The following will contain obvious spoilers for the series finale of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX.
I’m putting this here fresh from watching the final episode of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX “That’s Why I…” and there’s a whole slew of stuff happening here. I am putting these thoughts separate from my overall series impressions this these will be specific to plot points in the last few episodes.
First and foremost, the series is really handicapped with the low episode count, and there’s simply not enough time to flesh out everything that’s happening, and that will seem jarring for some. So, we can only take what we’re given.
It has been revealed that Zeknova events are basically incursions that allow energy transfer from one universe to another. And as much as the imagery and callbacks suggest the “other side” as the “prime” Universal Century timeline, it isn’t. Rather, it’s another alternate U.C. timeline where Char ends up being killed by the Gundam, which in turns triggers Lalah to create other universes where Char is alive. But the same things happen, and her cycle of despair repeats, leading to more universes until she manifests the GQuuuuuuX timeline where Char doesn’t get killed because he stole the Gundam from the get go.
Basically, Char will always be killed by the Gundam outside of the GQuuuuuuX and “prime” Universal Century timelines.
Shuji’s mantra then is to protect Lalah from this cycle of despair whenever Char is killed. And in the process, he has killed her many times. However, Char rejects the distortion her presence introduces, which will place Lalah in the deepest despair. And so, Shuji must killer her again.
Char’s mantra then is to send back Lalah since her presence creates instability to this world, and the Yomagn’tho is a means to that goal. And yes, he still wants both Gihren and Kycilia dead.
Challia Bull then makes a reversal, opposing Char since he’s “seen” the extent of what Char is willing to do once he takes over Zeon, a subtle but clear nod to what “prime” Char did in Char’s Counterattack.
The climactic battle is ultimately Shuji in the RX-78-2 Gundam versus Machu in the GQuuuuuX and Nyan in the GFreD, and Char Aznable versus Challia Bull. And in true Studio Khara fashion, the RX-78-2 Gundam does a large Rei/Kaworu from End of Evangelion because reasons.
Yeah, it’s a crazy finale, and they did put the major plot threads to a close. Though the pacing really suffered from the low episode count. I’ll let the series marinate in my head for the rest of the week then I’ll have my overall unsolicited thoughts.
