Gundam on Yuri; The Witch from Mercury first episode impression

 It has been a while since I watched a Gundam show. The last series of the Big G that I watched was the Iron Blooded Orphan and I only managed to finish the first season. At this moment, the title for the current G series is The Witch of the Mercury. I thought the anime will be a movie special like the Hathaway's flash. To my surprise it turned out to be a series; which I assumed will premier around 12 episode (or maybe more if it got a second season). I already watched the prelude animation for the series (episode Prologue) but since I was a bit late watching it, I thought it will be better if I start with the new first episode (or else I might get overwhelmed if suddenly real life activity happens to get on the writing process Lmao). Ok before review I’ll see what the first episode is got to offer for us .Oh by the way, if you haven’t watched the episode, I think it would be best to stop reading. Unless you just want to know about what is this series and don’t bothered with the spoiler lol

Now you had to marry me 

The scene opened with the protagonist heroines named Sulleta Mercury working around the operating system of what looks like a mobile suit’s computer. As he checked the surrounding space, she noticed a person; wearing astronaut suit drifting in the space. She told the bridge about the floating person and asked for immediate help. However, due to the time constraint, she decided to start his mobile suit right away and retrieve the person herself. The scene followed with her mobile suit; which none other than the main Gundam itself; the Aerial started and flew away from the mother ship. As she managed to get the person get inside the cockpit. To her surprise, the person got angry for being saved from losing oxygen. She was a white haired maiden named Miorine Rembran and she never asked to be rescued. In fact she was hoping to run away from the academy located at the nearby colony. And thus start the journey of these two lovebirds.

one question though? why did you have that weird shaped eyebrows? how?

In the academy, the two main heroines accidentally met again. Sulleta was quite scared to see Miorine once again because she got angry with her unneeded rescue earlier. After few banter between the two and some conversation with the other academy students, we were suddenly introduced to a duel between two mobile suits right inside the academy. It was explained that dueling in mobile suit is a normal term in the academy. And the winner of the duel got the privilege to decide everything that he/she want; either status, or even marriage candidate. One of mobile suit pilot used a pink colored mobile suit named Dilanza. The pilot name is Guel Jeturk and he had his eye fixated for Miorine. After winning the bout, he declared Miorine to be his fiancé as it was customary for the winner to decide the winning price. Miorine didn’t like that one side rule and that was her sole reason to flee as far as possible from that academy. Turned out, the maker of the rule is none other of her father; Delling Rembran. He IS the top manager of Grassley Defense Systems, a member of the Mobile Suit development council and the chairman of Asticassia School of Technology.

Just a passing through mobile suits.. and its magenta not pink xD

As the usual there will be no Gundam show without a mobile suit battle especially at the first episode. As Miorine and Sulleta talked in Miorine’s garden, Guel came and made a ruckus. He made fun of Miorne playing farming in the academy and then a quarrel happened between them. While Suletta was a bit timid and scared, Guel harsh treatment to Miorine made her snap and slap his but ala Bright Noah did. She accepted to duel the man in a winner takes all mobile suit battle. What surprised me is that the pilot of Aerial Gundam was not Sulleta at the beginning but it was Miorine. She hijacked the Aerial and challenged the Pink Dilanza in one and one battle. Although Aerial definitely had superior technology, piloted by a complete beginner like Miorine, the Guel’s Dilanza turned it into a punching bag. Sulleta, whose got angry due to her Mobile suit got piloted without her consent, forced her way inside the cockpit. After getting her hand on the control unit once again, Guel let Sulleta to become his official contender, unknowing to him, Sulleta had experienced using the Gundam and could use its full potential. Just a few scenes later, Aerial blasted the pink Dilanza with the fin funnel like component; the Gun Bits, obliterated the unit completely. Miorine opened the cockpit went outside to watch the remnant of the pink scrap and she turned around to Suletta. After a few second, She gave her an emblem; which instantly changes the Suleta’s uniform into a white ; which had similar motif from Guel's uniform, and declared her as her groom. Sulleta who suddenly got herself a fiancé; a girl no less, frantically told her that she was also a girl. To her surprise, Miorine said that it was just natural for a girl to have a relationship with another girl in the academy.

Pride shattering butt slap 

My review from this episode was mixed actually; I am not excited with the way the first episode rolled out but still can hope a better future episode. As far as female protagonist role; I think Sulleta was not the first heroine to ever ride a Gundam. Christina Mckenzie from the Gundam 0080 war in the Pocket was the first Gundam female pilot (albeit not as the main protagonist). Some fan even jokingly said that the first real female protagonist of G series was Camille Vidan from Zeta Gundam despite the fact that only his name is female (not to mention his tendency to get emotional whenever  someone insulted his name). In case of Sulleta, I think many viewers may dislike her stuttering and lack of confidence as the main protagonist but I assume that was because the producer wants to develop her character into a more mature person and she may develop her confidence later. The other supporting character that appeared in the first episode includes Nika Nanaura; a short haired Earthian girl who studied mechanic. Shaddiq Zenelly, a muscular long haired boy who acted more like a battle viewer at this episode.  Also there is Vim Jeturk, a shady Jeturk Heavy Machinery's current CEO and Guel's father; whose planned to assassinate Miorine’s father (should Guel managed to defeat the Aerial) but failed incredibly due to Sulleta's winning the duel.

In one episode they had already....holding hand, fall on ground embracing each other, being betrothed to each other ...YURI level 9999 

Being the first episode, I still could not judge whether they made a well-developed character or not. How well they developed the other supporting character can only be seen on the future episode. As my first impression, I thought it was still just an Ok episode despite I read most watcher considered it as a great beginning of a series. In my mind, first episode usually starts either with a bang; which made it very exciting and made the watchers thirst for the second one right away. Or it may start with simple casts’ introduction and less conflict, depicting slower momentum build and I think this series is more of the later.  Still, it is too early to judge how well this series as a whole since if the writer managed to  build the tension, make a believable scenario, and fleshed out the best of the supporting characters (while making them relatable) it can be better. The first episode also dare to start the relationship between Miorine and Sulleta right away as a fiancé indicating that it may lead to a Yuri route a.k.a as Girl and Girl romantic relationship. Although I am not so sure either with how well they develop their status later on.