Composed of four episodes, each around twenty minutes long, Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt's first season details the reliant behaviour of those in war; and how many go through extreme lengths in order to perform better in their space battles, all for a thrill.
I'm relatively new to the Gundam world, and I recently dived in while searching for something to fill in the cyberpunk void, but thus far, Thunderbolt appears to be a mixture of all-out mecha action and mixed with the wonderful jazz that made Cowboy Bebop the amazing show it is.
Thunderbolt's protagonist is young, with a thirst for war, although he seems haunted by his simple childhood; especially given he lost both of his legs in a war. There's not all that much he can do outside of pilot a mecha--the mecha gives him the functionality that he no longer has with his real body, so he's connected to the job.
There's a darker meaning to the character's actions and thoughts outside of the jazz played alongside the destruction and deaths of pilots and mechas, which almost makes those moments that more bittersweet; it's displaying the popularisation of war and killing, associating such calamities with a calm, relaxing genre of music--something we already see today. It reminds one of Sun Tzu's The Art of War, which is quite self-explanatory.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt feels like an homage to the artistic perception of war, to those who actively partake in it. It's their life. Their creation.
Thanks for the review! I just finished watching MSG: Iron Blood Orphans, which was also well done, if seriously dark as it deals with child soldiers. I may have to try checking out Thunderbolt soon!
I'll have to check Iron Blood Orphans out. I really like the dark tone of Thunderbolt because of that extra layer of narrative that justifies all the cool action scenes. It shows there really is motive behind character's actions and not just action for the sake of action.
I'm right there with you! There's still lighthearted silliness at times, but the underlying story and character building intertwines interplanetary politics, mercenaries, and the economy and psychology of war that these kids are living and trying to survive in. So not just another mindless action show!
It feels good to finally have all these series within the Gundam universe to check out, after all these years of neglecting it.
If you know of any others I should check out, go crazy, please!