Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Season 1 is a magnificent combination of Utena-ish theatrics and themes, with teenagers forced to recreate their parents' trauma, grounded by being rooted in a Gundam-ish world, and powered by the relationship between two young women learning to live. Season 2... feels like the executives came in and told them to tone down the gay stuff, and they did the best they could, but taking the focus off that relationship hurt everything else? It's still a good show, but it could've been a great one.

Looks like another generic mass-appeal* remake of Utena, this time in a military space school comprised of 80% girls. Watched up to episode 7; There's no story- or character-depth to speak of. (* a shy, awkward yet over-competent fighter teenage girl with very-light-brown skin and red hair, who seems straight but is teased as lesbian)

Has a very strong first 12 episodes, 6 pretty strong episodes after, but the ending has pretty mediocre pacing. Despite that, it ends in a way that's mostly satisfying.

Gundam, without the intrigue. Or the depth! We're constantly told very little about how the world operates, and then we're supposed to understand complex political conflicts the show refuses to explain. Characters are often crude. annoying, and are "developed" by reveals. Very few fights (in a school for fighting!) rely on tactics and strategy, instead going for dei ex machina. Some cute moments between the two main girls, but eventually the lesbian element feels just as shallow and gimmicky.

Not great, kinda shallow, and a little convoluted, but it's got heart and soul where it counts. Decently entertaining, and sure to scratch that Gundam itch.

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