Gundam GQuuuuuuX: A Love Letter to the Universal Century Deepens, Echoing Zeta Gundam’s Complexities

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, from its inception, has worn its affection for the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam anime on its sleeve. The creative team behind the series has been evident in their desire to honor the roots of the franchise, infusing GQuuuuuuX with a nostalgic charm that resonates with longtime fans. However, the latest developments in the series suggest that its scope is far broader than initially perceived. As GQuuuuuuX reaches its halfway point, it has become clear that its creative forces are not only enamored with the original Gundam but also deeply influenced by its successor, Zeta Gundam.

Episode six, “The Plot to Assassinate Kycilia,” serves as a turning point, elevating the stakes and revealing a narrative tapestry woven with threads from both Gundam and Zeta Gundam. The episode plunges protagonist Machu into a whirlwind of challenges. She is faced with pressures from her academic and personal life, struggles with lingering feelings of inadequacy regarding Nyaan’s emergence as a Newtype, and confronts the looming threat of betrayal by Clan Battle manager Annqi, who intends to sell her out to Zeon. All of this culminates on the eve of what may be Machu’s final battle in the GQuuuuuuX arena.

Beyond these immediate conflicts, "The Plot to Assassinate Kycilia" introduces a complex political undercurrent, hinting at a clandestine scheme surrounding Kycilia Zabi, a prominent member of the Zeon ruling family, during her visit to Side 6. The episode subtly suggests that the Zeon forces stationed at Side 6 under Challia Bull’s command may not be entirely aligned with Kycilia’s authority. Questions arise among Challia’s subordinates regarding his loyalty to Kycilia versus her brother Gihren. However, flashbacks from Beginning reveal that Challia was privy to Char’s secret agenda to overthrow the Zabi family entirely, introducing multiple layers of intrigue and deception.

The episode introduces an unexpected twist: the plot to assassinate Kycilia does not originate from within Zeon but from their former adversaries, the Earth Federation. The mysterious corporation backing Machu and Shuji’s final clan battle opponents is revealed to be connected to familiar faces – Bask Om and Gates Capa, both members of the Titans from Zeta Gundam, which premiered in 1985.

Zeta Gundam, set nearly a decade after the original series, subverted expectations by focusing on the conflict between AEUG, a rebellious independent group, and the Titans, an elite special forces division within the Federation. The Titans were ostensibly dedicated to eradicating Zeon remnants but had increasingly become an authoritarian and powerful faction within the Federation, attempting to seize control of both Earth and the space colonies.

In GQuuuuuuX’s reimagining of the Universal Century timeline, the Titans appear to be a more clandestine organization operating in the aftermath of the Federation’s defeat in the One Year War. The inclusion of Bask Om is a noteworthy addition, given his role as a major antagonist in Zeta Gundam. However, it is the appearance of Gates Capa that holds even greater significance, as GQuuuuuuX delves into another captivating aspect of Gundam history.

In Zeta Gundam, Gates Capa was a test subject in the Federation’s Newtype labs. He was one of several pilots who underwent surgical and psychological procedures, often resulting in mental trauma, to become a "Cyber Newtype," an artificially enhanced version of the natural evolution that allows humans living in space to develop empathic psychic abilities and heightened awareness.

The emergence of Cyber Newtypes is a crucial element in Zeta Gundam’s world-building, as both the Federation and Zeon remnants attempt to exploit these individuals as weapons of war. The Cyber Newtypes’ enhanced abilities allow them to pilot devastating mobile suits. Although Capa is paired with a different co-pilot in GQuuuuuuX, a mysterious Cyber Newtype known only as Deux, they pilot the same terrifying weapon: the Psycho Gundam.

The Psycho Gundam, briefly glimpsed in the next-episode trailer, is a transforming mobile armor developed by the Murasame Newtype Labs in Zeta Gundam. The Psycho Gundam and its successor were specifically designed for Cyber Newtypes. These massive mecha are multiple times the size of standard mobile suits and are equipped with an overwhelming arsenal. Both versions of the Psycho Gundam place immense mental strain on their pilots, ultimately leading to mental breakdowns and death. The introduction of the Psycho Gundam suggests that the challenges faced by the characters in GQuuuuuuX are about to become far more perilous.

The series’ shift toward Zeta Gundam as a source of inspiration amplifies the stakes beyond the central protagonists, mirroring the expansion of the original Gundam’s universe. This progression echoes the time gap between the original Gundam and Zeta Gundam, which occurred years after the conclusion of the war that shaped the original series.

Thematically, this shift is telling. While the original Gundam presented a relatively clear-cut conflict between Earth and Zeon, Zeta Gundam introduced moral ambiguities and complexities, challenging the audience to examine systems of power beyond the simplistic hero-versus-villain dynamic. As the challenges facing the young heroes of GQuuuuuuX intensify, the series mirrors Gundam’s darker and more morally complex successor.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX’s exploration of the Universal Century continues to evolve, demonstrating a deep understanding and appreciation for the Gundam franchise as a whole. By drawing inspiration from Zeta Gundam, the series enhances its narrative depth and explores the complex moral landscape that has defined the Gundam universe for generations.