Gundam 00 — Episode 4
I just love Gundam 00 episode 4. It’s highly politically charged and it has all the girls the series has to offer in one convenient 24-minutes package. What more can one ask for?
“The only thing I contribute to this organization is my cuteness.”
I just wonder how big Liuming’s wardrobe is. She seems to be wearing something new every single scene.
This episode is about a South American republic, Taribia, unilaterally declaring its secession from the Union and sprouting a whole lot of anti-American rhetoric. It’s so cool. America is pissed off and sends in their 2nd Fleet while Celestial Being prepares to intervene in the brewing conflict.
Last week I said that タリビア is probably “Talivia” and speculated that it’s either modern day Bolivia or Colombia due to their proximity to the equator (and thus Union’s orbital elevator). I decided that Bolivia was more likely because Colombia is hardly anti-American other than the left-wing FARC.
Well looks like I was wrong on both counts. It’s spelt “Taribia” and according to the maps shown on-screen, it is actually modern day Venezuela (probably the most anti-American nation in South America other than Cuba).
It makes sense actually because the Taribian Prime Minister sounds just like Hugo Chavez as he made his worldwide broadcast to announce Taribia’s secession. Also, Taribian looks a lot like Taliban. (Probably coincidental…)
“Bush Brian is the devil!”
Also, did I mention that the last name of the Union’s President is “Brian”? I thought “Shrub” would’ve been a more appropriate allusion. :)
“I am the leader of the free world. Call me President…Brian.”
Some screencaps from episode 4:
“Tamil Tigers are not terrorists! Celestial Being is!”
Marina’s advisor (background) looks and sounds evil…
“I am tsundere. Watch me tsun.”
“Let’s give those fangirls more to work with!”
Two cannon fodders have joined the party
“I look evil even when I drink tea.”
In the future, USN‘s uniforms will resemble that of a nutcracker
More costume-changing action than a mahou shoujo
Union Flag Graham Custom — twice the usual speed
Paint it red for thrice the speed
What’s really nice about this episode is that Marina’s (evil) advisor gives a thorough analysis of the political powerplay that takes place during and after the entire incident. Perhaps it’s Sunrise’s way of telling modern politically-ignorant youths to take a greater interest in world events before Japan ends up in ruins and becomes the 52nd state of America. (51st being Canada of course.) Or perhaps not.
I just finished translating this episode for Mendoi-Conclave and I must say that this is the toughest episode that I’ve ever done. I do hope that Lolfang has found someone competent to help him out if not tragedy will repeat itself nyoro~n. :)
I just love Gundam 00. (In a completely platonic way.) Now it’s time for some sleep.
October 28th, 2007 at 2:08 am
hmm… I don’t really watch it yet…But It seem like some country related and wars animes…..Might have to start one and definitely not from Nyoro~n ^.^
October 28th, 2007 at 3:32 am
The Union uniform actually reminds me more of the Foreign Legion. Always thought it would have been more fitting if it was for the AEU lol.
October 28th, 2007 at 6:02 am
So when you are done transalting, do I have a realistic chance to see it tomorrow?^^
I’m in no mood do watch a Nyoro~n sub again…could as well try to just watch the raw…
October 28th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Having just finished watching the Korean sub….
….yeah, I don’t envy your job of having to translate all that into English. >_<
And finally, a good look at Felt Grace!! Yay!! ^_^
October 28th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Hahahahaha. Awesome post. Your writing really highlights how we (Americans) have no clue how foreigners view us. Nor care for that matter.
Also, I thought her name was 留美? Not 留明.
October 28th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
The torrent for the 4th episode in Mendoi-Conclave is still not out after about 24 hours after its original release, but I guess it can’t really be helped. I don’t expect it to come in fast.
Gundam 00 is starting to delve into more awareness about other things in the world, it seems. And politics, too, since war does involve that too.
Gundam SEED had already shown us that in a war, none or few people gets the full view of the politics. Maybe Gundam 00 is looking into that too.
October 28th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
“Union Flag Graham Custom — twice the usual speed”
From the moment that I read the word “twice” there, I half-expected a Char parody somewhere. And I got what I want from the next picture’s caption.
Seriously, who’s betting on Graham jacking a Gundam for himself and getting the Union to make a derivative off it? And painting it red.
BTW, where’s the required “mysterious masked man” in my Gundam?
October 28th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
meganeshounen: They took the mask of Graham for this series :p
since if I´m not misstaken it´s the same seiyuu as it was for Ra Klueze and Rey from Gundam Seed and probably even more masked pilots.
But I agree, I miss the mysterious masked man who is even in battle capabilities with the Gundam pilots.
Dark Mirage: Nice post :) Now I have one reason for watching Gundam 00 again. Since it was getting a little boring, hopefully we´ll se more of the flag mark two here :)
October 28th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Not a bad episode. G00 is already far far and away superior to many of its predecessors straight off the bat. It’s a bit like Geass in that it includes enough elements of everything to keep a large array of fans interested.
October 28th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Yeah I agree. I’m glad Sunrise finally decided to make something different, although it could do with more girls. :P
I do hope it ends up being successful enough for a season 2 like Code Geass.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
As said months ago, pretty girls isn’t really on the agenda in this series. But true, it is pretty good so far.
I don’t think masked men are parts of what make Mobile Suit Gundam well-known. The “masked” plots are already good enough, with the usual mascot (Haro, of course)
October 29th, 2007 at 6:26 am
About that liuming-liumei thing. I didn’t noticed till that was brought up. I’m not too sure but I think the Japanese got it wrong with the transliteration. It says wan ryuumin under the kanji. I got this from the official page -> http://www.gundam00.net/character/index.html
October 29th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I find this… AWESOME.
First Jinki:EXTEND, and now Gundam, yayness =D. However, I’m sad by the fact Bandai predicts that 300 years from now there’ll still be a pyscho leading the country ._____.
October 29th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
>I just wonder how big Liuming’s wardrobe is. She seems to be wearing something new every single scene.
Well given the fact that she’s a major celebrity in the series and has her own personal valet, her wardrobe is probably just a mere sample of her wealth and resources – and she’s also supposed to be one of Celetial Being’s major sponsors (i.e. tons and tons of $$$).
As to her name, perhaps it’s best to ask someone fluent in Mandarin to clear up her name’s correct pronounciation (in fact I think I’ll ask my Chinese coworker, who’s first language is Mandarin, about it when I see him back at work).
October 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Well if you go by the Mandarin pronunciation it is indeed Liumei. But the Japanese transliteration has it as Ryuumin, so… Uh…
October 29th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
You could have left well enough alone but you had to bring up Nyoron again. *rolls eyes* Well, not that I care.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Enough to reply that you don’t care. :P
October 29th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Huh? I thought she acts as a spy for the Celestial Being. But anyway, by the name as according to Wikipedia, she does seem to be a Chinese.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
No one is questioning her Chinese ethnicity, we are just discussing her name.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
dont worry about the chinese bit. DM is known to be at least trilingual. but i guess canon is of utmost importance so i guess gundam00 should be taken to be correct.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:15 am
any comment on the nyoro~n/zeonic corp sub? maybe they’ll get it right this time with the extra help, lol
October 30th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
I trust Deacon Blues from ZC.
November 1st, 2007 at 4:05 am
Episode 4 Conclave timing for the part before OP sucks.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Media Player Classic v6.4.9.1 seems to have some problem playing back the files from Conclave… There’re no subtitles… but WMP can show the subtitle..
November 1st, 2007 at 3:40 pm
May I direct all complaints and feedbacks to:
http://www.mymenclave.com/
I’m just a translator. I only do translation. If you want to discuss the finer points of the Japanese language used in Gundam 00, I’ll be happy to.
But other than that, my blog is not a feedback form for Mendoi-Conclave. :)
P.S. If lines are overlapping, stop using VLC.
November 2nd, 2007 at 1:33 am
Canada the 51st State? Oh please, they be wanting our dollar now.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:41 am
At least she and other characters change their clothes. It gets weird if they don’t…
4 eps and I am starting to have deja vu with Gundam Wing. xD
Granted this series is way better then the last few Gundam plots but yeah, I just can’t shake the Gundam Wing feeling for some reason.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Is there some level of deja vu to GundamW? Certainly, but this is doing something else entirely while feeling familiar. Look over the list of Gundam cliches that have been present in many past series, including W, and look upon 00. They often exist here, but usually someone in this series calls the cliche out on its stupidity. First we have Celestial Being’s raison d’etre, which is very obviously similar to the Preventers and the Gundam boys before such a name existed. However, everyone who isn’t working for CB immediately jumps on how hypocritical and worthless such an act is. In this episode too we get the young female leader of an independent nation (now Marina, Relena from W), but her advisor points out how worthless she is as a leader. Code Geass seemed to be a point by point deconstruction of the archetypal Sunrise protagonist, and now Gundam 00 seems to be taking aim at everything else. Deja vu? Yes, but in the best possible way.
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Pretty excited over the series, at least its not like Seed or Seed: Destiny where both series started off with the hijacking off gundams..
November 9th, 2007 at 1:28 am
Hmmm… this is starting to look like it could be a good series, but I don’t have time to pick up yet another 26-epper, much less one made by Sunrise >_<
I’m only interested in the girls and them taking pot-shots at real-life analogies.
November 27th, 2007 at 2:13 am
You’re right. Talivia is probably a simulation of the contemporary state of Venezuela, headed by Hugo Chavez. The irony is, USA depends on Venezuela for energy, not the other way round.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Where can I download a Mendoi-Conclave subbed episode 4 of Gundam 00 from, everytime i try i cant find a good download and it doesnt play
October 27th, 2008 at 1:52 am
@ Kaine:
Try this one:
http://www.mymenclave.com
But the subs were not realeased yet. You gotta wait a bit for the release.