I am nearly finished with my 08th MS Team rewatch and I am disappointed to report that the series, which used to be #1 Gundam pick, is not as good as I remember it. Still enjoying it, some episodes more than others, but I've come to realize that Shiro is basically a shitty character, chastising the others for not adhering to "Teamwork!!!" while frequently showboating and going off on his own adventures, particularly in the first few episodes. The Aina stuff is also lamer and more ridiculous than I remember; this was all pre-SEED, and looking at it now, it feels prescient of what Sunrise would do with Kria (and to a lesser extent Banagher) in portraying the lead as this above-the-fray "we don't want your war!" enlightened pilot.
The episode where the team fights off a Zeon incursion into the guerrilla village is a real highlight though, in large part because it forces Shiro to actually challenge his newfound convictions and, to an extent, even slightly mocks him for it (thinking of his trial where he gives this big speech about love and everyone laughs or sighs at him). Where this episode really shines is the scale in conveys in human vs. mobile suit combat: the anti-personnel weapon tearing the villagers to pieces; the Zaku prepping to jump, with the engine incinerating the villagers right below it; Shiro launching an rpg at the Zaku's gun, blowing open its mag and forcing all the bullets inside to spill out. Little touches like that really add up.
Anyway -- I've got The Shuddering Mountain coming up next. Much as a lot of this series is not living up to memory, I have no doubt these next two will...
The episode where the team fights off a Zeon incursion into the guerrilla village is a real highlight though, in large part because it forces Shiro to actually challenge his newfound convictions and, to an extent, even slightly mocks him for it (thinking of his trial where he gives this big speech about love and everyone laughs or sighs at him). Where this episode really shines is the scale in conveys in human vs. mobile suit combat: the anti-personnel weapon tearing the villagers to pieces; the Zaku prepping to jump, with the engine incinerating the villagers right below it; Shiro launching an rpg at the Zaku's gun, blowing open its mag and forcing all the bullets inside to spill out. Little touches like that really add up.
Anyway -- I've got The Shuddering Mountain coming up next. Much as a lot of this series is not living up to memory, I have no doubt these next two will...
