Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury - Anime Episode Discussion

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by Obelisk ze Tormentor

Bits & Funnels can be interchangable.

For example, both Nu Gundam & Alpha Azieru's remote weapons are caled Funnels even though they look completely different:

Nu Gundam's Funnels when in store mode look like a slapped-on sail on its back. Meanwhile, Alpha Azieru's Funnels are the protruding parts of its body.

Nu Gundam’s were called Fin Funnels and looked totally different because they were stronger, very different funnels from the norm. Not only did they last much longer than normal Funnels as Gyunei pointed out, they worked to form an all-directional shield. Basically they were the “Give the Gundam a unique weapon from other mechs” weapon.

Bits from original Gundam carried their own reactors for farther range and longer operating time. From Zeta Gundam and on they used Funnels, which don’t carry their own reactors but were charged by the mech instead, and thus were much easier to construct.

Another example is from G Gundam:

Rose Gundam had Rose Bits.

And from Gundam AGE, we have Gundam AGE FX that used its C-Funnels to slice & dice enemies:

At this point, not being UC anymore they stopped following the technological lore and were just continuing the remote weapons pioneered by the Gundam franchise.

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

The show is finding its footing and the third episode was pretty solid. Sounds awful to say, but if I don't try to compare it to previous Gundam series it isn't bad . Not that it can't get there, but right now it just feels like an average show for the fall season.

Which is why I don’t call it Gundam. If you have to separate a series from its predecessors to be good……….

That being said, as I said before I like the series for what it is. I even like the apparent harem antics we’re building up.

[kari-no-sugata II]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Feels like we're going down a Persona 5 road where adults all suck. Everyone is being manipulated by their parents in some ways. Though some I'm sure are less bothered by it than others. Even Suletta's mother is absolutely lying to her face. Lot of nerve there considering that without Suletta piloting that mobile suit in the prologue that they'd both be dead.

I don't think they're going for an "all adults suck" angle... more like "it's difficult for children to understand their parents (and vice versa)" and we're mostly seeing the children's perspective so far. It's clear that the children are also causing problems all by themselves.

Might just be me, but I feel like the pacing is odd at times. The big dramatic "let's duel" and then...Suletta goes to school for a while before it. I guess it makes sense to not have the duel happen right away. But I feel like...getting to it faster would have been better. But I guess if this is Gundam at school then they need to have some highschool moments sprinkled in there.

If they'd put the fight first then the second half of the episode might have felt flat though. Instead they build up to the fight, making it clear what's at stake and that this is very serious for all involved.

Yeah, Suletta remains really awkward. All the more so with the time it takes her to go through her "1 to run, 2 to fight" thing. Still think that's an absolutely horrific policy to drill into someone, but I guess it's going to be the catch phrase of this show. It may be an intentional move for the writing, but still not going to love it.

I don't think that Suletta's mother "drilled" this into her. From the mini novel I got the impression that it was more like Suletta took it to heart all by herself. I might be wrong though - if it was drilled into her then it would be bad for sure.

Side note: it's kinda funny how Miorine is as awkward in a MS as Suletta is out of one.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Shinji103

At this point, not being UC anymore they stopped following the technological lore and were just continuing the remote weapons pioneered by the Gundam franchise.

That's my point. Funnels & Bits can be interchangeable within the Gundam franchise, not just UC.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Yeah, Suletta remains really awkward. All the more so with the time it takes her to go through her "1 to run, 2 to fight" thing. Still think that's an absolutely horrific policy to drill into someone, but I guess it's going to be the catch phrase of this show. It may be an intentional move for the writing, but still not going to love it.

It kinda reminds me of Bleach's "Cast off your fear. Look forward. Go forward. Never stand still. Retreat and you will age. Hesitate and you will die."

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by Obelisk ze Tormentor

That's my point. Funnels & Bits can be interchangeable within the Gundam franchise, not just UC.

Well, I was pointing out the uniqueness of the Fin Funnels and that Funnels and Bits aren’t interchangeable in UC. Or did you mean interchangeable as in we see both kinds in UC, because a mech using Bits can’t charge Funnels.
Bit mechs pretty much died out after original Gundam and were mostly replaced with Funnel mechs probably because Funnels are easier and cheaper to make.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Shinji103

Well, I was pointing out the uniqueness of the Fin Funnels and that Funnels and Bits aren’t interchangeable in UC. Or did you mean interchangeable as in we see both kinds in UC, because a mech using Bits can’t charge Funnels.
Bit mechs pretty much died out after original Gundam and were mostly replaced with Funnel mechs probably because Funnels are easier and cheaper to make.

The people behind various AU shows still use "Bit" or "Funnels" to name their remote weapons as they see fit. That's why I said it's interchangeable at this point.

I already mentioned Rose Bits & C-Funnels. There are also GX-Bits, Legilis Bits etc.

[Frontier]

I still don't understand how this "isn't" a Gundam show.

Yeah, it's a little lower-scale than most Gundam shows, there's no war going on or immense space/ground battles in favor of dueling, but there's still plenty of the same tenets of traditional Gundam shows in there and I'm assuming things will get bigger as it moves along.

[Endscape]

Originally Posted by Obelisk ze Tormentor

That's my point. Funnels & Bits can be interchangeable within the Gundam franchise, not just UC.

Until now I thought funnels were the longer shaped remote weapons and bits were the more oblong ones.

[Twi]

Originally Posted by Frontier

I still don't understand how this "isn't" a Gundam show.

Yeah, it's a little lower-scale than most Gundam shows, there's no war going on or immense space/ground battles in favor of dueling, but there's still plenty of the same tenets of traditional Gundam shows in there and I'm assuming things will get bigger as it moves along.

Honestly, I'm just waiting for the shoe to drop. If there isn't a massive war breaking out by the mid-season I'd honestly be surprised considering the microcosm that the school represents shows the Earthians getting hated on and one in particular is eager to learn from the one girl whose suit has been putting the best of the known models into scrap consistently.

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by Endscape

Until now I thought funnels were the longer shaped remote weapons and bits were the more oblong ones.

Funnels and Bits can actually look pretty similar. The Elmeth’s Bits just looked like more primitive Funnels from the later Qubeley or Kshatoriya.

[Wandering Soul]

So can we officially consider this series a battle school harem now?

That AI was pretty bad. Even with the back up of the sprinklers, it underperformed. Guel might as well just fought himself.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Twi

Honestly, I'm just waiting for the shoe to drop. If there isn't a massive war breaking out by the mid-season I'd honestly be surprised considering the microcosm that the school represents shows the Earthians getting hated on and one in particular is eager to learn from the one girl whose suit has been putting the best of the known models into scrap consistently.

Yeah, although I don't expect that to happen until Suletta's final duel.

Originally Posted by Wandering Soul

So can we officially consider this series a battle school harem now?

That AI was pretty bad. Even with the back up of the sprinklers, it underperformed. Guel might as well just fought himself.

It did cost Aerial an arm.

[Chosen_Hero]

Last episode:

(Suletta wins)

"She used what could be a Gundam? The match is invalid, throw her in jail and dismantle her mobile suit right this instant... what do you mean there's no proof? Just do it."

This episode:

(Open and rampant cheating occurs)

"That's just how it is, if you can't cheat as well then that's your fault... must be skill issues on your part."

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by Chosen_Hero

Last episode:

(Suletta wins)

"She used what could be a Gundam? The match is invalid, throw her in jail and dismantle her mobile suit right this instant... what do you mean there's no proof? Just do it."

This episode:

(Open and rampant cheating occurs)

"That's just how it is, if you can't cheat as well then that's your fault... must be skill issues on your part."

Yeah, that’s some pretty cringe logic.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Chosen_Hero

Last episode:

(Suletta wins)

"She used what could be a Gundam? The match is invalid, throw her in jail and dismantle her mobile suit right this instant... what do you mean there's no proof? Just do it."

This episode:

(Open and rampant cheating occurs)

"That's just how it is, if you can't cheat as well then that's your fault... must be skill issues on your part."

"It's only cheating when I'm not doing it!" .

[kari-no-sugata II]

Originally Posted by Chosen_Hero

Last episode:

(Suletta wins)

"She used what could be a Gundam? The match is invalid, throw her in jail and dismantle her mobile suit right this instant... what do you mean there's no proof? Just do it."

This episode:

(Open and rampant cheating occurs)

"That's just how it is, if you can't cheat as well then that's your fault... must be skill issues on your part."

Well, it comes down to the actual rules, the spirit of the rules, plausible deniability etc...

The thing with the duel here is that only the rain was complained about. The other cheats weren't spotted. The rain had "plausible deniability" though. It also wasn't against the spirit of the rules as the language used for the duelling was basically "the only thing that matters is the result". This is not to say that another MS could have been used as the duel was classified as "one on one". Miorine could use that worker MS as it wasn't directly involved with the combat.

As for the whole witch's trial thing, the fundamental problem here is that Gundams are absolutely and explicitly banned and have been for a long time. They're also considered evil and immoral. At least within the sphere of influence that includes the school. Or putting it another way, they're banned so hard that even something Gundam-like is considered suspect at best. But "Lady Prospera" was able to wriggle out of it with plausible deniability (no data storm = not a Gundam), dangling a juicy carrot in front of them and a bit of help from others.

[Goshin]

I am enjoying this show so far. I hope it doesn't tear my heart apart like iron blooded orphans did.

I watched the prequel. I still don't understand why Gundams are still banned. Especially if Suletta is living proof that its safe. Or is she just that unique? Autism?

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Chosen_Hero

Last episode:

(Suletta wins)

"She used what could be a Gundam? The match is invalid, throw her in jail and dismantle her mobile suit right this instant... what do you mean there's no proof? Just do it."

This episode:

(Open and rampant cheating occurs)

"That's just how it is, if you can't cheat as well then that's your fault... must be skill issues on your part."

First, the Cathedra pact that prohibited Gundams predates & outranks the school duel rules.

Second, just like the Poker game in James Bond's Casino Royale, the players still need to follow the poker rules on stage, but each faction is free to do anything in the background to ensure victory like intimidation, collusion, kidnapping or even poisoning the opponent. Although how far the faction in WFM will go to win the school duels remain to be seen, the spirit is pretty much the same as Casino Royale.

[kari-no-sugata II]

Originally Posted by Goshin

I am enjoying this show so far. I hope it doesn't tear my heart apart like iron blooded orphans did.

I was fine with the first season but the second season didn't work for me and I stopped watching. Probably just as well.

I watched the prequel. I still don't understand why Gundams are still banned. Especially if Suletta is living proof that its safe. Or is she just that unique? Autism?

Let's say that the Gundams that everyone is familiar with are "Gundam 1.0" while Aerial (and the Lfrith) are "Gundam 2.0". The thing that "Lady Prospera" highlighted about the Aerial about it "not being a Gundam [1.0]" is that there was no data storm (the thing that damages the pilots). This is presumably part of the design. Suletta has used it for a long time without any obvious side effects but I suspect that higher modes are still available and I doubt those are 100% safe.


PS I was re-watching ep3 and noticed that Suletta becomes noticeably less nervous around Guel through the episode. Hopefully it's a sign that she'll continue to become less nervous as she gets to know people. She also seems to be less nervous around Miorine but it's more subtle.

[Frontier]

Rewatching it, I just realized Aerial won by hitting the fin with her boobs .