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Gundam AGE Ep. 38: Kio the Fugitive

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Summary

As the Baronoke enters the Mars Sphere, Asemu is surprised at how big Second Moon is. Raddock says the mission will be tough, and Asemu responds that valuable treasure isn’t easy to get. In Ezelcant’s palace, Kio thinks about Flit’s views about the Vagans being evil and wonders if that’s true. He thinks about Lu, who never did anything wrong. Ezelcant calls for Kio and thinks about Zanald’s report that their Gundam is almost ready, but the AGE device uses sophisticated encryption that they can’t crack. Kio asks why they’re trying to decipher the AGE device, but Ezelcant answers that he doesn’t need to know that. Kio agrees to help, in exchange for some medicine for Lu. Ezelcant reminds Kio that the medicine isn’t a cure, but rather a way to ease symptoms. He agrees to Kio’s condition, and Kio gives his authorization codes and biometric data. Kio then receives a box of medicine and runs over to the poor part of the city where Dean and Lu live. Dean answers the door when Kio knocks, and Lu is happy to see him. She takes some of the medicine, and Dean says he doesn’t know how to thank Kio. He asks Kio how he got such valuable medicine, but Lu changes the subject by inviting Kio to dinner. Dean then apologizes for what he said the other day. Later, Kio thinks about their dinner before going to sleep. The next day, Kio goes to visit them again. Dorene tells Ezelcant that when she sees Kio, she feels like Romy is alive again. Lu shows Kio a drawing of the city and invites him over to her bed to see her diary, which has a sketch of him. Kio sees a sketch of them together, and Lu explains it’s a future diary of the memories she’d like to have, but can’t. Dean suggests that she go out since she’s taken some of the medicine. Kio and Lu walk to the junkpile, which has the best view in the city, unaware that Dean is following them. Dean trips on some stairs and ends up revealing himself, so he joins them at the junkpile. Looking at the view, Dean says Earth is probably prettier, and Lu says she wants to go there. She takes Kio’s hand and thanks him for making her dream come true.

After returning home, Lu tells Kio that she had fun, but she suddenly becomes weak and falls down. She goes to sleep, and Dean thanks Kio again. He says Lu doesn’t have much time left, so he wants her to keep smiling as long as possible. The Baronoke enters orbit of Mars and drops its invisible umbrella. Asemu launches in the AGE-2 Dark Hound, followed by a Shaldoll Rogue and G-Exes Jackedge. Zanald reports the enemy incursion to Ezelcant and expresses dismay that Bisidian has acquired Vagan technology. Ezelcant orders Zanald to deal with the intruders and orders Mary not to let Kio out of his room. Asemu orders his men to recover the AGE-3 Orbital while he rescues Kio. Asemu flies over the city and monitors radio traffic about protecting the palace. Several Gafrans launch from the palace, and protective shutters enclose the windows to Kio’s room. Two Baqtos chase Asemu, but he loses them easily and uses his blinder on a Gafran. Asemu picks up Kio’s signature on sensors and smashes through the window to rescue him. Kio gets into the cockpit just before guards enter the room, and the AGE-2 Dark Hound takes off. Asemu tells Kio that he’s being taken to where the Gundam is. The pirates hack into the hangar’s systems and open the gate to let the AGE-2 Dark Hound in. One of the pirates gives Kio the AGE device, and he gets into the AGE-3 Orbital’s cockpit. Kio takes off and tells Asemu that he can’t go yet because he has to give something to his friends first. A Baqto attacks Asemu, and Kio heads to Lu’s house to give her medicine. However, when he gets there he sees that she’s already dead. Dean says that she smiled to the end, and he thinks it was because of Kio. Dean gives the diary to Kio, who then takes off and leaves Second Moon. A Baqto and several Gafrans attack Kio, but he simply punches them and escapes with tears in his eyes. Kio and Asemu reach space, but their path is blocked by Vagan’s new Gundam Legilis.

Commentary

Kio’s time in Mars thankfully comes to an end, but not before we get some more cliche attempts at humanizing the Vagans. It’s nice that Kio wanted to help Lu, but by doing so he handed over all of his family’s secrets to the Vagans and gave away the only advantage that Earth had up to now. With the secrets of the AGE device, the Vagans now have their own Gundam, and it’s disappointing how Kio could’ve been so stupid and naive. He doesn’t even give it more than a second’s thought when Ezelcant asks for help with the AGE device and certainly doesn’t consider the consequences. Also, his trade was of questionable value since, as Ezelcant noted, the medicine can’t cure the disease. Lu got a day of fun, but it’s possible that the physical exertion hastened her demise. Asemu comes through with his rescue, but you have to wonder about Vagan defenses. We saw so many mobile suits at the beginning of the last episode, but now Ezelcant’s palace is protected by a handful of old suits that are more than 50 years old. Sure, they probably weren’t expecting anyone to come to Mars and attack them, but they could’ve been better prepared for the eventuality. Overall, not a great episode that is burdened by the weight of clichés and a lack of logic.

Overall Rating
2.5/5

Gundam AGE Info

Director(s):
Susumu Yamaguchi
 (TV)
Shinya Watada (OVA)

Writer(s):
Akihiro Hino
Kazuho Hyodo
Noboru Kimura
Rika Nakase
Yoichi Kato

Mechanical Designer(s):
Kanetake Ebikawa
Kenji Teraoka
Junya Ishigaki

Character Designer(s):
Takuzo Nagano
Michinori Chiba

Musical Composer:
Kei Yoshikawa

Airdates:
Japan 10.09.2011 – 09.23.2012

Format:
49 episodes; 1 compilation OVA

Video Release (OVA):
Japan 07.26.2013
U.S. 07.03.2018

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