Gundam 00 — Episode 14
This episode is quite interesting. It’s a build-up for the huge battle that is coming soon, so there’s a whole bunch of talking and I like talking episodes, as long as it’s not mostly teenage angst.
There are some new characters and background information about the G00 universe being introduced, and also, we have the new OP and ED. I love the new ED! The new OP is fine I guess.
New OP
The new OP is “Ash Like Snow” by the brilliant green. I’m not the one translating this.
“I’m God!”
Everything is in ruins but this fence still stands
It’s a trap
Wait a minute… Isn’t that United Nations’ flag on the ground?
New Gundams!
It’s not very clear here, but those things are funnels
Episode Summary
This entire episode is basically a build-up for a huge joint military exercise between the Union, HRL and AEU. It’s some kind of elaborate plan to get to the Gundams but, if you actually stop to think about it, it’s actually quite contrived and illogical.
Basically they plan to hold the military exercise in the Taklamakan Desert located in northwest China. Apparently it’s the place where China sent all its enriched uranium for storage after solar energy made nuclear power obsolete. This is partially my own conjecture because it’s never actually explained in the episode what “enriched uranium dumping ground” means, since nobody actually dumps enriched uranium in reality, only depleted uranium.
Illogical as it may be, the plan does make for a convenient excuse to send all the familiar characters to China and gather them in one little desert to fight it out with Celestial Being. (Apparently Celestial Being gets owned, according to the preview for the next episode.)
Graham’s Anti-Gundam Investigation Unit finally gets officially activated. The codename is Overflags, which is frankly a stupid name, and its overt operational status is the 8th Independent Tactical Aviation Squadron, a special air unit comprising entirely of Flags. They also get twelve new pilots who are apparently the aces of the various Union aviation units and come from exotic places such as Alaska, Georgia and Illinois. I guess other than the United States, the rest of the Union is pretty much useless.
Also, it seems that elite pilots in the Union get to have their own customized flight patches. Is this true of the modern day USAF? Somehow it sounds terribly silly.
Meanwhile, we are introduced to a new character on the AEU side. Finally, the Europeans get to have someone who is not Patrick to represent them on screen.
It’s a reversed trap
Her name is Katie Manekin (or something like that) and she is the commander of the squadron which Patrick belongs to. Also, she bitch slaps Patrick like twice for being late. And he likes it.
And finally, the most shocking revelation of all, Ali Al-Serges is a member of the French Foreign Legion! And a pretty trusted one too! Those French must have some terrible background checks. Anyway, his cover identity is Gerry Biaggi (which is an Italian name I believe?) and he is the commander of the 4th Independent Foreign Cavalry Regiment. He is given some top secret mission orders in preparation for the military exercise, probably to capture the Gundams.
Man, what’s next? The Union President is actually Sumeragi’s father?
Oh and we finally get to see Celestial Being’s secret base. (Or at least part of it.) They have a space dock in an artificial asteroid field near Lagrange L1 point, which is the Lagrange point between Earth and Moon. Apparently, Union built their space colony there and moved a ton of mineral asteroids nearby in order to mine for construction materials.
New ED
The new ED is “Friends” by Stephanie. I am translating this. It sounds quite different from her previous songs.
Screencaps
“I’m a parody of some Japanese TV personality.”
In reality, secret meeting rooms are much better-lit
Sunglasses
Hair buns
Comedic relief
Emoing in Ireland
Finally sick of Saji
The HRL can’t afford enough hangers to store all their mobile suits indoors
“It’s been half the series and this is my third appearance”
A new bastard appears
Setsuna is a creepy sex predator
Go France!
G00 is quality entertainment.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Is it me or does the new AEU person look alot like Natarle from Gundam Seed?
January 18th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Does anyone know what happened to the Mendoi? I can’t find their site anymore and they still haven’t released episode 14 of Gundam 00.
January 19th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
In reply to Zidaine, Mendoi and Conclave have recently merged. Their new name is now menclave. Try searching for it!
January 20th, 2008 at 2:40 am
So wondering when the torrents are going to come out for this episode and the next…I miss my gundam 00! :(
January 20th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I just watched episode 15.. wow! everyone get owned. EVERYONE!… OWNED!… why?! :(
They introduce a new gundam.. some red thing… that saves setsuna’s butt… barely…
wow..
January 20th, 2008 at 10:42 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I thought the gundams would be invincible this time Damn It!!!! Oh Well (sigh) That red gundam better kick ass or else…. Anyway, the new gundams will probably become bad guys but I hope the 4 old gundams become renewed or improved or trashed for some other mobile suit. Setsuna gets a new sword called the 8th sword that’s just a theory though. The three new pilots sound awesome so come on out!!!
January 20th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Ah, thanks a lot darkdestiny!
January 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
when will Conclave-mendoi sub and release the torrent for episode 14?
January 24th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
u know……..i have been meaning to say this for a while…..but the CB logo looks like the UN logo with something plastered over it…….probably a phoenix?….