REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury,’ Episode 18 — “Our Empty Selves”

Suletta has lost her two loves in Aerial and Miorine, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 18 picks up with Suletta trying to pick herself up. Will things between her and Miorine ever heal, or will Suletta be driven into her mother Prospera’s devious arms? Things are really heating up and are only going to get more intense.

The drama and tension have been palpable throughout the second cour of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. Miorine’s decision to betray Suletta was as heartbreaking for me as it surely was for Suletta. She may have made her deal with the devil in what she thought was Suletta’s best interest, but Prospera is not exactly trustworthy. I don’t think the decision was the best one to make, but that isn’t the point. The point is that it felt like a very human move, albeit a desperate one. Miorine really does love Suletta and wants her to be free from her mother.

Suletta’s reaction to the betrayal is also very grounded. In Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 18, she decides to bury herself in schoolwork in an attempt to distract herself from dwelling on what happened. Suletta’s friends are understandably concerned, and they are furious with Miorine. What surprised me, although it probably should not have, is that Suletta actually blames herself. She does not think she is worthy of being engaged to someone of Miorine’s status, so of course, Miorine would use her and betray her. It just further shows how badly her upbringing broke her. Prospera molded her into an obedient servant with no sense of self-worth, and it’s hard to see how Suletta will ever snap out of that.

There are some typical high school moments in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 18 too, which felt quite fitting. Suletta is going through a breakup after all, and not everyone is going to be there to support her. She clashes with Guel’s half-brother, Lauda, and has Chuchu to defend her, but Suletta actually agrees with the brutal comments from Lauda. This motivates Chuchu to be a more vocal ally of Suletta, and she is determined to confront Miorine.

Speaking of Miorine, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 18 finally puts her, Prospera, and Guel together. Prospera wants to announce a new mobile suit that she had been working on as a secret project. A way to show that Jeturk and GUND-ARM are united and are real players in the mobile suit field. On paper, it makes sense, but Miorine has always been driven by doing what she thinks is right. She is determined to only use Gundam technology to help people, not for war, so she refuses. It further shows how it’s the kids in Witch From Mercury who are determined to end all of the fighting, while the adults just want to profit from it.

Prospera isn’t dumb. She had to have seen Miorine’s decision coming, so of course, she has other things in motion that we start to learn about. The threads are starting to come together, and secret plots are slowly being revealed. In Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 18, it all culminates when Suletta arrives at Benerit HQ. Her encounter with Prospera there leads to an incredible moment where Suletta discovers some of the truth behind her mom’s plans. It is a truly massive moment that sets the stage for the end of the season and one that will knock over countless dominoes.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 18 shows Suletta and her friends continuing to grow into their roles as future saviors while the selfish plans of the adults around them start to come to fruition. A massive fight is coming, one that Suletta might finally be mentally prepared to take on.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 18 is available to stream on Crunchyroll. New episodes premiere on Sundays.