Here's the story. The first Gundam series I watched was either Wing or G-Gundam. Later on I found Seed and Destiny, and then 00. I like all of them for their own pluses, and I don't care if people don't like them or like one more than others, etc. That's life. But I wanted to get into the original series that started it all, so I found a reviewer on YouTube called Animaster and watched a number of his reviews to see if I wanted to watch the older animation. I was already about 8 episodes into Mobile Suit Gundam but as I had seen Seed (a clear remake, IMO) I had a hard time getting through the episodes.
Anyway, thanks to Animaster's reviews I did go back and finish Mobile Suit Gundam. I liked it, but I was disappointed that the explanation for Newtypes was glossed over due to the series being shorted, so I personally give it 4/5 stars. I eagerly looked forward to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and I was let down. Big time. I still give it 3/5 stars, and I appreciate finally getting an explanation for what NewTypes are in detail, but I cannot get past its flaws. Animaster gave it a perfect score in his review, so I commented with my own thoughts on the series in a respectful manner. I even got some likes.
And then I got personally attacked by a Seed/Destiny hater. I mean, I know it's YouTube I'm talking about here, and the haters over there tend to rule the comments section, but this guy flat out told me I had no right to critique the show because I was using a Seed/Destiny avatar at the time, like I do here. I'm not joking.
Here is the link to Animaster's review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngOfQygSFY8
I post as Bradley97 S over there. Below is my response to the review. If you'd like to read the attack and my dialogue with my attacker, you should have no trouble finding my comment thread below the review, though you may have to select "Newest First" since the "Top Comments" don't always default to those posted since YouTube upgraded its comments section.
This response does contain SPOILERS to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, so please read at your own risk!
I respect that you like this series a lot, but 5/5? Where to begin? The following response contains SPOILERS, so please do not go any further if you have not seen Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam which I will give 3/5, and this is why...
I guess I'll start with the most obvious issue, blatant hypocrisy. The Titans are evil. That is established right at the beginning with three events. First, Kamille gets TLS beat out of him before being thrown into a holding cell for being a jerk towards an officer. Granted he deserved it, but as we were about to learn, "this is how the Titans do things." What do I mean? After Jarid carelessly crashes a Mk II causing lots of damage and casualties (the second event), Bright shows up to express his displeasure at testing the new Gundams in the residential area of the colony. And he has TLS beat out of him forcing him to submit. But later, when Kamille runs his mouth aboard the Argama and acts insubordinate, Bright himself "corrects" him. that's right, beating TLS out of someone has gone from how "the Titans do things" to "military correction." Amuro got the brig, Kamille gets a beat down. Way to distinguish good guys from bad.
That's not the biggest problem. First we have to discuss the annoyingly weak Reccoa, the insubordinate Katz, the way everyone reacts to them, and Shinta and Qum, the war orphans Char brings aboard the Argama.
First, I'll discuss Reccoa. She's beyond weak. She becomes a turncoat because there are no strong men aboard the Argama who can compete with Scirocco. Having become smitten by the only man to treat her "both as a soldier and as a woman" whatever that means, Reccoa goes on to commit war crimes and yet Kamille cannot bring himself in several encounters to blow her out of her misery, even though she's an irredeemable murderer. Apparently nobody can do what needs to be done until Emma faces her in a final encounter and calls her out on her idiocy. I don't mind that the encounter cost Emma her life, but what happens after that I'll get to in a bit.
On to Katz, who not once, but twice stole the G-Defenser and received no punishment for his actions. The first time he wanted to assassinate Sciracco and caused a bunch of problems. Yet, because he accidentally saved Kamille on one of his outings he never receives any "correction" nor is he thrown in the brig where he belongs. I mean, he stole the G-Defenser! It's an armor upgrade for the Mk II. What if Emma needed it in battle while he was out gallivanting? I could understand if he had taken the Methuss, but taking the G-Defenser was beyond reckless. And nobody pointed this out! Bright simply allowed him to launch so he would learn something. Really? He became so annoying I actually cheered when he died.
Yet how can I blast Katz without mentioning Shinta and Qum. They were meant to replace the original war orphans, of whom Katz was one on White Base. However, unlike Katz and his siblings on White Base, Shinta and Qum only cause problems, including enabling Katz to do things that should have gotten him killed. While they allowed Fa to show her motherly instincts, these kids were an annoying distraction whom Bright simply shrugs off when they sit on his lap during battle on the bridge.
And now the biggest problem, the secret powers of the Zeta Gundam. Yes, the Zeta Gundam apparently can absorb the souls of the dead and use their energy to make itself invulnerable to all forms of attack. Out of nowhere it simply glows red and cannot be destroyed. The mortally wounded Emma explains this power to Kamille as she dies in his arms, begging him to use her soul to win the day. Give me a break.
Animaster, I know you have issues with Seed, but at least when the Freedom glowed blue in its final battle with the Providence it was symbolic and had no physical effect on the mobile suite. The Freedom still had a leg blown off, and then its right arm, all while glowing blue. But the Zeta is suddenly invincible.
That is the biggest disappointment of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, because unlike Amuro, who becomes a better pilot, pushes his Gundam beyond its abilities, and still ends up getting it severely damaged in the final battle, Kamille barely improves as a pilot, needs the Zeta to survive further battles in the war, and ends up with super powers that cause his mind to shatter in a hallow victory.
Oh, and the most memorable moments, and most enjoyable story arc of the series, revolve around Amuro's return to action to support Char and Kamille and get them back into space. I expected Kamille to learn from Amuro and become a better person and pilot. He becomes a better person, but it's debatable if his piloting skills improve. He never has that expected moment like Amuro when his Newtype abilities kick in and he suddenly operates his gundam at a higher level than any other pilot on the battlefield, and this letdown is what ultimately downgrades this series from outstanding to simply good.
So I ask again, am I crazy?