REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX’ Episode 11 — “Alphacide”

Following the massive Zeknova that kills everyone aboard the A Baoa Qu in Episode 10, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11, “Alphacide,” sees characters’ worlds and universes collide. Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha (Tomoyo Kurosawa) and Nyaan (Yui Ishikawa) square off inside the Yomagn’tho, the Zeknova cannon, fighting to understand one another’s point of view. Meanwhile, Machu attempts to rescue the girl in the Rose of Sharon. Zeon’s key characters finally meet, leading to some intense mobile suit skirmishes. 

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11 highlights the epic showdown between Machu’s GQuuuuuuX White Gundam and Nyaan’s GFreD Black Gundam. In the middle of the two protagonists’ fight, Machu ventures into the heart of Yomagn’tho, guided by an ethereal version of Shuji Itō (Shimba Tsuchiya). There, Machu meets Char Aznable (Yuuki Shin) and Lady Kycilia Zabi (Kaori Nazuka). 

For someone who has never seen the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11 is the perfect episode, as it clearly explains what the kira-kira and Minovsky particles are. Since Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX takes place in an alternate timeline, the writers of this show, Yoji Enokido and Hideaki Anno, likely had the characters in this alternate universe use the terms naturally without bogging down the story pacing with exposition.

Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX Episode 11 helps explain franchise lore just right.

Only a handful of franchises and worlds really flesh out their in-world terms that catch on with audiences, but Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX does so successfully. Having a character like Commander Challia Bull (Shinji Kawada) explain everything is a great way to explain important key words and phrases for what they are. By doing so, there leaves little for the audience to guess what terms, such as kira-kira, mean within the overarching story. 

Leaving tidbits of explanations keeps audiences wanting to watch more. However, Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX Episode 11 directly explains the terms used throughout the season. As it does, it feels natural in the dialogue and provides context to the dire situation of the ultimate Zeknova.

One of the standout art style choices in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11 is when Char is explaining how he met Shuji. Studio Khara and Sunrise are not afraid to blend 2D and 3D animation throughout the series, nor do they shy away from using different art styles to elevate the storytelling. This is the first time we see a flashback from Char’s perspective, so it makes sense to use a different, hand-drawn style to intuitively see into how Char recalls his memories.

In terms of animation, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11 sees Challia and Xavier Olivette (Seiichiro Yamashita) battle outside the Yomagn’tho Challia’s MAN-03 Kikeroga mobile suit versus Xavier’s MS-15/H Gyan mobile suit. The series director, Kazuya Tsurumaki, along with his team, deserves praise for animating this dynamic fight. The action lines surrounding each person’s mobile suit add to the swiftness with which each opponent’s mobile suit maneuvers.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11’s black backgrounds help highlight beautiful animation.

Additionally, the way the camera captures the swing of Xavier’s MS-15/H Gyan as it dodges the Kikeroga’s multiple bright yellow lasers is awesome to see against the black backdrop of space. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11 shows the strengths of using a plain black background color to make the mobile suits and their attacks stand out more, rather than trying to make the background feel like real space with distant stars.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11’s characters and storylines converge, capturing all the story threads woven throughout the season. With one episode to go, the story continues to ratchet up its reveals. There has been nothing groundbreaking or shocking, but it has been satisfying to see everything come together.

Like the last few episodes, this penultimate episode ends on an important question: If he’s from the other world, what is Shuji Itō’s true identity? Could he be an iteration of the original series’ protagonist, Amuro Ray, or someone else?

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