Zeta Gundam is one of those anime shows that I simultaneously genuinely enjoy and yet sincerely hate. That may sound like a very odd way to put things, but there is good reason for it. Without a doubt, Zeta is better-animated, better-plotted and has better characterization throughout most of its run than the original. It deserves the praise that it gets, and represents an impressive milestone in the history of the Real Robot genre.
However, not everything about Zeta is good. The main protagonist is, without a doubt, the most whiny asshole in the entire history of anything ever. I enjoyed the portrayal of Flay Allster in Gundam SEED because I felt the trauma she endured throughout the series justified her more irrational actions and behavior. Kamille has no such excuses. Lip service is paid to the idea that he is autistic, but his behavior crosses the antisocial border so much that it simply isn't a worthy excuse. For a start he prattles constantly about wanting peace, while at the same time amassing a kill-count equal to (possibly surpassing) that of the previous Gundam protagonist. He also actively insults and belittles others, and even treats his would-be girlfriend with utmost contempt at several points during the course of the series.
What really annoyed me about all this is that it wasn't even necessary. Char Aznable could very easily have filled Kamille's shoes for Zeta Gundam, and lost nothing for it. He is just as flawed a protagonist as Kamille, yet simultaneously a much more likable and endearing character than Kamille is. (then again, one could say the same of a flatulent moose). In a show filled with excellent and highly memorable characters, Kamille's sheer lack of redeeming features stand out like a sore thumb.
Another moderate issue with Zeta is the fact that a lot of the deaths are entirely avoidable. The idiot ball is passed around quite frequently, with certain people apparently losing their mental faculties just long enough to bite the dust and add more ghosts to Kamille's ethereal army at the endgame.
Yet despite these flaws, Zeta Gundam still stands out from the pack. It has very well detailed animation, great pacing and a very solid plot overall. There are certainly issues, but the fact I was willing to ignore them and still enjoy the series shows that where Zeta shines are the parts that truly count.
Good Show: Awful Protagonist.
Zeta Gundam is one of those anime shows that I simultaneously genuinely enjoy and yet sincerely hate. That may sound like a very odd way to put things, but there is good reason for it. Without a doubt, Zeta is better-animated, better-plotted and has better characterization throughout most of its run than the original. It deserves the praise that it gets, and represents an impressive milestone in the history of the Real Robot genre.
However, not everything about Zeta is good. The main protagonist is, without a doubt, the most whiny asshole in the entire history of anything ever. I enjoyed the portrayal of Flay Allster in Gundam SEED because I felt the trauma she endured throughout the series justified her more irrational actions and behavior. Kamille has no such excuses. Lip service is paid to the idea that he is autistic, but his behavior crosses the antisocial border so much that it simply isn't a worthy excuse. For a start he prattles constantly about wanting peace, while at the same time amassing a kill-count equal to (possibly surpassing) that of the previous Gundam protagonist. He also actively insults and belittles others, and even treats his would-be girlfriend with utmost contempt at several points during the course of the series.
What really annoyed me about all this is that it wasn't even necessary. Char Aznable could very easily have filled Kamille's shoes for Zeta Gundam, and lost nothing for it. He is just as flawed a protagonist as Kamille, yet simultaneously a much more likable and endearing character than Kamille is. (then again, one could say the same of a flatulent moose). In a show filled with excellent and highly memorable characters, Kamille's sheer lack of redeeming features stand out like a sore thumb.
Another moderate issue with Zeta is the fact that a lot of the deaths are entirely avoidable. The idiot ball is passed around quite frequently, with certain people apparently losing their mental faculties just long enough to bite the dust and add more ghosts to Kamille's ethereal army at the endgame.
Yet despite these flaws, Zeta Gundam still stands out from the pack. It has very well detailed animation, great pacing and a very solid plot overall. There are certainly issues, but the fact I was willing to ignore them and still enjoy the series shows that where Zeta shines are the parts that truly count.