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For every person, there comes a time when you have to leave the comfort and security of the familiar and have to stake out a path of your own. It’s a lesson that is in full display in “Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 17: Kudelia’s Decision,” not just for our titular maiden but our Tekkadan protagonists as well.
Like the kind of plan that Hannibal Smith loves, all that exposition from the last few episodes finally comes together in an episode dedicated to a long-awaited space battle on the surface but continues to have plenty of moving parts behind the scenes.
Things starts out pretty bleak for the ragtag union protesters, who keep getting set up by the powers-that-be into one terrible massacre after another. It’s a dastardly plan that revolves around giving the oppressed workers just enough hope to take action, only to realize their own lack of power once the strategy and tools they have staked their hopes on fail to work in their time of need.
This time, it involves taking over facilities containing ships and mobile suits to back up the late Navona Mingo’s remaining crew of protesters in Dort 3. Unfortunately for the protesters, the equipment is rigged not to work, turning them into proverbial fish in a barrel. It’s a devious tactic that not only sets up the revolutionaries as violent rebels who deserve to be taken down in the public’s eyes, it also crushes the spirit and morale of the people involved when they realize that they were completely and utterly played. Bauduin sees right through the ploy and refuses to be a party to the plot of a corrupt force, despite eagerly asking for permission to deploy in the previous episode. Bauduin’s observation also causes Ein to pause a bit, likely remembering how the same corrupt power structure led to the death of his beloved commander Crank.
For the Tekkadan, it amounts to being caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. The more idealistic members of the crew want to join the fight out of a sense of justice. The more pragmatic Orga resists, however, knowing full well how any action on their part could negatively impact their benefactor Naze and the Teiwaz group. Ultimately, it is Kudelia who nudges the group into their ultimate course of action. Still affected by Fumitan’s sacrifice, Kudelia steels herself and decides to go beyond simply being a symbol and resolves to go all in with her goal of winning freedom for the oppressed citizens and workers of space. It’s a moment that also reveals a big change in Mikazuki. After initially deferring to Orga all the time and not caring too much about things outside his inner circle, Mika also voices his preference for acting to save the overmatched protesters, even though he still lets Orga make the final call. After weeks of taking the viewer spotlight from an inexperienced Kudelia thanks to his excellent piloting skills, it’s surprising to see Mika feel inadequate from witnessing Kudelia’s transformation into a leader that is working hard to make a difference while bearing the weight of many on her shoulders. Just as Mika gladly serves as the spear to Orga’s strategy, it appears he is now fully accepting the role of being the mighty sword for Kudelia’s ideals. He’s still a cold (insert something that rhymes with mustard here) on the battlefield as shown in his lack of hesitation in attempting to dispatch Gali Gali but Mika is showing growth in his own way.
By the way, as a journalist, one of the more heartening developments in the episode for me is the transformation of the press from being mouthpieces of the Gjallarhorn agenda to actually doing some real reporting. Heck, they even got themselves embedded into the Tekkadan, though I admit that I chuckled at their reaction to how inexperienced, or at least how seemingly unprofessional the group is compared to the textbook military guys they’re used to dealing with. All I can say is, Shino and the repainted and renamed Ryusei-Go for the win! The fact that Shino is using Crank’s old suit also earns the ire of Ein, who quickly engages the hot-blooded Tekkadan member.
I also must say that I felt super bad for Dante as the poor devil — who just may cry once he wakes up — got one-hit KO’ed after connecting himself to the Barbatos’ Alaya-Vijnana system. Turns out Mika has the limiter off on his mobile suit, showing just how much of a bad bass the guy is. ‘Dude literally has no limits. It also reveals just how special Mika is even among AV system users as he can take the severe neural strain of the technology unlike some of his compatriots.
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Even better is the debut of Akihiro’s new Gundam Gusion Rebake, complete with a yummy pie crust color. I’m so totally hoping that talk turns out to be true about Bandai releasing a 1/100 version with both the chubby green parts and Rebake armor included. Make it so, Bandai! The fact that Akihiro is in a Gundam now probably also lowers his death flag a bit in the immediate future, with Shino now being the more likely candidate for a glorious demise at some point in the battlefield. I mean, the guy is hot-blooded, over eager, likeable and funny to boot, which just the kind of personality that raises death flags left and right. If he does go, I’m sure it’ll be in a spectacular and noble fashion.
Mr. Pointy Shoes also returns to provide some commentary about the Gundams and how ironic it is that the Barbatos and Kimaris are battling each other, given that both used to be allied mobile suits during the Calamity War. I’d be curious to see what role His Royal Pointiness ultimately plays given his vast knowledge and connections to everyone involved. Speaking of the Gundam Kimaris, I literally chuckled after he charged into Mikazuki like a Monster Hunter lancer and ended up destroying the poor Gjallarhorn mech instead. Not stopping your charge at all costs is pretty much the sign of a noob lancer, Bauduin-san.
The biggest development of all, however, is the growing independence shown by both Tekkadan and Kudelia following the events of the last episode.
In the Tekkadan’s case, it involves coming out of the Turbines’ protective wing to fulfill their client’s request, which made Naze and Aruka look like proud parents. I’m really a big fan of that husband-and-wife combo, especially when Naze gets all pouty like a little kid.
For Kudelia, the episode is akin to her coming into her own after losing her de facto security blanket and guardian in Fumina. Her newfound determination also comes with a greater understanding of politics, which she employs to great effect in using her traitorous benefactor Nobliss after the man used shamelessly used her for his own plans previously.
Regardless, the Tekkadan now looks like a serious fighting force that needs to be taken seriously despite their remaining rough edges. I just love how everyone is stepping up their game from Nadi and his crew of child mechanics to Shino and even poor delivery boy Dante. Add skilled aces in Mika and Akihiro, a keen leader in Orga and a promising figurehead in Kudelia and the sky, nay space, is the limit for this bunch of space rats.
機動戦士ガンダム 鉄血のオルフェンズ | MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: TEKKETSU NO ORPHANS REVIEW ARCHIVE
- Episode 1: Iron and Blood
- Episode 2: Barbatos
- Episode 3: Glorious Demise
- Episode 4: The Price of Life
- Episode 5: Beyond the Red Sky
- Episode 6: As For Them
- Episode 7: Whaling
- Episode 8: The Form of Closeness
- Episode 9: Sakazuki
- Episode 10: A Letter From Tomorrow
- Episode 11: Human Debris
- Episode 12: The Shoals
- Episode 13: Funeral Rites
- Episode 14: Vessel of Hope
- Episode 15: Trail of Footprints
- Episode 16: Fumitan Admoss
