REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX’ Episode 9 — “The Rose of Sharon”

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9, “The Rose of Sharon,” shifts back to the perspective of the other series protagonist, Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha (Tomoyo Kurosawa). Machu and the gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX White Gundam manage to escape Commander Challia Bull’s (Shinji Kawada) ship and head to Earth in hopes of finding ‘the rose’ that the Principality of Zeon leaders, and Shuji Itō (Shimba Tsuchiya) and the Red Gundam are searching for. Challia cunningly let Machu go, expecting Machu to lead him and his crew to the missing Rose of Sharon. 

Guided by a mysterious message in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9, Machu escapes Challia’s ship Sodon and descends alone to Earth in the White Gundam. After crash-landing on Earth, she is rescued by a woman adored as “lady,” who is being held captive in the Kabas estate. Machu decides to escape with her and attempts to flee in the Core Fighter. Ultimately, Machu finds the Rose of Sharon spacecraft, which contains an unconscious pilot, who, Machu comments, looks like the “lady.”

One of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9’s standout features is its depiction of Mobile Suit Gundam’s iconic character, Lahlah Sune (Hina Yomiya). In this alternate Universal Century (UC) timeline of the year 0085, Lahlah is known by the Kabas estate staff as “lady” and is the head escort trapped on Earth in a Zeon-controlled mansion. She still has her Indian appearance from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, with brown skin and a bindi on her forehead.

In 2025, we will always love to see the best ethnic, cultural, and geographical depictions possible. This depiction of Lahlah in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9 executes that. The English dub actress playing Lahlah is none other than Anjali Kunapaneni, who is American but of Indian descent. Kunapaneni is recently known for voicing Alma in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Viewers get hints on where the action takes place in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9.

With this Lahlah being from Earth, context clues from what she says and other soldiers nearby mention that the Kabas estate is in India. More specifically, a soldier mentions them being in the Mangaluru (or Mangalore) region. After some quick research, everything about the Kabas estate geographically makes sense.

Machu most likely crashes off the coast, in the Arabian Sea, since Mangaluru is a seaport city located along the Arabian Sea. The writers, Yoji Enokido and Hideaki Anno, deserve my applause for thoughtfully thinking about adding these geographical hints despite the alternate UC timeline Earth being portrayed in some unknown future.

In contrast to the main UC timeline’s badass Lahlah iteration, this universe’s Lahlah is more submissive, yet otherworldly. She’s still a strong Newtype who’s strong enough to see into the multiverse, using the kira-kira. Despite Machu’s efforts to try to get Lahlah off Earth and join her, Lahlah continues to believe Char Aznable (Yuuki Shin) will come to save her.

A controversial take for a teen show is how Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9 includes sex work implications. The show does it with utmost care, giving the audience enough to imply what’s happening with Lahlah and the other women at the Kabas estate. Adding this dark element to a show with plenty of political fighting shows Enokido and Anno intend to depict war times and post-war times as ruthlessly as possible, raising the stakes while keeping this a teen-targeted show.

Challia letting Machu go in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9 is another example of Challia’s clever plans to get what he wants, similar to how he extracts as much information as possible when talking with Annqi (Mariya Ise) in Episode 6. Another essential detail regarding Challia is how he can read minds, similar to how Shuji does with Machu. It’s unclear if everyone who’s seen the kira-kira or is linked to it can communicate or manipulate the strange anomaly. Challia reads Machu’s mind while he interrogates her about the Rose of Sharon, but nothing explains how he can do it.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9 emphasizes the brutalities of war.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9 shows the contrast and comparison between rough living in the Side colonies versus Earth. While Earth looks beautiful and has more natural air and scenery than the colonies, Machu says it best, “The gravity feels the same as the colonies.” This hints that the colonies are built a lot more accurate to living on Earth than the Side colonies are led to believe. Still, Machu’s face is in awe as the beautiful sunset sits behind Lahlah on the swing, making for an emotionally impactful shot.

Episode 9’s most significant ironic moment is how much Machu’s dreams about coming to Earth are a letdown, after wanting to leave space. In contrast, Lahlah dreams about leaving Earth to have her freedom bought by “the man in red.” Lahlah’s eyes are symbolic of a green, jade color in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9. The color choice may be intentional, indicating how Lahlah is jaded about reality, and only wishes her dreams come true.

Machu makes her dreams a reality, whereas Lahlah is a woman who hopes her true love, Char, will save her. These two concepts clash and make for more commentary on those who view a better life for themselves through adversity. Ultimately, Machu’s ideals for making her fate inspire the other women in the Kabas estate to rebel against their male oppressors.

Undeniably, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9 trades action for world-building and introduces a franchise-favorite character. Machu discovers the truth about the Rose of Sharon, and only makes her have more questions. Episode 9 leaves off on a cliffhanger, as Challia’s crew pulls the Rose of Sharon ship out of the sea, leaving the pilot’s identity ambiguous for now. Who is the girl frozen in eternal sleep within the Rose of Sharon? And will Challia tell Kycilia about finding the Rose of Sharon or not?

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 9 is now streaming on Prime Video.

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