Welcome to Gundam Plus II, the successor to the original Gundam Plus site.
Part 1
So here we are again with beginning of the second part of MS Igloo. A bit of an interesting story as originally Igloo was just to be the 3 episodes when it was released on DVD and be done with it. Except it became popular so Bandai decided to take advantage of this (surprise surprise) and made an additional 3 episodes and titled it “Ms Igloo Apocalypse 0079” to cash in on the popularity. Of course these also proved popular and now we’ve gotten “MS Igloo 2” but that’s for another day so let’s get into the episode at hand right now.
We start off seeing a pilot being launched from Jotunheim in what looks like a Z’gok attached to a giant pontoon type thingy. We then see a federation cruiser fly in and start shooting at him and the ship as he’s trying to enter the Earth atmosphere. Things are not good as the pilot watches the Jotunheim get destroyed in the obvious sneak attack as we’re taken right to the opening credits.
We’re back and see the point of view of a drowning person reaching up in towards the surface but falling slowly deeper into the ocean. We then head back to the Jotunheim’s bridge and learn that what we saw in the beginning was a video log from a similar ship as Monique gives a briefing on their mission. We learn that the captains of both ships went through the same training together which further annoys Monique as she thinks their mission is beneath her. Good to know her bitchy attitude remains here as we’re also given the date, UC 0079.12.03 in the Universal century timeline.
Down in the hanger as they’re preparing to launch the test unit and it appears to be a modified Z’Gok that is meant to operate in the sky/upper atmosphere as it would in the ocean. We learn from Oliver that it’s called the “mobile Diver system” meant for fighting the Federation fleet at Jaburo. Back in the ship as we meet the test pilot of this new unit – 2nd Lieutenant Werner Holbein. Of course like the other test pilots we’ve met Werner isn’t the perfect soldier as he tunes out Monique much to her annoyance after asking where the captain is when he isn’t on the bridge. We also learn that Werner’s grandfather was a shark hunter as noted by the spearhead he wears around his neck.
A message is sent to the Jotunheim that the mission is a go as we get a briefing care of Monique – the mobile diver will launch and intercept the rising federation cruisers from earth. Smart in a sense to catch them like that when they can’t really fight back. The diver is launched and we see Werner cheer like he’s on an amusement ride and it echoes through the Jotunheim’s comm. System and once again to Monquie’s annoyance. I guess this episode is also about her being driven mad by the new test pilot for some humor. We then see the diver move in on a rising Cruiser and despite the targeting computer telling him to fire he waits till he gets close and then fire the rockets from the cargo pod but misses. Ditching the cargo pod, Werner flies in even closer to attack his target but the mission is a failure as the target is now out of range. Up in orbit Monique is of course pissed wondering why they got a pilot who used to fighting in the sea for this sort of operation.
We now see the Z’Gok has been recovered and in the process of being rearmed while on the bridge Monique is angered by the fact that the pilot is useless in her eyes. Oliver offers that the system isn’t perfect ant that perhaps if an engineering officer went along the next time things could be different. Monique then starts to smugly wonder who would be dumb enough to go along when Washiya enters the bridge and everyone then looks at him. We then go to the next launch of the Diver as we learn the mission is to drop in during the night and to catch some enemy personnel transports off guard. Of course like last time the pilots act like it’s a rollercoaster as they are dropped into the atmosphere as the Jotunheim is forced to pull back because an enemy ship has appeared. They spot the targets and just as they are about to fire Werner moves the diver just in time as an anti-air attack starts from the surface. Werner manages to dodge the attack but the movement has force them to lose altitude and thus the transports were able to escape. Ouch, two failures in a row.
Back on the Jotunheim now as we see the Diver was recovered yet again as Oliver is walking the ship when he meets Monique in the hall. She tells him (and us) that there’s a mission tomorrow and so he should go and rest up to which he suggests the same to her. She notes that she still has paperwork but after she’s done they should have a drink together to which he regretfully declines and says maybe another night. Ah, so now we’re getting a little romantic tension in here though I guess since they’ve been serving together for a bit they could be just friends but given the way she’s looking at him I suspect the former here. Oliver heads to the bridge and finds that Werner is sleeping/dozing in the cockpit and begins a conversation about the upcoming mission. Oliver begins to notes that he has doubts in the mission based on the turn on the war as well as the fact that he dislikes the idea they are being used just for data during this time. He then says that he’s going to request to headquarters that the mission be canceled. Werner then replies saying that seamen have always been on the front line and that he’s fine with the mission because as long as he feels the ocean around him he’ll be fine.
It’s not the next day and the mission is a go as we see the federation launching more cruisers and transports into space. The ship is battle ready and we learn that the operation today is that the diver will drop straight down and then do a turn while dropping to catch the rising federation ships from behind and destroy them. We also learn that instead of missiles the Diver has been equipped with a beam weapon meant for mobile armors and it could overload after continuous use. However, before the Diver is launched the ship comes under attack and Monique asks for the mission to be aborted but Werner comes on the screen and asks to be dropped into his mission. The captain agrees and moves the ship into drop position despite Monique’s objections.
The Diver is launched as we watch the Jotunheim fly out of the battle zone. We watch as the Diver falls and learn that the target ships also have escorts – something that wasn’t expected as the diver makes its turn but the container doesn’t fully break off and causes the Diver to fall off course until Werner is able to use the Z’Gok’s arm gun to blast it free. We then see as he drops past the rising federation ships and as he’s getting ready to fire we’re taken back to the vision of him falling and sinking into the water. He then fires the beam weapon which hits and destroys all of the cruisers as he then drops the beam weapon and flies off. However as he meets up with his pickup transport, it is attacked and shot down by federation fighters. The fighters then turn and before Werner can react they shoot up and severely damage his Z’Gok. We then watch as the Z’Gok makes it way out to the ocean and crashes into the sea.
Back on the Jotunheim as they get the results of the operation – 5 kills but they did not recover Werner’s escape pod. We then learn of all his talk about Werner’s grandfather dying in the ocean was a lie as the man passed away in a hospital in Side 3. Oliver then asks if that really matters as we’re then taken to Oliver’s final report while the credits roll. He notes that while the Diver requires a highly skilled pilot to operate properly it did its job but with the fight moving to space that maybe the results of his unit will be useful for the future and not in vain on Werner’s fight as the episode ends.
Nimrod’s thoughts: Not the best start but it’s not a terrible episode either. It definitely does feel though that some things are being setup for later episodes with the main characters as well as it’s carrying on the theme of the imperfect test pilot that redeems themselves during this mission. Still, the CGI is top notch even by today’s standards. It could definitely use some better story/plot writing as I do like the characters and the idea of the test unit but would wish it’s not the same type of mission over and over.
