REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX’ Episode 12 — “That’s Why I…”

In a battle between universes, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12, “That’s Why I…”, does not mess up the canon of the original Universal Century (UC) timeline. When the original White Gundam was teased to return onscreen for this finale in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 11, internet theories spiralled around who would be piloting the White Gundam. Would Amuro Ray be in the pilot seat, Shuji Itō (Shimba Tsuchiya), or someone else from the Mobile Suit Gundam multiverse? Episode 12 answers that burning question.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 epically ties the whole season together in this endgame. A white mobile suit from the other side attempts to kill Lalah Sune, but it is still in stasis within the Rose of Sharon. To Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha’s (Tomoyo Kurosawa) shock, the pilot of this White Devil is none other than Shuji. Determined to protect Lalah, Machu becomes a MAV with Nyaan (Yui Ishikawa) and decides to fight Shuji.

One of the most captivating aspects of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 is its visual storytelling. Yes, the writers, Yoji Enokido and Hideaki Anno, did a phenomenal job creating the alternate UC timeline. What’s so smart about this finale is how it pays homage visually to the original 1979 series. Within this episode alone, the shot within the kira-kira shows footage from the first Mobile Suit Gundam series. 

The original White Gundam makes an appearance, drawing deep from the past.

Another great throwback to the original Mobile Suit Gundam series in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 is how Char Aznable (Yuuki Shin) manages to commit another betrayal. Even in this alternate UC timeline, Char lives up to his character. The twist of Char manipulating the Zeon Empire to build Yomagn’tho for his goals is a great reveal and makes sense as to why he was working on the Zeknova-creating space station in the first place.

The main issue new audiences will face is keeping up with all the references from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series within Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12. One of the biggest learning curves of almost every Mobile Suit Gundam series is understanding the world’s politics. Even with the explanations of the known Zeon infighting groups, there isn’t much discussion as to why Lady Kycilia Zabi (Kaori Nazuka) would be a bad Zeon leader.

One of the funniest lines from Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 is when Commander Challia Bull (Shinji Kawada) senses the White Devil from the original UC timeline. “A white Gundam?! What is this indescribable fear that I’m feeling…? Could it be that I’ve been struck down by that mobile suit somewhere?!” This is a funny moment since Challia isn’t wrong, but newer audiences won’t have the exact context. If this is someone’s first time watching a Gundam series, they most likely wouldn’t get the punchline.

New audiences may still struggle with references in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12.

Also, audiences may not understand the importance of having Lady Artesia be the new leader of the Principality of Zeon without the context from the original series. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 doesn’t explain the importance either to help new audiences to the franchise. It just shows a princess-looking character being inaugurated. 

Would a new viewer care about this? Probably not; a new watcher is most likely watching Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX for the cool space mech fights. However, some novice Mobile Suit Gundam audiences might be interested in learning more about the politics and lore, too.

But that’s the double-edged beauty of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12, and the whole season. If newcomers want to see more of some of these characters, they can through the other Mobile Suit Gundam series. The most important story point this finale nails is tying up Machu and Nyaan’s narrative arc. Around the mid-season mark, the teenage angst and character motivations waver. By Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12, Machu and Nyaan are back on the same page as comrades and friends.

It is smart writing not to keep Nyaan as Machu’s ultimate villain. Rather, it is Shuji who dons the final boss role, and rightfully so, for causing the rift between Machu and Nyaan. This makes for a better full-circle moment because Machu and Nyaan must either let their differences destroy their universe or squash the beef to save their universe by defeating Shuji.

The beautiful fight animation dazzles the senses with its usage of colors.

Having Shuji pilot the White Devil ratchets up the climactic final fight when the white Gundam somehow grows a hundred times bigger than any other mobile suit. No mobile suit has ever done this, but this ratchets up the stakes further in the three-way battle between Shuji, Machu, and Nyaan. This is the most massive twist of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 and the whole season. With the animation shot selections, angles, and fight choreography, this episode turns into Attack on Titan in space!

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12’s final battle shot of Lalah returning to her universe is comparable to the Super Collider in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The spinning streams of colors, twisting and blending, create an unparalleled, stunning visual. Almost every shot of every Newtype in the kira-kira world contains so many colors. It’s impossible to fathom how long the animators took to create these shots.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 wraps the season in a nice bow, with Machu and Nyaan relaxing on one of Earth’s beaches. With so many new and returning characters within the series, various side characters have open-ended endings. This leaves room open for a second season, but it’s okay to leave this alternate dimension the way it is as well. Either way, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 successfully sticks the landing with the new storyline where Zeon won the One Year War, and other heroes emerge.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 12 is now streaming on Prime Video.

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