Michael is Low on Hit Points

It took me a while to pinpoint why Gundam 00 Second Season is better than the first

• Posted  October 20th, 2008 at 11:31 PM ET
• Subjects  Gundam 00
• Tags  impressions, first look
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Gundam 00 is back and it's better than ever... but the questions is, why? Three episodes in and I see the same failings from season one. Yet at the same time I feel like they've made improvements to the series, and I had a hell of a time pinpointing exactly what had changed. Is it really the anime, or is it my own expectations of it?

Because after season one, I have no expectations other than pretty animation and well drawn mecha combat. I gave up on the plot long ago, and I still see present some of the same trappings the writers fell into back then. The first episode is once again incomprehensible, leaving us to wait until the next to find out what the hell is actually going on.

Celestial Being now has to right what it did wrong. The more mature motivation than last season's "stop wars with war" sets up a darker story, with an older, wiser cast of characters who have been through it all before. Allelujah looks burnt out and dangerous, Setsuna actually comes off as a more competent lead, and Tieria hasn't busted out any pink cardigans yet...

The new Lockon looks to have his own hidden motives, even if they're clear as daylight to the viewer. Strategist Sumeragi even put together a combat maneuver with actual strategy for once! No sign of Graham, Ali, or Patrick yet, but they're sure to please once again. Last season they were enough to get me through!

Is an aged Gundam 00 better? Here's hoping.