Zeta Gundam Volume 3

Only few hours after I wrote my Disc 2 summary, I noticed that the Zeta Gundam DVD labels not only identify each disc's volume, but also a "chapter" designation.  Vol. 1 and 2 are both part of Chapter 1, while Vol 3. begins Chapter 2.  This classification inadvertently lines up with what I said previously about how Disc 2 was the end of show's setup phase. Disc 3 definitely feels like a new "chapter" in the story, one which takes place in a new setting and introduces many new characters.


This batch of episodes begins with the AEUG dropping into Earth, in order to attack the Federation's Jaburo base.  The second episode episode (ep. twelve, for those counting) does a lot to establish what Zeta Gundam is all about, and what has changed in the Universal Century since Gundam 79.  For example, while Jaburo was once the Federation's primary stronghold, in Zeta is has been almost entirely abandoned, used by the Titans as nothing more than a supply depot.  Watching mobile suits battle in the empty shell of a base, while straggling soldiers struggle to escape, gives a strong sense of just how bad a shape the Federation is in.

The next episode has most of the AEUG forces escaping back to outer space, though the intervention of Earth based Titan forces prevents Kamille and Quattro from joining them.  This leads to the meat of the Chapter, in which the two pilots work with the Earth based Karaba resistance group to avoid the Titans and get out to space via other means.

The implications of this split are twofold.  First, it means that Emma, Bright, and the other AEUG staff are out of the picture for a while. Secondly, it means the show has to fill in those gaps with a new Earth based set of characters, including several returning faces from Gundam 79.  Fraw Bow, Katz, Kai (actually, he was in the last Disc) and even Amuro show up to lend a hand, some more than others. I was positively giddy to see them again, and all grown up at that. Unfortunately, however, Amuro is not much of a factor.  For now, he's traded with Kamille to take on the role of angsty pilot who refuses to cooperate.  Amuro eventually gets him game face back on, but you won't see it here.

On the side of the Titans, we see a new batch of pilots, including a "cyber Newtype" named Rosamia Badam.  Rosamia is one of many pilots given superior physical traits and Newtype-esque mental abilities via experimentation, though we quickly see the tradeoff of such enhancements when Rosamia establishes that she's batshit crazy.  At this point, she is almost a source of comedic relief, though at no point in the disc do her and her Titans comrades launch an assault at full combat strength.  With some powerful mobile armors at their disposal, they have the potential to bring some pain.

Overall, this disc is a slow burn.  The Jaburo assault is spread out over two episodes, while the other three serve mostly to reacquaint us with Amuro and the other returning characters. It isn't really "setup" like in the last two discs, but the show is also not yet firing on all cylinders.

PS - RIP Roberto.  Up until now, characters died only an episode or two after their debut.  Roberto was a fixture from the very start, and his death marks the first time a "veteran" cast member has been axed.