GundamReviews

Gundam SEED Phase 49: Final Light

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Summary

GENESIS fires and completely destroys the Ptolemaeus Moon base and the fleet stationed in front of it. After firing, Patrick orders the damaged mirror block to be replaced so that GENESIS can fire again. In space, Mayura is killed while fighting a GuAIZ. The Dominion receives a call stating that the Alliance has lost half its forces. Kira uses his METEOR to disable GINNs, while Athrun uses the beam sabers on his METEOR to destroy battleships. Cagalli’s Aile Strike Rouge destroys a CGUE, and Dearka’s Buster Gundam takes on several Strike Daggers. Azrael calls Sutherland and orders him to deploy the Peacemaker units to destroy the PLANTs. He also orders the Calamity Gundam, Forbidden Gundam and Raider Gundam to protect the Moebius units. Natarle objects, and Azrael pulls a gun on her. The Dominion and other ships begin to turn toward the PLANTs, and Murrue tells Andy she will deal with it while they deal with GENESIS. Natarle asks Azrael if he plans to take control of the ship. He says he doesn’t have to because he’s the one giving the orders, and he’s angry that she’s always objecting to him. Azrael says that even with GENESIS, if they destroy the PLANTs the war will end. He says that Coordinators are a threat to the existence of Earth. Natarle remembers what Murrue said about why she was rebelling against the Alliance. The Peacemaker squads launch, and the three Gundams escort them to the PLANTs. Yzak launches in the Duel Gundam and leads his GuAIZ squad to fight the Peacemaker squad. The Archangel approaches the Dominion and begins attacking. Azrael tells Natarle that she should do her job and sink that traitorous ship. Kira and Athrun both go into SEED mode and use their METEORs to destroy all the missiles launched by the Moebiuses. Yzak is attacked from behind by Clotho, and Dearka then attack Clotho from behind to save Yzak. Shani attacks Athrun and then dodges his beam sabers. Azrael yells at Natarle to fight, so she opens fire on the Archangel. Both ships fire at each other and cause each other equal amounts of damage. Elsewhere, Mu senses Rau’s presence and begins searching for him. In the Providence Gundam, Rau destroys several Strike Daggers and laughs maniacally.

The Kusanagi and Eternal approach GENESIS and begin firing at the forces from Jachin Due. M1 Astray pilots Asagi and Juri are killed by Strike Daggers, and Cagalli goes into SEED mode and destroys them. Kira and Athrun continue to destroy nuclear missiles, and Sutherland orders the remaining missiles to be fired at them directly. Clotho attacks and asks Athrun why they’re so persistent. Athrun asks him what he’s fighting for, and Clotho says he doesn’t know and simply doesn’t want to be killed. Shani fires at Cagalli, but Yzak jumps in front of her to protect her. Dearka then combines his guns and fires at Shani, which causes considerable damage. Yzak then rushes in and is shot at by Shani, but he ejects his Assault Shroud armor and lets it get hit to make it seem like he exploded. He then rushes in with both beam sabers and slices off the Forbidden Gundam’s arms before slicing into the cockpit and killing Shani. The Dominion and Archangel continue to fire at each other, and Mu locates the Providence Gundam and attacks. Rau deploys his DRAGOONs, and their high speed remote attack keeps Mu on the defensive. He asks Rau if it’s his dream to destroy humanity, and Rau says it is humanity’s dream. Orga dodges Kira’s METEOR beam saber, but Athrun slices the Calamity Gundam in half and kills him. Dearka then fires at Sutherland’s ship, and Yzak destroys the bridge. Rau’s DRAGOONs prove to be too much for Mu to handle, and the Aile Strike Gundam is heavily damaged. Murrue orders Kira and the others to attack GENESIS, and Mu returns to the Archangel and apologizes. Azrael wants to keep attacking, and Flay calls the Archangel and tells them to escape. Azrael punches her in the face and pulls out his gun, but Natarle attacks him. She orders everyone to abandon ship and head for the Archangel. As she struggles with Azrael, he shoots her in the stomach. He then tries to escape, but she locks the door, so he shoots her in the shoulder. He yells at her to open the door and shoots her in the leg. Azrael then fires both the Lohengrin at the Archangel‘s bridge, and Mu jumps in and absorbs the blast. He says that he was able to make the impossible possible, and the Aile Strike explodes. Natarle tells Azrael he’s lost, and he shoots her in the arm. Murrue cries out Mu’s name and fires the Lohengrin at the Dominion and destroys it, killing Azrael and Natarle.

Commentary

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Tomino snuck into the Sunrise studios and directed this episode. With eight characters killed in this episode, it surpasses the death count of the final episodes of Zeta Gundam (and ties with Victory Gundam). The Astray girls die quick and pointless deaths much like their Shrike Team counterparts from Victory Gundam. After being invincible for so long, both Shani and Orga are killed by mere beam sabers, but at least Yzak finally got to destroy a Gundam. Also, I think he finally sees things the way they are since he saved Cagalli and worked with Dearka. Natarle also has a change of heart and finally rebels against Azrael, and it’s a shame that doing so cost her her life. There’s only one episode left now, and a lot needs to be accomplished. GENESIS is still operating, and Kira is likely to have a showdown with Rau. It seems likely that many more people will die before the series ends.

Overall Rating
4.5/5
Gundam SEED Info


Director:
Mitsuo Fukuda

Writer(s):
Chiaki Morosawa
Hiroyuki Yoshino
Hiroshi Ohnogi
Shigeru Morita
Akinori Endo
Yuuichi Nomura
Akemi Omode

Mechanical Designer(s):
Kunio Okawara
Kimitoshi Yamane
Junichi Akutsu

Character Designer:
Hisashi Hirai

Musical Composer:
Toshihiko Sahashi

Format:
50 episodes (original); 48 episodes (HD); 1 short; 3 compilation movies

Airdates (Original):
Japan 10.05.2002 – 09.27.2003
U.S. 04.17.2004 – 04.15.2005

Airdates (HD Remaster):
Japan 01.xx.2012 – 11.xx.2012

Video Release (SE):
Japan 08.27.2004 – 10.22.2004
U.S. 07.11.2005 – 11.22.2005

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