I figured this episode would be the usual one where Suletta duels someone and wins and well, I did get that…and then some. To say this episode is eventful would be an understatement.
Let’s start with Quiet Zero. Basically, the GUND-Format works via a phenomenon called a “data storm”. From my understanding, it’s an incredibly fast processing of data, hence a Gundam’s ability to perform incredible feats as well as the high mental strain on its pilot. Prospera explains to Miorine that in theory, a “data storm” could be used to take control of any piece of technology and Quiet Zero is a project that aims to realize this possibility to bring peace among Earth and it colonies. A vital piece to the plan is the Aerial and the real purpose of sending Suletta and the Aerial to Asticassia was to collect more data. Later in the episode, Belmeria learns all this information from Prosperia and she suspects that the latter has an ulterior motive, especially since the Aerial is apparently overqualified to execute Quiet Zero. Knowing Prospera, I’m inclined to think that Belmeria might be onto something.
Miorine initially rejects any involvement in Quiet Zero, on the basis that it’s Delling’s project. I love that even if she does see where her father is coming from, she’d rather have as little to do with Delling’s work as possible. What piques her interest however is finding out that Quiet Zero is actually the brainchild of her mother, Notrette. Guess this character is more than a mere backstory detail. Also interesting is Miorine calling Prospera out on using Suletta to further her own ambition. Even though Miorine and Suletta are on awkward terms, it’s nice to know that Miorine still cares a great deal about Suletta.
Back in Asticassia, Sophie decides that her wager for her upcoming duel for Suletta is for the two of them to be sisters. Suletta then participates in the Rumble Ring, which just so happens to be observed by Sarius. We get a few minutes of Suletta fighting some of the supporting characters, with the most hilarious opponent being Lauda (if Guel can’t beat Suletta, why the hell does Lauda think he has a shot). Surprisingly however, the battle royale is cut short when Sophie and Norea arrive and wreak havoc on the campus with their Gundams and an army of mobile suit shaped drones called Gundvölva (which frankly look silly as hell). While executing the attack, Sophie decides to have her duel with Suletta right then and there.
What really sells the gravity of the situation is seeing Norea straight up kill a student with her Gundam’s beam weapon. It’s a pretty chilling sight after seeing so many students come out of a duel unscathed. Admittedly, this would maybe work better if the show actually killed off an actual character and not some extra (though maybe that guy has a name and I completely forgot). You’re telling me a nobody gets the axe but freaking Lauda survives the terrorist attack? Get out of here, Gundam.
Nika tries to phone space 911 to report Sophie and Norea (which is frankly a bit too late but that’s besides the point) but she is stopped by Shaddiq’s crew. As it turns out, Shaddiq is having Dawn of Fold attack so that he can kidnap and detain Sarius, presumably to seize power in an ensuing vacuum within Benerit. A couple things piqued my curiosity. One is Shaddiq’s willingness to attack Asticassia. I figured Shaddiq wouldn’t dare endanger his peers but I guess the guy really is willing to do anything for his goal. And two, there’s Shaddiq’s teammates revealing themselves to Sarius before they kidnap him. It’d be really funny if that’s a massive screwup on their part but I can see Shaddiq deciding that he’s done hiding things from his father, now that he’s made so much progress with his plan.
Parallel to Suletta and Sophie’s duel, Prospera reveals to Belmeria what I imagine is one of the biggest twists in the show. The reason why the Aerial doesn’t causse severe strain on Suletta is because the Gundam actually contains the mind of Prospera’s first daughter, Eri. Despite their strong resemblance to one another, Eri and Suletta are actually sisters and not the same person. The funny thing about this twist is that it was on the tip of my nose. I mean, Eri? Aerial? The show was cheeky with the main Gundam’s name this entire time.
In hindsight, this twist does explain a lot of things. Why hasn’t the show explicitly acknowledge Suletta being Eri? Well, it’s because Eri was never Suletta’s real identity nor was Suletta an alias for Eri. How come the Aerial is often referred to as if it’s a living being? Because it technically is alive. How is the Gundam seemingly able to act on its own and how can Suletta pilot it with no ill effect on her. Because Eri is the one who is actually handling the data storm, not Suletta. I think the only thing this twist doesn’t explain is actually a question the twist raises the second it’s revealed: how the hell did Eri become the Aerial? Did Prospera just upload Eri’s mind into the cloud? How is that even possible? I’m almost afraid of asking because when you think about it, it’s really messed up that a human mind was put inside a giant robot.
I figured that Suletta would come out of the duel on top. Regardless of how good Sophie is at piloting, there’s just no way she could compete against the likes of the Aerial. What did take me by surprise is seeing Sophie get the axe. That’s right. After setting her up as Suletta’s big rival for four episodes, Witch from Mercury has already written her out of the show. On one hand, killing Sophie off brings up the alarming development that Suletta is becoming increasingly okay with murder. However, it does feel like a waste to have her die now. It honestly feels like the rivalry was just starting to get good. Sophie feels she has nothing while Suletta seemingly has everything. Sophie sees Gundams as instruments of destruction while Suletta wants to fulfill its original, peaceful intention. And yet, Suletta can’t truly argue against Sophie because she herself has already used her Gundam to kill someone. Towards the end of the duel, Sophie manages to catch of glimpse of Eri in the midst of a data storm. That raises the question of whether or not Sophie is actually obsessed with Suletta or if the person that truly interests her is the one that actually makes the Aerial so deadly. It finally was starting to feel like Sophie had the potential to be Suletta’s rival and foil. How baffling then that it’s cut short. I suppose Norea is the next big bad but I don’t know, it wouldn’t be the same.
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