This is a kind of ongoing narration I did as I watched the Gundam Wing series and Endless Waltz. Several pages in the middle went missing when my hard drive got reformatted (-_-.) so it's mostly just comments on the last few episodes.

Ehhh, I like Relena a bit more than I expected. Maybe because she was the first character who appeared as more than some simple fighting unit. I do like it too how they don't really portray one side in the war as evil and the other as good; it's not so clear-cut.

*after episode 10* Ohhh, it just keeps getting better. Always a case of "oh, I just have to watch the next episode to see what's going to happen now!"... the Gundams having to surrender... Heero isn't dead of course, but... it's getting good. Quatre and his 'space heart'... feeling the pain of Heero... as anticipated, Quatre is surely my favourite...

The main fault of this show though, is, if I had to pick it, too much action. Obviously it's set in this war situation and it's gonna be pretty intense, but it's so full-on - not much time for the viewer to relax - just battles and political/strategic discussions with the occasional (very) short bit of calm character interaction.

*after episode 16*

Wooo... time to take a break, I think. ^_^;; Haven't seen Quatre and Duo for a little while, which is a shame. Wufei really kicks butt. I couldn't help squeaking happily when we actually *saw him smile*. Heero and Trowa are cool buuut... I think I like the other three better.

I liked Relena because she seemed really realistic, just like a real person. But now that she's becoming 'strong' she's losing some of that, I think.

I can't believe Zechs is only 19 years old. ^_^;

The more I see, the harder it is for me to understand everything. It made sense at first but now I'm kinda lost.

Mmmm, I don't really like where the series is at at the moment, buuut, it has to get better eventually. I know Quatre goes crazy at some stage, so I look forward to that. ^_^.

-several pages lost-

To give Quatre the Zero system... that’s putting a lot of pressure on him, but a lot of faith in him too. I was glad he accepted, and that he mastered it... especially after his initial, less-than-successful encounter with the system. ^_^;

The relationship between Relena and Heero is weird to say the least. I guess when it’s a person like Heero, in a war situation like they’re in, a normal romance is going to be hard to come by...

How impatient I became with morons constantly saying “this is the way to peace!” I mean, what a childish, stupid, petty sort of war they were fighting... and to claim it would bring peace is either very ignorant or very arrogant.

Quatre really is the best leader. Not just because of his excellent strategy and foresight - all the pilots have some degree of that - but because he cares very much yet won’t let that cloud his judgement... he’s fighting for a reason... he’s willing to make personal sacrifices for the most important thing. And he understands people. Most of the pilots have a lot of insight but Quatre shows that he cares; he’s the one the others depend on.

Mm, the pilots really are exceptional people. They’re all super-strong, obviously, and can handle piloting a machine that very, very few adults could even handle. But they’re also so... deep. When writing that about Quatre I thought, the other pilots have a lot of insight. Like Trowa or Heero will make these comments about people or situations that turn out to be right, but leave you thinking “how on EARTH did they figure that one out?” The pilots - and other characters - understand statements that leave me baffled.

Quatre’s insight is more down-to-earth and practical, I think. He’s good at making perfect decisions. Duo has some insight but he’s emotional which stops him from being all profound and enigmatic, and Wufei is strong but he’s blinded by his odd views on life.

Actually, I like Duo and Wufei’s ways better than Heero and Trowa. Like, Treize spouted some crap as usual (“I couldn’t kill one of the only people who understands me”) and instead of nodding as if it made perfect sense, Wufei roared “Don’t talk nonsense!” and swung into an attack. Finally, someone is responding to these clowns the way they deserve. ^_^;

Nataku/Shenlong is such a cool Gundam, with the cool arm-extension thing and the trident which looks so funky when Wufei spins it around.

AWESOME! Quatre opening the door to come face-to-face with Dorothy Catalonia! *bounces* Can’t wait to see what’s going to happen now!... AHH! SHE SHOT HIM!

Wow, Heero’s finally being nice to Relena and talking to her like a normal human being. After he promised to kill her brother etc, his eyes were actually kind. ^_^;; He’s right though... Zechs and Treize; the deaths of those two will finally end the war. Other types of fighting will not lead to peace; only the deaths of those who stir up stupid war games for their own entertainment.

I say entertainment because it seems too naive for them to actually believe the things they say. You can never eliminate the human’s will to fight. What was that quote from earlier in the series? Humans never forget the sadness but they never stop the fighting? There are people in this very story that fight for reasons of vengeance. Because of one fight, others will want to continue fighting. And even if this generation decided to end it, what about the next? I don’t think anybody likes war but they do it for reasons, some of which are created by war to begin with.

Ohh... those two, Dorothy and Quatre, are fighting... I especially like any scene when Quatre’s around, ‘cos he’s my fave... oh, she’s accusing him. Quatre, hang in there! Your fighting wasn’t for nothing! *Leto seems to be becoming a little too engaged in this ^^;;* And Trowa cares so much about Quatre that he knows he’s in trouble! Cute! *squeak* ^_^.

And now Quatre’s men are looking for him too. Quatre, see, you’re important to everybody. Oh, wow... Dorothy’s true self revealed... Quatre stabbed... *starts bawling* You go, Quatre! I didn’t know he could fence... It’s kind of funny how people have these big conversations while in the middle of battle. You’d think they’d be kind of, like, concentrating on fighting. ^_^;

Wufei finally killed Treize. And then seemed horribly upset about it, although that was the very thing he was trying valiantly to achieve. I don’t get that guy. ^_^;

It seems like more people like Duo or Quatre more than the other pilots. Ditto here. The reason is because those two behave more like humans. I mean, Trowa is very interesting etc, but I prefer characters who show more emotion and who show they care about things and stuff.

Also, Quatre has relationships with more people. He has some affiliation/association with Noin, Dorothy, Trowa, Duo, Heero, Relena, his family, his men... Wufei less so, I guess...

Another thing I like is that no Gundam pilot is a lot stronger or weaker than others. I guess Heero’s the best and then Wufei but all of them are strong, all of them prove themselves to be exceptional, all of them can hold their own, all of them get battle time and coolness time. I’m especially happy that Quatre kind of emerged as the leader, ‘cos at one stage it almost looked like he was less strong than some of the others.

I love it how one minute, Une is in a coma and attached to life support machines, and the next she’s flying a mobile suit through space and commanding an army. ^_^;;

“So, Treize Khushrenada was also fighting for complete peace,” says Sally. It IS a joke, isn’t it! Both these guys claim to be fighting for peace, so they start a huge war for no reason! Hooray for testosterone! (You know I’m being a bit hard on them and ignoring the profound philosophical psychology stuff involved in this, but I think their ‘reasons’ and motivations are a bit of a joke really. And how can destroying a whole planetful of people lead those people to mental reform and hate war? They won’t be able to hate war; they’ll be DEAD!) It seems strange that all the players in this piece turned out to not be selfish really. I think they were, it’s just that they made it seem like they weren’t. And most of them reformed or whatever. Ehh. Real life doesn’t work that way. But, it’s good for a cool story and likeable characters and all. ^_^.

Dorothy cried. That was so cool. Quatre is such a nice guy. ^_^. Trowa is too, actually. He says he’s killed his emotions and his heart is empty. But it’s so obvious he isn’t, because of the kindness in his voice.

Non-alcoholic champagne to celebrate their victory... typical Quatre! Such an innocent. It’s kind of funny, though; these guys have done so much and they’re not even old enough to legally drink.

How can Zechs be calling Heero pure and all that... it’s another one of those totally mystifying statements. Like Quatre suddenly said that Dorothy was so kind. She’d just STABBED HIM.

I applauded when Heero said “I’m not going to die!” Finally he says it; finally he’s not resigning himself to death like he usually does! Ahh, what a great moment!

All in all, a great last five minutes for the series. Quatre’s realisation that Heero was the ‘uchuu no kokoro’ was cool even though I didn’t quite get it. Heero’s “mission accomplished” was very poignant and appropriate, along with the narrator summing up what had happened in that year, and ending with Relena’s birthday and tearing up the note - nice how it sorta came full-circle.

A lot happened in the year AC 195, right!

Endless Waltz

Marie Meia has an amazingly annoying voice. Gosh, it’s nearly as bad as Lady Une’s ‘nice’ voice.

Heero’s flashback-y dream was cool (about the child and her puppy ;_;).

Ooh, now the Gundam pilots are facing each other. Except for Quatre; you know he would never fight the others... so is it going to be him who comes and stops them?

Okay, one moment, Heero and Wufei are duking it out, and the next, Heero and Duo are standing somewhere talking? I like it how the series doesn't follow everything exactly chronologically - like, something will be happening and the next scene occurs a few days later, so we don't have to see insignificant filler scenes - but sometimes it's a little strange.

Gooo Quatre-sama! (Sorry, been listening to his team too much. ^_^.) Retrieve those Gundam! Quatre is very brave. I know all the pilots are but he seems more brave because he has things he cares about and he is gentler and more human. You don’t always associate courage and strength with gentle, quiet people. Maybe that’s the difference.

Relena is almost irritatingly strong and patient. I mean, she always seems to be surrounded by really irritating people but she never loses her temper or shows frustration. I want to see her try to lunge at this annoying little brat and scratch her eyes out. ^_^.

Isn’t it kind of funny how *all* the main characters are still alive, despite the events of AC 195?

Because of the start of this third episode of the OAV, I suddenly like Wufei again. And, wow... Heero really has changed. Duo too. The only thing we'll send to hell are the weapons of war...

Wow. That last episode was really, really fantastic. To hear that mobile suits were not used again - it made the destruction of the Gundam easier to swallow. The best part was when Heero said he didn’t have to kill any more, and collapsed in Relena’s arms, and she just sat there stroking his head. Also very good how Wufei agreed to work as a Preventer; his life still has meaning. And Duo, Trowa and Quatre... had somewhere to return to. More powerful was that Heero did not.

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