Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury - Episode Twenty-Two: The Woven Path
Written by: Ichirō Ōkouchi and Kō Yoneyama
Directed by: Nana Harada, Moe Suzuki, Masatoshi Hakada, Kiyoshi Egami, and Shouji Ikeno
Storyboarded by: Tomoki Kyoda and Susumu Nishizawa
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury - Episode Twenty-Two: The Woven Path (紡がれる道; Tsumugareru Michi)
Facing off against more of the Space Assembly League's forces, Quiet Zero's Gundnodes deploy a force-field capable of deflecting blasts from battleship-class beam cannons, before using the data storm to take control of and redirect a missile barrage. Losing nearly a third of their forces, the Assembly League are forced to retreat, though Quiet Zero's reactors are exhausted for a time.
Preparing to leave Asticassia, Chuchu begs Secelia to let her use the Demi Barding once more; Secelia easily agrees, teasing Chuchu about having to repay the cost of the prototype for any damage incurred, before asking Earth House to take Rouji with them. While Aliya assigns two girls to care for her farm animals in her absence, Felsi pleads with Ojelo to let her join the excursion as well. Suletta meets with Elan #5 privately, who explains the fate of the previous Elan and the nature of the Enhanced Persons to her, as well as his stance on Gundams. Despite his advice to simply run away, Suletta remains resolved to speak with her mother and sister once more, as well as see Miorine again.
At Benerit HQ, Miorine has locked herself in her office, refusing to see anyone. Informed of Earth House's arrival, Guel meets with them; after first seeming to guide Suletta to Miorine, he reiterates his current status as her fiancé, challenging Suletta to a duel, telling her to give up on Miorine should he win. Rather than mobile suits, the two retrieve fencing equipment for a short duel, with Suletta prevailing upon landing the first hit; defeated, Guel restores her status as the Holder before taking her to Miorine's office.
Conversing with Miorine from outside the door, Suletta tells her about her plan to go to Quiet Zero to talk her mother and sister down, admitting she's scared as she can no longer rely on them. Miorine, still guilt-ridden from the consequences of her recent choices, cannot bring herself to either encourage or discourage Suletta's course, terrified of making more mistakes. Admitting to her own mistakes, Suletta says she's come as far as she has thanks to Miorine, and that their meeting wasn't a mistake, finally getting through to her. Asking Suletta to accompany her to Earth someday so she can face her mistakes, Miorine leaves her office to take Suletta's hand.
Meeting with Earth House, Miorine apologizes to them before continuing on to her father, who has awakened from his coma; telling Delling of her resolve, she implores him not to give up either. Recovering from its exhaustion, Quiet Zero moves to Plant Quetta to retrieve the final parts needed for its completion, but they have already been moved to Benerit HQ. Planning for the attack they know is coming, the group at Benerit prepare what equipment they have to hopefully resist the data storm. Kenanji insists that, should the situation be deemed too dire, they surrender the parts for Quiet Zero to Prospera rather than further risk the student's lives. While most of the HQ evacuates, Miorine meets with Shaddiq again, offering him a trade.
With preparations well under way, Suletta and Miorine talk alone in a locker room; Suletta gives Miorine one of her tomatoes she'd brought with her, revealing Rouji discovered the name of the cultivar for her, as well as a message from Miorine's mother within the fruit's genetic code. Promising to grow more tomatoes together, the two then proceed to test the Calibarn, which requires Suletta reach Permet Score Five on her own to resist Aerial's override. Despite some struggle, Suletta succeeds in reaching the threshold with Miorine's support, to her great relief.
Quiet Zero arrives at Benerit HQ, deploying its data storm to prepare for combat against the gathered defensive forces, Calibarn then breaching the field to Prospera's surprise. Despite launching Gundnodes equipped with new flight armor and turrets, Suletta and Calibarn prove superior, easily keeping the drones at bay. Before Earth House can join the battle, they are targeted by the sudden arrival of the Schwarzette; intercepting it in his Dilanza, Guel is shocked to discover his brother Lauda piloting the Gundam.
Continuing to dispatch the Gundnodes, Suletta gradually approaches Quiet Zero, which raises its Permet Score to Eight as Aerial exits to meet her. Manifesting in the data storm, Ericht asks Suletta what she's doing there, Suletta proclaiming she's come to stop her and Prospera.
Ryosuke Takeuchi's (end card illustrator)’s official Twitter
The Woven Path provides examples of:
- Attack Drone: The Gundnodes double it up by not only being Attack Drones themselves, but also having four drones of their own, meaning that the total number of remote weapons that Ericht is handling is exceeding that of even the Gadelaza.
- Break Out the Museum Piece: Along with Calibarn, Earth House also finds and restores a shuttle that doesn’t use Permet, allowing everyone to join Suletta.
- Breather Episode: Until the last few minutes of the episode, this episode was mostly calm. Suletta managed to regain her Holder position and reconcile with Miorine. After regaining her resolve, Miorine was able to make peace with Earth House and her father. Afterwards, the episode focused on preparations being made to counter Quiet Zero along with Suletta and Miorine having a tranquil moment regarding making more tomatoes in the future.
- The Bus Came Back: Guel's Dilanza makes a return after being wrecked all the way back in episode one. Notably, it's missing its giant antenna feather.
- Call-Back:
- Suletta meets with Elan #5 and learns about the Enhanced Person program from him at the same bench where she waited for #4 after their duel in episode 6.
- Felsi hides behind Suletta when Guel shows up, much like Suletta herself hiding behind Felsi and Petra when confronting Guel in the first episode.
- Suletta’s You Are Better Than You Think You Are moment with Miorine is similar to their moment in Episode 11. Unlike in that episode, Miorine allows Suletta to see her crying, and Suletta unconditionally supports her. Additionally, that moment also involved closed doors, but rather than forcing the door open as Miorine had on her, Suletta patiently waits for Miorine to open the door herself.
- During the first season, Miorine repeatedly told Suletta her desire to go to Earth, but she never indicated that she wished for Suletta to come with her. In this episode, she wishes for Suletta to come to Earth with her, so she can help her face the mistakes she's made.
- Two from Episode 12:
- Suletta reaching out to Miorine who steps out from a doorway from the darkness of her room is reminiscent of Prospera reaching to Suletta who steps into a hallway splattered in blood back in episode 12, though the sentiment from the one offering her hand out is a far more benevolent offer of facing their mistakes together, rather than the false reassurance of using violence to protect others.
- Sueltta extending her hand out to Miorine after the latter opens the door is also reminiscent of when Suletta extended her blood-covered hand to her after she killed the terrorist threatening Miorine's life. Only this time, Suletta is doing this as someone with her own agency and awareness instead of doing it under the effects of Prospera's manipulation. This time around, Miorine actually takes her hand.
- Suletta testing her ability to use Calibarn safely hearkens all the way back to the very first scene in the series, with Elnora similarly testing her limits with the Lfrith.
- Cliffhanger: Suletta has engaged in battle with Quiet Zero's defenses and, after destroying a number of its Gundnode drones, is confronted by Aerial personally, declaring she is there to stop both Aerial and Lady Prospera. Meanwhile, Miorine’s team is about to begin their part of the operation only for the Gundam Schwarzette to appear; Guel intercepts and begins to fight it before it can attack, discovering it's being piloted by his brother Lauda, who is attempting to kill Miorine.
- Closed Door Rapport: This is how Suletta and Miorine finally talk again and clear the air. At the end of it, Suletta asks if she can open the door, but Miorine stands up, crosses the room, and does it herself, making the choice with her own two hands to bare her heart and let Suletta in.
- Covers Always Lie: Or endcards, in this case. The endcard shows Felsi standing in the front, before even Guel and on equal footing with Chuchu, seemingly indicating that she would be a major supporting character. In the episode itself, she's present for the first five minutes but isn't seen after that.
- Curb-Stomp Battle:
- Once again, Quiet Zero makes quick work of the Space Assembly League's fleet, blocking their laser bombardments and redirecting their missiles. The result is the space fortress receiving no damage and the League's fleet losing a third of their ships, forcing them to retreat.
- Interestingly, Quiet Zero’s defenses are given a slice of humble pie when Suletta breaks through and manages to single-handedly destroy a number of them on her own.
- Deflector Shields: Similar to Aerial's personal GUND Bits, the GundNodes are able to produce a powerful Lorentz force capable of blocking beam weapons, making attacking Quiet Zero difficult even outside the range of its data storm.
- Didn't See That Coming: Downplayed, but Prospera is visibly surprised to see the Calibarn charging Quiet Zero head on. She doesn't lose her cool and doesn't sound especially surprised once Ericht informs her that it's Suletta piloting it, but the idea of someone actually using the Calibarn to attack Quiet Zero definitely comes across as something she hadn't considered. Both Lady Prospera and Ericht are taken aback that Suletta has come to fight them.
- Dope Slap: Guel lightly gives one to himself. After asking Miorine if she is okay with letting Suletta pilot a Gundam again, one look from Miorine is enough to tell him that she and Suletta have the resolve to see this plan through. He quietly slaps himself on the cheek and offers no more protest.
- Evolving Credits: The opening now includes an ominous visual of Aerial in Quiet Zero's control chamber overlaid with the vague image of Quiet Zero that had always been present.
- Face–Heel Turn: Following the tragic turn of events from the previous two episodes, Lauda takes the Schwarzette with one goal in mind: kill Miorine.
- Forgiveness: While it isn’t said aloud, Miorine and Suletta admitting to each other the mistakes they've made, along with how easily they are able to talk to each other later, indicates they have forgiven each other.
- Graceful Loser: After being defeated by Suletta again, Guel is quick to return her Holder uniform, and actually seems glad he lost.
- Heroic BSoD: Continuing from previous episodes, Miorine has completely shut down from the overwhelming guilt she feels due to the consequences of her mistakes, refusing to leave her office, scared of making more. It’s Suletta reaffirming her fondness for her that allows Miorine to finally step out.
- Holding Hands: Some Grade A, premium hand holding between Suletta and Miorine as they reconcile, with the camera lingering as they curl their fingers around each other.
- Honor Before Reason: Despite his feelings for Suletta, the deal he made with Miorine, and the pressing situation they're in the middle of, Guel challenges Suletta to a duel, allowing her to reclaim her place as the Holder, clearly acknowledging it's what both she and Miorine want, and gaining closure for himself having gone along with the previously rigged duel.Guel: What a fool I am.
- Internal Reveal:
- Elen #5 reveals to Suletta the full truth of what the Enhanced Persons are created for and the fate of #4.
- Prospera is aware of the Calibarn's existence and is informed that Suletta is piloting the Gundam.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: The commander in charge of the Space Assembly League's most recent attack on Quiet Zero decides to order an retreat after Quiet Zero No-Sells beam and missile bombardments from at least three fleets. They manage to successfully retreat with two-thirds of the third and final fleet intact, but only because Quiet Zero needed to recharge its Permet reactor.
- Messy Hair: As a sign of Miorine not taking care of herself while she is in the depths of a Heroic BSoD, she has allowed her hair to become one giant unkempt mess.
- Mid-Season Upgrade: Inverted; due to the Aerial Rebuild being used by both Ericht and Prospera, Suletta boards the Aerial's Flawed Prototype Gundam Calibarn in her attempt to stop them and their Quiet Zero project.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Miorine’s eyes when Suletta tells her that she is going to confront Lady Prospera speak to this. However, unlike previous episodes, Suletta is able to help Miorine overcome her fears and regrets during their heart-to-heart.
- Mythology Gag:
- Suletta and Guel having an old-fashioned fencing duel brings to mind Amuro and Char's final clash after the destruction of their mobile suits in the finale of Mobile Suit Gundam. To really sell it, Suletta's victory pose mirrors the Gundam's "Last Shooting" which preceded said fight.
- Suletta ducks under Guel's lunge before lunging at her opponent herself, winning the fencing duel. Sei Iori and his Star Build Strike Gundam did likewise to Tatsuya Yuuki's Amazing Exia, though the move got interrupted by their battle system running out of energy.
- Gundam Calibarn's entrance into battle uses the same imagery as Zeta Gundam's eyecatch, Gundam Exia Repair II returning to fight the 0 Gundam, and the Full Armor Unicorn Gundam appearing to confront the Banshee.
- Calibarn’s beam cannon-thruster unit resembling a witch’s broom is a nod to the G-Arcane Sorcerie, a proposed yet discarded upgrade to the G-Arcane of Gundam: Reconguista in G
- One-Woman Army: As soon as Suletta breaches the data storm field with Calibarn, she starts carving through multiple Gundnodes, while dodging dozens of GUND-Bits deployed by those same Gundnodes. She does enough damage to force Aerial to emerge from Quiet Zero and confront Suletta.
- Point Defenseless:
- The SAL ships in the opening use point defense systems when Prospera turns their own missiles against them. It doesn't do them much good, though their flagship at least makes it.
- Later turned around on Prospera when Suletta breaks through Quiet Zero's defenses like they weren't even there.
- The Promise: Suletta promises to accompany Miorine to Earth, so she can face her mistakes together, and they both promise each other they'll grow more tomatoes in the future.
- Revenge Before Reason: Lauda deciding to attack Miorine's group when they're about to begin their part in the operation to stop Quiet Zero out of an extremely misplaced sense of hatred during the closing minutes of the episode really takes the cake.
- Rule of Symbolism:
- In contrast to Episode 16, where a green tomato indicated Suletta was reliant on others, her holding a red tomato when talking to Miorine showcases that she now has her own resolve.
- The Hot and Cold keychains being next to each other when Suletta and Miorine are talking further represents their reconciliation.
- Continuing the series' Witch theme, Calibarn's primary armament is a combination beam cannon/thruster unit, which has the silhouette of a witch's broom.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Given the massive size and power output of Quiet Zero, it makes sense it would require time to charge or additional material to continue powering it.
- Secret Test of Character: It's implied that Guel was testing Suletta’s resolve when he challenged her to a duel prior to letting her see Miorine again. He appears relieved when Suletta defeats him, promptly returning her Holder Uniform to her.
- Ship Tease: Between Suletta and Miorine's reunion, reconciliation, and talk about growing more tomatoes together, the bond between the two is showcased as not only having been mended, but grown.
- Spanner in the Works:
- Suletta proves to be one to Lady Prospera, as she helps Miorine, one of the targets of Propera's revenge, out of her depression and they both end up opposing her.
- Lauda's attack on Miorine's group while Suletta is playing decoy in Quiet Zero could very well put the entire operation in jeopardy. Guel preventing Lauda from attacking Miorine's group was the only thing preventing the plan from becoming an immediate failure.
- Swiss-Army Gun: The main gun of the Calibarn is a mix between a beam cannon and a rocket booster.
- Team Power Walk: What we see in the end card. Everyone moving to confront Prospera is marching forward.
- Tears of Joy: Miorine sheds them in relief when Suletta manages to reach Permet Score 5 and survives.
- Throwing the Fight: Possibly. It's difficult to tell if Guel genuinely lost or let Suletta win, but he did seem surprised by Suletta’s reflexes. Either way, he seems relieved by the outcome, later seeing it was clearly the best result for Miorine.
- Took a Level in Cheerfulness: After Suletta manages to pull Miorine out of her depressive spiral, Miorine is far more cheerful than she has been for a majority of Season Two. She is even smiling when she and Suletta are talking to each other and making plans to grow more tomatoes when the battle is over. Shaddiq even makes note that Miorine has pulled a 180 from the previous episode and quickly deduces it was because of Suletta.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: While Lauda has become more of an asshole throughout the series, he really takes it up a level here, going as far as to attempt to kill someone during an operation to deal with a far greater threat.
- Took a Level in Kindness: The Spacian students back at Asticassia have warmed up to Earth House as Secelia readily agrees to lend Chuchu the Demi Barding again, the two girls who bullied Chuchu and Suletta in episode 4 are willing to care for Aliya's farm animals, and Felsi demands to join Earth House's excursion.
- Warts and All: Regardless of what happened before, Suletta tells Miorine that meeting her was not a mistake, and she is still fond of her.
- We Need a Distraction: Suletta’s role in the plan is to distract Aerial and Lady Prospera while Miorine’s team infiltrates Quiet Zero and shut it down.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Felsi is not seen after she hides behind Suletta's back. However, she is seen in the end Card.
- White and Red and Eerie All Over: The Gundam Calibarn, in contrast to the usual Primary-Color Champion of the Aerial, is a suit described as a monster and is dominated by a white coloration along with glowing red from its shell units while active.
- Working with the Ex: After Guel is defeated by Suletta in a duel and gives her back her Holder uniform, he has become Miorine's ex-fiancé again, and he doesn't have any issue cooperating with Miorine as they make preparations to deal with Quiet Zero.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Suletta makes it clear that despite all the mistakes that she and Miorine have made, the two of them meeting was not a mistake, and she knows that she never would've gotten this far without Miorine in her life. That is enough to get through to Miorine and open the door on her own.
