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Episode 1 - Cheering to the Moon
Turn A is a series which can easily be called the end-all and be-all of the Alternate Universe, and in a world where Gundam Wing dominates the AU timeline, it's only fitting that Turn A should be so radically different, and it may be just what the doctor ordered. As Turn A opens, it's to our first of many, many changes: The main character is for the first time not a white character, but black skinned, with white hair.
The voices of his comrades stating that their "flats" are ok can be heard over the speakers. As each person pulls faceguards over their helmets, they begin to chant well known children's songs - each person a different one. Suddenly we are zoomed out and see a spaceship holding onto six black objects, and with a signal, they are all released, falling down to earth.
The singing continues as we now see a Flat enter the earths atmosphere and begin it's landing process, opening up into a large, semi-human like form, arms extended outwards. Its landing causes large amounts of debris to be scattered all about, and then in the torso a door opens downwards, revealing the people inside this machine.
The next scene opens with the three people now dressed in 1930's type clothing, making a fire, seemingly worried about someone finding them, but a man named Keith walks towards them from a cliff, stating that no one will realize them. The three part ways, and we learn that their names are fran, keith, and Loran.
within an instant, Loran encounters his first problem - a wolf pops out of the grass, and Loran grabs a stick, fending off the wolf, then running, and just as the wolf is about to prance on Loran, a large zeppelin appears in the sky, and shots are fired, causing the wolf to run in fear. We hear the voice of a young woman criticize a man named grey that he missed on purpose, and then ask if the young man is okay. The propeller engines start up, and they begin flying away, yelling for Loran to take care.
Loran continues on his way, encountering a stream, where he de-clothes and enters, amused by splashing water and creating a rainbow in the air. Placing a floating plastic fish into the water, Loran seems to be overjoyed with it's ability to float and spin, but as the object is pulled into the center of the stream, it's carried by the stream's current, and Loran foolishly goes after it. Carried by the current, Loran shows an inability to swim, struggling for air. Suddenly Loran sees two people, unclothed, in the stream ahead of him. The two girls yell that the kid is drowning, and rush to help him, calling on two people, sheshika and Sam on dry ground to head downstream.
As a Blond haired girl rushes to help Loran, Loran suddenly is overcome with a vision, and the Blonde-haired girl transforms into a girl, similar in appearance, with white and black robes. Holding out her hand, We see loran's (now gloved) hand extend outward to take the vision's hand, and as suddenly as it came, it ends.
The man named Sam rests loran's naked body onto a bed, and Sheshika covers his body with sheets, saying that he looks better now. The two girls appear carrying his bag, and the younger looking of the two pokes his cheek, evidently testing to see if he's alive. The same girl then walks over to his bag and picks up his floating fish, saying that it must have been because of this that Loran was drowning.
Loran awakens, alone, and sees a bird on the window sill, and is overcome with joy at watching Nature's little miracle. Sheshika walks up to his table and places a bowl and bread down in front of him, handing him a spoon and telling him to eat. She states, as he eats, that had he not been drowning, they, the heims, would not tolerate him as a foreigner. the younger girl, Soshie, walks in, and Sheshika warns her not to be too close to 'those people', but seems to respect Shoshie, as if she was Shoshie's servant. Suddenly, Loran speaks to Soshie, and states that he doesn't want all this, and that he still has money, Soshie responds by stating that she knows, calling him by his full name, Loran Cehack, then says that he cannot pay it off.
Loran states that he will then work to pay it off. After a brief and somewhat embarrassing conversation for Loran, Soshie taunts Loran with his floating fish, to which he runs out of the room after her. He reveals that he wants to start working for in the mines, which we now know are owned by heim, most likely the sister’s father.
Loran grabs his bags and walks out, seeing the two sisters dressed up like the richer upper class of the 1930's. The blonde haired sister grabs the Fish from her younger sister and walks towards loran, and in his mind, Loran says that
she really is like "Her majesty Diana". Loran apologizes for spoiling her bath before the 'adult festival', and attempts to lean forward in a bow, falling on his face. As Loran watches the elder sister pull away in her car, Soshie says to Loran
that he should attend the festival as well.
Next we see a ritualistic dance around a large wooden statue, torches held high, and the elder sister sitting at the base of the statue, watching. Suddenly, she raises her arms and says to go to Shigial Mountain, to which the crowd responds by lifting the statue, with her on it, and running off. Shoshie says to Loran to follow her. A man attempts to stop Loran and Soshie, but Loran runs past the man, despite him saying he cannot, and Shoshie runs after him, saying that foreigners are not allowed up, and that he will be sent back down if he's found.
Soshie's elder sister then states that the memorial ceremony of adult begins, and that all adults should leave. In his mind, Loran asks himself if this is "White Doll", looking up at a statue of a mustached god of some sort. The teenagers who are
left on the top of the hill then begin to choose dance partners, and Loran is chased off down the hill by an adult who finds them.
The next scene opens on two planes which look like world war one era planes seemingly dueling for speed. Down on the ground, we see the mines, and Loran is working within. A larger man says that Mr. Heim wants to see him, as he learned that Loran is skilled with Machines. As Soshie wonders over how the trunk opens to reveal more seats, Loran enters the house, taking his hat off and stating his name. We overhear the talking of military tactics, including airplanes, about how someone may attack this location, so production should be increased. They state that they want to use this chance to establish an industrial society. As loran enters the scene, then end their conversation, and state that they want loran to be their test driver - a private driver for them, and that he also will go to College when he has the time. After talking for a little while, they then decide that Loran can attend the Adult festival this year.
A man who looks to be of the utmost class and whom they call the emperor's adviser then calls the elder sister "Mrs. Kihel", and says that she is invited to join the party in the castle. As they then drive through the town on dirt roads, it is clear that this is a society which is in what seems to be the 1920's or 30's, with many cars that look like the old Ford Model T's and A's, the exception being the one Loran was asked to drive, which looks more like a rich mans race car from that same era.
Loran, the emperor's adviser, and a few other pilots are now seen under the blimp earlier on, and the states that Loran's (he actually calls him 'Lona') skill is very good, and that he is expecting him. Loran then drives the two sisters into the City, where they stop at a store, and Mrs. Kihel asked Loran to wait for her to come back out. As he is waiting, Loran notices that a passerby wearing a white chef’s hat and mediocre cloths looks exactly like kieth, from his Flat. Keith states that Loran, dressed in his chuffer’s uniform, seems to live well. Loran returns the complement, and learns that keith is working in a bakery. Keith gives him a paper, stating the Fran is working as well, and Loran says that he is working in Heim's home. Now they know where each other lives, and as he turns back, Mrs. Kihel asks Loran if he's his friend. Loran says that he is a good friend from his home town.
Soshie gets out of school early, and finds that Loran is not by the car, but taking a break, so decides to stroll through town, spying on Loran, sitting on some steps. Suddenly, bread appears from behind the banister and Keith pops out of
nowhere, and they embrace in a friendly hug. As they talk, Fran appears, and Shoshie realizes it is a party of Old friends. We learn that Fran is working for a printing company of a newspaper. The three talk about their worries about the Flat's discovery, and since Loran lives the closest to the Flat's hiding place, they say that he should go and check on it.
In the next scene, we Soshie run out to another truck driver, as they follow a truck which is apparently driving in the opposite direction it was supposed to be going. We see loran driving that truck, apparently unawares that he is being followed then stopping at the base of a hill, Loran gets out with a shovel and walks up to the top, Digging as much as he can in a large crater made by the Flat's landing.
Shoshie then runs up the hill, following Loran. She spies loran lying face-down on a large black dome. Looking up, Loran says "Everyone, the earth is a very good place." Standing up, he raises his arms and says "everyone, come back!" repeating this, we see that Loran is looking directly at the Moon.
Final Thoughts: As an opening for a series, this is by far the most odd (and therefore quite intriguing) opening episode I have seen yet. In the world of Gundam where there's advanced technology, ace pilots, and an over-abundance of mecha action (or at least a little mecha fighting), Turn A has very little to do with any mobile suits at all, and is set in a world just beginning to grasp air flight and cars. This makes for a very personal, realistic feel, as we can put ourselves back in time to understand what life is like, yet still has that fantastical element in which there are Advanced machines - just not on earth.
