First Look! Anime 2022 Overview: Gundam: Witch From Mercury (Patreon)

A review of all the anime I watched in the fall season! There’s some anime I chose to save for later, like Bocchi the Rock! (which I’m watching now and enjoying) and Raven of the Inner Palace, though I’ve heard great things about it and it’s a rare shoujosei adaptation so definitely go check it out! I might do a review of that when I do get to watch it, since it’s been overlooked this season.

But onto what I did watch! And this one has so much to chew on it gets a whole post!

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

A top contender for anime of the year for me. Not finished yet though, so I pray it sticks the landing with next season(s).

The anime follows Suletta Mercury, who arrives at a new school (and new planet!)l with her giant robot Aerial, Quickly she discovers a girl named Miorine, who’s desperate to escape to Earth because her bigwig father has decreed that people can duel for Miorine’s hand in marriage with their giant robots. Mio is not at all down with this, especially because her current fiance is an abusive jerk. Suletta confront the jerk fiance, challenges him to a duel and...well, you can probably guess what happens, especially if you’ve seen Revolutionary Girl Utena.

(And if you haven’t, go watch it. Though look up content warnings if you’ve got specific triggers or don’t often deal with darker media. I’ve got an episode breakdown here!)

Anyway, Gundam said Gay Space Rights.

Meanwhille, Suletta’s mother, Prospera (yes, it’s a codename AND a reference to the Tempest) has a grudge and thirst for revenge after a horrible wrong was done to her by the terrible corporation Mio’s dad is a part of, and seems to have a secret plan brewing behind the scenes, there’s a conflict between Earthlings and the space-faring people who are exploiting them, and all poor Suletta wanted to do is make some friends and enjoy a couple of dates!

This anime is so good so far, and was specifically targeted for me in so many ways it’s not funny. A fun cast of characters? Well written queer girls? Shadowly parental manipulation? A protagonist who’s sweet and shy yet supremely dangerous? Good action that’s driven by the character dynamics? Lots of awesome women kicking ass? Tangled relationships and tons or well written relationship drama?

I’ve definitely enjoyed a few mecha shows (like Planet With),but I tend to bounce off them, in part because I have a hard time telling what’s happening when robots are fighting and the technobabble starts flowing. That still is occasionally an issue in this show, but because the fights are so driven by character conflict and there’s clear stakes I can follow along with (like the fact using a Gundam is supposed to drain light force), it’s not as much as an issue as it usually is. And Gundam knew exactly how to lure me in. The second I heard the whole first episode was a Utena reference, it pulled me in and I’ve enjoyed every second since.

The whole first episode echoing Utena does show the show’s pedigree (the writer actually worked on the Utena light novels) and reassures readers hoping it will deliver on its queer themes, but it very much does its own thing from that point on. Suletta isn’t Utena, and Miorine isn’t Anthy and this is apparent from the first episode. Suletta is achingly insecure, Miorine isn’t resigned to being a bride and has a short temper and abrasive attitude. The show isn’t about gender or compulsory heterosexuality (so far), it just has a lot of complex female characters in a wide variety of roles and has a developing romance between two women as the central relationship. But like Utena, abuse is a huge theme, but very specifically parental abuse. Both Miorine and Suletta are being used as tools by their parents in a complex political game- Miorine is aware of this (though not the full scope of it, probably) and Suletta is very much in the dark. The way the parents use their children is chilling, but not without complexity- there are reasons to sympathize with Prospera, even if her actions are inexcusable

The show also isn’t subtle about it’s political themes!

That particular conflict has been bubbling in the background, but handled well so far (there are some great, more subtle moments, like the news showing the ‘weapons’ from the protest above, which included ‘molotov cocktails’ clearly put there by the police, and...an umbrella.) But even if works have themes I like or agree with, what really matters to me is the characters, and the show has a loveable cast who will likely end up suffering a lot.

Whether it’s the wonderfully angry Chuchu and her legendary [redacted] from episode 4, or watching the unpredictable arc of what started out as the show’s biggest teen jerk, or seeing the funny romantic rivalries Lilique is target of, the show makes you care about these kids.

It’s also, as a side note, the best treatment of fat people I’ve seen in anime. There are a ton of plus-sized people in different roles, and they’re never made fun of (except for one slight comment in a later episode that is quickly shut down, and the person apologizes). Lilique is a fay girl who’s allowed to just be the cute romantic one, canonically popular with the boys. Considering how anime usually is, it’s really nice to see.

The central relationship of the show is, of course, Suletta and Miorine though, and it’s a really fun relationship to follow. Even with the Utena reference and casual acceptance of gay marriage, I was a little worried about being baited, especially since there were a lot of potential love interests for Suletta around. But I’m happy to say I’m really satisfied with the development of the relationship so far. They’re both layered characters, and it’s great to watch the girls’ feelings grow, as they miscommunication and struggle and learn more about each other. We watch what starts as an engagement of convenience grow into a real bond, and root for these girls every step of the way. And yes, they’re bringing the gay. But the relationship, and the show, is not without its shocking twists, and the last minute one in the last episode left me a puddle on the floor and begging for more.This show can grab your heart and rip it out and you’ll thank them for it.

Let me just say that fans of fascinating, screwed up women will be happy. I’m certainly happy! For now, at least. I like this show a lot, so I hope it doesn’t screw up it’s second season. It’s built up a lot of trust for me, but I’ve had that trust betrayed before.

But for now, I wholeheartedly recommend it, and encourage everyone to check it out! It’s got all the good things. Come freak out over [redacted] with me.