No Matter What, Keep Going Forward.

To be honest, I’m more inclined to celebrate the first episode’s anniversary but the finale is also good. At first I wasn’t sure what to do with that ending. I think that I was more concerned about what people would think about the ending than about what I thought. That was a problem I grappled with for a long time, because I was putting the show not only against my own expectations but against other Gundam fans’ expectations which was a losing game from the start. Once I rewatched it on a context completely removed from all the Discourse, I was able to appreciate it in my own terms. The show still has things I didn’t like that much among others I absolutely love and it holds a special place in my heart. It may not be the best Gundam but it is my favorite Gundam.

Even after three years, the show still manages to spark discussion (which made me amazed at the people who hate it, to be honest, they could be doing some better things with their time…) but I don’t want to dwell on it. I think that one of the most important messages from G-Witch is that disabled people deserve a happy and fulfilling life. Suletta started off as someone very worried about being considered “useless” and at the end, she’s cherished and taken care of. Most importantly, she’s happy with her life and she’s in a place where she gets to decide and plan her own future. This extends to the rest of her family, who are still alive and well despite their disability. I think that the show could had examined the topic of disability more, but the fact that they decided to explore it at all, when other shows normally don’t, is still very important.

Another thing I liked was that Miorine was able to step out from the cycle of violence in which her father, Prospera and other adults dragged her in. Her solution might had been naive and idealistic and later she even admits that it didn’t 100% work, but she’s the kind of person who will keep trying to learn from her past mistakes and make things better without resorting to violence. A lot of Tomino’s Gundam stories are about how the previous generations keep failing the children and burdening them with the sins of the past. This also happens in G-Witch but the endgame is that children can carve their own future and even teach the adults that they can go to a new direction and start fixing things as well. I think this message is important and valid.

Also, the two girls got married at the end, so that’s a win. (Even if Sunrise/Bandai won’t recognize it until Gundams 90th anniversary if we’re lucky)

Thank you, Witch from Mercury and may all blessings find their way to you.

The front door opens. A man about Eren’s height stops, sizing her up without a word. He looks a little like Eren’s dad, but the eyes and build are different right down to his wavy blond hair. He glances over her shoulder. “Is Eren here?”

Annie is suddenly aware of the fact she’s in clothes from the night before. She nods.

He goes to close the door, then hesitates. His attention swivels back to her and holds, her a long, discerning look as if trying to approximate her face in an old photograph. “Haven't I seen you before?”

“Annie,” she says, before he can start asking more questions. “We went to school together.”

“Oh, of course.” The man’s expression warms. “I’m Zeke, his brother.” Annie had no idea Eren had a brother. He’s getting in the way of her clean escape. “I didn’t know you two were close,” he says, like they’re going to have a heart-to-heart about this.

She side-eyes him. It’s as close as she’ll come to announcing her displeasure without incriminating herself.

Zeke sighs, more to himself than anyone else. “I don’t remember the last time he brought anyone home. He’s been by himself for a while.” Annie considers mentioning the party, then thinks better of it. Eren didn't seem that off the night before. Zeke glances at the door, fiddles with his lighter in lieu of pressing her for more information. “You didn’t hear it from me.”

This scene here really captures everything that I find so beautiful and tragic about Kris and Noelle's relationship. The reason this is such a poignant scene for me isn't just that it shows Kris and Noelle's relationship is still as strong as ever; it's also because it shows that it's strong despite the fact that both of them think they don't deserve to be together again! Because they want to be close again, and yet they just can't bring themselves to do so because their low self-esteem and inferiority complexes keep telling them that they're not good enough.

The sad fact is, you'll find plenty of moments where Kris and Noelle don't think that they can be close to each other ever again, whether it be Kris shutting the book when they see pictures of them and Elly, or Noelle doubting that Kris would want to play piano for her after Susie talks about her newfound love for Kris's piano playing.

And yet, despite all of their doubts telling them they can never be together again, both of them not only spend time with each other at the festival, but end up doing things that remind both of them of what they used to have, be it riding the Ferris Wheel or voting for each other as Festival King/Queen.

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....When did you start being yourself?

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