This group was named the Tekketsu Kinnōtai - Blood and Iron. Seventy years later Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans is a tribute to those fallen soldiers and a more heroic outcome, even if no less brutal.
Picking up where the previous season left off, the Tekkadan are continuing to fly towards a blazing sun that promises to light them on fire. They've gained a reputation as one of the most powerful organizations on Mars, a double edged sword that grants them both strength and danger as other powerful entities scheme ways to destroy them. Orga's promise to allow his men to live a life free from danger. Kudelia's desire for them all to make it out of war safely seems more and more far-fetched by the passing day. These ever-increasing stakes make this season a clear improvement over the first. most episodes are rife with tension and build to a dramatic conclusion that can be compared to the best in Gundam franchise history.
I appreciated this anime's approach to a group of adolescents assuming a large role of power. Rather than having all the answers or being overpowered, they are often overwhelmed, prone to mistakes and reliant on the adults around them for support. Even Mikazuki Augus - an unapologetic killing machine - has to sacrifice his own body for the sake of gaining strength in battle. There is a tangible cost to every action these characters take.
IBO offers an accurate portrayal of good and bad in war - there is no such thing. Both sides are spurred on by a selfish conquest at the cost of thousands of lives, with the victor being given the opportunity to shape the world however they see fit. It's up to the viewer to rationalize who's the least evil of the factions and come to grips with the decisions that they make. I found myself grappling with this decision until the very end where it all became clear.
The least interesting aspect were the political discussion. I did not care for negotiations when the solution for every problem is brute force and more resources. IBO can become preachy in between battles leading to periods of aimlessness. Fortunately, these moments aren't overwhelming throughout the second season and can be ignored with no consequence.
For the romantic shippers out there, you'll be happy to know there is substantial progress made on the love triangle. In a sense, IBO understands what the fan wants and gives it to them - of course with an appropriate level of caution because this is Gundam and nothing is sacred.
This is a season full of twists and turns, death flags, and a group of children finding out the hard way just how cruel the realities of war are. An appropriate follow up to one of the most grounded Gundam inserts in recent memory, I'll long remember impact a group of Iron-Blooded Orphans once had on the fate of the world and will eagerly look forward to any future installments.
