Review: When everyone thinks GQuuuuuuX Episode 5 would be more chill, it cranked up to a chaotic second half.
After the franchise's trademark dark turn in Episode 4 of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Episode 5 looked to be a more chill episode with fewer fights and more about the life of Machu, Nyaan, and Shuji, as implied by the teaser. While the first half of the episode told the implications of Shiiko's death to Machu, the second half brought back the intensity of the series with a chase, a high-octane Clan Battle, and the awakening of another Newtype for Clan Pomeranians.
Episode 5 continued the prelude to the overarching story of Gundam GQuuuuuuuX and poured the fans even more questions into the series' pool of mysteries.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
The episode started with three familiar faces of the franchise, the members of the Black Tri-Stars: Gaia, Ortega, and Mash. However, not all three are present; Mash was only shown inside a newspaper clipping showing his scandal as Mayor after he resigned from the military. Meanwhile, after the war, Gaia and Ortega were dismissed by M'Quve from Zeon and worked as junk traders. Besides selling junk, they also became Clan Battlers, but planned to move on. For their latest fight, they targeted the hottest act at the moment, Clan Pomeranian. Gaia blamed their misfortune on the Red Gundam, which, in his mind, took all the glory in the One Year War.
Back inside Side 6, Machu was sunbathing atop the Kaneban shop. The crew of Clan Pomeranian worried that the killing featured in the last episode would affect her. Annqi told the crew that they don't know what's inside Machu's mind before trying to cheer Machu up. Annqi noticed that Machu was feeling down because of her performance in the last battle. She then encouraged Machu to chase the person whom she thought was better than her, before being asked if there was one for Annqi. The leader of Kaneban dismissed Machu's question without answering anything.
Xavier's determination to take back the GQuuuuuuX
On the other side of Side 6, Xavier Olivette searched for clues regarding the GQuuuuuuX alone. Ensign Comoli told Lieutenant Colonel Chalia Bull that it was a crazy move because not even the authorities of Side 6 knew where it was. Chalia dismissed the concern saying that he was a Newtype and should be able to find a way on his own. Comoli felt Chalia sounded like he was removing a burden from his shoulders, but refrained from saying it out loud.
Xavier then talked to a Zeon informant regarding the Red Gundam. He then told the young Newtype that Kycilia suspected that the theft of GQuuuuuuX was a plot schemed by the commander of the Sodon, and warned Xavier not to put too much trust in Chalia Bull. Back in the Kaneban, Machu felt that Shuji didn't feel anything about killing another person before preparing to continue her day. We were then treated a montage of Machu going about her day before meeting with Nyaan and going into Shuji's hideout.
When they reached the hideout, they noticed Shuji and the Gundam weren't there before hearing a blaring siren, marking that the air gate was opened. Shuji just returned from space. Nyaan assumed that the eccentric pilot had just done his graffiti session and asked why he did it. Shuji, who looked unhealthy, said that Machu knew why before lying face down atop the Gundam. Machu then said it's because of the Kira-Kira, to which Nyaan asked what it is aboout. Machu described it as a feeling that the universe had just responded to her, before Shuji added that it should feel like that.
Both Machu and Nyaan then joined Shuji in lying face down on top of the Gundam to feel how cold it was. Machu then said that she already put a down payment for the shuttle that they could take to visit Earth, and said that two more wins were needed before they could pay for the trip.
The second meeting of Machu and Xavier
In the train station, Xavier looked dejected after not finding any clue regarding the GQuuuuuuX, but suddenly, Machu and Nyaan were walking in front of him. Xavier noticed that Machu looked similar to the GQuuuuuuX thief before seeing the two girls halted by the authorites, who then asked Nyaan if she was a refugee. Machu retaliated by kicking the police before splitting with Nyaan. When Machu tried to run, she noticed that all roads were closed by the police. Xavier then grabbed Machu, and both of them hid inside a locker.
Machu noticed that Xavier was the GQuuuuuuX pilot and worried she might be discovered. Xavier then profiled her, but was shocked to notice that she was studying in Highbury, a high-class school for debutantes. Machu tried her best not to spill any information, but she was worried about the time because her Clan Battle would start soon. Xavier noticed that Machu worried about time, but dismissed it because the Clan Battle soon started. If the Gundam didn't show up, then his suspicion regarding Machu proved true.
Nyaan, who noticed Machu couldn't move from her position, decided to take matters into her own hands. The Pomeranian crews were worried about Machu's whereabouts. Jezzi already planned to suit up if she didn't arrive, but suddenly, someone wearing Machu's suit entered the Gundam. The crews, thinking it was Machu, were relieved with her arrival but scolded her about her tardiness. The crew members noticed something was different with the Gundam, but quickly dismissed it. The girl was, in fact, Nyaan. The Gundam then got sent out to the Clan Battle.
Xavier asked Machu about Clan Battle, which Machu said she knew nothing about. Both of them were surprised when they noticed that the GQuuuuuuX was present. Xavier then doubted whether he had the right person due to the Gundam's appearance. Machu was also shocked and wondered who was inside the mobile suit. Nyaan, inside the Gquuuuuuux, wanted to leave everything to Shuji, but her MAV was having a 38.9-degree cold after being diagnosed by Conch.
When the battle started, the Sodon crews noticed that the Gundams' opponents were two Rick Doms. Chalia admitted that while he was also a former Dom's pilot, there were "Dom's masters" who were better than he was under Kycilia's command, referencing the famed Black Tri-Stars.
The awakening of another Newtype
The Rick Doms quickly rushed into Nyaan. The girl, who didn't expect the sudden engagement, called Shuji for help, but he wasn't responding. She was instantly overwhelmed by the speed of both mobile suits. Both Gaia and Ortega tried to electrocute the GQuuuuuuX and Nyaan to render them incapacitated. They then tried to overwhelm the GQuuuuuuX with their combination attack. Comoli was confused as to why the GQuuuuuuX was being overwhelmed even though Chalia said the pilot had already mastered it. Chalia noticed it wasn't about the technique, but a matter of determination.
The Rick Dom's combination completely battered the GQuuuuuuX. Haro suggested that Nyaan run away, before being told by her to shut up. In her frustration and rage, the GQuuuuuuX's Omega Psycommu was unlocked. Nyaan has awakened her Newtype capabilities. Ortega and Gaia turned their attention to Shuji, noticing that the Red Gundam wasn't moving as usual. They plan to use their signature Jet Stream Attack on Shuji.
Nyaan finally entered the Kira-Kira and wondered if it was the same one that Machu saw. However, unlike Machu, she could notice the enemy as something that smelled. She quickly grabbed Shuji and used him as a shield before launching a counterattack. The move shocked everyone watching, but the attack successfully split Gaia's bazooka and almost destroyed Ortega's cockpit, exposing him to space. The Doms planned to use their signature move again.
When both of them rapidly approached the Gundams, Nyaan quickly used a decoy to hinder Gaia's vision. Noticed the GQuuuuuuX was gone, Gaia targeted Shuji instead, but Nyaan suddenly appeared from behind, ready to slice the Dom's head. Ortega saved Gaia from being slashed but paid the price with his life. Nyaan stabbed Ortega's Dom in the cockpit using the borrowed Beam Saber from the Red Gundam before quickly returning to Gaia and slashing the Dom's head, destroying both mobile suits.
After the battle, Xavier praised the MAV technique, saying he had never seen anything like it. Machu then kicked the pilot and the locker open. She ran away as quickly as she could, weathering the rain to the airlock, while lamenting the fact that another person had activated the Omega Psycommu, meaning someone saw the Kira-Kira beside Shuji and her. Meanwhile, Chalia also praised the technique and said he doesn't mind using MAV like that. He then told the crew to contact Granada to send the Kikeroga, his signature mobile armor.
Inside, she met with the GQuuuuuuX before the cockpit opened, revealing Nyaan inside. Machu was shocked by the revelation and realised that her friend now also knew about the Kira-Kira. The episode ended with a preview of Episode 6, which is the first showing of Kycilia Zabi in U.C. 0085.
A different kind of Newtype and a triangle love story in the making
First of all, there was a stark difference in the kind of Kira-Kira that Nyaan and Machu entered. The first was the colour of the sparkling. Machu had green while Nyaan had purple. While this could mean something else entirely, it could also be a means to tell the viewer which pilot entered the Kira-Kira. The second was Nyaan, who was able to tell the Doms by smell but couldn't sense where Shuji was, while Machu could only sense where Shuji was but didn't sense where the enemy's position was. Lastly, it was how Nyaan became kind of corrupted by the awakening of her Newtype power, seemingly hysterically happy about it.
However, the subtle difference was the absence of the La-La song. Every time Machu entered the Kira-Kira, the La-La song was present, but not in the case of Nyaan. It could also be reasoned with the fact that Shuji was ill during the clan battle, and the Red Gundam didn't activate. However, another theory was that Nyaan is not the same type of Newtype as Machu or Shuji. She could be one of the Cyber Newtype equivalents in the GQuuuuuuX timeline, especially with her mysterious background.
One plot point seeded in Episode 5 was the eventual triangle love relationship between Machu, Nyaan, and Shuji. While Shuji looked oblivious to it, both Machu and Nyaan looked interested in approaching the eccentric boy. While Machu is clearly interested in a relationship with Shuji, Nyaan's purpose might be motivated by the bounty on the Red Gundam from Episode 4. Only time will tell how the seed will grow.
Fans who watched the movie were already waiting for the introduction of the Black Tri-Stars. They were missing from the flashback episode, as the battle of Solomon was cut entirely. However, the presentation regarding all three members was surprising, especially seeing that Mash was the most successful of the three. However, it is the same as the original timeline. Two of the three would die in the battle against the Gundam, with another meeting his end in another time, mirroring their tragic end in every timeline.
Overall, the episode brought more mystery to who Nyaan is and Chalia Bull's true motivation. Did the Colonel only want to find the Red Gundam, or was there anything else on his mind? Episode 6 might answer the question, especially with the arrival of Kycilia Zabi.
Want to read more about the lore of Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX? Check out our review compilation!
