Gundam AGE Episode 5 Review – By Team GG

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE - Episode 005 Review
*Spoiler Below*

Review by Team GG [RLZIII]

機動戦士ガンダムAGE [Mobile Suit Gundam AGE]

Episode 005 -「魔少年」"Demon Boy"
Synopsis

Flit, Emily, Dique, and Vargas are all hanging out in the mess hall. While doing some research with Haro, Dique mentions that they should be arriving at Fardain soon. He points out that the Fardain is the largest class of colonies. Dique and Vargas mention that both Flit and Emily look a bit down, but they both respond saying it's nothing. Flit excuses himself. Vargas comments that he is likely just exhausted from the last few days.

In the halls, Flit recalls his battle with the UE. Wolf appears and mentions that Flit wants to fight more as peace isn't enough to satisfy him now that he's tasted combat. Wolf smells Flit and states that he doesn't have the scent of someone who wants to stay at the peaceful Tordia. Emily secretly eavesdrops on their conversation. Flit retorts and says that he doesn't want to continue fighting, but that if the UE keep appearing that he won't have a choice. He says that he feels as though his late mother wants him to protect everyone with the Gundam. Wolf states that what Flit does isn't of his concern and that he only cares about the Gundam, and quickly turns around and starts to leave. Flit declares that he won't let anyone else pilot the Gundam. Wolf floats back towards Flit, smirks, and says he wouldn't have it any other way. Emily doesn't know what she should do; but she tells herself that she needs to stop Flit.

In his quarters, Grodek is on a video call with someone from the Earth Federation Forces. The man states that Grodek knows why the Investigation Bureau is contacting him. Grodek plays dumb though. The man frustrating recalls that Grodek took control of the Diva without orders or permission from Central Command and that he will be placed under arrest when he arrives at Fardain. The EFF gentleman says that he is disappointed in Grodek and the video call ends. Grodek says to himself that he cannot afford to play fair in the circumstances. He causes a systems malfunction via his computer terminal. Grodek leaves his quarters and Emily spots him. After he is gone she curiously looking into the room that he came from and notices that the computer system is splattered with red text and warnings.

Grodek appears on the Diva's bridge and asks what is happening. Miles fills him in by saying that because of a systems malfunction that they have lost all access and communication to the sphere. Grodek establishes that the problem was probably present from before they left Nora. Grodek asks when they will arrive at their destination, and someone on the bridge states that they should be there in an hour. Grodek tells the bridge crew to contact Fardain via close range video. They get the clearing to dock.

Once the Diva docks at Fardain, Dique is excited to explore. He is very impressed with the shopping district in the port. He wants to hang out with Emily and Flit, but they both brush him off to his frustration. Back on the ship, the Earth Federation Forces officer from before finds Grodek in a room on the Diva. He says he is there with the order for Grodek's arrest. Grodek nonchalantly states that the Diva will stay at Fardain for six days. The EFF officer is confused and restates that Grodek is being arrested. Grodek shows the officer that he's found his secret back account that is used when taking bribes to allow people to dock at Fardain that shouldn't be allowed. The EFF officer realizing that he's being blackmails asks Grodek what he wants. The EFF officer leaves the room. Two of his guards questions why Grodek wasn't arrested, and he lies by saying that he's been cleared of suspicion. Emily sees the EFF officer and guards leaving. She goes into the room where Grodek is. Grodek tells her that he thought she'd come.

Inside of the colony, Flit is riding on a standing scooter on the side of a road. He isn't paying attention while driving, thinking instead of his past battles and how to become stronger. A kid runs out into the road and Flit has to quickly dodge him, causing him to crash. Once he gets up from the ground, he rushes to the kid's attention to see that the kid has a scrap on his knee. Flit offers to take the kid to the Diva and fix him up, and the kid agrees to go. Flit introduces himself, and the kid follows suit stating that his name is Decil Galette. Flit goes to grab Decil's hand, and upon connection has the same feeling as when Yurin touched his hand. Flit and Decil drive back towards the Diva on the beat-up scooter. Flit tells Decil to hold on tight, and when Decil goes to hold Flit's hips, he notices that AGE Device in his right pocket and grins. Two unnoticed UE units are inside of the colony scanning around.

Back in the Diva, Grodek explains to Emily that he has been sneaking around to save everyone, as the EFF were simply going to let the citizens, including Emily, die during the Nora situation. Emily says that she still doesn't like how Grodek is tricking everyone and she thinks he's a liar now. Emily proclaims that she doesn't want Flit fighting under the command of someone like Grodek, and that at this rate Flit will die fighting the Unknown Enemy. Grodek reveals to Emily on his computer that he has been tracking the movement of the UE and has figured out a pattern. He claims to know that the UE are hiding out in one of the abandoned fortresses. Grodek tells Emily of plans for a surprise attack against the UE. Emily says that trying to fight the UE alone is crazy, and that the Diva should be preforming an operation like this with the rest of the Federation. But Grodek retorts by saying that the Federation is rotten and won't help. Emily says that Flit is just a kid and isn't a soldier, but Grodek says he needs the Gundam. Emily yells that Grodek is selfish by using Flit and storms out of the room to her quarters not knowing what to do. Grodek says that he knows what he's doing is selfish.

Meanwhile, Flit finished up bandaging Decil. He gives his thanks, and Flit says he'll take him back to his parents now. Decil sadly states that he doesn't have any parents, that he was found in a floating passenger ship as the only survivor. He catches Flit off guard by jumping to the ceiling. He plays a one-sided game of tag with Flit momentarily, running away by bouncing off the walls and ceiling of the room, and Flit has trouble trying to catch him. Decil says that Flit is too slow. Flit finally catches him and when he touches him, Flit again has the same sensation from before. Decil asks if there are any mobile suits on board.

Flit shows Decil to the mobile suit bay. Decil feigns being impressed by the Gundam and says that it's tall. Vargas says to Flit that him and Decil have the same aura about them. Suddenly alarms go off in the bay. Two UE are being shot at by ground guns and they both leave the colony. While Flit declares that he is going out in the Gundam to combat the UE, Decil quickly snags the AGE Device from his pocket and jumps into the Gundam. He quickly launches in the Gundam. Emily and Wolf show up to the mobile suit bay. A frustrated and caught-off-guard Flit decides to launch in the Genoace, and Wolf quickly follows suit in his Genoace Custom.

Out in space, the Gundam (piloted by Decil) immediately runs into the two UE Gafran units. Decil shows off some impressive and fluid maneuvers while battling the UE. Flit wonders if Decil thinks he's still playing tag. The two Gafran units plot to attack the Gundam simultaneously with beam sabers; one unit attacks the Gundam head on and Decil easily block the attack with the Gundam's shield. However, he's quickly flanked by the other Gafran unit from behind. Decil quickly kicks the front UE away, turns around, and shoots the other UE unit dead center with the DOTS Rifle from under the Gundam's arm. Vargas cannot believe that Decil was able to fire from that stance, and Wolf shows appreciation as well and mentions that Decil seems to know where the next attack is going to come from. An impressed Flit recalls that when fighting with Yurin in the cockpit of the Gundam, he got the same feeling; he also realizes that the feeling when coming in physical contact with Decil is the same as with Yurin.

The remaining Gafran rushes towards a spaced-out Flit, but Wolf saves him just in time by comet kicking the Gafran. Wolf sternly tells Flit to pay attention during combat. Decil states that he's rather disappointed by Flit and his abilities. Bored, Decil kicks Flit's Genoace and quickly disposes of the last Gafran unit with a shot from the DOTS Rifle and flies off towards the Diva.

By the time that Flit and Wolf arrive back in the mobile suit bay, Decil is already out of the Gundam. He tosses the AGE Device back to Flit and says he hopes to see him again, if Flit survives that long. Decil leaves around a corner, and when Flit goes to follow, Decil is already gone. Somewhere else on the colony, a group of creepy men in robes confront Decil. One of the men tells Decil that he can't go acting on his own. He states that now that Decil has been accepted as a dweller of EDEN that he cannot associate with those kind of people. Decil repeats that he's disappointed in the Gundam and Flit's abilities. Decil tells the man that he's hungry and asks what's for dinner.

Back in the mobile suit bay, Flit is standing in front of the Gundam seemingly alone. He takes out Yurin's bow and wonders if he can become stronger with the power that Yurin and Decil have displayed. Emily secretly watches from a distance and realizes that Flit is getting further and further away from her.

Thoughts

With this episode we are introduced to Decil, another Newtype-ish person (similar to Yurin). We don't know a lot about him so far, expect that he's a pretty skilled pilot (which we see in a nicely choreographed fight scene that's a bit different from what we've seen in this anime so far). He doesn't seem quite like an antagonist yet, but that's easily up in the air. I am definitely curious to see what part his character will play in the series. He also mentions that he's not all that impressed with the Gundam; I wonder where this will go. Are there more advanced mobile suits already floating around? And these EDEN people...what the hell?

We get to see more of Captain Grodek's shady business. It's a bit too early in the series to call whether he will turn against Flit and friend or not, as we don't yet know his motives very well. We also see more of Emily's reaction to Flit becoming more-and-more like a soldier. This conflict will certainly escalate to a limit at some point. Yurin has now been absent for two episodes; hopefully we'll get to see her again soon.
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