Gundam AGE Episode 2

The Power of AGE

Well here we are with the second episode of Gundam AGE, though it’s getting close to time for episode 3 as I write this. I been slackin’!

Don’t have to go into too much elaborate detail with this episode, as a lot of background things were explained in episode 1 and more will be in future episodes. This episode seemed to be just continuing the colony attack from the first episode, although there are some important elements here. First the assumed captain of the new Federation warship Diva is jerk and a scumwad for wanting to abandon the people of Nora and rightfully gets owned by Commander Grudek (DAT BEARD). Maybe the reason why the Federation is losing to the Unknown Enemy is because they have a lot of buttheads like this guy in their ranks? Emily and Dique overhear this so I’m willing to bet dollars to yen that this’ll come up later.

Flit, whilst transporting the Gundam Age-1 to the ship, runs into a young girl named Yurin L’Ciel who seems to be a Newtype. Now I know it’s presumptive to assume that but she was acting all precognitive and whatnot and the only times we see that are when Newtypes/Innovators are around. (And Quatre from Gundam Wing, sorta) Considering that ever since SEED we’ve had more staples of UC Gundam creeping into the AUs, I wouldn’t be surprised if yet again we get Newtypes, unexplained Newtypes or what have you showing up here, especially if my personal theory that this show is, like Gundam X, an alternate far-future of the Universal Century. Anywho, Yurin is certainly mysterious and only time will tell who she is, what she wants and what her role to play is in the grand scheme of things.

The plan to gather the nameless civilian masses of Nora into the colony’s central core and tow it away is definitely unique but considering that this is Gundam, tragedy is almost sure to strike and set the erstwhile Gundam pilot on a firm path to conflict with the UE.

Also, the AGE Builder deserves a prominent mention. At last we discover what probably is the major reason why the title Gundam is said to “evolve” during the course of the series. It’s essentially a large, egg-shaped mobile factory that uses principals similar to a 3D printer. Combined with the AGE System (the exact workings of which we still aren’t fully aware) it is capable of analyzing battle data and manufacturing new weapons and upgrades for the Gundam Age-1 (and possibly other suits as well). In this episode it builds the DOTS (or DODS) beam rifle for the Gundam, which results in awesome destruction. 

Speaking of the Gundam, I’m still not cool on the overall design, but at least the Age-1 gets to do awesome things. Last episode it was the Beam Shank and in this episode we have PREPARE FOR RAMMING SPEED!!!

Overall I’m now much more into the series than after the first episode and if interesting things keep happening, I’ll definitely stay with it. One thing I would like to know is the episode count. I still don’t know what this is, but given that every full-length Gundam series since 2002 has run for 50 episodes, I would imagine the same would be done for AGE. It’s been suggested on certain forums that the storyline might shift back and forth between the three generations, but given the narrative pace of the first two episodes, I don’t think this is the case. If they are going to do one generation after another then I would imagine them doing 17 episodes for the first generation and Flit, 16 episodes with Flit’s son Asemu, and wrap it up with 17 episodes concerning Flit’s grandson Kio. Or, and this is big speculation on my part, since Gundam 00 was split into two 25 episode seasons, they’ll do the same with AGE, but instead of two seasons, it’ll be three 16-25 episode seasons. If that were to happen, AGE might just knock Victory Gundam off its perch as longest Gundam series (though only by virtue of having 51 episodes.) Now THAT would be interesting.

Also, I give this episode 4 out of 5 stars.

Chris Guanche's MAHQ review can be found here.

Let the shipping wars commence.