A very risky business venture takes shape.
What They Say:
Episode #34 “VIDAR RISING”
Via a certain matter on Earth, the connection between Tekkadan and McGillis grows even stronger. Meanwhile, the Gundam Vidar, which has been undergoing adjustment by the Arianrhod fleet, finally rolls out.
The Review
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Wow, the Daisuki subtitles are exceptionally terribly in this episode.
We’re back on Mars, regrouped and refreshed. Work continues on the Gundam frame found in the ruins of a battlefield on Mars as the Tekkadan troops train up. It’s full speed ahead with the plan to join forces with McGillis’ Gjallarhorn forces.
The difference between which side is in the right and which is in the wrong is growing narrower with each passing episode. Kudelia finds herself borrowing funds from war profiteers. Tekkadan is still part of the space mafia. Old Gjallarhorn forces think the best way to maintain peace is to completely crush the independence uprisings on the colonies. Conflict is slowly escalating, fracturing the unity of the economic blocks.
Naze heads to into the Teiwaz board room to discuss the deal McGillis offered Tekkadan. As to be expected, the guy in the loud coat disapproves, and Barriston doesn’t exactly continue to give Tekkadan free reign. Naze basically puts his own life up as collateral in case something goes wrong with Tekkadan and Gjallarhorn. However, big gambles might result in big winnings, so Tekkadan makes a few more enemies on their own side.
Now, here’s a development that I didn’t expect. I don’t even want to spoil it because it’s so out of left field, but in retrospect in makes…. sense that two characters are revealed to be in a relationship. At least after reflecting on their interaction at the end of the last season. The character interactions in this show remain a delight. Poor Chad though, ha ha ha.
Speaking of interactions and new flames being kindled, Julietta finally gets to see Vidar in action. While she’s still covering for Kujan and his pay-attention-to-me attitude (that’s likely to get him killed) she has time to admire Vidar’s combat skills. I like that Julietta is trying to unravel the mystery that is the masked man. He says he’s doing this all for revenge, but after the skirmish against the colony forces, he admits that he was having fun fighting and forgot all about that. Considering how calm Gaelio, er, Vidar is about all of this he’s starting to remind me of Mika.
McGillis hits new heights of creep factor at the end of this episode. Yikes. It completely distracts from what he’s actually saying. The whole addition of McGillis finding god in the words of the founder of Tekkadan is something that probably should have been brought up in the first season, although he was always talking about returning Gjallarhorn to its original glory. McGillis might be fighting for equality, but he’s not someone you want to root for.
In Summary:
Gundam Orphans still shines brightest when it’s delving into its characters, and this episode is a lot of fun because of it. Time doesn’t hold still for these characters, not even for a moment. Both sides are flexing their muscles and preparing for the conflicts to come. Vidar shows off what it can do as Tekkadan readies another Gundam frame for action. New relationships are formed and alliances are tested as Tekkadan takes the biggest gamble of their lives in putting their trust in McGillis. However, the show is going to make sure that we the audience doesn’t feel good about it at all.
Episode Grade: B +
Streamed by: Daisuki, Crunchyroll, Youtube, and Gundam.info in select regions.
