Geek Babble: The Sci Fi Channel Has Rescued Me From the Adult Swim Slump
As Peter Griffin would say, “Holy crap!” two Geek Babble columns in the same week?! I blame the increasing desire to write and a sudden amount of free time this week. Enjoy it while it lasts, I know I’m going to. You can also thank Geoff for this entry. He insisted that we (and by we I mean the entire Damage Control staff) write more about what we’re playing, watching and/or doing entertainment-wise. So I felt now would be a good time to talk about a show that has grown on me since I’ve stopped watching anime on Adult Swim.
Religious symbolism or just an awesome sight to behold? Time will tell, I hope.
I’ve actually managed to make good on my promise to try out anime on the Sci Fi Channel instead of Adult Swim. At first that promise was born of sheer frustration with the network, now it comes from sheer indifference. I really don’t want to spend my Saturday nights staying up until 2:30am just to follow three shows, not when I can see them on Youtube or record them to my DVR box. And with the recent removal of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit from the Saturday night lineup, AS’ offerings just became a little less interesting beyond BLEACH, Code Geass R2 and Shin Chan. Thankfully, watching Mobile Suit Gundam 00 on the Sci Fi Channel’s Ani-Monday block has not been as disappointing.
Season one of Gundam 00 is reaching the end of its run the Sci Fi Channel. In fact, there are only five episodes of season one left, and four of those five episodes will be aired on February 2nd. After February 9th, Gundam 00 will take a break for a few months (or more) before season two (which is currently ongoing in Japan) is aired. I had some initial doubts about this series, given how much I disliked everything Gundam after the 08th MS Team aired here, but so far Gundam 00 has blown those doubts away. With the possible exception of Code Geass, Gundam 00 is one of the most compelling anime shows airing on U.S. television right now.
Having one of these guys show up in the middle of your war also signals a bad day if you love war, that is.
Gundam 00 makes a clean break from the fictional futuristic years found in most of the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Instead, it is set roughly 300 years in the future (2307 AD), and takes some of its plot elements from the post 9/11 political atmosphere, i.e. the present. The United States, Europe, China and even Russia are still major players in this alternative future, although world power is organized by major regions, instead of countries. Conflicts over energy, the use of alternative energy, and endless conflicts in some Middle Eastern countries still persist. Space and the space colonies are a major component of Gundam 00, but this series remains grounded in a very plausible reality. In this plausible reality, the Gundams and their young pilots (called Gundam Meisters) are charged with the total elimination of war itself, via a private armed organization only known as Celestial Being. The goal itself seems lofty, abstract, and rather foolish at times, but like many of the other Gundam series, the Gundam mobile suit weapons are the most advanced around. In other words, none of regional powers’ mobile suits are able to stand up to them in combat, and war eventually begins to decline through sheer force and fear.
If these three new Gundams (called Gundam Thrones) show up then everyone should prepare to be annihilated.
Naturally, the plot isn’t that simple as the pendulum of power swings back and forth. The world powers that promote and as a result, profit from war rebel against the idea of peace. The four young Gundam pilots are almost captured as the major military forces of the world unites against them. To make matters worse, they are rescued by three new Gundam Meisters, with their own violent and extreme agenda for ending global conflicts. It is unclear if the new Meisters are an original part of Celestial Being’s ultimate goals, or if someone else is manipulating the organization to further promote war. I won’t spoil much, as I plan to review season one after it finishes its run on February 9th. But as the first season of Gundam 00 draws to a close, I can’t help but wonder what the true intentions of Celestial Being really are, and where the plot will go next. Sure, I could Youtube or torrent the newest season two episodes, but that kills the joy of having something to look forward to on TV. With that said, if you’ve missed out on this show, do yourself a favor and watch season one before season two eventually airs. Unless you absolutely hate sci-fi and giant robot shows, Gundam 00 won’t disappoint you.
Images courtesy of the awesome anime blog, Random Curiosity.
About The Author
Angela
Executive Editor | Angela has had an addiction to video games and cartoons since she was young and impressionable. She enjoys writing long articles about these subjects and whatever else catches her eye. Mastodon
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The way you described 00’s concept makes it sound really intriguing. I actually had no idea that the series grounded itself in such a sense of reality. It sure sounds a lot better than Gundam SEED’s “hey, let’s remake the original Mobile Suit Gundam again” concept.
I was going to guess that Moribito was removed due to low ratings, but evidence says that it’s ratings were pretty good — about on par with Geass. That makes this awfully puzzling. What’s even more puzzling is that they replaced it with more Inu Yasha. Really, Adult Swim? Really?
00’s concept is very intriguing and refreshing. I just remembered that the four Meisters remind me a little bit of Gundam Wing, but only a little. Honestly, I tried Gundam SEED and none of it grabbed me as interesting. Which is why I almost didn’t try 00, but I’m really had I did. I don’t think the Sci Fi channel is going to re-run it anytime soon, but you can Youtube the dubbed or subbed versions.
Evidence eh? I’ll take your word for it, but I’m not sure what’s up with AS anymore. As much as I liked Inu Yasha I don’t to watch it 5000 more times, I’d rather see something new. I guess AS can’t anger Bandai too much, but Media Blasters is a different story. (Honestly, I think Code Geass would have been treated better if the Sci Fi Channel had gotten it too, it’s definitely of that genre.)