Gundam Wing is one of the better Gundam series out there, perhaps even one of the best. However, it is a series riddled with flaws that clash with the excellence it displays in other areas.
To start with the good; the AC Timeline is great for political intrigue. The series explores many complex philosophical ideas, especially on the subject of war and why humans so frequently resort to armed conflict. The first twelve episodes move at a brisk pace, striking the perfect balance between storytelling, world-building and visceral action.
However... after that things get rather muddier. Wing's major problem is its lack of a cohesive narrative. Instead of dividing its screen-time between the main characters effectively, Wing prefers to focus on one or two for an extended period of time, leaving the audience scratching their heads as to the fate of the others. There are too many coincidences, Deus Ex Machinas (Hello, Wing Zero!) and 'eh, figure it out for yourself' moments present in the mid-series to properly capitalize on the potential of those first twelve episodes. The pacing is, to be blunt, absolutely terrible.
Another minor point against Wing is that the main character is terribly bland. Gundam really seems to love emotionless, mentally scarred protagonists who never seem to crack a smile or display any kind of emotional levity. Heero isn't really a bad character per-say; he simply isn't very interesting. Of the five pilots, only Duo, Wu Fei and Quatre really held my interest. The Gundam scientists also felt rather underused, only really serving as a convenient source of Mid-Season Upgrades.
Moving back to the positive side of things; Wing's antagonists and supporting characters are really good. Une, Zechs, Treize and Relena all have strong character arcs and engaging personalities. Relena in particular stands out as everything a pacifist Gundam character SHOULD be, but frequently aren't (Hey Kyo, Marina. You're still twats!). The series deserves major credit for having such a great cast, all of whom are superbly voice-acted (in the Japanese sub, anyway) and deliver some truly impassioned performances when required.
In conclusion, Wing is a great series let down only partially by some very clunky editing and an over-reliance on contrived coincidence. It's a flawed diamond, but a pretty damn shiny one.
A masterwork put together by an idiot.
Gundam Wing is one of the better Gundam series out there, perhaps even one of the best. However, it is a series riddled with flaws that clash with the excellence it displays in other areas.
To start with the good; the AC Timeline is great for political intrigue. The series explores many complex philosophical ideas, especially on the subject of war and why humans so frequently resort to armed conflict. The first twelve episodes move at a brisk pace, striking the perfect balance between storytelling, world-building and visceral action.
However... after that things get rather muddier. Wing's major problem is its lack of a cohesive narrative. Instead of dividing its screen-time between the main characters effectively, Wing prefers to focus on one or two for an extended period of time, leaving the audience scratching their heads as to the fate of the others. There are too many coincidences, Deus Ex Machinas (Hello, Wing Zero!) and 'eh, figure it out for yourself' moments present in the mid-series to properly capitalize on the potential of those first twelve episodes. The pacing is, to be blunt, absolutely terrible.
Another minor point against Wing is that the main character is terribly bland. Gundam really seems to love emotionless, mentally scarred protagonists who never seem to crack a smile or display any kind of emotional levity. Heero isn't really a bad character per-say; he simply isn't very interesting. Of the five pilots, only Duo, Wu Fei and Quatre really held my interest. The Gundam scientists also felt rather underused, only really serving as a convenient source of Mid-Season Upgrades.
Moving back to the positive side of things; Wing's antagonists and supporting characters are really good. Une, Zechs, Treize and Relena all have strong character arcs and engaging personalities. Relena in particular stands out as everything a pacifist Gundam character SHOULD be, but frequently aren't (Hey Kyo, Marina. You're still twats!). The series deserves major credit for having such a great cast, all of whom are superbly voice-acted (in the Japanese sub, anyway) and deliver some truly impassioned performances when required.
In conclusion, Wing is a great series let down only partially by some very clunky editing and an over-reliance on contrived coincidence. It's a flawed diamond, but a pretty damn shiny one.