Turn A Gundam Staff, Production, and Episode Analyses – Episode #14 “Separated Again”

Turn A Gundam‘s forteenth episode was broadcast on Fuji TV on July 9, 1999.

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With the help of Loran’s White Doll, Sid & Will hasten up the excavation process and dig through to find an entrance to the spaceship. Inside they discover that it is still in operating condition. Back at the estate, Dianna searches for traces of her past and discovers markings on a tree from her time with Will Game. When news of the spaceship arrives, she realizes in despair that there was no reason for her quick trip back to the Moon in the past. Loran questions her in her distressed state, but she quickly sidesteps the question—Dianna is very good at masking her emotions.

The Inglessa Militia meet with Mallygan, a lieutenant-colonel of the Lousana Militia and are displeased with the idea of working under their command, despite having mechanical dolls. However, it turns out that the Lousana Militia have their own arsenal of mobile suits. The Suicide Squad pilot a set of “Borjanons“, aptly named in honor of their Lord Borjarno. The Borjanons are modeled after the famous Zaku-IIs from Mobile Suit Gundam, if it wasn’t painfully obvious! It’s similar to how the Kapools bear a striking resemblance to Capules (ZZ Gundam). We’re introduced to Gavane Goony, the leader of the Suicide Squad, a boisterous man who’s immediately struck by the “lady warrior” Sochie. Character designer Akiman intended to make Gavane look like a Zero Fighter pilot from the 1971 Japanese film Tora! Tora! Tora!, so that’s why he has a mustache. He also gave him a scar on the left side of the forehead simply because he felt he had to fulfill an anime scar-quota. Gavane’s a significant supporting character in the show’s plot, so we’ll keep an eye on him.

Meanwhile at the Soleil, Miran suggests that the Dianna Counter should make a declaration of statehood, to establish a temporary territory for the Moonrace and have a moral upper hand in negotiations. As it stands, they’re still simply invaders. Kihel (as “Dianna”) agrees with the idea since it’ll potentially improve their ability to converse with people like Guin Lineford. Phil, however, is against the idea, mostly because he’s an unhinged warmonger. Kihel commands Phil to avoid continued conflict as much as possible, and he begrudgingly obliges.

At night, Teteth pays the current Will Game a visit and convinces him to inform the Dianna Counter of the spaceship that they’ve dug up. She further edges him on by saying that the Militia has no desire to help him go to the Moon, but the Moonrace may be of assistance. Clearly she’s conspiring something, because she uses her feminine wiles again to get him to agree with her. The next morning Loran and Dianna wake to the rumblings of a mobile suit; Will Game has excavated an MS—the SPA-51 Cannon Illefuto, which I’ll talk more about in next episode’s post—and he plans to take it to the Dianna Counter and sell it in exchange for a trip to the Moon. He cares little what the Militia does with the spaceship. Loran, Dianna, and Sid chase after him, with Dianna worried that he’ll make his life go even more astray. They find themselves near a skirmish taking place between the Militia and Harry Ord in a canyon down below. Will decides to jump into the midst of the fray and gain Harry’s favor. Loran follows suit in his White Doll and squares off against Harry, who uses the opportunity to test Loran’s capabilities. Harry has the upper hand, but before he can land a finishing blow Gavane and Sochie come to Loran’s aid. Dianna recklessly drives Sid’s car down the canyon, with little fear for her own safety, in an attempt to quell the conflict with her pleas. She berates Will for improperly using his mobile suit and claims that his ancestor (the original Will Game) wasn’t nearly as foolhardy as he is. The Militia use this diversion to press the attack against Harry, who’s forced to retreat along with Will.

The episode ends with Loran and Dianna finally reuniting with Sochie, and Dianna comes to terms with the fact that the Will Game she knew no longer exists. She decides to place her faith in Harry to lead this generation’s Will down the right path.

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