forced paring to genuenly loving eachother is a thing the characters would struggle with. men and women in straight relationships sometimes struggle figuring out weather the love them as a good friend or romanticaly, so why would a queer couple be any different. not to mention they are teenagers meaning they are still learning to navigatet heses sorts of feelings, and both characters social issues from how their parents raised them to forward the parent's ends and not the child's well being. to be honest being over the top explicit about their feeling for one another would be out of character. this same subtext type thing is currently being used in the angle next door spoils me rotten, where it is obvious the two love each other but are afraid making an overt move would push the other away.

[@gantarat1]

Okouchi just did Utena LN that retelling of some event of the show.

[@TheLongHairedFellow]

Looking forward to part 2 and a revisit when cour 2 wraps.

[@echs457]

season*

[@Lemonblue182]

I just want my lesbians to smooch on screen.

[@MJRLHobbyStuff]

Right!!!

[@LatencyProblem]

Give the people what they want, Sunrise!!

[@khoelindawati6716]

Yeah I'm kinda sorry but that is what Gundam is give you a high expectations for the plot but then Just did a 180 for plot wise

[@TOMA-dx1fy]

There’s a chance

[@gamingrex2930]

not going to happen with Japanese tv shows, go look for fanart or doujins

[@Mr.Beanyuwu]

I really didnt see the series as, building up a couple relationship; it was more of a "these girls get to know each other". Infact, I only saw the chance of a posibility between them moment Suletta gave Miore the keychain in episode 11, that can be the beging of something good! Until Suletta did the warcrime thing in the next episode. Thats the begining of a deep Slowerburn GOOD A03 fic, something in the edge of "I kinda love you but you terrify me in X or Y sense" I hope they make something good

[@maxwellrobertson4831]

A comment for Jason, terri-bad gundam plastic models to see on stream? Edit: probably not, anyway, excellent video. Can barely wait for part 2 (but I can, and I will)

[@xavierrodriguez8994]

The show is pretty, but also pretty shallow especially by Gundam standards.

[@scottbrennan8044]

Solid analysis as always. Appreciate you!

[@thelemon5069]

Literally the best gundam series I've seen honestly I don't get the hate. I've watched them all since the original and I just love this one more that all of them. High up there with Hathaway and unicorn honestly just ignore people complain about whatever they hell they want *woke* to mean. Critical thinking skills are really thin lately for many it seems and they boil so much down to the most basic of points. The shows great. If you do honestly not like it. There's like 28 other series lol.

[@haihuynh8772]

@LordMunchkin The big problem is people mistaking "takes place in a school" with "school drama". Like the sole interpersonal conflict with nothing to do with the underlying political and class conflicts is Renee's beef with Lilique.

[@DonMenelo]

I thought the series ended on an lovely note, you could see the rings and subtle flirting. The relationship between Suleta, Mio and the other guys was also handled really well, but bandai decided to backtrack on their decision after FREAKS, yes FREAKS not "Allies", FREAKS started sending the staff death threats and such after they didn't get their "big gay wedding" and many other things. Remember, this is not a netflix show it is a show from a country that is mostly stuck in the past and bandai for all I care pulled it off in a masterful way, I was grinning all through the epilogue of the last episode, but it was not enough for "the mob", so "fuck subtleties I guess, and let's decanonize the ending just to be safe" approach from sunrise was justified imo. You don't want another rabid freak repeating the Kyo Ani situation don't we. There are more informed vid's on this topic, but i think my point still stands. idk, im drunk atm and it pissed me off that sunrise bent their ass to freaks on twitter i guess. The show itself was as much gundam as gundam can be gundam. 7/10.

[@elnaoya9274]

Got a sub. Really interesting insights.

[@lightningbw4711]

First! Though jokes aside this was a really good video and I look forward to part 2 and the mess that is episode 12

[@AativeNmericanGuy]

?

[@jordinhocharles]

This show sucked… I’ll never watch anything from this timeline. It’s like Build and build is terrible

[@thesalvadorianwarrior798]

That is pretty interesting to hear about Texas and yet, just like Cyberpunk, people are willing to make fun of California. But I understand, any state, is anyone’s home. And to be comfortable in your home, safety takes priority. With that said, I hope change comes to Texas. And when it does, I’ll start praising Whataburger. As for Witch of Mercury, I think it’s good and I agree, they need to commit. We don’t need a Revolutionary girl moment where they don’t say it until the movie happened. I just think Mercury’s “wife” is a brat who knows nothing of the world. But I’ll wait and hold that opinion on your next video. Keep up the good content. Until next time.

[@QuBeeni]

Man idk why but u seem like a real nice dude. You give off the nice vibes

[@joshmarshall7610]

did... Did we watch the same anime? I mean, really? Having watched the entiretiy of season 1 at least three times, I can't agree with you... Ok, let's asume Sluetta is hetero (as her first interaction would suggest), but she is willing to furgo her beiliefs in order for the duel based marriage to be the norm. throughout the anime, Sluetta, exibits both the moral fortitude and the emotional aspect to show she is (not gay nor straight, WANTS TO BE LOVED) that's the true context of the story. Love has no persona, it only exists. The fact that the main characters are both female is irelivant, and I would say the same thing if both of the characters were male, female, or any combination of which. It's not a story of gays or straights. It's a story of the sins of the father (or Mother) being the sins of the child. I totally agree at first she is being manipulated into being the "groom", but her personal beliefs are soon cast aside, because she actually cares for Miorine, and as episode 12 depicts Miorine cares for her as well. The series is more about revenge and the way children can become pawns for such than it is about lesbians. etc. I really think you missed the mark.

[@mmmghool]

church

[@comradegunpla]

Great review. Queer baiting is definitely pretty rampant in anime these days, draw you in with not-so-subtle "hints" and kind of curb stomps you by turning them completely straight a few episodes later, I think WFM is a step forward but still not exactly all the way there as the story kind of feels like it forgets about Suletta and Miorine's relationship throughout most of the middle of this season, but that might be due to the short amount of time and the large amount of sub plots they had to squeeze in (as well as a whole 20 gunplas they have to sell, so they had to introduce all of them). Still think the show is going towards the right direction. Hopefully they focus on some of the stories a bit more in season 2.

[@comradegunpla]

And yeah, fellow Texan as well, definitely a shame that the state makes creating hell for queer people a priority while half of us just lost power a few days ago. Sick and tired of all the culture war wedge issues.

[@Peasham]

I mean, the middle of the season is spent on Mio sacrificing her life's goal so as to save Suletta and Aerial, I'd say that's pretty gay.

[@comradegunpla]

​@@Peasham Yeah, that's why I don't think the series is queer baiting, but even the scenarios you talked about were just like 2 episodes, the obstacle course one and the company forming one. Miorine was mostly not there for a lot of the story, like the entire Elan plot.

[@Peasham]

@@comradegunpla I mean, in terms of the plot Mio starting GUND inc is basically the entirety of the school plot from episode 7 (I think that's when the fund raising party was?) onwards, so every episode focusing on GUND is inherently an episode focusing on their relationship, cuz it's a product exclusively of their relationship. The only episode where I wanna say their relationship is negligent is in episode 3 with Guel's rematch

[@rifqigamantito2057]

huh now, so in s2 there 2 way bandai will settle, either sulleta end up with miorine and stay true to the contex in s1 gave, or they will start make story focusing on guel feeling on sulleta and become potential couple, or they will using gundam ibo as example where sulleta will get both miorine and guel. are shadiq still not letting his felling toward mio, or he just see her as pawn for his way to dismantle cathedral. i my self not really care about romance and stuff, whoever sulleta end up with, i still enjoy good mecha design, and fight scene.

[@greenelmo7678]

Nah actions speak louder than words let them act gay as they already are and not beat the audience's head with a stick "eeyoo its gay rep fr fr". They already normalized queer relations in the show if they do what you want it would just be the equivalent of a hetero couple proclaiming their straightness.

[@colonelcockroach1461]

Why does this guy sound like Type V3?

[@Coolio_Ash]

To be honest gundam has always been a little. You know.

[@haihuynh8772]

There's a reason Charmuro exists.

[@madmalkavian3857]

I'm going to bring this up cause people who talk about queer representing in gundam hasn't seem to brought up. Iron blooded orphans had an openly gay character. While most brought it up as strange in the scene by most characters the presumably straight character that the gay character had a crush on simply thought it was neat that people like that existed.

[@BadGunpla1]

They did, which was good to see. I actually meant to bring it up at one point in this video, since I wish that that interaction wasn’t just a throwaway side piece in the show for feels points.

[@Peasham]

What presumably straight character did he have a crush on, exactly? They were both gay as shit. Not to mention, Atra and Kudelia are in a lesbian marriage at the end of the show.

[@jesusbarrera6916]

@@Peasham which both things made no sense... they never explicitly stated them to be gay or even into each other. Atra and KUdelia was worse since there is noit a single hint of them even being romantically involved

[@Peasham]

@@jesusbarrera6916 Shino literally goes on a rant about how cool men are after finding out that Yamagi likes him romantically. Atra and Kudelia have a subtextual relationship, sure, but it's still a relationship which you can notice if you pay attention

[@jesusbarrera6916]

@Peasham the only thing Atra and Kudelia had in common is how much they wanted to suck Mika's D.... it was one of the worst parts of the show Shina was the most stereotypical gymnro you would find in a character, obviously he thinks men are cool... and only at the time of dead would you think he and Yamagi would be anything, and it's still never told directly Romance was one of the worst things about IBO besides that downright awful 2nd season, you cannot bring me up that excuse Nobody would card about witch from Mars had it not been a pure YURI bait show to get the yuri baiters who would never watch Gundam LGBT is only but a trope to be used in Japan... hence the insane amount of yuri baiting and dessertic amount of actual GOOD yaoi representation

[@muthesquirrel]

Hmm... I don't agree that their relationship build should be treated differently BECAUSE it's gay. If anything, the problem with media is that it usually DOES treat it differently because it's gay. We're watching a normal, budding relationship. Most people in the LGBTQ+ community would say they would like their relationship to be treated as normal. They don't need a huge spot light on them every time two girls or two boys kiss. We're about to see them torn apart, this is Gundam after all and falling in love never ends well. Them actually confirming their love is ganna happen after a big fight at the very least, not in the first 12 of what will likely be 50 episodes. Cos they are ganna prolly end up as reluctant enemies for a while at least.

[@Peasham]

The vast majority of Gundam series end with the main character and their love interest together in a romantic relationship and in no Gundam series has the main couple ever become enemies.

[@muthesquirrel]

​@@Peasham Usually they're not as well developed and they fall in love very fast, but there are plently of battle crossed lovers in Gundam. There are plenty of protags that haven't gotten the girl either. The most obvious being OG Amuro.

[@Peasham]

@@muthesquirrel I'm talking about their main love interest, not their side love interest. Kamille's main love interest wasn't Four, it was Fa, and they got tons of development and had a perfectly happy ending, same with F91, Victory, G, Seed, 08th, I could go on. The only main love interest that has ever actually fought against the main character has been Lalah and she's one of the incredibly rare few that the main character hasn't ended up with, and considering Unicorn even that's debatable.

[@muthesquirrel]

@@Peasham Ah yes... the perfectly happy ending of Z. As we saw in ZZ, they were just... so happy together. xD jk. 08th is an example of battle crossed from the start, with the main issue being manipulation by a 3rd party. I dunno why you think it has to be EXACTLY the same situation. Gundam has a history of putting love through the wringer regardless of who ends up with who. Alternately I could see Suletta dying by getting absorbed ala Narrative and Mio ending up her pilot. That's never been done before, but it'd still fit the feel of Gundam.

[@Peasham]

@@muthesquirrel Uh. Yeah, they were happy together. What are you even trying to imply? Like. Yes, they're 100% happy, one of the happiest endings to a couple in Gundam. And no, 08th is an example of a couple entirely stopping being battle crossed after they fall in love. I'm not thinking anything, you're the one whose argument is that this shit could happen in G Witch because it's happened "plenty" of times when you can only name one instance lmao

[@DisconnectHack]

You guys worry too much, this show is going to be so radical when it concludes it is going to transcend sexuality. Then you can complain about it being too much. 😊

[@sidez81]

WOOOO TEXAS!!!

[@sariaeinz5128]

Good very good gundam

[@RafeLaet]

I mean IBO had an Polyamorous bisexual relationship mostly front and center... I think in the end they will be gay but somebody is gonna end up dead... Like what also happened in IBO with Yamagi and Shino.

[@Peasham]

Wasn't really front and center considering the showrunners couldn't confirm within the show that Atra and Kudelia ended up a couple and had to do it in an interview. Regardless, aside from IBO and 0079 there have been no Gundams shows where the MC or their main love interest actually die. Not to mention, Japan disliked IBO, they are not going that route lmao

[@skylordianandy2644]

Opinions?! We can't have those! Canceled!

[@crono7772]

Thanks, I never realized how much subtext I take as text. I viewed Suletta as demi and Miorine pan. It's kind of a problem how relationships ans interests are not explicit. This also goes for tiger and bunny... The relationships for the new season have been too ambiguous. I assumed queer but they Grey friendships...

[@wych5605]

I can't wait for part 2 to come out in two years, also you should play azur lane owo

[@machinismus]

Part 2 is coming out in like two months lol.

[@vali69]

@@machinismus bro probably doesn't know that nowadays anime usually releases in 2 cours that have a break in between. For this one we have part one released in the fall season, then a break for the winter season and then we'll get part two for the spring season. This sort of release schedule started becoming a trend right after IBO ended, around 2016 to 2017, around when season 3 of tokyo ghoul dropped and also season 3 of attack on titan.

[@LetsChat]

As an asexual, I kinda respect how the show handeled the romance without having to have the two girls drool over each other. It was the best rep i could have possibly asked for lmao

[@MrYjgh]

this was the most based and historically correct gundam gwitch video ive ever seen. chud tourists begone. (didnt YAS say char gave ass to climb up the zeon ranks? lol)

[@crusan0145]

Im sorry but this "queer relationship" is just taking focus away from the more interesting parts of the anime and i personally dont enjoy it..at all

[@retnemmoc101]

As an anime WfM is better than average. As a Gundam fan though, I was disappointed. Mobile suits only really got shown in mostly low stakes "school duels" a la Build fighters until the very end when we got teased but ultimately blue balled (mostly) and there was a distinct lack of large scale (space) battles. I feel WfM could've been better if it wasn't Gundam. Contrast this with Gundam the Origin: would've been great on its own, even better because it's Gundam.

[@bocatt9202]

In an ideal scenario, a series should start with low stakes and have somewhere to go up from there. Not every show can be TTGL levels of nonsense. Starting with duels where death is almost entirely out of the question is a great starting point since you can see characters stumble and fail and not have the plot collapse because of it. Then later on, you amp it up, raise the stakes, and because you've seen characters fail, you don't know if they'll succeed or not when all the chips are down. If creates tension and investment and honestly, realism. We saw Suletta "lose" against the Shaddiq harem and basically only pulled out a W because of some on-the-fly strategy and dumb luck. Those kinds of moments will come back to haunt the viewers when things go from bad to worse in a situation where mortal peril is on the line.

[@Peasham]

Every single duel in WFM has more stakes than the vast majority of Gundam battles. Every single one, with zero exaggeration, has flipped the political landscape of the series on its head one after the other. Shit that takes other Gundams a season WFM does in an episode lmao.

[@retnemmoc101]

@@Peasham Did we watch the same show? None of the barebones politics was changed at all. Neither Elnan nor Shaddiq were all that affected by their losses. Rembrandt Sr.'s position wasn't shaken either. Only the Jeturks were affected, but they were on the lowest rungs other than the "holder" position- which the others clearly could've taken any time they wanted. What exactly about the landscape then, was "flipped"? You're seriously telling me that the show where characters have to raise external bets in order to have any stakes at all - including one where the protagonist has the leeway to bet her gundam in return for just an apology - somehow has higher stakes than other series where the stakes includes death at minimum?

[@davecallahan9804]

P r o m o s m 👇

[@AWACS_Eagle_Eye]

I think Sunrise kinda ruined Suletta and Miorine's relationship when they had Suletta slap a guy into tomato paste with Gundam Aerial.

[@barmutah]

I just watched the prologue and than the first episode and than nope not for me than stop watching, it's simple if it's of your taste than don't watch it keep it for your self. I think this series will become that series that overpraise by many but also heated by some even tho in reality it's just another gundam series. The one thing that i hate is how hard it is to get hg aerial at first and how ridiculous after market price is or at least in my country

[@Den-lt8ot]

There all gonna die

[@rayzeckz4573]

Can we get over the lgbtq stuff? After epidode 1, we knew both miorine n suletta are not lesbians. It happened because of miorine circumstances. The story is now more on the secrets of suletta/ariel origin, the goals/objective of those corporations

[@BadGunpla1]

No

[@derezade5343]

Damn, you’re dumb as hell. Willful ignorance is an extremely powerful drug, huh? Did we even watch the same show you indomitable clown?

[@Peasham]

Ah yes, I too break down over my best friend being fine with me going on dates with other people, with said best friend then begging me to stay with her forever. Totally platonic.

[@tsiboukamary6714]

Although it's been already officially established that this show is about them, their intertwined destinies and their relationship? And i am not saying what you mentioned is NOT important, but all these things will happen ιin a parallel manner.

[@danielestrada3621]

@rayzeckz4573 LETS GO I was scrolling down the comments to find one like this. Bros hitting the copium a little too hard. Get used to it we're here, we're queer and coming for your gundams.

[@nikoazure5235]

So we can't write lesbians people as normal people got it

[@Peasham]

????????

[@AKImeru]

I watched episode 0, loved it. Then I watched episode 1, hated it. Dropped the show right there, let's see if your video convinces me to pick it up.

[@AKImeru]

All right watched the video and yeah it did not convince me. In fact, your gripes were also my gripes. I saw them coming a mile away on episode 1. I also think most characters were tropey. I also find your praise a bit weird? "Gundam witch from mercury has facial expressions!" yeah and so any competent anime. I'd argue the lack of emotion displayed on characters is to be chastized and refused, the bare minimum really. Anyhow I think it had a cool setting but it decided to create the most boring, 'marketable anime' thing to house the setting on the 'high school with mecha duels' setting. Not my cup of tea, if you enjoyed more power to you. Seems the gunpla and mecha design for the show is pretty great.

[@BadGunpla1]

It’s very good. It’s one of the few shows that benefits from a slow burn.

[@Peasham]

I can't believe I found the real life "wow cool robot" guy

[@gundam5281]

@@Peasham Literally It's just sad.

[@themalaysiandude3903]

@@Peasham came for wow robot got trauma and yuri instead 10/10

[@chasen0436]

I really just hate how the LGBT community is treated nowadays, and, well, I guess kinda how “demonized” they are

[@BadGunpla1]

It’s getting better. Progress is slow, but the hate fueled minority is smaller than when I was a kid. Unfortunately, the death rattle of outdated views is always very loud.

[@chasen0436]

@@BadGunpla1 I highly agree, the fact that certain states are banning it is a load of bull

[@BadGunpla1]

Banning it is a stretch, but if we don’t speak up now, that’s the road we’ll be on a decade from now. I gave some specific examples in the vid. And even if the darkest of darkest timelines came to pass, good luck enforcing it. A lot would need undone for it to go that far. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be diligent though :)

[@randokun6430]

char and amuro queer coded?! man yall see the gay in everything huh

[@Peasham]

Tomino literally confirmed that himself

[@janelletaboada6673]

Tomino himself said in an interview that if no one was writing gay content of these two then he failed as a writer.

[@randokun6430]

Sources a website something google ain't turning anything up

[@trishahernz7809]

He said they’re pretty much gay since Zeta.😊

[@Kserdo]

My opinion on the show is , as unpopular as it is , that it's main plot starts way to slowly , and that Sulettas writing until last few episodes was ok at best.

[@vali69]

I think they purposefully refrained from giving away too much about Sulleta and her background, only dropping a few hints here and there that there might be something eff-d up going on in the background, solely to hit us in face, just like Chuchu's punch, in the last episode with a crazy scene/cliffhanger and to remind us that this is in fact a gundam show.

[@Kserdo]

@@vali69 I don't mean that she is underdeveloped, I mean that she is just not interesting at best , and annoying at worst

[@vali69]

@@Kserdo oh, I mean that's more of a personal preference thing tho. I personally like the way they wrote her, all dorky and childish. I think she fits in well in all the plotlines the show has and with all those other characters.

[@Kserdo]

@@vali69 Opinions , You have one , I have one , the more subjective it is , the less it matters , so yeah. Also Aerial is too OP for it's own good

[@vali69]

@@Kserdo exactly. Also yes, Aerial is the first gundam introduced in the show and it already has funnels, or I guess the gun bits, and on top of that they turn into a shield, almost like Unicorn's shield except it splits into a bunch of gun drones instead of having 2 machine guns attached to it. So it already has armament that's equal or maybe beyond that of the ultimate mobile suit of the uc timeline and it's just the first main mobile suit. Now I wonder what other gimmicks did they add with it's rebuild. And this is besides the fact that there's still the unconfirmed theory that the protagonist of the prequel, Eri, is inside the gundam similar to the pilot of the Phenex. Since there are a bunch of clues and insinuation here and there that maybe the Aerial and it's gun bits each have the consciousness of a personal inside of them and the Aerial has that of Eri since it could easily have absorbed her after the prequel battle, again, similar to the Phenex and I guess both Amuro and Char. And since Sulleta is 17 but the prequel events happened 21 years into the past meaning Eri should have been 25 but she's no where to be seen. But yeah, wild theories aside, the Aerial is really op lol.

[@celisbenton-vy2kf]

Idk can't get into this Gundam it's not it for me

[@geetee3201]

How I felt for most of season 1 until the last few episodes

[@mr.jamrob4505]

Wfm mercury is just average at best compared to the average anime The best thing it has is bob the builder memes and the potential for sulleta becoming a temporary main antagonist

[@YamiYaiba]

Out of all the topics you covered in this, there's one subject I feel the need to address in an otherwise cogent analysis and presentation of this series: your absolute butchering of the Japanese language. Why the heck do you pronounce Miorine (mee-oh-ree-nay) as Miorin (mee-oh-ryn) when you can literally hear it pronounced correctly dozens of times in the show?!? Onee (oh-nay) is sister. Onii (oh-nee) is brother. You pronounced it as brother when describing a masculine-presenting character referring to themselves as "sister", unintentionally misgendering in the very sentence you discuss their gender use. Ibaraki (ee-bah-rah-kee). Japanese vowels always have the same sound, unlike in English where 'a' can be used like 500 different ways. A - ah E - ay (like A if you were saying your ABCs) I - ee O - oh U - oo So when you see "ai" it's said like "ah-ee". "Ei" would be "ay-ee". Etc etc etc. I beg of you. Please. PLEASE. If nothing else, in Part 2, please pronounce Miorine's name correctly.

[@iknowitall2331]

Suletta is one of the most annoying main characters I’ve ever seen.

[@bcatbb2896]

the show performed so poorly that it got canned did it not?

[@BadGunpla1]

No? It was one of the most popular anime in Japan last season? Ongoing COVID-related production issues split the season in two, but even saving that, it’s not uncommon shows to split seasons these days. See AoT.

[@Peasham]

They literally cannot produce enough Gunpla of Aerial to keep up with demand lmfao

[@gerogyzurkov2259]

It's literally been spelled out from Bandai themselves that Gundam WFM Aerial has been their most popular in Gundam's entire history.

[@U.C.1180]

Yeah no. In other words he wants Bandai to do what is going on in American media and cram sexuality down our throats. It is not needed for them to be explicitly saying we are gay. Their chemistry works well as it is. I will go as far as saying that it is the most natural relationship in the Gundam universe. I don’t have an issue with lgbtq representation in media, it makes it feel more real. But the minute they explicitly make character gay, straight, left, or right loses my interest and you should be enjoying the series for what it is and not what you think it should be. You want that go to marvel or DC because they are more than happy to completely rewrite a character’s backstory to make you happy.

[@haihuynh8772]

Spoken like a privileged white male.

[@Peasham]

So you hate the vast majority of media including Gundam since the vast majority of Gundam series explicitly confirm the sexuality of their characters.

[@U.C.1180]

@@Peasham no. You need to go back and read what I said. I have no issue with sexual orientation in media as long as it’s done in a natural way. If the characters are gay then they are gay. If the character is straight then they are straight. Big deal. But when you go out of your way to say said character is gay or straight or bi to appease a said group then you ruin that media. Western media has been bad at this the last few years because people cry about representation where as anime has had lgbtq representation for years but it’s done in a more natural way unless the show is intended to be campy.