Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, the latest installment in the long-running Gundam franchise, has reached its tenth episode, and it’s a wild ride! Episode 10, titled “Yomagn’tho Blockade,” delivers a visually stunning and emotionally charged experience, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. From political assassinations to devastating casualties, this episode marks a turning point for the series and sets the stage for an epic conclusion.
Plot Summary: “Yomagn’tho Blockade”
Episode 10 plunges viewers into all-out war between the Zeon factions, with Lady Kycilia Zabi making a cataclysmic power move. Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha and Nyaan find themselves caught in the crossfire, each fighting for opposing sides and their own ideals.
Machu, under Commander Challia Bull’s orders, undertakes a mission to rescue the girl within the Rose of Sharon to stop Yomagn’tho from causing further destruction. However, Kycilia makes her move first, leading to devastating consequences.
Kycilia’s Ruthless Power Play
Five years after Degwin Zabi’s funeral, Gihren and Kycilia Zabi appear to be the last remnants of the Zeon family. However, their reunion is short-lived as Kycilia executes a ruthless plan, poisoning Gihren and his cronies during their meeting. This act shifts the balance of power irrevocably, giving Kycilia control and setting the stage for further conflict.
Nyaan’s Devastating Action
In a visually stunning sequence, Nyaan activates the Solar Ray on the Yomagn’tho, obliterating the remaining National Defense Force and their main space station, A Baoa Qu. The sheer power of the Kira-Kira shines brighter than ever, emphasizing the destructive force at Nyaan’s disposal.
Key Characters and Their Arcs
Episode 10 focuses on the key characters, their motivations, and the impact of recent events on their relationships.
Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha
Machu’s journey takes a dark turn as she grapples with her role in the escalating conflict. She grows closer to Challia, even giving him the nickname “Beard Man.” However, she remains haunted by her status as a wanted criminal. Challia’s backstory about his time on Jupiter is portrayed in stark black and white, mirroring Machu’s internal struggle.
Nyaan
Nyaan’s loyalty to Kycilia is tested as she confronts the devastating consequences of her actions. The episode highlights the incongruity between Kycilia’s ruthless political maneuvers and her almost maternal affection for Nyaan, creating a complex dynamic between the two.
Challia Bull
Challia finally gets his overdue spotlight, revealing his past and motivations. He opens up to Machu about his experiences on Jupiter, sharing a deeply personal story. The gun he gives Machu carries a heavy past, as he nearly used it to end his own life.
Kycilia Zabi
Kycilia emerges as a formidable and ruthless leader, willing to take extreme measures to achieve her goals. Her calculated assassination of Gihren demonstrates her ambition and willingness to sacrifice family for power. Despite her ruthlessness, she displays a softer side towards Nyaan, further complicating her character.
Gihren Zabi
Gihren’s appearance is brief but impactful. His assassination highlights Kycilia’s ruthlessness and marks a significant shift in the balance of power within Zeon.
Themes and Tropes
“Yomagn’tho Blockade” revisits classic Gundam tropes while exploring new themes and ideas.
The Inevitability of War
The episode emphasizes the inevitability of war, showcasing how political intrigue and personal ambitions can lead to widespread destruction. Kycilia’s actions ignite a full-scale conflict, forcing all characters to take sides and face the consequences of their choices.
The Price of Ideals
Machu and Nyaan both fight to protect their ideals, but their actions come at a great cost. The episode explores the moral complexities of war, highlighting the sacrifices and compromises required to achieve one’s goals.
The Love Triangle
Despite Shuji’s absence, the teenage love triangle between Machu, Nyaan, and Shuji remains a major plotline. Both Machu and Nyaan are driven by their desire to see Shuji again, fueling their actions and decisions.
Animation and Visuals
Gundam GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 has outstanding animation, thanks to Studios Khara and Sunrise. The episode features:
- Large-Scale Mobile Suit Battles: The episode ditches the one-on-one mobile suit duels of Clan-Bat and previous battles for war between Kycilia’s forces and Gihren’s armada.
- Kira-Kira: The Kira-Kira effects are used to their full potential, particularly during Nyaan’s activation of the Solar Ray.
- Color Shifts: Shifts between monotone grayscale and psychedelic color set the mood as the story ramps up, suggesting that, as momentous as this episode was, even more intense scenes lie further ahead.
- Emotional Displays: The episode results in some strong and even harrowing displays of emotions amidst the chaos of the battlefield, which is exactly the kind of humanity an action-heavy episode such as this one needs.
Episode 10 Review
Critics have praised “Yomagn’tho Blockade” for its compelling story beats, stunning visuals, and emotional depth. Lauren Orsini of Anime News Network notes that “Everything escalated quickly in ‘Yomagn’tho Blockade,’ an episode that showed us the teenage love triangle is still a major plotline despite the total absence of one of its angles for three episodes now.”
CBR’s writer notes that “GQuuuuuuX Episode 10 excelled as a test of character and as the foundation for the anime’s core rivalry, it floundered in the build-up to these dramatic beats.”
The episode successfully combines military and political intrigue with eye-opening characterization. It sets the stage for a titanic and emotional confrontation between former friends.
Looking Ahead
Episode 10 leaves viewers with many unanswered questions and sets the stage for an explosive finale. With the Zeon factions at war and Machu and Nyaan on opposing sides, the series promises an epic conclusion. The promo for Episode 11 “Alphacide” suggest that Machu will be the one that kills Shuji in the end. The meaning of the Rose of Sharon and its importance to the overall plot remains a mystery.
Fans can look forward to the next episode of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, streaming exclusively on Prime Video, to see how the story unfolds. The Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX episode 11 release date is June 17 on Prime Video at 9:00am Pacific/noon Eastern. That’s 5:00pm BST in the UK.
