MySpace


MySpace.com | rss | sign in
Setsuna

Adam Ankrah


Last Updated: 12/24/2009

Send Message
Instant Message
Email to a Friend
Subscribe

Gender: Male
Age: 26
Sign: Taurus

City: PHILADELPHIA
State: Pennsylvania
Country: US

Blog Archive
[Older      Newer]
 /  / 
October 27, 2009 - Tuesday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 123: Quit Poking it While it's Dead...
By Setsuna

This blog has been DOA for almost a year...
and yet, it's gotten more hits dead than active.

For something more more interesting,
checkout my current blog, Bahamut Six.

BAHAMUT SIX
12:18 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
July 29, 2009 - Wednesday 

 
THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 122: He's Dead Jim
By Bushido Black Setsuna

As of Today, This blog is DOA.

Cutting the BS, real life (School, Work) got in the way of this blog plus my determination to NEVER pay for internet again. (Thank you Free library of Phila. and its bitchin' connection speed).

-The major irony is when I got a laptop, I stopped blogging.
- I get more hits inactive than active.

If you wish to continue following, head over to Bahamut Six, where I have resumed blogging activities.
The Darkness Files will remain up, for the rare time I post here, and for posterity.

For those dropped by for all of the shits and giggles,
11:28 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
January 30, 2009 - Friday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 121: It's been a year folks...
By Bushido Black


"Why the fuck am I reading this awesomely mediocre shit?" Thought newly appointed Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn as read an entry from The DARKNESS FILES

One year ago, during a very bleak and un-lulzy chapter in the stagnant doldrums of FAIL I call life, I got really bored to the point where I just felt that the antidote to end my boredom was by creating a personal blog.

Up to that point, I thought personal blogs (blogs where the writer offers no helpful advice, news, fandom, TV reviews or anything interesting other than camwhoring and BAWWW dramafaggotry) were for attention whores and/or dramafags. But at that I point, I decided "Awww fuck it; into the pool I go."

One year later, nothing much has changed. I still think most personal blogs suck and I only like to read them for the occasional psychological meltdown which brings me great lulz. Yet, I've manged to pen the greatest mediocre blog in the universe with an assortment of Gundam fandom, weird tributes, pirated unoriginal content and... nothing much else.

Honestly, I don't know what draws people here, but they come, and I thank you for that.

So... Happy Birthday, o' Blogofshit... Oh wait, I think I accidentally created a silly name pun for a recently disposed Governor. Tee Hee.

Anyway, Thanks keep on commin' ya.

Nerai Utsu ze,
Bushido Black

Future Updates:

More SPT Layzner: Music and Reviews
That Gundam 00 thing... still working on that.

Speaking of which...



Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Episode 27 (2)* Twin Drive
Total Count Number (Season Episode Number)**

NOTES*

*For this review and any future reviews for the series that get posted between a long gap (last review was OCTOBER), all characters (and faction affiliations where needed) will be introduced on a whole name basis.

* I'll will be using the spelling of Kataron until official English spellings say otherwise (Alternates are: Cataron and Katharon).

SYNOPSIS

TEASE

- Three months prior to the events of the last episode (Episode 26, The Angels Second Advent) Celestial Being (CB) is at their asteroid base at Lagrange Point 3 where Ian Vashty is running tests with the 00 Gundam with Tieria Erde inside, testing various GN Drive arrangements.

- Everything is fine until the alignment ratio barely hits over 60%, when it shuts down due to instabilities. CB has tried all available combination options with the four remaining GN Drives. Anxious to begin operations aginst A-LAWS, their last hope is the GN Drive from the Gundam Exia, which remains missing.

PART A

- Back in the present, Setsuna F. Seiei is with Lyle Dylandy, a member of the resistance group Kataron and the twin brother of Neil, the late Gundam Meister Lockon Stratos. Setsuna gives Lyle a brief summary about Neil's history with Celestial Being and his death. Lyle asks is he is supposed to carry on the legacy of his brother. Setsuna hands him a flash drive and proposes to him that if he wants to change the world and is prepared to fight, he should at least look at the information on the drive. Lyle claims that he would hand over the intel to the Security Bureau (A-LAWS). Setsuna says that A-LAWS will begin suppression operations against Kataron's European branch.

- At A-LAWS HQ, Col. Kati Manequin meets with A-LAWS head, Homer Katagiri (Billy's Uncle). Homer gives her a rundown on how A-LAWS is operated: They are a Autonomous Peacekeeping Unit that is under the direct control of the Federation government that is in charge of stamping out Anti-Federation forces, particularly on rogue governments that maintain a military. Due to current events, two new targets have been added: Kataron and Celestial Being. Katagiri reiterates that they need to stop CB from committing armed interventions in order to maintain favorable public opinion. Because of her previous experience when dealing with CB, Katagiri expects her full potential.

- Later, in a cafeteria, Kati meets with 1st. Lt. Soma Peris, who was directly summoned to A-LAWS. Kati is surprised that Soma's former commander and now adopted Father Sergei Smirnov would allow it. Sergei's son 2nd. Lt. Andrei interrupts to state that A-LAWS orders are absolute (and Soma didn't have a choice).

- Meanwhile Graham Ak-- I mean MR. BUSHIDO eavesdrops from a nearby soda machine. He notices that top personnel from the armed forces of the former superpowers (Kati from the AEU, Soma and Andrei from the HRL and himself from the Union) have been recruited into A-LAWS.

- Back on Celestial Being's ship the Ptolemaios 2, Ian Vashti and Tieria discuss on how the GN Drives from the 0 Gundam and the now retired Gundam Exia had a high coupling rate during simulated tests. However, they wont know until they physically test it, as the theory of the Twin Drive system, which squares the GN Particle output from the synchronization of two GN Drives, were from Aeolia Schoenburg's notes from 200 years ago.

- Milenia Vashty and Lasse Aeon bring food and a Red Haro, for database browsing to Saji Crossroad, who is in the brig of the Ptolemaios. Saji asks how long is will he be held in custody for. Lasse tells him that he's being held for his safety as A-LAWS thinks that he is a member of Kataron.

- When Saji declares that is not, he is reminded that A-LAWS doesn't see it that way. When Saji asks that if CB will resume armed interventions, Lasse tells him that their goal is to destroy A-LAWS, which has carried out 14 acts of Mass Murder. Since CB's actions 4 years ago created A-LAWS, they're taking to responsibility to destroy them. Although Saji protests that CB's actions will cause death Lasse retorts that if they dont do anything, people will still die. When Saji asks about Setsuna, Milenia tells him Setsuna is off to pick up friends.

- At an apartment complex, Billy Katagiri tends to a uncooperative and drunken Sumeragi Lee Noriega a.ka. Kujoh, whom he's tended to for the last two years. As she's about to walk out, the doorbell rings. Billy sees Setsuna on the video camera happy to see a guest for Sumeragi, he eagerly lets him in. This causes Sumeragi grief as she left CB after its downfall 4 years ago. Setsuna wastes no time exposing her secret identity as CB's tactical forecaster in front of Billy.

- Lyle is in his car talking to his Kataron connections about is his new "proposal".

- Back on the Ptolemaios, Ian and Tieria test the synchronization of the GN Drives from the O Gundam and the Exia 00 Gundam. Despite the high rate, the drives cant break the 80% needed for stability. Tieria suggest using Trans-AM to force boot the Sync ratio. Ian protests, as the energy from Trans-AM could cause the 00 Gundam to Self-Destruct. Tieria asks Ian to re-examine the system for another option.

- In Saji's holding cell, he learns from the Red Haro unit about the interventions from Team Trinity and how they were responsible for Louise Halvey loosing her arm (Episode 18).

- On a Linear Train approaching space, Sumeragi asks Setsuna what was he trying to accomplish bringing her back to CB as the world has not changed from four years ago, despite Aeolia's plan and the sacrifices made. When Setsuna asks if that was the reason she became an alcoholic, she tells him that she can do it all over again. Setsuna replies that if CB sinned by urging the world to change, they can only find redemption by doing it once more. Sumeragi feels that its okay to run away, since she feels she is not as strong as Setsuna.

- At the Geostationary Orbit Station, Setsuna introduces Sumeragi to Lyle Dylandy, who has taken up the mantle of Lockon Statos.

- At Kataron's Middle East base, Shirin Balktiar speaks with Klaus Grad about how Lyle, a.k.a. Gene-1 has joined CB, asking whether he'll remain cooperative with Kataron. Klaus shifts the subject to how the Federation strong arms weaker member nations, while shutting out non-members, Using the Solar Collection system. Klaus feels the Federation needs to be aware of its Despotism.

- In her hotel room, Azadistan Princess Mariana Ishmail thinks about Setsuna, when she is arrested by the Federation.

PART B

- In her private Villa, former CB Intelligence gatherer Wang Lui Mei and her servant Hong Long talk about her leaking information to CB about A-LAWS. Despite Hong's concern that she would do such a thing after the four years of work it took to re-establish themselves, she replies that if they can't handle a simple crisis, than their work is all for naught. Hong Long feels that Wang would rather seek conflict, rather than the reformation of the world. Wand replies that change lies on the end of conflict. Wang request Nena Trinity to contact ...

- Innovators Ribbons Almack and Regene Regetta, who are eagerly accept Wang's intel, and pass it along to A-LAWS Commander Katagiri.

- On an A-LAWS ship, Captain Arthur Goodman receives the intel from Katagiri. Katagiri eagerly dispatches a squadron to hunt and destroy the Ptolemaios. Louise begs her commander Barack Zizin to sortie, but is quickly denied due to her performance from last episode.

- On Setsuna's transport shuttle, he is taking Sumeragi and Lyle to the Ptolemaios, when they get a message from the ship, with intel from Wang about the A-LAWS attack. Tieria sorties out in the Seravee Gundam.

- When Sumeragi learns that CB's fighting strength (as in Mobile Suits) only consists of the Seravee, she quickly drafts a defense strategy and sends it to the Ptolemaios. They, in turn launch several GN Mines ahead of the Seravee to disable the A-LAWS squadron. Tieria then uses the firepower from the Twin GN Bazooka II's to ignite the GN Mines, taking out most of the A-LAWS squadron. Meanwhile, Setsuna requests Ian to get the 00 Gundam ready for sortie, despite its condition. Setsuna leaves the Shuttle and uses the inertia to propel himself toward the 00 Gundam. Despite Ian's protests, Setsuna boots up the 00 Gundam using Trans-Am.

- In the Cockpit of the 00, Setsuna asks 00 Gundam to awaken. Declaring that he, and the GN Drives from the O Gundam and the Exia are together. The 00 awakens, spiraling the beam shot from an A-LAWS Mobile Suit out of the hanger of the Ptolemaios.

- The activation of the 00 Gundam catches everyone by surprise, especially Ribbons, who didn't expect to see the appearance of such a mobile suit. Setsuna wastes no time destroying the remaining A-LAWS Units. Regene teases Ribbons about his lack of knowledge of the Twin Drive System.

- With battle over, Setsuna formerly introduces Sumeragi & Lockon to the surprise of everyone, especially Felt Grace. Tieria has to remind himself that Lyle is not Neil.

- Meanwhile Billy angsts in a fit GRIMDARK RAAAGE, while Mariana is held at a Federation Detention facility. Also held, is Gundam Meister Allelujah Haptism. As he awakens, he only says a name, "Marie".


MULLING OVER

The SCENE OF BRIXSHATTING AWESOME

- 00 Gundam Activating. I still get goosebumps watching it. And the 0 Raiser aint here yet.


OF COURSE THERE'S LOLZ.

- The theme of twins is obviosly most apparent in this episode, moreso than in the rest of the series.
- One thing that hasn't change: SUMERAGI's MASSIVE MAMMARIES. Great Scott!
- FUCKING LOL AT BILLY (^o^)(^o^)(^o^)(^o^). Have no fear like a Girly Man scorned, If his scene at the end throwing the bottle aint Narm, I dont know WTF is!
- Setsuna, O Gundam and Exia. Three Gundams become one. ^_^
- I love how Setsuna has the subtlety and tact of a concrete brick crashing through a plate glass window. This is why he is my favorite Gundam Protagonist.

REVIEW IN AN UPDATE, GOTTA GO TO WORK NOAW.




12:04 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
December 18, 2008 - Thursday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 120: Double Dose of Darwin at Play
By Bushido Black (aka Setsuna F. Darkness)

And the Darwin Award winners for this week go to...
The motorists of the City of Houston for their lack of common sense and shitty driving skills.

Yeah, like you can beat a 60 ton LRV going 45 MPH.


Runner Up:



The city of Mumbai aught to invest into Mass Transit.

I love how at 0:25, the interjection, "shit" is universal in any language.

4:13 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
December 17, 2008 - Wednesday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 119: SPT Layzner BGM 1 = Mechaletric Relaxation
By Bushido Black (aka Setsuna F. Darkness)


This is not your ordinary 80's mecha anime soundtrack.

NOTE:
I was writing this up when the power went out last week, so sorry for the delay.

About a month ago, I acquired the soundtrack to the obscure 80's anime (even for mecha head standards), Aoki Ryusei SPT Layzner, or Blue Comet SPT Layzner.



Layzner was a 1985 TV series directed by Ryosuke Takahashi (Armored Trooper VOTOMS, Gasaraki) and was produced by SUNRISE Animation (mostly known the Gundam megafranchise). Mecha designs were handled by veteran Mecha Designer Kunio Okawara, while character designs were handled by Moriyasu Taniguchi.

The story takes place in an alternate history 1996, in which the US and the USSR are still locked into the cold war, with nuclear armageddon looming in the horizon. A cultural exchange summit run by the United Nations at a base on Mars is inadvertently attacked by an alien race from the planet Grados.

One of the Gradosians, Eiji Asuka, is the son of a human astronaut long thought to dead. A pacifist by nature, Eiji commandeering a Super Powered Tracer called the Layzner, plans to defect to earth to warn humanity of the impending invasion of his former homeworld. His former comrades, however are pursuing him to prevent him from accomplishing his task, along with any witnesses.

Torn between killing his former comrades and his beliefs, Eiji's troubles mount when he must protect the survivors of the cultural summit. A battle for survival begins as Eiji and his charges attempt the journey back to Earth to convince the warring superpowers to stop fighting and focus on the threat from Grados. However, the superpowers are more concerned with acquiring the alien technology for their own goals of superiority.

Layzner was infamous for having a somewhat troubled production. Heavy competition from rival networks and low returns from merchandising persuaded its main sponsor Bandai, to withdraw from financing the production, which forced the series into cancellation, making a hastily completed final episode. At the time, plans were the works to introduce a transforming version of the Layzner into the story. Eventually, the series would get a proper ending through an OVA (Original Video Animation. Think of it as a High budget Direct-to-Video) release.

Very little of the series has been accessible to English Language viewers. A wide Release was aborted by Bandai Entertainment in the Early 2000's because of bad Master Copies. However, a few of the early episodes have been subtitled by amateur groups and unsubtitled copies of the OVA's can be found on video streaming websites.


The music of the series, composed by Hiroki Inui (Armored Trooper VOTOMS), is one of the strong points of the series.

Layzner BGM 1 was released shortly after the premiere of the series in 1985. BGM 1 contains 12 tracks, the first track being the opening theme song "Melos no Yoni LONELY WAY (Run Like Melos, Lonely Way)" by AIRMAIL from NAGASAKI and the last track being the series 1st ending theme "Go-fun Dake no Wagamama (Just 5 Minutes of Selfishness)", also performed by AIRMAIL from NAGASAKI. This version differs from what was used in the series, which was perfomed by Seiko Tomizowa. This version is on the playlist on the blog. The other ten tracks are incidental themes composed by Inui-san.

Some pieces, like the first track on the playlist, UN Mars Base tend put me in a very relaxed and thoughtful mood. The more action oriented pieces, such as "Ravages of War" and "S.P.T." are energetic and lively. Other tracks not on the playlist evoke a pensive and moody atmosphere which captures the atmosphere of the series quite nicely. Despite the soundtrack feeling dated (it is from 1985 after all), I find it satisfying to listen to regardless.

Layzner BGM 1 can be found online if you look hard enough. Expect updates when other BGM soundtracks of the series turn up.



11:14 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
December 11, 2008 - Thursday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 118: Back with a Hidden Peter
By Bushido Black (aka Setsuna F. Darkness)

Well, its been quite a while, hasn't it?

Life was pretty busy and fun, until everything went to hell in the last two weeks.

The skinny: the club where I worked at got shutdown on Thanksgiving of all days, due to massive levels of retardation and other socially/racially offensive adjectives and stereotypes that I can't share on this blog.

Long story short, I'm out of a job. My rainy day safety net fund has about another week before Its dried up. Oh, yeah, its also Christmastime, but due to the shitty state of our economy, no one is really hiring in my area, so, it's going to be another broke ass Christmas for me (3 in a row. Yay).

While I feel that Christmas should NOT be used as an excuse to fuel our materialistic society, at the same time, I hate being broke on the holidays. Oh well, when I'm bored with too much time, I succumb to blogging.

On the blog front, I totally forgot (just kidding) that I was reviewing the final season of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (not the season that's on Sci-Fi Channel, Monday's at 11, that's Season One, which I hope you are watching). Expect reviews from episode two onward in the coming weeks.

On another note, which makes me REALLY happy from a technical perspective, images on the blog from this point forward will be in .PNG format instead of ugly ass .JPEG format. TDF 117 (the last post with the Phillies was updated as well).

EXAMPLE:



For those of you not in the know, most photoshopped pics posted on here are not done on Adobe Photoshop, but on Microsoft Paint. However, Paint's Bitmap (.bmp) files don't convert well into JPEG when uploading images onto image hosting sites. However, they do accept .PNG, and as you can see from above, the quality is much better.

Well, I should be back to work soon, but that doesn't mean I'll abandon this lovely blog (which is hitting it's one year anniversary soon). in the meantime, stick around for more random eccentricity.

And for those who have (I actually hit over 3100 hits without a single new post in two months),

Thanks.

For now, lets look at some clips of the late Peter Jennings in his off camera best...





Let's not forget he was a human being too. And over 9000.

R.I.P. Pete. 6:30 on Channel 6 aint the same without you.

10:53 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 10, 2008 - Friday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 117:  RED STORM RISING...?

As the subtitle says, I have caught playoff fever, and I'm rootin' for the Fightin' Phils!

1.) My Beloved Eagles are playing like... Pigeons. I don't care if Dallas lost to the Redskins, when you lose to them YOU SUCK. And yes, until they prove me otherwise, I regard the Washington Redskins as a shit team and the New Yor-- I mean, the NEW JERSEY Giants are really fucking lucky... RAGE.

2. And for anyone who follows the stock market... or the trainwreck that's left of it, Get ready for the "Great Depression 2, Credit Crisis Boogaloo". As I type, Stocks plunged below fucking 9,000 points in the final hour of trading Thursday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 675 points, or more than 7 percent, to its lowest level in five years after a major credit ratings agency said it was cutting it credit rating on General Motors Corp. Oh, and Iceland is bankrupt and owes Russia 3 billion Dollars...

TL,DR: We're so far up shit creek, we're fucked beyond epic proportions. I hope you like breadlines and soup kitchens. God Help Us...

But the Phillies are in the NLCS... yay.

SEPTA Rider Faggotry

One thing that makes me rage about riding the bus, is the people.

Drunks, the Homeless, the crazies, the Drunk, Homeless and Crazy, those who sing at the top of their lungs, Retarded college kids from Manayunk on St. Patricks day... they actualy don't bother me so much, as they only come in small doses.

However, if there is one inane group of "riders" that triggers in infinite ire of "Insta-rage", it's the asshats who are too stupid to do research before hand, then cop an attitude at the operator for their own stupidity.

Darwin Award Candidate 1

So I'm on a Rt. 14 bus en route to Roosevelt Blvd. and Red Lion Rd. the other day, when this douchebag flags the bus down... to ask when the next rt 20 is going to show up.

Why does this make me rage:

1. The Rt. 20 goes to a different destination than the 14.

2. The rider stops a bus which takes a while to get to speed

3. Three since he did not ride, it was a wasted stop.

4. The 20 runs, like every 10 minutes at 2:00 in the afternoon, How fucking hard is it for you to wait? ("Uhh-hurrr Oh gawd cant this bus run any quicker, like 9 mins. plz????")?

5. HOW HARD IS IT TO FUCKING OBTAIN A SCHEDULE, YOU STUPID FUCK??? You live like, 5 minutes away from Frankford Terminal aand Comly District yet you seemingly just can't memorize and get a simple paper schedule...

OH GOD, I'm still fucking raging from that!

Darwin Award Candidate 2

It's raining last night, and I'm trying to get the Broad Street Night Owl home. One pulls up at City Hall. Some dumbass cuts me off to demand the Bus operator if that is the right bus, because the sign is not showing...

Th problem is, The sign is showing. In clear bright fucking orange text. So, if my mole-man eyesight can see it pretty damn clearly, how... cant... you?

These stories are quite meaningless, but I will share them anyway, because I can.


3:25 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 9, 2008 - Thursday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 116:  Continuance? WTF?
MECHATAINIA: The Second Coming of GUNDAM

So court came and went...

It was actually rather painless. However...

Because one of the suspects failed to appear during a line-up hearing, we have to do this dance again on Nov. 3rd, for the Preliminary hearing... yay.

On a good note for the victims, because the suspects were repeat offenders, have public defenders aaand with the one suspect being a no-show, I'd have to say the defendants are pretty fucked, and the situation probably wont go past the pre-trial stage.

Best of all, I can probably skate through this thing without having to face the suspects in the courtroom again, hence my identity is SAFE... for now, that is until the Daily News gets an expose all about my black ass.

Now, that things are somewhat back to normal, I can resume spamming this blog with the ususal weird shit and...

GUNDAM!

Yes! That's right, bitches. Now that Code Geass has finally finished its run, we can get dive back into the most hotly anticipated show of this season.

And here is the first review...

Down below...


MECHATAINIA!
Stage 9: The Second Coming of GUNDAM

Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Episode 26 (1)* The Angels Second Advent
Total Count Number (Season Episode Number)**

OPENING VID



Song is "Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi" by UVERworld

SYNOPSIS

PART A

- In the year 2312, a team of A-LAWS GN-XIII Mobile Suits destroy the Kataron forces at the Lazarus Colony.

- Watching the reports from their base, Shirin Bakhtiar asks Klaus Grad if they can postpone the rescue operation at the Proud Colony. Klaus would rather do it much more soon, as many lives are counting on it.

- Sergei Smirnov is at his home watching a press Conference on television about the public announcement detailing the creation of a autonomous peace force working in tandem with Homeland Security. Talking with Kati Mannequin, she tells him that there have been changes to the assignments to A-LAWS. He asks her to find out what she knows about their internal affairs, and she agrees, as she feels its best not to let them out of her sight.

- Soma Peris walks in. As she and Sergei drink tea, he asks her if she made her decision yet, when she doesn't give a clear answer, he says he wont rush her.

- At the Proud Colony in Lagrange 4, Saji Crossroad is working as a construction worker. In the locker room, he gets complemented by his co-worker Eddie Miyazaki who insists on calling him Newbie, despite Saji's Protests.

- A pair of Soldiers attempt to arrest Eddy, who is accused of being a member of Kataron. Eddie barely tries to escape when he gets shot and apprehended. Saji is arrested as well.

- On the new Ptolemaios, Mileina Vashti and her father, Ian, inform Tieria Erde that a new Federation cruiser is heading toward Lagrange 4. Tieria sorties with the Seravee Gundam. He remarks "If he's alive (Setsuna), he'll come." The Ptolemaios speeds to Lagrange 4.

- Back at Proud, Saji is forced to do labor in the high Gravity zone.

- On the Federation ship, Lt. Col. Arthur Goodman dispatches a platoon consisting of Barrack Zinin in the new GN AHEAD mobile Suit with some GN-X III MS, including unit 3 which is piloted by Warrant Officer Louis Halvey. The Ahead is equipped with a loadout of Automatons.

- Setsuna F. Seiei infiltrates the Proud Colony. He wonders if he's being targeted.

- As Saji works, he thinks to himself that he wont yield to such punishment and that he will reunite with Louise. A coworker remarks how he doesn't look like a soldier or a member of Kataron. When Saji tells him he's neither, the co worker tell him that he's lucky and in time, he'll se why.

- Setsuna learns from the guards that the colony is evacuating. A that moment A Kataron force consisting of Hellion's, Tierens and Enacts storm the colony. They come under heavy fire from the automatic colony defenses.

- A Virgina Class ship jams into a entry port, disabling the gravity. Seizing the moment, Saji's coworker springs into action. However, the A-LAWS Unit arrives and wastes no time in wiping down the Kataron forces. The Automatons destroy everyone in sight. Setsuna, begins to remote activate the Gundam Exia, while Saving Saji...

PART B

- Their reunion is cut short when a automaton arrives at their location.

- Outside of the colony, Louise destroys a Hellion, despite her skill, she is having trouble concentrating and is hyperventilating.

- As Setsuna and Saji try to escape from the automatons, he notes that the nothing has changed from the past and the world is still in conflict. Meanwhile Barack notices a certain mobile suit is rapidly approaching the battlefield.

- Barrack Zinin in the Ahead, launches his squadron of Automatons.

- Saji and Setsuna get to the Dock where the heavily battle damaged Gundam Exia is waiting for them.

- Setsuna quickly dispatches the Automatons. The reaction of the Exia causes Louise to freakout. Ribbons Almark seems to be observing the situation from his home through Louise. he's surprised to see the Exia in action.

- As Setsuna fights, Saji is disturbed to learn that Setsuna is a member of Celestial Being.



- Although Setsuna is able to dodge most of the AHEAD's attack, he is still no match for the advanced AHEAD. just as Barrack is about to finish him, Setsuna is saved by Tieria in the Seravee. Barrack learns that he is clarly no match for the Seravee. he take Louise and retreats.

- On the Ptolemaios, Felt Grace remarks to Lasse Aeon that Setsuna will be surprised when he sees him.

- At Kataron's base, Klaus tells Shirin that they should thank Celestial Being. She remarks that they too may be on the receiving end of an armed intervention. Klaus replies that since they share the same motive, it will be a good opportunity.

- Tieria remarks that to Setsuna that he's changed in four years. Setsuna replies that Tieria hasn't changed at all. Tieria retorts "they say that about me." Their moment is interrupted by Saji, who vents at Setsuna about the people he's killed including his sister, Kinue and hurting Louise. When Setsuna gives no answer, Saji takes Setsuna's gun and points it at him, demanding him to bring them back.

- On the Federation ship, Arthur remarks that its good for Celestial Being to reappear, as it will justify A-LAWS existence and allocate them more equipment.

- In the locker room, Louise struggles to take her pills. Barrack wonders how she got into A-LAWS. Ribbons remarks that he's glad for her, now that she has a reason to fight as well. Regene Regetta informs him that Wang Liu Mei is visiting.

- Marina Ismail and Billy Katagiri are watching the news from their homes, which is reporting the Gundam sighting. The news wakes Sumeragi Lee Noriega up.

- The "Masked Man" aka Graham Aker is happy to learn of the Gundam appearance.

- Sergei's son, Andrei Smirnov arrives at Sergei's home to pick up Soma as per orders. Sergei is surprised to see him in a A-LAWS uniform, as he didn't tell Sergei that he joined A-LAWS, and they have a very distant relationship. Meanwhile, Allelujah is held at an undisclosed facility.

- Tieria asks Saji why he didn't shoot Setsuna. Saji replies doing so would make him the same as them. Tieria tells him that he'd ought to be grateful, as he would've been executed as a member of Kataron by the Federation.



- Setsuna heads to earth, where he meets Kataron member Lyle Dylandy, to recruit him into Celestial Being as the new Lockon Stratos.

MULLING OVER

The Crowning Moments of Awesome

- "Solid Snake Setsuna" took a serious Badass upgrade during the time skip. I'm seriously impressed. His interrogation style "Kotai do (Answer Me)" was pretty "holy shit" as well.

- The really Gorgeous OP

The AWWWW

- Sergei and Soma relaxing at home, drinking tea.

- Sleep well, Gundam Exia.

The BAAWW

- Seeing Lockon (Neil Dylandy), Christina Sieria and Lichtendahl Tsery in the OP

The LOLs

- Tieria's SO MOE face and "Team Patrick Blasting Off Again!" in the OP
- Seravee Gundam really has a functional Gundam face on its back. I wonder what other gimmicks it has...
- Ribbons has fulfilled the lack of FABULOUS from Code Geass's departure. Seriously, they are reaaally playing up his androgynous-ness. Toryu Furya must be having a field day with this character.

Some Gundam Firsts:

- Powered Suits

Also...

- Animation and Music were incredible. I'm already liking what little of the BGM was played.
- Saji finally gets to vent. He gets to say his peace while sticking to his principles. It'll be interesting to see where he and Setsuna's character development will go.
- I loved Tieria and Setsuna's little exchange.

THE VERDICT

As far as "first" episodes go, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 didn't waste any time getting back into the saddle, with the premiere of the second season. We see that though the world has bee unified, many are quite unhappy with the current situation and have formed a resistance movement, Kataron. The Federation has their own secretive task force A-LAWS, which bear a resemblance to the Titans, from the Original series sequel, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. However, only time will tell to see where their differences lie.

Overall, a solid episode and a great start for the second chapter of this exciting series.

RATING:

4 out of 5 Stars.

NOTES

* I'll be using a different count for the episodes. The number I'll use reflects the episode number for the series as a whole, while the number in parenthesis is the episode number for the season.

** Unlike Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion and Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, which are technically two separate series from a production standpoint, as R2 was a sequel series added after the first series was done production.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was planned as a single series, with a season break, hence my justification for the lol episode count. Up yours, nitpickers!


7:36 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 3, 2008 - Friday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 115:  Catching Up
MECHATAINIA: Farewell to a King

It's one of those weeks again where I run off and do busy things and do busy things, while this blog sits and collects dust. While I definitely haven't abandoned it, the rate of blogs are going to be... indeterminate for a while, depending on some outside factors.

Next week I have to go play "Law and Order" at the Criminal Justice Center, to bring justice to a pair of boys who got beat up by a pair of thugs. Hopefully, this will take up the least bit of time as possible, but knowing how this city loves to circle-jerk itself when it comes to race related bullshit (See Latrice Bryant for race card faggotry), there will probably be coverage in the Philadelphia Daily News about it and my black ass next week. Yay.

As for MECHATAINIA related stuff, I am definitely blogging Gundam 00, starting next week. It's guaranteed, so no worry's about it. VOTOMS will come when I get more episodes. Nothings worse than covering a show that you can hardly find the source material.

As for new content, depending on how I feel about Linebarrels of Iron, we'll see. On thing I learned about episode blogging, it's fucking tedious if you can't write it well. So for now, I'll stick with Gundam because it's a continuation from the spring... Holy fuck Gundam is on in 4 DAYS!!! WRYYYYYYYYYYYY!

As for regular installments of THE DARKNESS FILES, expect the usual scizophrenic crap that I call a blog.

Now onto Geass, for the LAST TIME!


MECHATAINIA!
Stage 8: Farewell to a King

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
Episode 25, Re;

FINAL EPISODE
Image Dump Coming...

SYNOPSIS

--- COLD OPENING---

- Lelouch & Nunnally meet face to face. Nunnally remarks that its the first time shes seen his face in eight years and that its the face of a murderer. She says she may as well have the face of one too.

- Lelouch learns that she fired all of the FLEIJA's. Nunnally replies it was intended to defeat him, even if it meant his death. And she will not hand over FLEIJA, or Damocles, even if he were to use Geass.

- This surprises Lelouch, who would have used it to have her recover her eyesight. However, he is still concerned about using the Power of the king to force Nunnally's will.

-- PART A ---

- Kallen & Suzaku face off on the surface of Damocles, with Gino's disabled Tristan Twin being forced to witness.

- Suzaku asks Kallen if she intends to stand in his way no matter what. She replies that she misunderstood him. She thought Suzaku was fighting for Japan in his own way by working with the system, but feels that since he and Lelouch are working purely for power, he shouldn't be allowed to exist and she will defeat Lelouch.

- As Suzaku and Kallen face off, in Ashford Academy Milly asks Rivalz if hes fine not running away. He replies where should he run to. He says he would have been happy just being with all of the classmates, having fun.

- Jeremiah and Anya face off in the skies above Damocles. He tells her that power without a  master is no match for him. She tells him he's weak for relying on a master.

- On the "Big Chinese Pyramid Doomfortress of Fun" that is the hangout of the UFN (HINT: I Don't know the name), Chiba begs Tohdoh to get medical attention, because of his injuries.

- On Damocles, Nunnally tells Lelouch that he lacks the qualifications to obtain the world, because he as Zero, trampled on peoples hearts. Lelouch asks her if it were better for them to continue living as they were in Ashford, under fake names and fear of assassination. he tells her, he did everything for her sake.

- Nunnally replies that she didn't ask for it, and that she would have been happy simply living with him. Lelouch retorts that reality is dominated by things outside of their control and that they have to struggle.

- Back to Kallen vs. Suzaku, Kallen tells him that its for this sake that has kept her and the Kuro no Kishidan fighting as the Resistance. Suzaku replies that there is also a way to fight using the system. Kallen akss him what can people do who can't enter the system.

- Kallen dares Suzaku not to lecture her, as she cannot explain to him that their methods aren't similar. Suzaku replies what can people who have no choice but to enter the system do.



- Back to Chiba and Tohdou, he tells her that by assimilating the culture of an invader, it's the same as acknowledging their invasion. Once again, Chiba begs Tohdoh to get medical attention, because of his injuries. He almost pimp slaps her for being insubordinate, but regains his composure and tells her that he only knows of fighting.

- Somehow, Tianzi (5) and Li Xingke have a disjointed conversation. She screams "why is there conflict?" and he replies that he has something to protect, while in his gimped Shen-Hu and charging toward the Damocles.

- At Peng Lai, a recovering Cornelia laments to herself that war is losing its beauty and pride. Outside of her room Viletta stares at a picture, thninking to herself that she needed a place to exist.

- Ougi is driving in a convoy of trucks away from Mt. Fuji. he wonders to himself if the fighting was really worth it.

- Back on the Big Chinese Pyramaid fortress, Lloyd and Rakashata discuss about war. he tells her that war is the mother of invention. She tells him that he overlooks the human tragedy behind it. She asks Nina for her opinion. She stutters that she wanted to do what she could do. Cecile interrupts and says that they didn't want to repeat it.

- Tamaki is recovering in a hospital bed. He screams that he should be able to dream and that he can still fight.

- In the ocean below, C.C. thinks about how she has seen the struggle between mankind throughout time.

- Back to Kallen vs. Suzaku,Suzaku says the world doesn't just happen as it is. Kallen replies is that why he wants to make it as it is.

- Back to Damocles, Nunnally tells Lelouch that by using Geass, he is low and despicable for trampling peoples hearts.

- Lelouch questions Nunnally about using Damocles which uses a similar method to force people to obey her will. She replies that Damocles will be a symbol of hatred, and that all hate will be gathered there to welcome tomorrow.

- Lelouch, realizing that she had a similar goal as he, geasses Nunnally to hand over the key to Damocles. She resists heavily, but gives in.

- Back to Jeremiah vs. Anya, Anya scores a direct hit on the Sutherland Sieg with her Mordred. As the Sutherland Sieg explodes, Jeremiah charges at the Mordred with the Sutherland inside of the Sieg, Jeremiah lands onto of the Mordred, exploding it. He then leaps from the destroyed Sutherland on top of the damaged Mordred charging directly at Anya.

- Landing on top of the damaged cockpit of the Mordred, Jeremiah tells Anya to commemorate the name of the one who defeated her.
- Anya laments that she can't commemorate anything, since she has no memories of her own. Jeremiah, surprised, examines her with his Geass Canceler.

- Back to Kallen vs. Suzaku, Gino is still struggling with the wreck of the Tristan Twin. Kallen and Suzaku realize they no longer have energy to power their energy weapons. As they fight, Suzaku realizes that even with his live Geass, he can't counter Kallen's strength. Kallen realizes that event though the Gurren is more powerful, she cant counter his strength.

- Kallen and Suzaku fight to the point of wreckage. Suzaku disables the Gurren, while Kallen impales the Lancelot Albion's torso. Kallen passes out and the Gurren falls into the arms of the Tristan Twin. The Alncelot Albion explodes.

- As Lelouch takes the Key of Damocles from Nunnally, he remarks that she is proudly livng by her own thoughts, which is hwy he can continue down his own path. He thanks her and tells her he loves her.

- Nunnally regains her consciousness, angrily asking Lelouch if he used Geass, when he gives no answer and walks away, she follows in her wheelchair. Because of the Stairs (LOLZ), She cannot go any further, as she lays on the ground, she calls her brother low, despicable and cowardly.

- C.C. is picked up by Kaguya who asks C.C. to surrender. C.C. tell her until lately, she didn't know Lelouch's true face, yet she understood part of his true nature.

- Over the skies, Lelouch detonates a FLEIJA warhead. In an announcement broadcast to the entire world, Lelouch announces that he has defeated Schniezel and the Kuro no Kishidan and has total control of the world.

-- PART B--

- Two months later, Lelouch has succeeded in unifying the world. A news reporter comments that many soldiers including the Citizens of Pendragon, and Suzaku were lost,Lelouch accomplished his task, by having the EU (1) ratifying the UFN Constitution, Lelouch has accomplished his task.

- In Japan, Lelouch is riding in his "Kingmobile" in a parade in Japan. Lelouch has Kallen, Touhdoh and everyone who fought against him held captive on their way to their executions. At the foot of the Kingmobile is a chained Nunnally.

- The Citizens watching the parade complain about Lelouch's rule being nothing more than a plain dictatorship. In the TV Station where Milly works, the staff complain about having to Broadcast the parade.

- Also watching from the parade is Rivalz, who wonders if this is what Lelouch always wanted to do.

- In a holding cell, Rakashata and Lloyd continue to argue. Nina asks what is that about and Cecile replies that their disagreement started over something trivial.

- Back to the parade. Watching the parade from a secret hideout is a Resistance group consisting of Cornelia, Villetta, Minami, Guilford and Zhou Xianglin (2). Villetta freaks out when she sees Ougi. Cornelia calms her down, telling her that if she makes her move now, she play right into Lelouch's hands.

- The parade is stopped when they see Zero at the top of a hill.

- Not even Jeremiah and gunfire from the KMF's can stop Zero. Launching off of Jeremiah, Zero lands on the Kingmobile and charges at Lelouch with his sword.

- Lelouch is surprised, but smiles. Everything is going according to plan. It is Suzaku dressed as Zero.

- In a flashback, Lelouch speaks with Suzaku. He tells Suzaku that he will kill him as promised, with all of the world's hatred focused on him, Thus, the Zero Requiem. Passing Suzaku the Zero mask, he tells him that Schneizel will serve Zero and that the world can sit around a table of diplomacy, not military power. Suzaku tells Lelouch that they learned in the World of C (3), that people are wishing for tomorrow. Lelouch replies that wishes are similar to Geass: Asking someone to do something that can't be accomplished with their own power. Lelouch says he'll let himself be taken under a Geass called "everyone's wish."

- Everyone reacts to Lelouch's murder, while Cornelia's resistance goes into action. In a Church, as C.C. prays for Lelouch, she recalls him saying: "The only ones who can kill are the ones who are prepared to be killed themselves."

- Lelouch thinks to himself that Suzaku will be a hero: the one who saved the world from himself, the enemy of the world.



- As Suzaku stabs Lelouch in the chest, he cant help himself but to cry.

- Lelouch notes to Suzaku that by taking the mantle of Zero, this will be his punishment as well. Suzaku will have to live the rest of his life as Zero, as his identity is no more. Suzaku will have to put his happiness aside for the sake of the world. Suzaku tells him he'll accept that Geass.



- Lelouch tumbles down the Kingmobile ramp to where Nunnally is. as he lays dying Nunnally grabs his hand, telling him she loved him. she gets a vision of his true intentions (from the Lelouch/Suzaku conversation) and realizes everything he done up to this point was a ruse. In his dying breath, Lelouch says that he will destroy and recreate the world. The Emperor is dead.

- Cornelia's resistance springs into action. Touhdo realizes who Zero is, but Kallen insists it's just Zero. Nunnally tells Lelouch she would have been happy simply living with him, and she breaks down while the people chant Zero.

-- EPILOUGE--

- Sometime later, Kallen is preparing for school.

- Ditching her "frail and weak" persona, she wears the key to the Gurren around her neck.



-Thinking as if she were talking to Lelouch, she speaks of how much better the world has become. The energy used for fighting has been redirected to hunger and poverty and that all of the hatred has been blamed on him.

- She guesses that its easier to blame one man and a name, rather than a weapon like Damocles. For that reason, the people can move forward without being held hostage to the past. She says that maybe he'll be laughing that everything went according to plan. Though problems remain, she continues to be hopeful.

- Montage time: Prime Minister Ougi and a very pregnant Villetta get married, while Tamaki runs a bar. Zero pushes Nunnally around in her Wheelchair, while Jeremiah and Anya work at an Orchard. Damocles has been sent to the Sun.



- C.C. rides on top of a hay cart. She muses that the Power of the king may isolate people, but addressing Lelouch, she says it's maybe not quite not like that.

MULLING OVER

Jeremiah Gottwald's CROWNING MOMENTS OF AWESOME
(in this order)

- Jumping out of the Sutherland, which he exploded on top of the Mordred, which said Sutherland originally jumped out of the exploding Sutherland Sieg, to shiv a loli (it has to be seen to be believed).
- "Jer-em-iiiah Go-T-To-walt-doooo!"
- "ORUHAIRURURUSHU!!!"
- "Go forward, Masked Knight"
- He's working on a ORANGE PLANTATION!!! (I CONTINUE TO FARM!, I CONTINUE TO FARM!**)
(TL:DR) Jeremiah fucking owned this episode.

OH YEAH...
THOSE OTHER CROWNING MOMENTS OF AWESOME

- Oh and Kallen Vs. Suzaku FINAL was pretty bad ass as well.
- Hikaru Midorikawa. Every one of his rage lines fucking rox.

THE GOOD

- Kallen and Suzaku's banter. Shit, this was the best KMF fight in the entire series.
- The Death scene was handled very well.

THE INTERESTING

- Loved how that big clump of conversations in Part A  was interspersed.

- Suzaku seems to have forgiven Lelouch. The tears he shed when he killed him are major evidence of that, plus he seemed surprised in episode 22 (4) that Lelouch was actually accomplishing what he set out to do when he became Emperor.

- Kallen seems to have forgiven Lelouch as well. Not only does she think about him and has his picture on the wall in direct line of sight, she also wears the key to the Gurren, which is a symbol of the power he awarded her during the rebellion, along with it being a serious memento.
TL, DR: She she still loves him.

- Oh those ambiguous lines from C.C. at the end.

THE LULZY

- Nunnally and her Wheelchair. Guess, they don't have ramps for her in Damocles.

- Minami really is a pedo. Look at where he's standing in Ougi's wedding picture, then read this post.

- The clothes that Ougi, Villetta, Kallen and Tamaki wear in the wedding picture are the same designs used in a piece of earlier relased promo art. Now look at how Zero's back is turned. Foreshadowing perhaps?

- Kanon's Moe face, part two.

- Schneizel whipped and Chained... with Jeremiah escorting him. Many a yaoi rape Dojin was started in Japan at that moment.

- You're not a character on geass until you wear a Britannia prison uniform/straight jacket...  even Tianzi wears one.

- Lelouch is not only the Emperor, he remains the CEO of the Kuro no Kishidan, and the second high council President of the UFN.

- "Knight The Zero"

THE BAWWWWWWWWW

- Arthur at Suzaku's grave. BAAWWWWWWWWWWW.
- "Yuke, kamen no Kishiryu" ("Go Forward, Masked Knight")
- " I will... destroy... the world... and recreate it...

THE IRONY

- Suzaku becoming Zero. Did not see that coming.

- So C.C. and Suzaku, who were the one who wanted to seek death live, yet Lelouch who wanted to live and fight for the future decided that is was best not for him to be a part of it. Holy Shit.

- Corneila calling Lelouch evil, ahh the Warrior Princess.

- Even Lelouch's helpers (Nina, Lloyd, Cecile, SAYOKO!!!) got locked up. But they weren't trucked out for execution so...

THE BULLSHIT

- I thought Guilford was blind now... yet he can run and sling around a machine gun. Maybe he has moleman eyesight, I dunno.

- Everyone from the Kuro no Kishidan lives. Even Chiba. Even Ougi (He became freaking Prime Minister of all things). After all of the stupid crap they pulled, they get fairy-taled endings, while Lelouch rots in the ground* and Suzaku gets a fate worse than death. BULLSHIT!

- Who the hell invited "Nani Mai Hunny" to the wedding?

- So Kallen (KALLEN?!!!) of all people, caught onto Zero Requiem? That must be one hell of an Obfuscating Stupidity at play, there.

- From a production standpoint, It would have been nice had they would have used "COLORS" by FLOW in the closing credits instead of "Waga Routashi Aku no Hana" by ALI PROJECT. In my opinion, COLORS would have really made a big impact and one hell of an ending for the ages, especially if you consider the lyrics, and the full-circle value. But the content of the ending still rocked.

THE VERDICT

To be honest, when I thought of Zero Requiem, I thought Lelouch, Suzaku and C.C. were gonna go out in a public mass-suicide. Glad to see I was somewhat right.

For those accused the series of being a trainwreck, Geass could have turned out like Gundam SEED DESTINY, but it didn't instead we get one hell of a finale that ties up most of the loose ends, while remaining somewhat ambiguous. As for whether Lelouch is dead or alive, I'm going to go with dead. Throughout the series, we've learned that Lelouch always wanted to take responsibility for his actions, and with Zero Requiem, that is exactly what he did. To have him remain alive would cheapen everything he did and derail his character.

As for the Kuro no Kishidan, they DID NOT earn their happy ending. Some may argue that their fight to liberate of Japan was just enough. But considering they bit the hand that fed them (Lelouch) and continued to side with Schneizel, while he was spamming (okay Nunnally was) Mt. Fuji with FLEIJA's, and then they STILL go after Lelouch, because they thought he was ZOMG TEH Evil was beyond retarded. But they get to reap the benefits of a unified world and Lelouch gets to rot*. That's how it is, I suppose.

As for poor Suzaku, he looses his identity and a chance for happiness. While he gets to live in the new world that Lelouch created, and gets to die as a hero, but he lost everything: the girl he loved, his best friend, his cock-a-maimie ideals and his name. Talk about a fate worse than death.

To finish up, we get one hell of a finale. Theres still some things that irk me, such as the disappearance of some characters (Sayoko & Li Xingke, anyone), but overall this was a fitting end to a fun series.

RATINGS

Episode: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Series Rating for R2: 4 out of 5 Stars

Why: Despite it not having the great writing and story structure of the first series, I enjoyed the hell out of R2 more than the first series, especially when I threw out my expectations, and watched it with a bit of MST3K mantra. R2 was a roller-coaster ride from start to finish and it made my Sunday and Mondays fun and entertaining. Do I judge it as a trainwreck? No. I could've went that way, but it didn't.

Entire Series: 4 out of 5 Stars

Why: Code Geass did what Director Goro Taniguchi and Producer Yoshitaka Kawaguchi set out to do: make a hit show. Hands down this is the show that gave SUNRISE Animation its groove back. Sure, Geass is not the greatest show since sliced bread, and I never thought it was supposed to be. But it was fun, entertaining, it created one of the more memorable and controversial Protagonists of the 2000's, and it did all of this with some incredible verisimilitude and a heaping amount of FABULOUS. I'm glad I was able to be a part of this ride, and look forward to seeing more the series expanded universe, in the form of the numerous manga, light novels and sound dramas it has to offer.

NOTES

(1) Euro Universe: That other nation in the world of Geass.
(2) Zhou Xianglin is a female military aid to Li Xingke.
(3) See episode 21, "Emperor Dethroned"
(4) See episode 22, "Emperor Lelouch"
(5) Okay, she was probably talking to Kaguya. But I still got a "Huh-wah" reaction to that dialogue piece.
* You're mileage may vary on this one. I say he's dead.
** Please let me know if you got that joke.

NEXT WEEK


Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Episode 26, "The Angels Second Advent", Sunday 17:00 JST (5:00 P.M.) - 4:00 A.M. EST on TBS/MBS

Four years have passed since the final battle between Celestial Being and the UN Forces. Humanity, having established the Earth Sphere Federation, forms an independent security preservation force, A-Laws, separate from the formal Federation army to further unify nations and the will of mankind. But the reality was the inhumane oppression of misuse of powers, doctrines, and ideologies in the name of unity.

Saji Crossroad has followed the path to becoming a space engineer to keep his promise to Louise Halevy, and is compelled to become involved in Federation government reform and joined A-Laws as a mobile suit pilot during the four-year gap.

Meanwhile, Setsuna F. Seiei, having survived the climactic battle four years ago, witnessed a change in the world due to the actions of Celestial Being. With the defeat of Alejandro Corner, he dreamed of a peaceful world without conflict; but before his own eyes was the reality of the continuing strain on peace, the oppression caused by A-Laws. He decides once more to fight with Gundam, the power with the potential to change the world.

GET READY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF GUNDAM, BITCHES!



6:16 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
September 27, 2008 - Saturday 

THE DARKNESS FILES
No. 114: Farewell to Frontier...
By Setsuna F. Darkness



So the last episode of Macross Frontier just aired today on TBS (the Japanese Mega-Network). To describe it accurately:

Episode 25: FFFFFFFFFFF-- HOLY SHIT!!

It was the best half hour of "mecha porn" I have ever seen in my life. No there was no actual porn, but a showdown between two Macross ships Frontier and Galaxy, the return of SMS and the Macross Quarter, Alto back in his VF-25, him and Brea working together, a medley of every Sheryl and Ranka song produced and Battle Frontier



Battle... Motherfucking... 25... Transformed!

made this one hell of a finale. While the most important question ("that triangle thingy") remained unsolved, I'm glad it didn't. Some fans look at it a cop-out. I saw it a mile away, and I'm glad Kawamori left it in the open.

Macross Frontier was a hard series to follow at times. While the beginning of the series had me brimming with excitement, the middle settled down into this mundane tug of war love triangle, which had an naive and immature loli, the tsundere pop star and a blockhead of a lead who couldn't go more than one mission without trashing his Valkyrie (I mean Messiah). I thought some episodes in the middle were really boring and just seemed to be filler to please the shojo fangirls, with some occasional mecha action and homages to remind me it was a Macross series.

Then, around episode 20, when the shit hit the fan, and the plot started moving, Macross Frontier got really interesting, grim and... good.

Overall, I was impressed on how Kawamori and co. were able to info dump all of the backstory without derailing the plot. And the last two episodes were incredible.

Despite the muddy middle, I enjoyed the series and I'm sad to see it go. Hopefully, it will get released in stateside, that is if Harmony Gold and Studio Nue can get their heads out of their asses.

Before I finish up, I leave you with a song:



"Northern Cross" by May'n (May Nakabayashi)
(As Sheryl Nome)
2nd Closing Song to Macross Frontier

Lyrics
High Quality
For Keepers

Definitely my favorite song out of the series. Quite powerful and moving.


1:34 AM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate