review: Zechs reclaims his family home.

May 25, 2000

Series Gundam Wing

Episode 9: Portrait of a Ruined Country

Airing Date 2000-03-16

Rerun Date 2000-05-24

Sci-fi Bits The Tallgeese is so powerful it can kill its pilot.

Juicy Bits Relena follows Heero around like a puppy dog.

Featuring Mark Hildereth as Heero Yuy Scott McNeil as Duo Maxwell Brian Drummond as Zechs Merquise David Kaye as Treize Khushrenada Ted Cole as Chang Wufei Brad Swaile as Quatre Raebe Winner Saffron Henderson as Lucrezia Noin Lisa Ann Beley as Relena Peacecraft

Zechs Merquise (AKA Milliardo Peacecraft) has a darkness about him. Maybe it's that crazy helmet he's always wearing or maybe it's the fact that he was separated from his biological family at a young age. Whatever the reason, Zechs is never far from reflecting on his family, their mission of total pacifism, his homeland of the Sanc Kingdom or his little sister, Relena Darlian (Peacecraft). Now that the United Earth Sphere Alliance is all but crushed by Treize Khushrenada and OZ, Zechs is able to correct some of the wrongs that were done to his birth family. After having killed the general who lead the initial attack on the Sanc Kingdom a generation ago, Zechs now looks forward to reclaiming the country which for so long has remained under Alliance control. Ironically, as the Alliance's main base is in the Sanc Kingdom, it's Zechs who's given the task of retaking his homeland for OZ.

Even though OZ has a fleet of Aires Mobile Suits lead by two top-flight pilots in Zechs and Lucrezia Noin, the Alliance has rows of laser cannons to fight off invaders. When the Tallgeese arrives, Zechs can't pass up the opportunity to use his new toy in battle. The Tallgeese, mother of all Mobile Suits, has already nearly killed Zechs' loyal man Otto due to its intense G-forces. Thinking himself fit for the job, Zechs tries the Tallgeese on and the battle begins. Poor Zechs is no match for the Gundam Boys, though, and he nearly dies after suffering a heart attack caused by the overwhelming force of the Tallgeese. It's strange that Zechs would be so careless with this suit which has taken over a month to get battle-ready. You'd think that an accomplished pilot like Zechs would appreciate the experience of a few test flights. And considering the damage which Otto sustained, the only explanation is that Zechs wanted to ride into his 'hood on the biggest, baddest Mobile Suit on the planet. I'd like to see Treize's reaction to this rookie mistake. Unfortunately, we're not made privy to whatever repercussions echo throughout OZ. Perhaps it's fortuitous for Zechs that details get lost in the middle of a revolution. Otherwise he'd be the laughing stock at the Officer's Club for years to come.

Forget MJ. We like Air Heero.

Later, after Otto steals the Tallgeese and single-handedly defeats the Alliance, Zechs stands in his deceased father's castle. Admitting that his own hands are too blood-stained to take up the fight for total pacifism, Zechs hopes that Relena can realize the family's longtime goal. What Zechs doesn't know is that Relena is following Heero around like he's one of the guys from N'Sync. She even changes schools (we assume) to be near him. Relena arrives just after Heartthrob Heero and Duo play a pick-up b-ball game like they're on the Dream Team. Personally, I don't think Relena's thinking about world peace right now. It's more likely that she'd exchange total pacifism for a few minutes with Mr. Moody. Unless she just wants to get her hands on Heero's sweaty jersey -- think about how much that'd go for on Ebay. Crafty, those Peacecrafts.

--Ross Brooks has placed his own sweaty jersey on eBay. So far bidding is up to $1.98.

Past Gundam Wing Reviews

49: Final Victors
48: Take Off Into Confusion
47: Collision in Space
46: Milliardo's Decision
45: Signs of the Final Battle
44: Go Forth, Gundam Team
43: Target: Earth
42: Battleship Libra
41: Crossfire at Barge
40: A New Leader
39: Trowa Returns to the Battlefield
38: Relena Becomes Queen
37: Zero vs. Epyon
36: The Collapse of the Sanc Kingdom

8: The Treize Assassination
7: Scenario of Bloodshed
6: Party Night
5: Relena's Secret
4: The Victorian Nightmare
3: Five Gundams Confirmed
2: Deathscythe
1: The Shooting Star She Saw

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