In space, Dozle returns to Zum City to join his family for Garma’s funeral. He’s disappointed that the colony’s defenses have not been increased during the last six months. In the throne room, Degwin and Gihren debate about what kind of funeral to have. Degwin wants a small respectful service, but Gihren wants a grand state funeral. Dozle and Kycilia arrive, and Dozle still can’t believe Garma is dead and says he was hoping for the day that Garma would give him orders. Back on Earth, Icelina is taken by a soldier to Garma’s former quarters. The soldier vows they will get revenge, and Icelina asks to come along with them on the Gaws. As the White Base nears EFF airspace, Amuro and Ryu complete repairs that will allow Amuro to turn the beam saber into the more powerful beam trident. The sensors detect three Gaw carriers nearby, so Amuro launches in the Gundam, followed by Ryu in the Guncannon. They jump onto one of the Gaws and are attacked by the beam cannons. Ryu destroys them, and another Gaw tries to shoot them off and instead damages the plane. As the crippled plane crashes in the desert, Amuro and Ryu jump to another Gaw. Sayla gives Bright a message from the EFF that says they will take the civilian refugees, but they won’t give the White Base any supplies. Bright is angry about the order and tells Mirai to change course and rendezvous with the EFF. A Luggun piloted by Char and Dren appears and attacks the White Base. Char figures his appearance will look like vengeance for Garma or a show of loyalty to Dozle. He drops a bomb on the White Base‘s port engine, which causes the power to fail and the ship to perform an emergency landing in the desert. Amuro and Ryu watch in shock as the White Base quickly descends toward the ground.
After the White Base lands, Char lands the Luggun nearby and gets in closer. Icelina’s Gaw shoots at Ryu and knocks him off of the plane. Amuro goes after Ryu to rescue him, and they decide to head for the ground at the moment. Hayato gives Bright an update on the repairs, and Bright asks Sayla to check on the refugees. At Zum City, Gihren convinces Degwin that Garma needs a state funeral to help rally the people together and aid the war effort. Dozle wants Char punished for failing to protect Garma, and Degwin reluctantly agrees to both demands. Bright is informed that civilians are getting off the ship. He runs down to the hatch and warns them that it’s dangerous, but they don’t listen. Three that have already left are shot by Char. Bright, Hayato and Kai start shooting at Char, but he gets away. Amuro and Ryu return to the air and attack another Gaw. Icelina’s Gaw focuses its attack on Amuro, and he’s saved by Hayato’s Guntank. Amuro uses the beam trident and starts slicing into the Gaw to cut it in half. He and Ryu jump off as it explodes. They have a rough landing on the surface, and Icelina’s Gaw continues to attack. The Gaw crashes into the Gundam and knocks it aside. Amuro tries to move, but the Gundam is too damaged. He gets out to repair the Gundam, and Icelina points a gun at him and says she will have revenge for her love. She loses her footing and misses when she shoots, so Amuro watches helplessly as she falls to her death. Char and Dren fly away in their Luggun, and Char says he’ll use the excuse that his Zaku wasn’t working. The civilians leave the ship when the EFF arrives to take them away. Amuro, Ryu, Hayato and Kai bury Icelina in the sand, and Amuro wonders who she was and why she wanted revenge.
Many people classify this as a throwaway episode (hence its absence from the trilogy, except for the first scene in Zum City). I would have to agree that this is a throwaway episode in the sense that it doesn’t move the plot along. I thought it was better in the movie trilogy how we last see Icelina as a tragic figure mourning the death of her beloved Garma. Here, this girl-next-door wants to attack the White Base, and it only results in her pointless death. Perhaps it’s meant to be a commentary on the futility of revenge, especially since Char killed Garma out of revenge. On the other hand, it is good to see the effect that Icelina’s revenge has on Amuro. Another good thing here is that we get to see all of the Zabis, including Gihren, who is referred to by many people as the Hitler of Zeon (and with good reason, too).
Mobile Suit Gundam Info
Director(s):
Yoshiyuki Tomino
Ryoji Fujiwara (movie 1)
Writer(s):
Yoshiyuki Tomino
Masaru Yamamoto
Kenichi Matsuzaki
Yoshihisa Araki
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
Mechanical Designer(s):
Kunio Okawara
Yoshiyuki Tomino
Character Designer:
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Musical Composer(s):
Yuji Matsuyama
Takeo Watanabe
Format:
43 episodes; 3 compilation movies
Airdates:
Japan 04.07.1979 – 01.26.1980
U.S. 07.23.2001 – 09.12.2001
Theatrical Release:
Japan 03.14.1981 – 03.13.1982
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