機動戦士ガンダム /Kido Senshi Gundam episode 19
Mobile Suit Gundam – 19

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

As White Base is on the ground and its crew making repairs, Frau Bow sets off to find Amuro again.  In the nearby village of Sodon, Amuro arrives and stops at a local establishment for some bread and water.  Shortly thereafter, Ramba Ral, Hamon, and eleven other troops arrive in two heavily armed transport rigs, one carrying a Gouf and one carrying a Zaku.  Amuro eyes the Zeon troops as they enter and Hamon takes note of this, deciding to buy him a meal as well, though he politely turns this down.  Meanwhile, Frau Bow has come to Sodon and is captured by the Zeons.  When Amuro acknowledges that this is his girlfriend, Ral orders her release despite her wearing a modified Federation uniform.

When they leave, Ral orders one of his men to follow them.  Amuro stops the dune buggy and gets off, informing Frau Bow that he won’t be returning to White Base.  Seeing his stuborness, Frau Bow returns to the ship, tailed by one of Ral’s men on a motorcycle.  Frau Bow reports what she learned to Bright, Mirai, Sayla, Hayato, and Kai.  Mirai suggest immediately halting repairs and to prepare for an attack.  Meanwhile, Ral’s man radios back in code, signaling his success in locating White Base.  Ral gets in his Gouf and departs along with his Zaku support.  Their long distance jumps takes them over Amuro’s location where he realizes that the Zeons trailed Frau Bow and will now attack White Base and that Guntank and Guncannon are no match for the Gouf.

Despite White Base rapidly deploying Guncannon, Ral’s Gouf is already waiting and the fight is on.  White Base desperately begins to attempt to get out of the area while Guntank deploys.  The Zaku is able to damage Guntank’s caterpillar track, so Hayato ejects the top half and has Ryu go into Core Fighter mode to continue the fight. Hayato uses Guntank’s top-half as a weapon platform to defend White Base.  Ryu quickly finds the Zeon Gallop, under attack by Amuro in Gundam.  Ryu tells him to get back to White Base and leave the Gallop to him.  Meanwhile, the Zaku manages to get behind White Base but with no weapon’s crews at the rear stations, the Zaku could seriously damage the ship.  Mirai has the engines go to full power, the blast from which destroys the Zaku.

Amuro arrives just in time to once again save Kai from being killed from Guncannon’s destruction and engages Ral’s Gouf unit.  Amuro drains his beam rifle with no luck and resorts to using his energy sword.  Ral also pulls out an energy sword and the two go at each other like samurai warriors.  Both cause damage to each other’s mobile suit, causing rips to allow them to see and recognize each other.  Amuro’s superior Gundam gets the upper hand and the Gouf is destroyed though Ral escapes and tells Amuro that it wasn’t he who won but merely the Gundam.  Ral races off and hides to await pickup from Haman as Amuro returns to White Base.  He is arrested on the spot and thrown into solitary for his actions.  Amuro tries to protest but none of the crew want to hear from the deserter.  Left with his thoughts, Amuro remembers Ral’s words to him and wants to defeat the Zeon commander.

Thoughts/Review:

I rather liked how the writers had Ral’s squad meet Amuro at the bar in Sodon.  Interesting that Hamon took a liking to Amuro and that such a big thing was made of that fact.  I’m rather hesitant to put any sort of sexual implications in that, but at the same time, the way the scene was played and Ral’s own reaction in questioning whether Amuro might be a bit too young for her put the notion on the table.  Whether that was the case or not, I liked how Amuro was prepared to shoot anyone messing with Frau Bow and that Ral respected him for that.  Ral was smart enough to realize that these kids would likely lead him to White Base so his letting them go made sense to me.  Of course, having Ral and Amuro meet made their fight more interesting once the realized whom the other was.  Now, if Amuro can take something from that fight and Ral’s words to him.

So, Amuro is now locked up.  The question becomes, “What to do with him now?”  Yes, Amuro is the best at piloting Gundam but as Ral pointed out, he still has much to learn.  That not only goes for Amuro’s piloting the Gundam but also when it comes to dealing with others and basic military protocol.  I know I’ve said this before but had Amuro gone through basic military training (BMT), we wouldn’t have this problem.  He didn’t so we have what we have.  I don’t think it is much of a prediction to think that as with Sayla’s time in the brig, something will come up to force Bright to release Amuro.

Mirai continues to perform the role of Executive Officer (XO) even though I don’t believe she’s been given that role.  Bright should make it official because she’s good in the role.

With Ral’s Gouf and final Zaku destroyed, he’s only left with his Gallop and those two trailer rigs that had carried the mobile suits. So, he either has to get a resupply or simply bring the Gallop fully into the fray.  Considering the damage Amuro (and one presumes Ryu as well) inflicted, I’m not sure that’s totally wise.  So, one would presume that Ral would get patched up and some replacement mobile suits if possible.  Then again, maybe that won’t be possible since last episode, Amuro tipped off the Zeons that they would attack their mining facilities.

That reminds me, I’m surprise that aspect of the story didn’t come up.  Maybe General Revil’s forthcoming military operation will be what gets Amuro out of prison, assuming it is still on.

So, another interesting and entertaining episode.  ^_^