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Season 2 Epsiode 14 (Episode 39) - I can hear songs
A happy 2009 to all the readers here as this is the first recap of the New Year. I hope every partied hardy and all of that. Now, let’s see if Gundam 00 starts the New Year with a bang.
We pick up where we left off last time with the Ptolemaios and crew destroying the Memento Mori satellite cannon and racing away. They exit the battle area and all looks good but then 3 new objects are heading towards them including a new mobile armor. We then cut to Ribbons who says that he’s going to make Celestial Being pay for their actions as we hit the opening credits.
And we get a new opening too, in this case being “Namida no Mukou” by Stereopony. A little too “pop” sounding for Gundam 00 but hey – at least it’s not TMR.
We’re back and we see the federation give the official press statement about what happened with the Memento Mori and that from now on all Federation forces will be under the direct command of the A-laws. In his office we see Homer Katagiri discussing with General Goodman about this turn in events and he leaves the general in charge of wiping out Celestial Being.
Out in space we see Setsuna reach the meeting point but no sign of the Ptolemaios. He then spots some wreckage that appears to be from the ship and begins to fear the worse. His sensors then detect a ship within the wreckage heading for him and its one emitting red Gn particles. We then see that it’s Nena Trinity who contacts him and promptly hits on him. Despite a brief misunderstanding, to which she tells him that it was her who covered him in the last battle, she informs him that the Ptolemaios is indeed safe and that it touched down on Earth but before she could send over the data of where they landed, Setsuna takes off for Earth given the Purple haro the line that she was dumped again.
Over to a Federation base as Sergei is meeting with Hang Hercury where he informs him that a coup is going to take place within the Federation army. Guess things aren’t are good as the A-Laws make it out to be. Sergei doesn’t seem too surprised at hearing this but thinks a coup is a bit extreme till Hang basically says that it’s he who is behind it.
Now we’re back to the Ptolemaios as Ian is finished his time in the healing tube and comes out and is shocked that the ship is back on earth. He then finds himself looking outside at some scenic mountains, green grass and nice weather as there’s a big hole in the ship. His reaction is priceless. We then learn that the Ptolemaios barely escaped the A-Laws counter-attack and crashed landed on earth and is currently separated from Setsuna and the 00-Raiser. Down in the hanger deck Sumeragi apologizes to Allelujah for involving Marie in the last battle. Allelujah says he understands because Marie did it of her own will but makes it clear to Sumeragi that Marie is to never be involved again. Let’s see how long that lasts. A little bit away we see Lockon making contact with the Kataron forces informing them of the current situation and Anew walks up having heard that he was talking to someone. While he says it’s nothing important she asks him how the A-Laws were able to find them so quickly after the mission and hints that there could be a spy among them. I would say try looking in the mirror sweetheart. She then backpedals a bit when Lockon questions it but he makes a bit of a mistake and drops his real name to her after she says it’s ok to address her by name rather than just “Miss Returner”. That one will bite him in the ass big time - if she’s a spy that is.
Back with Setsuna as he races across the planet trying to find where the Ptolemaios could have touched down. He then comes across a massive crater that was left from where the Memento Mori had fired a shot. He then spots the Arche Gundam racing along and begins to pursue it, much to the delight of Ali Al-Saachez who wanted him to follow.
Over to the Kataron base as the leaders learn of the federation coup and that those behind it wish to contact Kataron somewhere in the Middle East. Klaus decides to go despite the objections that it could be a trap thinking that it’s the chance they need. They then hear singing from the children and Marina of a song that Marina wrote while I normally I wouldn’t note the song it does play a role later on.
Back to Setsuna as he’s chasing and trying to shoot the Arche Gundam and he then realizes that he’s being led towards Krugis. As they reach Setsuna’s former homeland Ali slows and lands his Gundam with Setsuna doing the same and informs Setsuna that he’s just doing what his boss asked him to do. We then see Ribbons come out from a building and begin to address Setsuna by his real name – Soran Ibrahim. Ribbons then goes on to say that they did meet before during when Ribbons piloted a Mobile Suit – The 0 Gundam as it turns out that it was Ribbons who saved Setsuna 11 years again. Ribbons then goes on to say that it was he who put into Veda that Setsuna be placed in Celestial Being and given the Exia. Ribbons then goes on to say that since he was the pilot of the 0 Gundam then he should have the 00 Gundam and that Setsuna should give it to him. Setsuna refuses and tries to shoot Ribbons but Ali, the fastest gun in the Middle East, shoots Setsuna in the arm instead. He gets back into the 00-Raiser and Ribbons tells Ali to do as he wishes as walks away.
Over to the crashed Ptolemaios as they detect 2 incoming objects from opposite directions and Sumeragi send the Arios and Seravee Gundams out to meet them. Meanwhile, Setsuna and Ali are continuing their battle as Ali tries to take advantage of Setsuna’s injured arm which despite his injury he shows that the 00-Raiser and he can actually better than Ali though as he’s able to damage the Arche. Over with Allelujah as we see he’s facing off against the Gadessa and Hilling Care while Tieria faces the Garazzo and Bring Stability. It is during this fight that we see Bring try to convince Tieria that he must join the rest of the Innovators and fulfill his mission. Meanwhile, back at the Kataron base, Marina sees off Klaus and Shirin and worries about the spreading of the fighting when one of the kids says they should sing anyway and hope their song can reach everyone as Marina muses to herself that this is the only thing she can do.
Back with Tieria as things are not going good but that’s when he finally see it. Using the Seravee to grab hold of the Garazzo we see the black parts of the Gundam fold back as the back part with the Gundam head break away to reveal a new hidden unit with the Seravee – the Seraphim Gundam. Bring activates his GN field but Tieria forces the Seraphim’s arms through it and then shows that the hands can fold into guns to which his promptly fires and destroys both the Garazzo and Bring Stability. He blow up REAL GOOD!
Over to the Arche and 00-Raiser fight as Setsuna has Ali on his heels when Ali spots the Kataron and plans to use it can cover against Setsuna. However, Setsuna uses the Trans-am and that quantum resonance thingy to get close enough to the Arche and drive it back from the transport. Just as it looks like Setsuna is going to finish off Ali and the Arche Gundam for good he suddenly hears Marina call his name and then her and the kids singing that song as the Gundam explodes and Ali escapes in an escape pod. We then see that not only Setsuna but others are hearing the song as well as Marina is outside singing with the kids as the end credits roll. I’ll give her credit – not many girls would be able to haul an organ like that outside on their own.
But that’s not all as we’re back in space as we see Louise looking at the new mobile armor and the new innovator (Divine) tells her that it’s called “the Empress” and that it’s the prototype of the Mobile Armor that she will eventually get. Back on earth as Billy shows Mr. Bushido his new Custom unit – The Masurao. A very Samurai looking unit that has a similar look to a flag. Billy also informs he added a trick that Eifman was working on to the unit in order to fight the Gundams. The Episode ends with Bushido leaving as Billy looks at an old picture of him and Sumeragi before tearing it up and throwing it away and saying “Good-Bye Kujo”.
Nimrod’s Thoughts: Wow. What an excellent episode. Great pacing and great plot movement. We see that the Lyle-Anew relationship is being pushed despite the odds that she’s a spy. We also got a little more about Ribbons and that it was he who saved Setsuna all those years ago. We also see that Nena is still carrying a bit of a torch for Setsuna. However the big thing this week was the appearance of the Seraphim and it looks like the internet kids were right about it. That said, it looks to be a great addition and I can’t wait to see what other abilities it could have. Add to that we get a new Mobile Armor and Mr.Bushido’s new unit and the Arche/00-Raiser fight and you can’t go wrong. The only real downer was that stupid song of Marina’s where while it will most likely play a bigger role down the line will also get really really annoying over time.
