Yes, it's a speculative response.
:P I'm pretty confident that Marina's role won't be expanded until season 2. My own thought is that Setsuna and whomever his associates are at that point are going to end up being granted a secret asylum in Azadistan by Marina. It's unfortunate that her role until then basically consists of having her periodically remind us that both she and Shirin exist. I've posted that I think that the Kinue news story arc will get a big boost before the end of the season. Obviously, that's not a unanimous opinion around here. But my own thought is that the "secret news investigation" arc will get completed with Setsuna finding out about it from Saji and someone connecting a couple of dots right before the end of the season. If done right, I think that could be a good season ender. When I read your idea about a doomsday weapon, the thought crossed my mind that Ribbon might publicly betray Corner - i.e. blow Corner's identity to the world at large in preparation for whatever plot Ribbon intends to put in motion (yes, I realize that's probably not a doomsday weapon...). But the problem is that such an action devolves into "all 37 mobile suits dog-piling on Corner", who doesn't have a mobile suit of his own (at least, not that we've seen yet). You need mobile suits on both sides (or maybe all sides), or else the action doesn't really go anywhere. You dismissed the idea of a Ptolemais fight because it's been done, but I think it is a possibliity. The difference this time around could be that the Ptolemais is lost. If, say, Corner uses Veda to locate the Ptolemais, and then provides constant updates to the UN about where the Ptolemais is located, then it wouldn't be able to hide again as it did before. The cliff-hanger could be the Gundams and crew fleeing from the wrecked Ptolemais before it blows up, and then asking, "What now?" It's just a thought, though. The thing that concerns me is that in the last episode, we saw CB preparing to retrieve some sort of new superweapon for the Exia (some have suggested it's a system similar to the METEOR system in SEED, or the Dendrobium in 0083). That doesn't really fit with any of the ideas that I can think of for how a season finale climax could be setup. Then again, they might not get back with it until Season 2. It's hard to tell from the trailer, but something bad might be about to happen to Exia in the next episode. My suspicion is that Exia's going to be in a fight with the AEU's new mobile suits, and Setsuna's going to get knocked unconscious. junior Subject : [gundam] G00 mini-conclusion/mini climax or major confusion in sight? Date : Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:02:24 -0500 >From : "Dr. Core" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To : [email protected] As far as I am concerned, these are three candidates: - the Marina arc: we have invested too much time introducing this damsel; how likely we will get a proper story out of her and Azadistan by ep. 25? Not likely. Hopefully she will get a decent supporting role (meaning doing something other than watching JNN all day) before end of season 1. - Kinue/Saji/Louise: it already seem likes this is a huge set up that will won't get resolved until at least mid-2nd-season. I just hope ep. 25 will give a nice semicolon to this arc. I'd even settle for a coma, but I fear it could be completely dangling in the middle of a wor_ - Big 3 vs. TM vs. GM 3-way: this is what the previous couple episodes is building up for right? It's going to be one big gonzo gangbang scene: 4 Gundams vs. 3 Thrones vs. 2+2+2 GN-X. But what would constitute a "good" outcome to take into the 6-months break? Without a worthy target (in UC it would be a colony or asteroid drop, in G it was the end of roaming+training), it seems like it's a fight for the sake of fighting (there's a bit of Ali in everyone, eh?). What could be that big target? Veda itself, no way. Ptelamois, been there done that. The linear train HQ, too bland. One of the space elevators or the solar arrays, more specular but still not threatening enough. Problem is that no one has a big threatening dreadnought or doomsday weapon or DG-cell monster or even a nuke. But... it's possible the three arcs will join up in a big-ball-of-plotlines-nexus-blackhole, with 13 (or 37?!) MS providing the action, Saji & Marina provide the melodrama and Corners/Ribbons providing the sinister smiles. It's just a bit too mind-boogling ... 6 months is a long wait, if ep. 25 doesn't end with a satisfactory thump, I mean, seriously this time, yet more promise of hope won't cut it. There's no telling if I would come back for season 2.
