REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX’ Episode 10 — “Yomagn’tho Blockade”

War is inevitable, as Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10, “Yomagn’tho Blockade,” shows Lady Kycilia Zabi (Kaori Nazuka) making a cataclysmic power move. While this is one of the most visually stunning episodes, Episode 10 contains devastating casualties. Every character’s intent is clear, as the fate of Earth’s survival rests on Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha’s (Tomoyo Kurosawa) and Nyaan’s (Yui Ishikawa) actions and decisions.

To stop Yomagn’tho from causing destruction, Machu takes on a mission from Commander Challia Bull (Shinji Kawada) to rescue the girl within the Rose of Sharon. However, Lady Kycilia makes her move first. Kycilia poisons her brother, Supreme Commander Gihren (Banjô Ginga), and his right-hand man, allowing her to take out Gihren’s National Defense Force mobile suits and ships. Nyaan’s mobile suit, the GFreD, begins activating the Zeknova cannon. Its target: all of humanity on Earth.

The only issue with Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 is its pacing, specifically for people who’ve never seen Mobile Suit Gundam before. Gihren is painted as a fierce, strategic leader, but he quickly and simply dies from Kycilia’s poisoning his drink off-screen. Without providing any buildup for Gihren’s badness and just killing him with little fanfare, we never grasp the complete danger he represents in the universe. Yes, we know he’s the supreme commander of Zeon, but we don’t understand why Kycilia wants him dead, other than that she wants to rule Zeon herself.

Lack of context around Gihren’s importance undermines the impact of his demise.

The action in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 fixes some of the pacing issues, and Machu and Challia’s compelling story beats in this episode. After Kycilia successfully murders her brother, Kycilia’s forces stomp through Gihren’s National Defense Force mobile suits and ship, catching them off guard. The laser beams and explosions are visually satisfying to watch.

One of the most artistic standouts of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 is Challia’s flashback of his failures on Jupiter. The black-and-white pencilled style perfectly represents how Challia felt about the accident; Challia tells Machu how useless and empty he felt. It is the feeling of being devoid of life and color.

Essentially, the lack of coloring visually signifies Challia’s feelings of nothing. Challia’s memories aren’t colored until it shows him meeting Char Aznable (Yuuki Shin), indicating in his memories when his life had purpose again. This color shift works well from a visual storytelling perspective because it drives the point home about Challia’s feelings.

The other beautiful art display in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 is when Nyaan activates the Solar Ray on the Yomagn’tho to wipe out the remaining National Defense Force, along with their main space station—the A Baoa Qu. The kira-kira shines brighter than any previous episodes, emphasizing how much power it has. The kira’kira’s layering of colors passing over big objects like the A Baoa Qu doesn’t blend over well in one or two of the wide shots, but the shot of the people in the A Baoa Qu shows the viciousness of the Zeknova.

From the action to the usage of colors, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 packs a punch.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 contains playful interactions between Machu and Challia’s pupil, Ensign Comoli Harcourt (Akane Fujita). After Challia and Machu return from a training sortie, Comoli comments about how insubordinate Machu is, saying, “She’s not even wearing the pilot suit,” as Machu wears her usual Clan Battle clothes and beanie.

Comoli even tries to get Challia to scold her, but Challia is on Machu’s side. This is a cute interaction between them, adding some fun interactions amid a civil war starting right before their eyes. These playful exchanges break up the political tensions and drama well and give these characters more personality, allowing the audience to connect with them on an emotional level.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 sees Challia and Kycilia set Machu and Nyaan for an upcoming epic, conclusive Gundam battle. Both Machu and Nyaan fight to protect their ideals, hoping to see Shuji Itō (Shimba Tsuchiya) again. But will it cost them their lives? And is Shuji still alive? Is Char still alive? We won’t know until the next episode.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 is now streaming on Prime Video.

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