REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury,’ Episode 22 — “The Woven Path”

The final climax is almost here, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 22 brings viewers ever closer to seeing how things will all pan out. Prospera Mercury is closing in on victory and only her daughter Suletta Mercury can stop her. Suletta will need to lean on the likes of Miorine Rembran as well as the Earth House of Asticassia School if she is going to be able to stop her mother.

The opening shots of The Witch From Mercury Episode 22 show just how threatening Prospera and the Quiet Zero base are. With the Space Assembly League gathered to face them head-on, Aeriel and the Gundnodes turn them away with ease. Seeing the Gundnodes turn the Assembly League’s own missiles against them shows how challenging this fight is going to be and how vital it is that Suletta talk her mother down if there is any hope of the war ending.

Back at the Benerit Group HQ, Suletta is confronted by Guel Jeturk before she can meet with Miorine, and Guel challenges her to a duel. Instead of fighting in mobile suits, they fence each other in a hallway in a scene I initially was not a fan of. After watching it back though, I realized that scene might have been the most impactful of the episode because it really drove home that these are all just kids. They hold to their silly customs and traditions because what else do they know? The weight of the world is on their shoulders but at some level things are still a game to them, even if they are probably the only ones who truly understand the gravity of everything going on around them. It was refreshing to have that reminder that these aren’t altruistic heroes we are talking about, these are desperate children who just want to live in a world of peace.

The lightheartedness of the duel gives way to a beautiful conversation between Suletta and Miorine. Suletta tells Miorine that she needs to confront her mother and Ericht but she is scared to do so. Miorine can’t give Suletta any advice, or, rather, she won’t. She is still guilt-ridden after what happened on Earth and she feels like whatever she says is only going to cause more pain and misery. But she isn’t the only one who has a past that weighs on her. Suletta brings up that she has killed people before, even if it wasn’t her intention. They have both done things that are wrong, things they would consider mistakes, but Suletta tells Miorine that the one thing she knows wasn’t a mistake was meeting her and that’s what finally breaks Miorine from her slump.

Miorine recognizes that she is not strong enough to face what she did by herself but she also can’t hide away from it. She needs Suletta, just like Suletta needs her. It’s a truly beautiful moment between the two heroines, accompanied by a piano track that further drives home just how powerful a moment it is. They know how horrible the situation is, but they are ready to face it together even after Miorine initially pushed Suletta away. Watching their relationship ebb and flow has been one of the highlights of the series, and the moments before and after they reunite in The Witch From Mercury Episode 22 are truly some of the best so far.

For the confrontation with her mother, Suletta will be taking the reigns of the Calibarn Gundam. Calibarn does not have any data storm filters to protect her, so Suletta is heading on what seems like a suicide mission with little chance of success. Still, it is their only hope if they want to stop Prospera and Suletta has no hesitation in doing what she knows needs to be done. Suletta and Calibarn are able to do what the Assembly League could not: confront Quiet Zero and Aerial as a genuine threat.

There is a moment at the end of The Witch From Mercury Episode 22 where Suletta and Aerial come face-to-face and Ericht appears to Suletta in the data storm to ask what she is doing there. Suletta, steadfast in her resolve, declares that she is there to stop Ericht and her mother regardless of the cost. It sets up for an intense final two episodes where things will not be easy for Suletta emotionally or physically.

The Witch From Mercury Episode 22 is full of beautiful and impactful moments that set up for what is sure to be an epic finale. With only two episodes left, things in The Witch From Mercury are more intense than they have ever been and I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Episode 22 is available to stream on Crunchyroll. New episodes premiere on Sundays.