The following contains spoilers for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 1, The Red Gundam. Proceed with caution.
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX only just begun, and it’s already one of the strangest anime in Mobile Suit Gundam’s history. Not only is the new anime set in an alternate version of Gundam‘s classic Universal Century, but it has many strange implications as well. The first episode alone introduced a lot of mysteries about the characters, mobile suits and setting. Fans expect even more to crop up as the season continues and answers things at its own pace.
GQuuuuuuX is simultaneously a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam (aka Gundam 0079) and a new story for the next generation of Gundam characters and viewers. As such, it has a lot of answering to do. This includes everything from the latest anime’s take on Newtype abilities, and what exactly happened to Gundam‘s most iconic heroes and villains. More importantly, these revelations won’t just determine this story’s outcome, but that of the entire Gundam canon as well.
10 What Is the Mav System?
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Introduces a Buddy System for Mobile Suit Pilots
GQuuuuuuX differentiated itself from previous Gundam anime by introducing the Mav System. In brief, the Mav System dictates a mobile suit pilot must always have a partner. Not much has been revealed about this form of combat, but it’s a first for Gundam. Mobile suit pilots weren’t incapable of working in duos or teams before, but this is the first time a partner is necessary and not optional.
The Mav System seems to apply to every kind of mobile suit pilot, whether they’re in active combat or not. The Mobile Police (MP) Zaku pilots were a Mav duo. Similarly, Machu and the Clan Battle (aka Clan-Bat) crew briefly talk about Mavs. Beyond this buddy system’s history, purpose, and combat benefits, another mystery GQuuuuuuX will answer soon enough is who Machu’s Mav partner will be.
9 How Did the Principality of Zeon Win the One-Year War?
Zeon's Victory Irrevocably Rewrote the Gundam Franchise's Status Quo
One of GQuuuuuuX‘s biggest mysteries and selling points is that it’s set in a version of the Universal Century when Zeon won the One-Year War. The anime’s first episode didn’t show how exactly Zeon won, but the ramifications of their victory are clear. The space colonies are independent, and decommissioned Zaku mobile suits are also a common sight — much to some Zeon soldiers’ chagrin.
In Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeon lost the One-Year War due in part to infighting and a fascist regime’s innate faults despite their technological might. Zeon’s downfall and implosion wasn’t just inevitable, but a self-fulfilling prophecy as well. How they overcame these faults in GQuuuuuuX‘s timeline before going on to turn the franchise’s longtime status quo upside down will be interesting to see.
8 What Happened to the Earth Federation?
The Federation Is Nowhere to Be Seen in Side 6
Since Zeon won the war, it’s not surprising the Earth Federation’s forces and influences are practically non-existent in space. This stands in sharp contrast to how things were in Mobile Suit Gundam. In Gundam‘s original anime and timeline, the Federation won the war and maintained galactic control. Some Zeon uprisings were not enough to break their influence over the colonies.
As of this writing, GQuuuuuuX has yet to show or even mention the Federation. Even the Federation’s mobile suits or spacecraft are absent, which may feel weird for a Gundam anime. At most, older characters like Challia Bull offhandedly mentioned their experiences in the One-Year War. The Federation’s post-war status will eventually be revealed, but hopefully it’ll be sooner rather than later.
7 Who of the Original Mobile Suit Gundam Cast Survived or Died?
Few, If Any, of the Original Gundam Anime's Characters Have Been Seen or Mentioned
As of this writing, Challia Bull is the only character from Mobile Suit Gundam to appear in GQuuuuuuX. At best, Char Aznable and Kycillia Zabi were mentioned. What’s strange about this is GQuuuuuuX is set only a few years after the One-Year War’s end, meaning there should be some survivors. Additionally, Bull himself was originally a one-off character who is now inexplicably a main character.
GQuuuuuuX’s next episode will most likely show some familiar Zeon faces, but everyone else’s fate is still a mystery. This is especially true for the Federation characters, since they lost the war. There’s a chance many of the original Federation characters were killed in action, or they died after the war. Fans expect GQuuuuuuX to slowly but surely reveal the fates of some, if not all, the original cast.
6 What Happened to Char Aznable?
Zeon's Ace Pilot Has Been Mentioned, But Has Yet to Be Seen
Since Zeon won the war in GQuuuuuuX‘s timeline, Char Aznable was (unsurprisingly) at the forefront of the anime’s promotions. However, Char was conspicuously absent in the new anime’s debut episode. What’s more, it’s been implied he’s been missing for years. The Zeon soldiers know of his combat prowess and legend, but they haven’t seen him in so long they think he’s a myth.
GQuuuuuuX‘s second episode will clear this mystery up, as it’s set during the war. The previews prominently showed Char running to the Gundam. This, however, still means the Red Comet’s ultimate fate and current status are still unknown. Char could either be hiding somewhere, or he could be stuck in a parallel dimension. The latter isn’t too farfetched, given the anime’s cosmic implications.
5 Does Amuro Ray Even Exist?
The New Anime Has Yet to Even Mention the Original Gundam Hero
No Gundam anime with Char would be complete without his rival, Amuro Ray. However, Amuro hasn’t been seen or mentioned in GQuuuuuuX‘s first episode. He was also noticeably absent in the anime’s trailers. It’s not that Amuro is being saved for later, but rather it seems as if he doesn’t even exist in this Universal Century. Furthermore, his absence may explain the timeline’s changes.
Since Amuro wasn’t there to challenge or aggravate him, it seems Char may have single-handedly led Zeon to its victory. Amuro’s absence may also explain why the Earth Federation was eventually defeated. Not only was Amuro the main character of Mobile Suit Gundam, but he was its most pivotal character and fighter as well. Whether Amuro will appear or not in GQuuuuuuX has yet to be seen.
4 Who’s Piloting the Red Gundam?
Challia Bull Confirmed Char Aznable Wasn't Piloting His Signature Mobile Suit
Instead of a red Zaku, Char’s signature mobile suit in GQuuuuuuX was the Red Gundam. The Red Gundam is a prominent part of GQuuuuuuX‘s first episode, but according to Challia Bull, Char isn’t piloting it. Furthermore, the Red Gundam was said to have been missing since the One-Year War’s end. Why it resurfaced at this exact time and under whose command has yet to be answered.
It’s also worth noting the Red Gundam is basically the RX-78-2 Amuro Ray piloted in the original anime. At most, some changes were made to its design and armory. Why and how Char and Zeon got their hands on what was the Federation’s secret weapon will be explained in the next episode. The current pilot’s identity, meanwhile, is probably being saved for a future episode or two.
3 What Exactly Is the Gundam GQuuuuuuX?
There's a Lot More to the Mobile Suit Than Gundam Fans Thought
GQuuuuuuX‘s titular mobile suit is much stranger than fans realize, and it’s not just because of its name and appearance. Besides the fact «GQuuuuuuX» seems to be more of a placeholder than an actual code name, the Gundam itself acted oddly. The Gundam was picky with its pilots, seemingly refusing to activate its Omega Psycommu system for Xavier Olivette, but giving Machu full control without a hitch.
Furthermore, Annqi (the Clan-Bat boss who Machu and Nyaan met) seems to have a connection to the GQuuuuuuX. It was her Haro which not only told Machu to commandeer it, but the one that activated the GQuuuuuuX as well. For now, the anime has given no clues about the GQuuuuuuX’s true background and ties to the characters. Naturally, such mysteries should be solved near the anime’s end.
2 How Are Machu’s Newtype Abilities Different or Similar to Previous Gundam Pilots?
The New Gundam Anime's Depiction of Newtype Powers Is Noticeably More Cosmic
It goes without saying Machu (or Amaet Yuzuriha) is a Newtype. Not only was she able to pilot an experimental prototype Gundam with relative ease, but she somehow shared a psychic link with the Red Gundam’s pilot. That being said, the way Machu’s Newtype abilities were depicted was noticeably different from previous Gundam pilots. Specifically, Machu’s abilities seemed to be more cosmic in nature.
The only way Machu could describe her powers and the astral realm they connect to is by referring to them as «sparkles,» or «kira-kira» in Japanese. She also isn’t the only one who could see or sense the «sparkles,» as proven by the mysterious graffiti painted on the colony’s outer walls. The full extent of Machu’s Newtype abilities and their reinterpretation in GQuuuuuuX will be answered soon enough.
1 Is Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Set In a Parallel Reality?
The New Gundam Anime Seems to Be Hinting at a More Cosmic or Multiversal Setting
At first glance, GQuuuuuuX is little more than a «what if?» scenario. It’s set in a timeline where Zeon won the One-Year War, and this world’s reality is as different as expected. However, this new anime may have stronger ties to the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime than expected. Although there’s only theories to go by right now, GQuuuuuuX may cross over with the original anime through a multiverse.
GQuuuuuuX isn’t even subtle about this possibility. Machu describing life on a space colony as «fake» could also be referring to reality itself. That the anime depicts Newtype abilities as quite literally tapping into another plane of existence could be more proof of this. If GQuuuuuuX really is more than just an alternate timeline, it may very well be the most meta Universal Century Gundam anime yet.
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video. New episodes air every Tuesday, 12:00 EST.
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Amate Yuzuriha is a high-school student living peacefully in a space colony floating in outer space.When she meets a war refugee named Nyaan, Amate is drawn into the illegal mobile suit dueling sport known as Clan Battle.
