Turn A Gundam Staff, Production, and Episode Analyses – Episode #45 “Guin the Traitor”

Turn A Gundam‘s forty-fifth episode was broadcast on Fuji TV on February 25, 2000.

---

Kihel visits a bedridden Harry; all the recent battles had caused him to become physically and mentally drained. he’s wearing the most stylish pajamas you’ll ever see in your life. He suspects that the use of the SUMO’s I-Field Barrier drains the pilot’s life force, implying that there is some connection between man and machine. He also truly believes that the Turn A is indeed the machine that brought upon the Dark History, given the otherworldly barrier it was able to conjure. Kihel interrupts his speculation by asking how he can tell her apart from Dianna, and he says it’s due their “sadness”. Dianna ever since her recent awakening has given off a constant aura of sadness, while Kihel is full of vitality. Harry praises Kihel for shouldering much of Dianna’s burden.

The citzenry appear to be happy with the current state of events—Agrippa has been exposed as a traitor and Dianna’s presence has quelled all the fighting. Trucks filled with “capsule returnees” arrive; these are people who have been under cryogenic sleep and are being awakened. We learn that many of them are people who had illnesses that are difficult to treat and require a lot of time and patience. It’s a really touching moment where families reunite with each other, children who’ve “outgrown” their parents and whatnot. There’s also a brief hollow moment where you see a red-haired woman looking for “Teteth Halleh”… the very same Teteth from earlier in the show who was killed. This person is Linda Halleh, and she’s implied to be Teteth’s mother (and Akiman’s artbook confirms this). They also share the same voice actress (Yumi Touma).

Sid & Guin analyze Dark History mobile suit archived data. You can see quick glimpses of various mobile suits, including the Nether Gundam and Fuunsaik from G Gundam! The data they’ve copied isn’t complete, but they figure if they can build even one or two of these mechanical dolls, then Ameria’s technological progress will make massive strides.

Gym, Merrybell, and a few soldiers arrive at the White Palace per Dianna’s summons. She immediately demands him to hand over the Turn X and all mobile suits excavated from the Moon’s Mountain Cycle. Gym laughs in response, and then questions who else can even use them properly other than the Ghingham family. She admonishes him, saying that he simply uses the military as his plaything. He casually brings up the Ghingham forces currently orbiting the Moon, as if giving a thinly-veiled threat. Dianna further admonishes his childlike behavior, and at this point Merrybell has had enough. She grabs Gym’s sword and runs towards the queen; her sword clashes with Dianna’s hair ornament. Merrybell really does not like her! Dianna is shocked and taken aback but shows no fear. Instead she verbally annihilates her attempt at regicide. It’s a really powerful moment and highlights that at this moment Dianna is no figurehead. Gym tells Merrybell to stop and forcefully grabs her and walks out, yielding on the matter of the Turn X. Merrybell doesn’t understand why Gym’s just handing it over like that, but he responds that she’s their queen. Even if they tried to launch a coup, the people are on her side. It’s an oddly introspective take from Gym. Alas, good things aren’t meant to last. Guin Lineford suddenly appears, apparently waiting to greet Gym and Merrybell. He’s up to something! Meanwhile, Lily Bornarno shares a cute moment with Kihel Heim, indicating that the two are now friends.

We later see Guin and Militia leaders enter the Willghem and order Bruno and Jacop to prepare the ship for launch. They’re heading back to Earth with the Dark History data they’ve acquired. Guin calls Loran to the ship for an “advanced celebration”. He introduces Merrybell to him, from the Ghingham warrior family. The Willghem suddenly lifts off, much to Loran’s surprise. He’s perplexed and questions Guin if he’s reached an agreement with Dianna, and if everyone’s even on-board. He isn’t ready to go back to Earth just yet. Guin specifically called for Loran because he’s the White Doll’s pilot, and that he’ll soon be the commander of the Militia’s new squadron. Loran wants nothing to do with Guin’s new schemes; he grabs a wine bottle and throws it at Merrybell and makes and escape to through the door. He doesn’t want the Dark history to repeat itself. He makes for the hangar and launches in the Turn A and attempts to forcefully stop the ship. His efforts are stopped by beam fire—the Turn X appears, and Gym is pissed that Guin fumbled their plan to steal the Turn A. Loran is aghast that Guin is in cahoots with Gym of all people. Guin’s response: “this is politics.” He reveals that his plan is to head to Earth with Gym and restore the ancient era of scientific progress. He wants to bring that level of civilization to all the continents of the world. Gym agres with Guin on one thing, that taboos are meant to be broken! Loran simply comprehend what’s happening. Dianna is watching the feed through a monitor at her palace and sighs in disappointment, while Sid blames himself for letting Guin manipulate him.

Gym and Loran face off. Gym easily overpowers Loran by using one of the Turn X’s abilities—the Shining Finger! Yes, the very same one from G Gundam! This is a direct reference to the show and the only Alternate Universe (non-UC) Gundam title that is unambiguously referenced in Turn A Gundam. Loran tries fighting back, by combining his beam sabers into one larger one (reminiscent of Zeta and ZZ Gundam…), but Gym unleashes yet another ability. The Turn X can detach all of its limbs. It shoots out beams from its detached parts, not unlike funnels from UC Gundam shows. Clearly overwhelmed, Loran has no choice but to detach the Turn A’s cockpit from its body and make an escape. Gym captures the Turn A and together with Guin makes his way to Earth. The show’s final arc has begun.

There is much to suggest that Yoshiyuki Tomino is fond of G Gundam, and this episode highlights that. During Victory Gundam, he declined to direct the next series and chose Yasuhiro Imagawa as his successor, because he liked his high-spirited directing style and wanted him to make a show akin to a wrestling match. This would eventually result in G Gundam. At the “Gundam Big Bang Declaration” (at which Turn A Gundam was publicly revealed as the “Gundam A Project”), Tomino declared that his new project would “affirm” all the events of the Gundam series so far, and he specifically named G Gundam as well. Furthermore, in a 2018 interview, Gundam NT director Shunichi Yoshizawa claimed that Tomino praises G Gundam director Yasuhiro Imagawa for creating a whole new “different” Gundam. So, the man clearly likes it and that’s cool to know!

---