Mobile Suit Gundam 11: Seed Destiny [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

It was bad enough that the writers decided to make Kira, Athrun, Lacus, Cagalli and the Archangel the Enlightened Saviors of the war loving world again. In turn resulting in Shinn, Lunamaria and the Minerva becoming the poor mis-informed bad guys. However, since this change occured so late in the series it's like the creators didn't know what to do so they stretch out what little of a plot they have left. Plus the flashback montages keep on coming.

The first episode picks up with Shinn and Rey double teaming Kira. Kira basically dodges their attacks and occasionally gets a hit in. Shinn eventually is stopped in his tracks by the voice of Athrun in the Infinite Justice Gundam. Athrun makes him question what he is doing and we get a long montage of old clips, why?! Considering Shinn has shown nothing but contempt for Orb and all those associated with it up until now you'd think he'd have no reservations about attacking it. He should've responeded with something like, "This country's ideals got my family killed and since then it's only shown how corrupt it's become by providing sanctuary to someone like Djirbil. This country will burn!" If they want Shinn to be the bad guy, antagonist the writers should've gone all out and made him firm, acting on his own vendetta. Instead he's nothing but an unquestioning, totally obedient slave to Durandal who if he hears any contradicting words to his orders is lost and unable to do anything. That is until he hears reassuring words from Rey to set him back on course. This is exactly what happens after Shinn hears Athrun's words and simply says, "Shut up, you're nothing but a damn traitor," like he's totally brainwashed. Athrun goes into Seed mode for the first time in Destiny which was way to freakin late. All he does to top that off is destroy Shinn's sword and the two just look at each other. Why couldn't Athrun at least continue to disable the Destiny Gundam to prevent Shinn from doing more harm? Better yet why couldn't Shinn simply respond with another attack full force after taking a hit like he did with Kira in the previous episode? Kira all the while is fighting Rey who he can handle one on one since the Legend Gundam is basically the Providence Gundam with a different paint job. Then Shinn and Rey recieve orders to retreat and the fight is over, yawn! Really if Athrun wanted to convert Shinn he should've gone after Rey who kept putting words in Shinn's ear. Then Shinn could just keep figting Kira who he had no reservations about fighting at all, unlike Athrun who he still cares for a little.

The first episode could've been really good but it wound up being the biggest let down in the series so far. Shinn, Rey and the Minerva are the trump card for ZAFT and Kira, Athrun and the Archangel are the trump card for Orb. If either falls the side they're on looses. However since there are no other major players in the story now with Sting, Auel and Stella dead the writers couldn't figure out what to do to fill the episodes so they have the two factions fight each other with no real conclusion, victor. They got to save that so they can have a plot, fight for the end of the series. Too bad they couldn't introduce new ace pilots from the Earth Forces to fight both Orb and ZAFT or even introduce new Orb Aces just to fight ZAFT. Anyway off my soap box now.

The next episode is a transition one. The plight of two Lacus's is revealed to the world. Lacus with Cagalli at her side tells the world not to trust Durandal. Well even though she knows about the Destiny Plan unless she presents her evidence to the world they have no reason not to trust Durandal. Especially since their bloodlust is still heavily aimed at Logos. Meanwhile Djibril who escaped from Orb fires the mass destruction weapon Requiem at the Plants, killing masses of Coordinators. ZAFT is naturally ready to kick some major butt. What do Kira, Athrun, Lacus and the rest do? Worry about Durandal and his Destiny Plan. Yes Durandal is planning to establish a dictatorship through scheming, but compared to Djibril he's a saint. Oh yeah and lots of Coordinators just died and they don't seem to concerned about that at all! You'd think Athrun who's been pining over everything else up to now would at least be riled up. We learn in detail what the Destiny Plan itself is and I got to say it's over the top. I guess they have to keep Durandal the villian somehow. I didn't expect much from this episode, but it was still irritable.

We get a major battle on the moon in the next episode. Is it any good? Noooo!!! Shinn and Rey basically just take out the same mobile armors and grunt suits all over again. A lot of it was recycled footage from the battle at Heavens Base with outer space inserted in the background since they're on the moon. The only unique thing to come out of it was Lunamaria destroying the control center on her own. The episode ends with the Archangel heading up to space. Cagalli must stay behind and take care of her political duties and I'm not sorry to see her go. On the bright side Neo Roanoke has been given the Akatsuki. While Rey may be a bad guy I share his opinion that the Lacus situation doesn't really matter since she's a celebrity and not ZAFT's leader. I always found it annoying how everyone was ga ga over Lacus just because she was a pop star. When Rey says, "Even if she is the real one does that mean the fake one is always wrong," and we see that brief clip montage it's pretty clear Rey is a clone of you know who. Another lackluster episode.

The last episode is about Kira, Athrun, Lacus and Meyrin confronting the Lacus double Meer. Meer could've been interesting if she had been forced to stay on the Minerva for awhile and interacted with other characters besides Athrun. She was isolated the whole time and wasn't seen much so I didn't care that she bit the big one in the end. Lacus is given some of the lamest, corniest dialogue imaginable. Sometimes she comes off more annoying than Cagalli. An interesting thing is when Lacus gets frustrated at Kira while trying on clothes and says, "You don't care what I wear do you?!" It's the first time you feel like the two of them are a couple. The two of them could easily be passed off as brother and sister since they've only hugged a few times. This disc was overall disapointing but it'll keep you interested enough to want to see the last one.

I have purchased this DVD and also Volume 10 when they were avaiable. Both have defects .At first I thought it was a problem with my DVD player with volume 10.But when I tried to play volume 11 I found out it is not the problem of the DVD player but the DVD itself.I have seven DVD player at home which I bought at different time because I know some old DVD player may not be able to play the latest DVD.This volume 11 has problem with episode 45.All the DVD player could not play this segment including my PC.So potential buyer should see if they want to risk inability to view the product in their DVD player or they should wait for the manufacturer notification that they have fixed the compatibilty problem.

Gundam seed Destiny 1-43 are so Touching and a good story,
I hope the makers of Gundam Seed Destiny would still contiune this
Story,

Cheers,
***BLITZ***