1) Right in the middle of the show there's a strange montage recapping recent events. Since this isn't the beginning of the show where the Cartoon Network might do something like, "Previously on Gundam Wing..." I don't really get this. It's smack dab in the middle of the episode and it threw me. Between you and me, I don't like to be thrown.

2) There's a HUGE logic hole which is too stupid to believe. I'm not exaggerating here -- it's actually too stupid to believe. What I'm talking about (as if you don't already know) is the scene where the OZ soldiers allow Heero into the cockpit of the Wing Zero with the keys dangling in the dashboard. I nearly dropped my fig newton when the thing came to life and started attacking everyone. How could they have allowed the kid full control of the Zero is beyond me. I'm thrown. I believe you already know my predilection against being thrown. 'Nuff said.

3) There's a whole "Touched By A Gundam" moment at the episode's end where Heero realizes that the Zero System has corrupted his young mind. Feeling guilty at hurting Quatre, he jumps from the Wing Zero and has a hallucination of Relena. Then Heero passes out and begins glowing. Quatre comes to his aid and touches him. The moment they make contact, Heero's glow fades and tiny stardust sparkles surround Quatre's hand.

Excuse me but what the heck's happenin' here? (By the way, I caught the family friendly 5:30 PM show -- I'm sure the "midnight run" version was slightly different. Thanks in advance for your email about the differences. Now back to the stardust...) I was half expecting Tinkerbell to land on Quatre's shoulder and tell us that if we all clap our hands for Heero, he'll regain his sanity.

I love you, you love me -- waitaminute, wrong song.

What is this -- Barney or Gundam Wing?

So... why did I give "The Eternal Flame of the Shooting Stars" a 3 out of 5? Because I liked the fact that Heero and Quatre get to switch Gundams and continue their previous battle. Because I love the idea that OZ has split in two with "the Treize faction" backing Mr. Khushrenada's desire that it's dishonorable to allow machines to do what's clearly meant for human beings. And because I dig those funky five scientists. In fact, I think those guys deserve their own show. I'd definitely pay to see The Five Scientists On Ice should it ever come to my hometown.

And finally, I give this episode a passing grade because I dig the way Heero talks to Quatre when Mr. Winner loses all sense of who he's fighting against. Heero was cool but clearly losing his patience with someone he genuinely likes. Just like me and this episode. Thanks for listening. I feel better now.

--Ross Brooks wrote this column from his shrink's couch.

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

25: Quatre vs. Heero
24: The Gundam They Call Zero
23: Duo, The Great Destroyer Once Again
22: The Fight for Independence
21: Grief-stricken Quatre
20: Lunar Base Infiltration
19: The Assault on Barge
18: Tallgeese Destroyed
17: Betrayed by Home, Far Away
16: The Sorrowful Battle
15: To the Battleground Antarctica
14: The Order to Destroy Zero One
13: Catherine's Tears
12: Bewildered Warriors
11: The Whereabouts of Happiness
10: Heero - Distracted by Defeat
9: Portrait of a Ruined Country
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

Gundam Wing, The Lonely Battlefield - anime - 6.28.

Talking Star Trek - tv - 6.28.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Movies - movies - 6.28.

The Week in Comics - comics - 6.28.