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G Gundam Ep. 15: A Warrior’s Title! Goodbye, Shuffle Alliance

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Summary

The members of the Shuffle Alliance tell Domon they must kill Master Asia for betraying them and their mission, which is to supervise the fairness of combat. In the past, members of the Shuffle Alliance have watched over wars and prevented the extinction of mankind. Domon still can’t believe that Master Asia has betrayed him, and the Shuffle Alliance members ask him if he intends to violate their decision. A single Death Army suit comes with the message that Domon should go alone to Tokyo Tower to guarantee the safety of the city. Rain tells him not to go, but he tells her to shut up and leaves. He walks alone through a large group of the Death Army suits and remembers Master Asia training him as a child. Master Asia told him that his fist is a tool that will help him decide what path he should walk. He also told Domon that if he put his soul into his fighting, he could express his will with his fists. Domon arrives at Tokyo Tower and spots Master Asia near the top. Suddenly, Chibodee, George, Argo, and Sai Saici attack Domon. Master Asia taunts Domon and tells him to come up to the top if he can defeat the four Fighters. Instead of fighting, Domon runs away and climbs up the Tower. They chase him, and Argo grabs him from behind. They tell him to just surrender and accept Master Asia’s offer to receive strength and happiness. Domon manages to break away and gets to the top of the Tower. He says that the real Master Asia wouldn’t serve the Devil Gundam. Master Asia tells Domon that he shouldn’t make such outrageous assumptions without knowing the facts. He then attacks Domon with the help of the other four. They force him to the edge of the Tower, and Master Asia asks him to swear allegiance to the Devil Gundam.

As Master Asia attacks, Domon hears the members of the Shuffle Alliance speaking to him, and they tell him he is pathetic. They say that a man calling himself the King of Hearts shouldn’t give up and must fight. They tell him he should use his fists to express his feelings to Master Asia. He jumps off of the Tower and calls the Shining Gundam. He challenges Master Asia to a Gundam Fight, and Master Asia agrees, calling on the Master Gundam. The other four, now totally infested with DG cells, wish to fight also. They are attacked by the members of the Shuffle Alliance. Domon and Master Asia begin fighting, and it becomes clear that Master Asia has the upper hand. He tells Domon that all he knows how to do is talk big. The Shuffle Alliance use a powerful attack, but it doesn’t kill the other Gundam Fighters. They see their symbols on them and realize that they are the heirs of the Shuffle Alliance. They decide to ignite their life force to the fullest to save the Gundam Fighters. The DG cells vanish, and the Shuffle Alliance members disappear. Their suits turn to stone and crumble. Master Asia laughs and calls them all fools for sacrificing themselves. Domon becomes angry and activates the Super Mode of the Shining Gundam. He uses the Shining Finger and unleashes a powerful attack that destroys Tokyo Tower and forces Master Asia to escape. Chibodee and the others wake up, and they wonder why they have the symbols of the Shuffle Alliance on their hands. Domon wonders why Master Asia doesn’t understand the feelings in his punches and why he serves the Devil Gundam.

Commentary

After the revelations from last episode, Domon certainly takes a beating from Master Asia. This whole thing about the Shuffle Alliance using their life energy to cure the Gundam Fighters of the DG cells seems very deus ex machina. It’s as if they were introduced just do die. And their explanation of what the Shuffle Alliance does isn’t very clear. How exactly do they save humanity from extinction? Domon fights Master Asia and of course uses the Shining Finger to win (sorta). It’s still unclear what Master Asia’s motives are, and whether or not he is in control of himself. At the very least he’s lost some of his advantage now that the four Gundam Fighters have been taken away from him. Also, there was some good drama as Domon reluctantly accepts that Master Asia has betrayed him.

Overall Rating
4/5

G Gundam Info

Director:
Yasuhiro Imagawa

Writer(s):
Fuyunori Gobu
Ken Oketani
Hiroaki Kitajima
Ryota Yamaguchi
Fumihiko Shimo

Mechanical Designer(s):
Kunio Okawara
Hajime Katoki
Kimitoshi Yamane

Character Designer:
Hiroshi Osaka

Musical Composer:
Kouhei Tanaka

Format:
49 episodes

Airdates:
Japan 04.22.1994 – 03.31.1995
U.S. 08.05.2002 – 10.16.2002

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