The show also highlights the human cost of war. It shows how war affects not only soldiers but also innocent people. It emphasizes that war is not just about winning and losing but about the loss of life and human suffering. Gundam provides a sincere and refreshing perspective on war that is absent in many contemporary shows, where the humanitarian aspect of war is often used for emotional manipulation and tear-jerker subplots. However, the show's main weakness is its incomplete story. As a result, some character arcs were rushed, and the main war narrative was tied up quickly in the final episodes.
Anyway, I was more interested in the Zeon side of the conflict. The story included a subplot of political maneuvering and power struggles among the ruling party of Zeon, which I found intriguing. The character Char Aznable was especially fascinating, as he was a highly skilled mobile suit pilot and rival to Amuro Ray. His past and motivations were revealed slowly, making me want to know more about him. He is my favorite character from the entire Gundam series.
The battles are more realistic than those of recent Gundam series like Gundam Seed and Gundam 00. The show emphasizes teamwork between Amuro in the Gundam, the weapons and support team on White Base, and the other pilots in their mobile suits. Each battle is suspenseful because of the inexperienced crew and the vulnerability of the Gundam, which creates a greater sense of peril than in the recent Gundam series.
Admittedly, getting into this series may not be easy, mainly due to its age. The animation style is painfully outdated, which is one of my main issues. However, if you can overlook these aspects and are interested in a well-crafted war drama, then you may be able to enjoy this show.
