History YMMV / MobileSuitGundam

** "AHMURO. I ORDA YOU T’LAUNCH GUNDAMN. GED OUT THERE"

* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Gihren Zabi]] is [[TheEvilPrince the eldest son]] of the Zabi family and de facto dictator of the Principality of Zeon. A cold, Machiavellian personality who takes being compared to UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler as a compliment and fully believes that DespotismJustifiesTheMeans, Gihren doesn't care about anyone's lives, including those of his own family members, and is willing to do anything to conquer the world. He turns his little brother's funeral into a political rally while the rest of his family looks on in horror; preaches a philosophy [[StrawHypocrite which he doesn't buy into himself]]; uses a ColonyDrop to exterminate vast swathes of Earth's population; deploys chemical weapons against the very colonies he claims to be liberating; and later blasts his own father and General Revil into oblivion just so they won't reach an armistice. When his sister Kycilia, no angel herself, confronts him about what he's done, Gihren's sneeringly offhanded disregard for her anger cements his status as an utterly hollow psychopath. Had he won, he admits that he would have reduced Earth's population to less than a billion and kept it that way so that they could never rise up against him. [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam Side]]-[[Manga/MobileSuitGundamThePlotToAssassinateGihren stories]] involving him only add to his list of crimes--he helped Ginias Sahalin and his [[WeaponOfMassDestruction Apsalus Project]]; and arranged, through his secretary, Cecilia Irene, two elaborate false assassination plots with himself as the supposed victim in order to frame Kycilia and garner public support for clamping down on his political opposition. When Det. David Schiller became an UnwittingPawn in one of these schemes, he was rewarded by seeing his entire family, members of the anti-Zabi faction, imprisoned or executed. Decades after his introduction, Gihren remains the standard to which ''Gundam'''s other monsters aspire to, with numerous equally-monstrous expies influenced by him.

* HarsherInHindsight: Gihren Zabi's plan to cull Earth's population became this if one had already watched Film/AvengersInfinityWar, [[spoiler: which Banjo Ginga dubbed Thanos--who already shared his same motif albeit in a misguided assumption to save the universe--in Japanese translation. Unlike Gundam, he successfully halved the universe's population thanks to his possession of the Infinity Gauntlet.]]

* ItWasHisSled: Lalah dies.

* MemeticMutation: Besides the whole [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority red thing]], there's the infamous line ''Once the Big Zam is mass produced''.

* MisaimedFandom: Yes, the Federation has corrupt leaders. Yes, Zeon has many good, moral, people who serve it. Yes, the Titans are bad. That being said, it's a little scary how many fans will knee-jerk a SIEG ZEON for a regime that murdered, not millions, but BILLIONS of people and continue to wipe out metropolitan centers every few years... FOR FREEDOM.

* MoralEventHorizon: Many found that Char crossed it when he [[spoiler:arranged Garma's death]].
** What really makes Char's crossing of the moral event horizon work is that he didn't just kill [[spoiler:Garma, he also killed the entire crew of the Gaw that Garma was on. And ''this'' is coming from a man who had been shown to genuinely mourn the loss of his subordinates.]] Chew on that for awhile.

* {{Narm}}: The crew [[EverybodyCries crying]] and [[ItsAllMyFault blaming themselves]] for [[spoiler:Ryu]]'s death. Changed for the [[CompilationMovie compilation movies]], fortunately. In the movies, Amuro just beats up Hayato for letting Ryu go into battle.

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: Kai Shiden. He get much better as the story progresses.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Inevitable, given the number of homages the later shows in the franchise did, it means many plot points in the show don't stand out now as much as they did when they were first done. The show wasn't very successful when it initially aired, in fact leading it to end three episodes earlier than originally planned, meaning it didn't have the animation budget that later Gundam shows did, which can be clearly seen in how its animation is a lot less detailed and a lot slower paced. Most fans agree the series shook off its growing pains with Z Gundam, which in turn helped affirm a lot of the signature Gundam tropes.

* SignatureScene: The Gundam standing up with its eyes glowing in the first episode. Also Gihren's speech at Garma's funeral.
* {{Squick}}: In the novel version, aside from the gross plot changes, WordOfGod states that Amuro's crush on Sayla culminated in him [[spoiler:making a ''locket'' out of her ''pubic hair''.]]
** It should be noted that ''Amuro himself'' initially thought this was disgusting, but was pressured into it by Kai and Hayato. It's apparently a combat pilot superstition that if a pilot gets into a relationship with a woman he must take an "Amulet" with him on missions or risk bringing misfortune and death on the entire squad.

** Amuro's angst gets pretty extreme at times, with "Fly Gundam!" and "Amuro Deserts" making him come off especially unsympathetic. A lot of the more understandable reasons for his actions are often downplayed for a more general sense of angst that feels like a forced ConflictBall more than anything. Fortunately, 2/3s through the series he get's better.

** The Gundam's more exotic weapons, like the Beam Javelin and Gundam Hammer are absent as the were mandated by the network to sell toys.

* MagnificentBastard:
** [[Characters/GundamCharAznable Char Aznable]], born Casval Deikun, joins the Zabis by hiding his face behind a mask to lure the Zabis to their demise. Famed for his combat prowess and tactical brilliance, Char lures young Garma Zabi to his end, and later forms a deep enmity with Amuro Ray, compounded when Amuro kills Char's beloved Lalah. Breaking from his fight with Amuro, Char teaches Kycilia a lesson on underestimating him by eliminating her, and years later [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam joins the earth resistance forces]] against the Titans. Rising to the leadership there, Char gives an impassioned speech to convince the world to rise against the Titans and to believe in the value of space travel. Finally, in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'', Char manipulates young Quess Paraya and all of Zeon to try to drop Axis on the helpless earth to force a great migration into space, planning one final battle to achieve his ends. Finally convinced to surrender his life in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Gundam Unicorn]]'', Char makes a final gesture to leave the world to a younger generation. With his tale in the Universal Century spanning over the decades and playing the roles of traitorous underling, unscrupulous advisor and even BigBad, Char's shrewd tactical abilities and magnetic charm cement him as one of the single most memorable and archetypal villains in the ''Gundam'' franchise.
** [[TheBaroness Kycilia Zabi]] was the last member of her family standing for a reason. Fully aware of her elder brother Gihren's moral depravity and mismanagement of the conflict with the Earth Federation, Kycilia uses the One Year War as a cover for a coup d'etat against him, [[PoliticallyActivePrincess gathering resources and allies]], while undermining Gihren's loyalists. Upon discovering through [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket Colonel Killing]]'s betrayal that Gihren had infiltrated her faction and was [[Manga/ThePlotToAssassinateGihren preparing to frame her for treason]], Kycilia moved swiftly, leaking Char's identity to Gihren's fake conspirators and transforming a sham plot into an actual revolt against his rule. Aware that Zeon could no longer win the war, and that the Federation would never make peace while her brother lived, Kycilia journeyed to A Baoa Qu and, on finding out that Gihren had murdered their father, executed him for {{patricide}} and assumed command of what was left of Zeon. Killed when Char Aznable unpredictably betrayed her, Kycilia was nevertheless the only Zabi, or indeed, Zeon Admiral, with both a realistic appreciation of their circumstances, and the ruthlessness and will to act accordingly.

** Kycilia Zabi was the last member of her family standing for a reason. Fully aware of her elder brother Gihren's moral depravity and mismanagement of the conflict with the Earth Federation, Kycilia uses the One Year War as a cover for a coup d'etat against him, gathering resources and allies, while undermining Gihren's loyalists. Upon discovering through [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket Colonel Killing]]'s betrayal that Gihren had infiltrated her faction and was [[Manga/ThePlotToAssassinateGihren preparing to frame her for treason]], Kycilia moved swiftly, leaking Char's identity to Gihren's fake conspirators and transforming a sham plot into an actual revolt against his rule. Aware that Zeon could no longer win the war, and that the Federation would never make peace while her brother lived, Kycilia journeyed to A Baoa Qu and, on finding out that Gihren had murdered their father, executed him for {{patricide}} and assumed command of what was left of Zeon. Killed when Char Aznable unpredictably betrayed her, Kycilia was nevertheless the only Zabi, or indeed, Zeon Admiral, with both a realistic appreciation of their circumstances, and the ruthlessness and will to act accordingly.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Inevitable, given the number of homages the later shows in the franchise did, it means many plot points in the show don't stand out now as much as they did when they were first done. The show wasn't very successful when it initially aired, in fact leading it to end three episodes earlier than originally planned, meaning it didn't have the animation budget that later Gundam shows did, which can be clearly seen in how its animation is a lot less detailed and a lot slower paced. The dated animation and EarlyInstallmentWeirdness tone didn't appeal to many newcomers, even among several UC fans who prefer the later installments and OVA series.

** [[Characters/GundamCharAznable Char Aznable]], born Casval Deikun, [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam joins the Zabis]] by hiding his face behind a mask to lure the Zabis to their demise. Famed for his combat prowess and tactical brilliance, Char lures young Garma Zabi to his end, and later forms a deep enmity with Amuro Ray, compounded when Amuro kills Char's beloved Lalah. Breaking from his fight with Amuro, Char teaches Kycilia a lesson on underestimating him by eliminating her, and years later [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam joins the earth resistance forces]] against the Titans. Rising to the leadership there, Char gives an impassioned speech to convince the world to rise against the Titans and to believe in the value of space travel. Finally, in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'', Char manipulates young Quess Paraya and all of Zeon to try to drop Axis on the helpless earth to force a great migration into space, planning one final battle to achieve his ends. Finally convinced to surrender his life in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Gundam Unicorn]]'', Char makes a final gesture to leave the world to a younger generation. With his tale in the Universal Century spanning over the decades and playing the roles of traitorous underling, unscrupulous advisor and even BigBad, Char's shrewd tactical abilities and magnetic charm cement him as one of the single most memorable and archetypal villains in the ''Gundam'' franchise.

* [[Characters/GundamCharAznable Char Aznable]], born Casval Deikun, [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam joins the Zabis]] by hiding his face behind a mask to lure the Zabis to their demise. Famed for his combat prowess and tactical brilliance, Char lures young Garma Zabi to his end, and later forms a deep enmity with Amuro Ray, compounded when Amuro kills Char's beloved Lalah. Breaking from his fight with Amuro, Char teaches Kycilia a lesson on underestimating him by eliminating her, and years later [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam joins the earth resistance forces]] against the Titans. Rising to the leadership there, Char gives an impassioned speech to convince the world to rise against the Titans and to believe in the value of space travel. Finally, in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'', Char manipulates young Quess Paraya and all of Zeon to try to drop Axis on the helpless earth to force a great migration into space, planning one final battle to achieve his ends. Finally convinced to surrender his life in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Gundam Unicorn]]'', Char makes a final gesture to leave the world to a younger generation. With his tale in the Universal Century spanning over the decades and playing the roles of traitorous underling, unscrupulous advisor and even BigBad, Char's shrewd tactical abilities and magnetic charm cement him as one of the single most memorable and archetypal villains in the ''Gundam'' franchise.

** Characters/CharAznable, born Casval Deikun, [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam joins the Zabis]] by hiding his face behind a mask to lure the Zabis to their demise. Famed for his combat prowess and tactical brilliance, Char lures young Garma Zabi to his end, and later forms a deep enmity with Amuro Ray, compounded when Amuro kills Char's beloved Lalah. Breaking from his fight with Amuro, Char teaches Kycilia a lesson on underestimating him by eliminating her, and years later [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam joins the earth resistance forces]] against the Titans. Rising to the leadership there, Char gives an impassioned speech to convince the world to rise against the Titans and to believe in the value of space travel. Finally, in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'', Char manipulates young Quess Paraya and all of Zeon to try to drop Axis on the helpless earth to force a great migration into space, planning one final battle to achieve his ends. Finally convinced to surrender his life in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Gundam Unicorn]]'', Char makes a final gesture to leave the world to a younger generation, being one of the single most memorable and archetypal villains in the ''Gundam'' franchise.

* MemeticLoser: The entirety of Sydney, Australia is a recurring victim to all topics related to Space Colony Dropping. Then again, it didn't help that the Colony is supposed to aim at Jaburo if it wasn't for the fierce resistance by the Federation fleet, but who cares?

* MisaimedFandom: Yes, the Federation has corrupt leaders. Yes, Zeon has many good, moral, people who serve it. Yes, the Titans are bad. That being said, it's a little scary how many fans will knee-jerk a SEIG ZEON for a regime that murdered, not millions, but BILLIONS of people and continue to wipe out metropolitan centers every few years... FOR FREEDOM.

* DracoInLeatherPants: Char.

* MemeticLoser: A country example: The entirety of Sydney, Australia thanks to the country being a victim to Colony Dropping. It didn't help that the country's current weather temperature is 70 plus degrees.

*** In other circles however, he's an EnsembleDarkhorse with a level of popularity that surpasses even Char Aznable. It helps that, come Zeta, he's effectively the Gundam series equivalent of James Bond.

** In other circles however, he's an EnsembleDarkhorse with a level of popularity that surpasses even Char Aznable. It helps that, come Zeta, he's effectively the Gundam series equivalent of James Bond.

* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Prince Gihren Zabi]] is [[TheEvilPrince the eldest son]] of the Zabi family and de facto dictator of the Principality of Zeon. A cold, Machiavellian personality who takes being compared to UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler as a compliment and fully believes that DespotismJustifiesTheMeans, Gihren doesn't care about anyone's lives, including those of his own family members, and is willing to do anything to conquer the world. He turns his little brother's funeral into a political rally while the rest of his family looks on in horror; preaches a philosophy [[StrawHypocrite which he doesn't buy into himself]]; uses a ColonyDrop to exterminate vast swathes of Earth's population; deploys chemical weapons against the very colonies he claims to be liberating; and later blasts his own father and General Revil into oblivion just so they won't reach an armistice. When his sister Kycilia, no angel herself, confronts him about what he's done, Gihren's sneeringly offhanded disregard for her anger cements his status as an utterly hollow psychopath. Had he won, he admits that he would have reduced Earth's population to less than a billion and kept it that way so that they could never rise up against him. [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam Side]]-[[Manga/MobileSuitGundamThePlotToAssassinateGihren stories]] involving him only add to his list of crimes--he helped Ginias Sahalin and his [[WeaponOfMassDestruction Apsalus Project]]; and arranged, through his secretary, Cecilia Irene, two elaborate false assassination plots with himself as the supposed victim in order to frame Kycilia and garner public support for clamping down on his political opposition. When Det. David Schiller became an UnwittingPawn in one of these schemes, he was rewarded by seeing his entire family, members of the anti-Zabi faction, imprisoned or executed. Decades after his introduction, Gihren remains the standard to which ''Gundam'''s other monsters aspire to, with numerous equally-monstrous expies influenced by him.

* MEmeticLoser: A country example: The entirety of Sydney, Australia thanks to the country being a victim to Colony Dropping. It didn't help that the country's current weather temperature is 70 plus degrees.

* NeverLiveItDown: [[DeadpanSnarker Kai Shiden]] is labeled a DirtyCoward by most of the crew early in the series for his bitter complaints about the situation they're in, despite the fact that he repeatedly undertakes dangerous assignments when necessary.[[note]]And after the war, he's left the danger of a MS cockpit for the safe career of ''war journalist''[[/note]] While the other characters eventually realize their mistake, the majority of the ''fandom'' seems to have ignored that and consider him a spineless jerk.

* {{Narm}}: The crew crying and blaming themselves for [[spoiler:Ryu]]'s death. Changed for the [[CompilationMovie compilation movies]], fortunately. In the movies, Amuro just beats up Hayato for letting Ryu go into battle.

** Even Gihren Zabi gets it himself in some circles of the fandom, especially the Japanese fan circles. That is despite him being behind the bulk of Zeon's war crimes in the One Year War and taking comparisons to Hitler as a compliment. There are even games allowing Zeon to win that envisions a Earth Sphere led by Gihren as a glorious future!

** Rambal Ral; the man has such a dignity and likability about him that it inspires a strong RootingForTheEmpire. His Gouf is similarly popular.
** The mobile suit [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/msgundam/msm-04.htm Acguy]] has a large number of fans who consider its big head, stumpy limbs and plump frame to be UglyCute. Its derivatives, the even more bizarre looking Agg, Juagg, and Agguguy, aren't horribly unpopular themselves considering they were never actually on the show.
** Sleggar Law appeared in only a handful of episodes yet is incredibly popular. In fact legendary anime director Noburo Ishiguro loved Sleggar so much that he admitted to modelling Roy Focker from ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'' after him.

** Zeon gets a lot of love from the fanbase. From its rhetoric to its frequent and impressive weapons. Even the Zakus, as disposable as they are, really have a cool warlike design that endures to this day.

** Gihren Zabi. There's such a charisma and depravity to him that he really stands out as the series's most evil character.

* FanDislikedExplanation: Despite the fact that Amuro decided to pilot the Gundam because ''Fraw Bow convinced him to'', many of them swept away that fact since they ultimately prefer Bright's (infamous) slap as a ''real "helping" hand'' (no pun intended) for him instead, as he said that Amuro "can't be a real man without taking a few lumps".