Gundam AGE Episode 6 Review – By Team GG

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE - Episode 006 Review

Review by Team GG [RLZIII]

機動戦士ガンダムAGE
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

Episode 006 -「ファーデーンの光と影」"The Light and Shadow of Fardain"

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE REVIEW
Synopsis

The Diva has finally arrived at the Colony Fardain. In the ship docking bay Emily runs into Flit. As he is using Haro has a computer, she asks what he is doing. Flit explains that he is going over the combat data from yesterday where Desil piloted the Gundam. They talk about how even though Desil is just a kid he was able to defeat the UE easily. Flit's impressed for sure. Emily tells Flit that she got them all tickets to Tordia, where they should leave for in five days. Flit bluntly tells Emily that he's not going to Tordia.

Elsewhere, Grodek is alone with his thoughts. He recalls in the past when he left his wife and young daughter for work. He tells his little girl that he'll only be gone for a few days, and that he'll have a present for her when he comes back. He then recalls being at an office later; someone runs in and alarms Grodek that the colony where his family is, Angel, has been attacked by the UE. Grodek is broken from his daydreaming when Miles tells him that if he's tired that he should rest in the captain's quarters. Grodek ignores her concern and ambiguously says that he's going out.

In the mobile suit holding area, Vargas explains to Largan that he has upgraded the Genoace's armor. Wolf quickly floats by and tells Vargas that he's going out and taking the Genoace Custom with him. Back near the ship bay, Flit explains to Emily that he plans to stay with the Diva and formally volunteer for the Earth Federation Forces. He expresses his want to help other people by fighting with the Gundam. Emily isn't happy with his decision and abruptly leaves.

Piloting the Genoace Custom, Wolf enters a small, secluded space station. There are various mobile suits inside, such as Shaldolls and Xenos. Wolf seeks out a man named Madorna. He finds him and says that he's looking good. Madorna asks playfully if Wolf has already gotten tired of his last mobile suit. Wolf sees Madorna's wife and says hello. Wolf shows Madorna a picture of the Gundam, and to Madorna's surprise, it seems just like the mobile suit of legend that's said to have achieved many victories. When Wolf mentions that it's called the Gundam, Madorna is confident that it's the same mobile suit. He asks where it's being held, but Wolf says that he'll let Madorna see the mobile suit at another time. For right now his focus is on ordering a mobile suit that's even better than the Gundam. And, of course, it will be painted white.

Inside of Fardain, Flit is walking around the streets looking for Emily after she stormed off earlier. Haro spots her and bounces over toward her. Flit is stern is saying that they must go back to the port as they were told not to leave because of possible threats from the UE. Emily is disappointed that Flit doesn't understand how she feels. Suddenly three Zila and two Xeno mobile suits appear in the streets and start fighting. Large walls appear to shelter the buildings in the colony. Flit is confused why mobile suits are fighting against each other opposed to fighting the UE. Flit tells Emily that they need to find a place to hide so they don't get caught up as collateral damage. While they search the walls to find an entrance, without success, a man appears from a grate in the ground and tells them to follow him. Flit and Emily follow the man underground. They introduce themselves and thank the man. He introduces himself as Iwark Bria. He explains to them that they are between the inner and outer walls of the colony in an underground city. Iwark explains that only people with money can live above ground and that they ones that are stuck living underground are essentially the shadows cast by Fardain. They run into Iwark's daughter, Riria, who is ecstatic that she's found enough scrap metal to potentially buy dinner for tomorrow.

In Iwark's home, he gives Flit and Emily a drink, and they thank him for his hospitality. Riria asks where Flit and Emily are from, and Emily responds by telling her they are from a colony named Nora. Iwark, stating that he assumed they weren't from around here, asks how they ended up on Fardain. Flit explains that Nora was destroyed by the Unknown Enemy. After Riria asks more questions, Iwark tells her to play in the other room so that they can continue talking. While Riria resists at first, she takes Haro to play with. Iwark reveals that he found Riria abandoned and raised her as his daughter. When Flit inquires if battles happen often, Iwark assures him that they do, as there are leftover conflicts from the Colony Nation Wars.

Iwark explains that many space colonies have been around for generations, and that once the number of colonies grew too large, there became a split in power and two factions were created: the Zalam Union and the Euba Alliance. They engaged in a war that lasted for decades that caused incredible amount of damage. After the war ended, the Silver Chalice Treaty was put in place that had both sides abandon military weapons such as mobile suits. However, small-scale battles are still prevalent, especially in Fardain, because there are still conflicts between the two sides. Iwark is frustrated that these kind of battles force the people that live underground to live in poverty.

Grodek enters a building and informs the receptionist, under a fake alias, that he is here to see Don Boyage. He enters a room and finds Don there. Don isn't fooled by Grodek's alias and calls him out on it. Two of Don's assistants stand next to Grodek on each side. Grodek says that he wishes to make a deal with Don, and he introduces himself properly as captain of the Diva. He tells Don that to his knowledge he deals in mobile suits and warships. Don unconvincingly denies these claims of course, and Don's henchmen agree. Grodek, ignoring this claim, requests four warships in exchange for the Earth Federation's military weapons database, knowing that the blueprints for such weapons (which are banned by the treaty) sell for a high price. With a smirk Don says that Grodek must be quite crocked. Grodek snaps back and say that he doesn't want to hear that from pigs who are still tied to old nations. Don, impressed by Grodek's straightforwardness, says that they should talk elsewhere; he tells his henchmen to bring the car around and that they'll go to the mansion. In the car outside where the mobile suits are fighting again, Grodek asks why the mobile suits are combating each other. Don waves it off and tells Grodek not to worry about it.

Back in Iwark's home, he realizes that Riria is missing. He runs outside and figures out that she has gone to the city above. Iwark tells Flit and Emily that they must go save her. He reveals a Desperado construction-type mobile suit and tells Emily and Flit to get in with him. The mobile suit is lifted up to the ground where they all run into the battle between the Zalam and Euba remnants. They quickly spot Riria crying. There's an explosion near her that throws her to the ground. Don rushes out of the Desperado and is relieved to find out that Riria's only been knocked unconscious. Don returns to the mobile suit by himself and tells Flit and Emily to take care of Riria for right now. Flit warns Iwark not to be reckless, but he heads out anyway. The fire from the battle reminds Flit of him of the deaths of his mother and Bruiser. With the AGE Device, Flit calls Vargas and tells him that he needs the Gundam.

Iwark knocks down a Zila mobile suit and uses the Desperado's heat shovel to smash the unit's head. He then uses the Zila's machine gun to attack the other mobile suits. Vargas quickly shows up driving the Gundam trailer. Flit hastily gets into the Gundam to pilot it. Flit shows up to help Iwark after he's taken quite a bit of damage in the Desperado. Flit contacts Iwark via video communication and warns him that he can't continue to fight with a construction mobile suit. Flit rushes in front of the downed Desperado unit in order to block bullets from the opposing mobile suits. Iwark tries to tell Flit that he can't let a kid fight for an adult, but Flit, level headed, says that it doesn't matter; the important thing, he tells Iwark, is to survive for Riria. Iwark agrees and gets out of the Desperado and leaves the battle scene, only to see it explode soon afterwards.

Flit understands that he cannot use the DOTS Rifle inside of the colony because it's too powerful and will cause too much damage. Iwark runs into Emily and the still unconscious Riria. He asks who Flit really is, and a frustrated Emily says that he's still just a boy. On the Diva, Adams tells Miles that there are still skirmishes between the two nations on the colony while watching the battle on a screen. Miles says that's what makes the colony foolish. Adams is alarmed to see the Gundam appear, and Miles is just as alarmed saying that she was not informed of the Gundam launching. Back at the mansion, Don asks Grodek what his goal is, and is surprised when Grodek replies that he plans to destroy the Unknown Enemy's stronghold.

Flit, knowing that he cannot destroy the mobile suits because of the potential damage, just dodges the units for a while until they eventually withdraw. A Baqto UE unit suddenly appears behind the Gundam and rushes Flit with a beam saber. At close range Flit shoots the DOTS Rifle at the unit, but it is deflected, causing damage to some nearby buildings. Flit is frustrated that he doesn't have another safe weapon to use against the Baqto. He is forced to use the Gundam's beam saber to block an attack from the Baqto, and it's parried away from him. However, the Baqto disappears. The Zalam's Zila unit reappear and surround the Gundam, claiming that the Gundam has caused damage to the city. Flit defensively retorts by explaining if he didn't fight then there would be a lot more damage to the colony. The Zalam units ignore this statement and inform Flit that he's under arrest. In the mansion, Don states that this is an interesting turn of events. Flit yells at the mobile suits that he protected the city.

Thoughts

This episode was very different from previous ones, and sets an interesting change of pace. We finally get to see what Fardain is like, and it's interesting to say the least. It's unfortunate how things have played out for many of the people living inside of the colony. We get some back story to the AG universe, and we also get to see a host of new old mobile suits (that makes sense, right?). Iwark's character is interesting, and it's nice to see his interactions with Flit and Emily, who both live a very different life than his own.

We also get to see more of Grodek's unconventional methods of dealing with things. I'm sure that all of his sneaking around and disobeying orders will come to a peak sometime in the new few episodes. I have been thinking a lot about how this series will cover the story of three generations; while at episode six we'd likely just be going through some various story arcs in a regular 50 episode series, Mobile Suit Gundam AGE is three stories in one...so we are already about a third through Flit's initial story if they get equal screen time.