The ending "sucking" was kind of the whole point.TetraVaal wrote:0080 episodes 4 and 5 were pretty good, but the overall ending kinda sucked. I didn't like how the final battle was like 3 or 4 minutes... with a build up like that, I was hoping for something a bit more climatic. I thought it was a nice touch how Chris killed Bernie, though... if only she knew that she offed him, heh. The series wasn't terrible by any means, but it's probably my least favorite of all the ones I've seen so far.
It was supposed to punch you in the gut. It sounds like it was too down-to-earth for you maybe? (It certainly wasn't meant to be a sprawling action epic, though). If you'll indulge me, let me break down why it's generally highly regarded so you can see the other side. (Personally, I consider it the tightest-written and most emotionally powerful Gundam series that really shows you the costly nature of war up close and personal). Spoilers for those of you who haven't seen all of 0080 (hit Show to read): Spoiler
You've got the Zeon Cyclops Team basically given an impossible mission that they're doomed, perhaps even setup, to fail in. (Whose leader knows deep down the war is over and lost). You've got Al, who thinks of war as a game and desires its escapism (and even its vindictive/destructive subtexts) to get past his broken family. You've got Chris, who Al trusts as a big sister, but who hides the fact that she is a Gundam test pilot. You've got Bernie, a rookie softy who happens to be a soldier and hides his weakness behind a blowhard attitude. Moreover, Al sees Bernie as the big brother who will allow him to live out his idealized fantasies about war.
The series follows the daily lives of these individuals, and their bonding and growing understanding of one another, as they enter a brewing tragedy. Bernie and Chris have chemistry and are attracted to one another, and both care about Al, and vice-versa. When Bernie's team dies because of his failings, he is stripped of his blowhard mask, and reveals himself as a coward who wants to run away from it all, leaving Al in an impossible position--a kid who guiltily conspired with military enemies, whom nobody will believe, who is having his parents slowly reunite, but who is faced with the reality they will all die shortly from a nuclear attack. As Bernie is about to leave it all, he happens to overhear that phone call of a broken, scared relationship that abstractly mirrors his own situation, and he realizes he has to be brave, because he really has come to care about Al and the colony's fate. Even technologically inferior, he and Al work so hard to get ready to fight the Gundam, not realizing that Chris is the pilot.
When the moment comes, Al learns that Bernie doesn't have to fight--that he could have left--because the nuclear attack has been foiled. He tries with all his might to stop Bernie from his fight--a fight that he doesn't know is between his two best friends. Bernie does a heck of a job in a clever and desperate fight between two main characters, but ultimately loses (the fight isn't the point, but what the fight meant, how it resulted, and how it could have been avoided). Al sees the end of his friend's life before him. Then Al has to play back Bernie's last video--a powerful video that is meant to offer Al hope and understanding. In the end, Al talks with Chris, who doesn't know she has killed Bernie, and whom Al can't bear to share the truth about. (in fact, Al doesn't know that Chris killed Bernie). Instead, he offers Chris what Bernie would have wanted her to know.
Finally, Al sees that his wish to damage the city in his video game has come true, but it's not what he wanted. His friends tell him to get excited about another war, but he knows what war means now, and just has to cry to let it all out. It's beautiful. You combine that kind of emotional writing with well-developed, fun characters and three solid battles, alongside a few nice ambient fights, with unique mecha like the Hygogg, Kampher, GM Sniper II, Riah 35 Draken-E, and Gundam Alex, and this is one for the record books. To quote MAHQ Reviews on the finale: "In some anime, hundreds of people could die in one episode, and it's meaningless. In this series, one person dies, and it means everything. That is the sign of a good series." If you come in expecting a space action-epic, it probably doesn't work. But if you want a tragic human/character story that pulls the heartstrings (and not just for the sake of pulling heartstrings), there's none better that I've run across in anime. (This is the "civilian view" done right, whereas Gundam 00 more or less failed with the halfhearted/sappy Saji and Louise by comparison, IMO). Rewatching this series, knowing what's going to happen, it's even more heart-wrenching. With all that said, that's why it's in my top 2 or 3 Gundam series. Its ending still gets me to this day. Heh.
And I'll depart with the Toonami trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm1qbLF6CvU
The series follows the daily lives of these individuals, and their bonding and growing understanding of one another, as they enter a brewing tragedy. Bernie and Chris have chemistry and are attracted to one another, and both care about Al, and vice-versa. When Bernie's team dies because of his failings, he is stripped of his blowhard mask, and reveals himself as a coward who wants to run away from it all, leaving Al in an impossible position--a kid who guiltily conspired with military enemies, whom nobody will believe, who is having his parents slowly reunite, but who is faced with the reality they will all die shortly from a nuclear attack. As Bernie is about to leave it all, he happens to overhear that phone call of a broken, scared relationship that abstractly mirrors his own situation, and he realizes he has to be brave, because he really has come to care about Al and the colony's fate. Even technologically inferior, he and Al work so hard to get ready to fight the Gundam, not realizing that Chris is the pilot.
When the moment comes, Al learns that Bernie doesn't have to fight--that he could have left--because the nuclear attack has been foiled. He tries with all his might to stop Bernie from his fight--a fight that he doesn't know is between his two best friends. Bernie does a heck of a job in a clever and desperate fight between two main characters, but ultimately loses (the fight isn't the point, but what the fight meant, how it resulted, and how it could have been avoided). Al sees the end of his friend's life before him. Then Al has to play back Bernie's last video--a powerful video that is meant to offer Al hope and understanding. In the end, Al talks with Chris, who doesn't know she has killed Bernie, and whom Al can't bear to share the truth about. (in fact, Al doesn't know that Chris killed Bernie). Instead, he offers Chris what Bernie would have wanted her to know.
Finally, Al sees that his wish to damage the city in his video game has come true, but it's not what he wanted. His friends tell him to get excited about another war, but he knows what war means now, and just has to cry to let it all out. It's beautiful. You combine that kind of emotional writing with well-developed, fun characters and three solid battles, alongside a few nice ambient fights, with unique mecha like the Hygogg, Kampher, GM Sniper II, Riah 35 Draken-E, and Gundam Alex, and this is one for the record books. To quote MAHQ Reviews on the finale: "In some anime, hundreds of people could die in one episode, and it's meaningless. In this series, one person dies, and it means everything. That is the sign of a good series." If you come in expecting a space action-epic, it probably doesn't work. But if you want a tragic human/character story that pulls the heartstrings (and not just for the sake of pulling heartstrings), there's none better that I've run across in anime. (This is the "civilian view" done right, whereas Gundam 00 more or less failed with the halfhearted/sappy Saji and Louise by comparison, IMO). Rewatching this series, knowing what's going to happen, it's even more heart-wrenching. With all that said, that's why it's in my top 2 or 3 Gundam series. Its ending still gets me to this day. Heh.
And I'll depart with the Toonami trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm1qbLF6CvUThe enemy interactions will continue and expand. They are one of the redeeming highlights of this series beyond the great action and animation, IMO. The Feds get better, some more than others, but aren't necessarily super-inspiring.TetraVaal wrote:yeah, I just finished episode 4 and I at least comend the writers for going more into Gato's interactions at the Zeon base and the intentions he has now that he's possessed the Gundam. I'd still like to see more of this, as well as the Fed ship members doing more than trying to one up one another, but I'll say the show itself got better with episode 4. So far, for what it lacks in great storytelling or memorable characters (with the exception of Gato), the show still features quality animation, good action sequences, and some pretty good music, too.
(...or maybe you didn't see it)
