English Dub Review: Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans “Natural for a Human”

It’s not UNNATURAL to be loved by anyone!…wait, that’s not the line.

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Orga looks over Naze’s casket, though we learn it’s empty. They couldn’t get his body back from Gjallerhorn or the Hammerhead ship, so the funeral will more symbolic than anything. Jasley takes issue with them having a funeral at all, considering the Turbine’s became wanted criminals in the end, but McMurdo puts his foot down. He’s still the boss around here, and Naze was a dear friend even at the end, so he gets a good send off. Not that he’s forgotten that this whole situation reeks of foul play. Taking the hint, Jasley realizes his options are narrowing, and he needs to make McMurdo see he’s the only option for succeeding him left. But first, there’s the matter of dealing with Tekkadan as Naze’s loose ends.

The ceremony is a small and intimate one, with emotions running high. Jasley considers this a good time to stop by and start talking shit with his goons. Basically, the only thing worse he could’ve done is somehow pull in Naze’s corpse and start dry humping it in front of everyone. Luckily, we’re spared that, though Orga and the rest aren’t about to take this shit lying down. Meanwhile, Mikazuki, Atra, and Hush are taking all kinds of shit dealing with Naze’s kids, and McMurdo assures Azee, Lafter, and Eco that they’ll still be safely employed as per Naze’s last request, though they won’t be doing escort missions or dealing arms to make sure they can lay low from the fuzz. After the meeting, Azee tells Lafter that she can now go to Tekkaden if she wants, not-so-subtly pointing her towards Akihiro specifically.

Iok reports back to Rustal regarding his recent victory. He’s feeling pretty good about senselessly killing a guy who surrendered several times, but Rustal pops his smug bubble to inform him that this has given McGillis the ammo he needs to investigate the illegal weapon Iok took and potentially use it against him and Rustal. Not very orderly or restraint-like.

Back at the Saisei, the boys are chomping at the bit to go after whoever might’ve caused this, but Orga holds them back, saying Naze wouldn’t have wanted this, and it would only cause more trouble for the girls. Speak of the devil, Lafter shows up to classily ask Akihiro out, though it goes right over his meathead until Shino and Eugene fill him in. They head to the bar Tekkadan went to when they first joined Teiwaz, though it’s not a super cheery date. Lafter’s just lost two of the most important people in her life, people who saved her from an awful, depressing existence and made her feel like a person again. Akihiro relates wholeheartedly, noting he only felt like himself when he joined Tekkadan, who didn’t treat him like Human Debris. They commiserate a bit more, but in the end, Lafter decides to stay with the girls and carry on Naze’s legacy. With one last big hug, it’s goodbye.

Orga mulls over Naze’s last words to him about only worrying about his family and no one else, while Mika nonchalantly asks Atra to have a baby with him, which naturally freaks her out. Jasley, however, is tired of waiting for them to retaliate after all the trolling he’s done, so he decides to push them there himself.

We then cut to Lafter out shopping and…wait a…no no No NO NO NOOOOO MY HEART’S NOT READY PLEASE LORD NOOOOOOOOO

But ready or not, the first shot is taken, as one of Jasley’s men guns down Lafter as she’s picking out an angry teddy bear. You just HAD to have a flashback, didn’t you…

Word spreads fast, and blame is immediately pointed at Jasley, all but confirmed by reports of him going to McMurdo and requesting to take control of the Turbine girls himself. McMurdo, having more decency in his left molar than all of Jasley’s group put together, refused, but the tide seems to be turning in Jasley’s favor. There’s no reason to hold back now, as both sides prepare to wipe the other side out completely. Orga contacts McGillis and they connect the dots linking Jasley to Iok and Rustal, but McGillis is on their side regardless. That’s certainly a plus, but even if this works, they won’t be able to rely on Teiwaz, so Tekkadan’s fate after this will be entirely in McGillis’ hands.

Though for now, that’ll have to do. The final preparations are made, the Barbatos Lupus Rex is ready to kick ass, and Mika asks Orga how far he should take this.

To the end, Orga says. Crush them all. Until nothing’s left but dust.

OUR TAKE

We’ve passed through the eye of the storm, now comes the next wave, and it starts with a bang. Lafter’s death is even more sudden and tragic right after Naze’s and Amida’s, and the lines between friend and foe have been thoroughly drawn. Now, however, taking action for their fallen comrades is going to cost Tekkadan their more reliable alliance, and relying solely on McGillis’ bid for the head of Gjallerhorn. Teiwaz is essentially the Space Mafia, but a hopeful candidate for president of the secret police (not to mention one who has turned on all of his closest friends to get even THIS far) is not the basket you want to be counting all your eggs in.

Though these are the decisions one has to make to protect their family. Besides Naze’s advice to Orga about looking after Tekkadan, I’m reminded of only a handful of episodes ago when Takaki left the group to look after his sister. The concept and definition of “family” has been an ever-present theme in this series, and previously Tekkaden’s way of letting someone out was meant to be a sign of sparing them further hardship. Now, however, it’s a way of identifying an enemy. Teiwaz has helped Tekkadan through quite a bit, but they aren’t family, especially if they allow things like this to happen. How this will shape out later is unclear (at least for people like me who haven’t seen the subbed version of this show) but the message is clear: If you aren’t with us, you’re our enemy, and enemies die.

With that all said, while I am riveted by this week’s developments and am eager to see as things escalate, I feel the need to bring up the unfortunate execution of Lafter’s…well, execution. It was heart-wrenching to watch (even with the cliché way it was framed with her having an introspective flashback followed by being left alone in an innocent setting to offset her tragic fate), but it seems to fit the diagnoses of a trope known as Women in Refrigerators, or “Fridging” to use it as a verb. To put it simply, it is typically the act of killing, maiming, or depowering female characters solely to act as a device to motivate male characters to act. Lafter’s death fits this annoyingly well, as she’s gunned down with no notice or chance to defend herself and then used as the tipping point to propel Tekkadan into battle. What’s worse is putting this right next to Naze and Amida’s deaths, which were complete with their own agency in mind and because of their own actions. The way Lafter is taken out is effective in his sharpness and emotional delivery, but I truly believe a character as fleshed out as he deserved a far better send off.

Score
7/10