Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX – Ep. 6

Coming off of a really solid fifth episode, Episode 6 feels clumsier by comparison. My main issue with it is the pacing. There’s plenty of interesting things going on here but I’d also argue there’s way too much happening in one episode. It also doesn’t help that stuff happens in this episode without a scene properly explaining how exactly we get to those points (more on that in a bit.

So to start off, there’s apparently coming to be a meeting held between Side 6 and Zeon. Representing Zeon is Kycilia Zabi, a prominent general in Zeon’s military and a member of the Principality’s leading clan, the Zabi family. Both Kycilia and her brother Gihren are attempting to assume control of Zeon, making it likely that Gihren is plotting to interfere with the summit and have Kycilia assassinated. Given what that informant told Xavier, it’s likely that Challia is the mole. You do see at one point, Challia getting sent some Mobile Armor so it’s safe to say that he is up to something. Meanwhile, the Federation is organizing a plot of its own by sending in Major Bask Om (Hiroki Yasumoto) and Cyber-Newtypes Gates Capa (Ayumu Murase) and Deux Murasame (Hisako Kanemoto) to Side 6.

All of this isn’t actually that hard to follow now that I’ve jotted down but watching the episode and having the introductions and worldbuilding spread out did make for a confusing experience. It’s also worth noting that aside from Deux, all of these characters are returnees from 0079 and Zeta. If you see the aforementioned shows, then these characters will possibly be familiar faces for you. But as newbie Gundam fan, I had no idea who any of these people are and the episode seems to assume that I did my homework. Also frustrating is the sudden introduction of Cyber-Newtypes. These are basically artificially created Newtypes. Gundam has of course established in the original UC canon and has done similar concepts in an AU series or two. Still, the fact that I had to ask a friend what a Cyber-Newtype is because GQuuuuuuX skims over it is annoying.

As for the main cast, Machu is currently avoiding Nyaan, having previously lashed out at her for taking over her “space” (i.e. the GQuuuuuuX and the Kira-Kira). While I sympathize with Machu for feeling like Nyaan overstepped a boundary, knowing there are other Newtpes besides Machu and Shuji kind of makes Machu’s anger a little unjustified. Frankly, I felt more bad for Nyaan. Like yes, she should’ve considered the ramifications of taking over the GQuuuuuuX but she didn’t mean anything malicious. It’s also sad that Nyaan doesn’t get to share her excitement that she can experience the Kira-Kira. That really should be something that helps her connect with Machu but instead, it creates a rift between the two.

Machu is also dealing with some issues with her mother, Tamaki (Rie Kugimiya). Despite promising to show up on time, Tamaki arrives late to a parent-teacher conference. Things escalate further when Tamaki learns that Machu has left a career survey blank and Machu refuses to give a proper answer, not wanting to reveal her dream of going to Earth. Come to think of it, is Machu really planning to just leave her family behind once she boards that shuttle? I understand that Machu is discontent living in a colony but does she really hate her parents that much? Meanwhile, Nyaan continues on with her work as a carrier and we get a glimpse at her current situation. It’s interesting how Machu lives in a pretty nice apartment with her mother while Nyaan resides in a cramp and dingy one. I wonder if that contrast will be acknowledged by the characters. I can see Nyaan calling Machu out about wanting to leave Side 6 when she arguably has a decent life, certainly more ideal than the one Nyaan has.

Parallel to all this, Annqi meets up with Challia. Maybe I have severe memory loss but I’m pretty sure this show did not establish these characters communicating with each other ahead of time. But whatever, Challia got in contact with the Pomeranians to discuss the GQuuuuuuX. I find it funny that Annqi claims that she’s rigged the Gundam with explosives. That has to be a bluff because there’s no way a simple bomb can destroy it. In exchange for a large amount of money and permission to participate in one more Clan Battle, Annqi agrees to hand over the GQuuuuuuX. To sweeten the deal, Annqi also plans on revealing the location of Shuji and the Red Gundam, having learned of it by spying on Machu. Again, this is something that happened completely offscreen and that we’re only now learning about but whatever. Can’t say I’m shocked that Annqi is willing to discard Machu, Shuji, and the Gundams. Considering that she’s more than willing to endanger a couple kids in some illegal tournament, it seems in line of her to rat them out once it’s beneficial to her.

Machu manages to overheard Annqi discuss her plans with one of her lackeys, Nabu (Shōya Chiba). Much respect to Nabu for taking some issue with Annqi’s pragmatism and not ratting Machu out when she reveals herself, instead advising her to leave the Clan Battles behind. Too bad Machu doesn’t listen. Thing is, Machu doesn’t want to return to her old life as that would mean she’d no longer see Shuji again. She’d also rather help Shuji hide again than cut ties with him. I get that Machu is thinking more with her heart than her head but she does come across as obnoxiously selfish here. Like I don’t know, maybe she should instead consider the silver lining that it’d be better to part ways with Shuji than put him at risk. Putting that aside, Machu decides that her best course of action is to speed up the trip to Earth and she begrudgingly decides to fill Nyaan in on the plan. Given how heated things are between them, I’m really curious if these two can actually work together again.

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Watch Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX on Amazon Prime Video