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Season 2 Epsiode 24 (Episode 49) - Beyond
It’s the second last episode of the series so it’s now put up or shut up time for the show.
We start off with the 00-Riaser vs. Regant fight as Saji continues to plead with Louise to stop fighting them but it’s clearly not getting through to her. During this Andrei also joins in claiming that if it’s Saji who is causing Louise her problems then he’ll stop him but the 00-Raiser quickly disables Andrei’s Ahead. Seeing this Louise transforms the Regant into robot mode and grabs the 00-Raiser as three of the suicide attack MA’s fly towards them. Saji tells Louise to let them go or she’ll be hurt as well but she says as long as she kills the Gundam then it’s worth it. Saji enraged by this fires off some missiles for the 0-Riaser and takes out two of the incoming units but the third makes it through and collides with the Regant and 00-Raiser as we hit the opening credits.
We’re back and we’re taken into Veda as we see the showdown between Tieria and Ribbons. It is during this that we learn that what we thought Innovators (including Tieria) are in fact Innovades – those who are meant to promote the appearance of the true Innovators. Ribbons contend that he has evolved above the Innovades and is a true Innovator. We then head over to Sumeragi as she’s facing down Billy as she asks him why he’s here right now. He tells her that by stopping them it will bring about eternal peace even under the Innovators rule. Sumeragi says that there is no freedom and that she’ll keep fighting for a real future and not the one Billy prescribes to as she raises her rifle once again.
Back with the Arios and GN archer and things are not looking good at all as Allelujah is trying his best to protect the disabled unit but the suicide units keep making it through and damaging both units. Things look even worse as Lasse realizes that the 0 Gundam is now running out of power as we also see him cough up blood as his own health issues are catching up to him too. Back with Setsuna as we see the trashed Regant and the slightly damaged 00-Raiser and see that Louise was saved from the explosion and Setsuna tells Saji to leave the 0-Raiser and take Louise to safety, which he does as Hilling and Revive rush in to do battle against the 00-Raiser.
Over to Tieria as we see that Ribbons was a quicker draw with a handgun and he shoots Tieria and once again reminds us that he’s surpassed all Innovators before shooting him some more and then saying he shall lead humanity into the future before shooting Tieria in the head. Ouch and bye-bye Tieria I suppose. Over to Saji as we see he’s boarded the ship/station with Louise and tries to wake her up but she then jumps him enraged with her eyes still glowing scream about Celestial being and how they killed her family as she starts to choke Saji while she’s also crying. During this she spots the companion ring to the one that Saji gave her back in season 1 and realizes that it’s Saji in front of her before she has a complete mental breakdown.
Back outside as the fight between the 00-Raiser and the “Innovators” isn’t going well as it’s basically a 2 on 1 fight. As Setsuna goes into Trans-Am he starts to hear the voices of Louise and Saji. We then go back to Louise and Saji and he sees that she is wearing the ring he gave her years ago just before she goes catatonic and collapses– much to Saji’s obvious dismay. Back outside again as we see Setsuna now into Innovator mode as he starts to hear more voices of his friends and allies and starts to realize that everyone is in deep trouble. And deep trouble it is as we’re taken briefly around to everyone and see that they all are on the verge of losing the battles they are in along with their lives. Setsuna finally loses it as the 00-Riaser then scans his innovator eyes and starts the “Trans-Am Burst”, complete with dramatic music, as it realizes a huge amount of Gn Particles at once. Basically looks like a mix of the Wings of Light and the Moonlight butterfly. The amount of particles is so great that they even reach the ships of Katharon and the Federation that are staying well away and out of the battle while even further away on her ship Marina realizes that the light they are seeing is from Setsuna. Meanwhile back with Setsuna as the original Lockon is having his Obi-Wan moment again telling Setsuna to change in his place and do what he could not do. As Hilling and Revive try to figure out what’s going on they then hear Regene’s voice who explains to them that it’s not just the 00-Riaser but the addition of a pure Innovator as well to realize the particles and he praises Setsuna for evolving into becoming a true innovator.
As the particles spread everyone starts to pick up the thoughts of others as Ali Learns that the Lockon he’s fighting is the younger brother of the original Lockon. The battles/fights also start to turn as those of Celestial Being start to find a way to turn things around as we see Lockon take apart the Arche Gundam. Over to Allelujah as he hears the voice of Hallelujah who tells him to worry about his enemies and protect Marie and not the particles as we see him wipe out all the suicide units coming towards him. Over to Sumeragi as she realizes that she took advantage of Billy’s feelings and apologizes for doing such to him as she walks up to him. He tries to tell her, and himself, that it’s not about her but for attaining peace but then drops his gun and says that he loves her as she hugs him. Over to Marie as she notices via the particles that Andrei is out there and begins to talk to him and ask him why he killed his father. Andrei says he did it because he father never understood him at any point in his life and never bothered to talk to him. Marie asks if Andrei ever tried to understand his father but Andrei doesn’t understand what she’s trying to say and starts to cry and whine about no one understanding him. Yikes – way to be even more selfish than Saji there pal. Speaking of which, back to Saji who is crying over Louise but she then recovers and they finally have their moment where they are together again. They speak for a bit before she asks about the warm light she feels and Saji says that it’s Setsuna’s power that she feels.
Setsuna stops the particle release as we watch him into the station/ship with the 00-Raiser and get out of it to make his way to Veda. Back with Ribbons as he realizes that his control over Veda has been disrupted by the particles as we then hear Regene tell him that he’s been waiting to make his move as Veda rejects Ribbons link. Ribbons ask if Regene has now taken control but Regene says he didn’t do it alone as we see Tieria’s eyes in Innovator mode as outside we watch the Seraphim Gundam power up and active it’s version of the trial system : the Trial Field. Said field starts to disrupt the links to all the units with Veda including Hilling’s and Revivie’s units as well as the Arche Gundam. We watch as Lockon shoots up the Arche and destroy it for good only to spot Ali trying to make a break for it though a hallway. Lockon gets out of his Gundam to give chase and catches up to Ali and debates about shooting him in the back. Lockon then hears Anew’s voice asking him if he understood her as Ali then turns around to try and shoot Lockon only to be out drawed and shot dead by Lockon including a shot between the eyes. Bye bye Ali Al-Saachez. We then go over to Setsuna as he gets into the main room that houses Veda only to find Tieria’s body there. Thinking he’s dead he promises his friend that he will avenge him only to hear Tieria’s voice coming from Veda says that his consciousness was transferred over to Veda and now he can tell Setsuna the full details of Aeolia’s plan as we hit the end credits.
But that’s not all as we’re back as we see Setsuna board the 00-Raiser and head back to the Ptolemaios. As he heads back we learn what the plan was – to use the armed interventions to push the world to unite as one as a means to keep humanity from taking wars into space as well as to prepare for the day when humanity meets another race in the stars. As he continues to fly we see the Seraphim get shot and destroyed by a blast as we see Setsuna turn and see a giant mobile suit on the rocks, piloted by Ribbons.
Nimrod’s Thoughts – Well, despite the silliness of Setsuna’s trick midway through the episodes I liked it. It did the job of tying up all the story threads as we head into the final episode. Ribbons showing up with on final machine isn’t really surprising as they had to have he and Setsuna meet up though I half expected (and still do) Ribbons to have his own version of the 00-Raiser. The death of Ali Al-Saachez wasn’t surprising but I would have thought that his end would come at Setsuna’s hand and not Lockon’s but hey, he got it in the end so I guess that counts. Billy and Sumeragi making peace was nice especially given the arcs for both of them along with Saji and Louise. The real question is what the hell is Marina got to do now since she’s so far away? Sing a song that Setsuna will hear that will help him stop Ribbons? And no graham either – which means we could be seeing some Gn-Flag goodness coming our way.
