Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX episode 1 started with a statement and ended with a question.
The latest entry of Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, started on Tuesday, 10 April 2025. The anime series, set in an alternate timeline of the Universal Century, showed why it was one of the most awaited anime by mecha fans this season. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX was gorgeous to look at; from the characters to the mobile suits, all their details were presented exceptionally.
Most notable, however, were the mobile suits--thanks to Studio Khara, which brought its expertise from the Evangelion series. Previously, Mobile Suit Gundam's mechas were known to be boxy at worst, and stocky at best. They didn't have the human-like features that robots from Evangelion had, as they were presented as weapons.
That trend continued even when they had different animation leads. Gundams like G-Self, Aerial Gundam, Freedom Gundam, or 00 Gundam which weren't based on the Universal Century setting, yet still had the same feel as Gundams from that timeline.
However, Gundam GQuuuuuuX, or more known as the Red Gundam, didn't follow that trend--making it more of an EVA-like robot than the standard Mobile Suit. While many will feel that the modern designs aren't like the familiar Gundams, the suits are a gateway to finally establishing an alternate reality where Zeon won the war. In this way, the designs establish a different feel from the original timeline. I mean, just look at these gorgeous Zakus:
Another thing that Sunrise did great for the first episode is the storytelling. They didn't bother to explain what happened during the Universal Century timeline, which may bore first-time viewers with unnecessarily long exposition. Instead, they just let the world tell the story by itself. Clues were spread across the backgrounds and interactions between characters, while tidbits of lore were given as references for newcomers and as easter eggs for longtime fans.
However, I did feel that the pacing was a little rushed, as they wanted to make the first episode tell as many stories as possible in such a short time (more on that later). At one point, the scene was at school, and then it was suddenly nighttime, although you can't tell if it's nighttime or not for colony dwellers. One plot device was introduced while another was still in introduction, making it an overload of information for keen watchers.
So, how did the first episode go? Well, to put it simply, it did the job well as a prologue for the second episode. Here's what I think about the first episode of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. With that said:
Spoiler warning: Major plot points ahead
Let's get the beginning!
Is it safe? Okay. So, the first episode of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX started with what could be called a work dispute between two people inside their respective Zakus. While fighting, a horn sounded from what could be seen as a Pegasus-class battleship, more known as the White Base in Mobile Suit Gundam. However, the ship was colored in Zeon's green and, from the reference given by the Gundam X account, is now called the Sodon--not to be confused of course with the Sodon from the original timeline.
In the original timeline, the ship was in final testing when it was docked at Side 7, the colony where Gundam was developed. It can be safely assumed that Zeon successfully stole it from Side 7 and made it their own. Inside the ship were the crew and one of the more familiar names from the original Gundam, Chalia Bull, who had now been promoted to lieutenant colonel from captain. He said one ominous line that can blow anybody that knows Gundam away: “A red Gundam”.
Red in Gundam could only mean one thing: Char Aznable. He was the only person in the original Universal Century timeline who proudly wore the colour red. Viewers were shown a glimpse of what the Gundam could do as he decapitated one Military Zaku and rushed to another with the agility that reminded Gundam fans of the Red Comet himself.
In the next scene, we were introduced to the protagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: Amate Yuzuriha, who was reading a text message from an unknown person that wrote: “Let's get the beginning!” She replied, asking who it was, but no reply was given, as she rushed to get out of the train before it took off again. While she was done tapping out of the station gate, she was tackled by Nyaan, the second protagonist of the series, who tried to escape from the station security. This marked the first time the two protagonists met.
She then proceeded to the school and showed off her athleticism to the viewers by hand-standing beside the pool and jumping into it. After that, she realised that her phone was broken after the clash and was now in possession of the thing that Nyaan carried. While Amate suspected it was a bomb, she quickly dismissed it as she searched the serial number on the web. After she completed the search, it was revealed to be an installer device (or installer key in the EN dub) for a civilian mobile suit that enabled it to enter battle mode, a system that had been restricted for obvious reasons.
The Red Gundam
Back in the Sodon, ensign Comoli, a crew member of the ship, asked Chalia was it really the real Char Aznable. The lieutenant colonel replied by testing the ensign knowledge regarding the Red Comet. The ensign said that he was rumoured to be the son of Zeon Deikun, the founder of the Principality of Zeon. She also mentioned that Char was Chalia's friend, or to be precise, his MAV. However, she also mentioned that she didn't believe any of it. Chalia mentioned that Kycilia, who can be assumed as Kycilia Zabi, had a different idea than the ensign and that's why the ship was tasked to hunt the Red Gundam.
Chalia then gave the command to send the gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX, equipped with the Omega Psycommu, out with Ensign Xavier Olivette, a Newtype and the best alumni from Flanagan School, as the assigned pilot. In the original timeline, Flanagan Institute was a research center focusing on developing Newtypes and weapons compatible with them. In GQuuuuuuX, it seemed that the institute was changed into a school but still has the same function.
Ensign Comoli was shocked to hear that Chalia had given permission to use Omega Psycommu, which had never been used in combat. The ship's captain also reminded him that the Gundam was borrowed with the condition that it wouldn't use the Psycommu. Both Comoli and the captain also mentioned that if it were out of control and caused a Zeknova, they all would face vice admiral M'Quve's (that's right! He has been promoted from colonel) military tribunal.
Xavier also reminded Chalia that this was his first battle, to which the lieutenant colonel assured the ensign that he was the best in the class and a new type. Xavier then sortied out with Gundam GQuuuuuuX.
The story then went back to Amate, after school was over, waiting for the traffic light to turn green while “Midnight Reflection” by NOMELON NOLEMON played in the background. She was being followed by Nyaan, who wanted to steal back the installer device from our red-haired protagonist. While it looked like she succeeded in stealing it back, it turned out to be a book with the tracking device on it. Amate then showed up with the installer device in her hands while Nyaan was hiding behind the shrine.
Amate noticed the device's presence and threw it into the air. Nyaan tried to catch the device and showed herself. Before she could catch it, Amate intercepted it by jumping over her and standing on top of the shrine lamp. She then tried to get an explanation from Nyaan and asked if she was a terrorist, an accusation which Nyaan denied, divulging instead that she was a courier. She then said the installer device was for Clan Battle, a dangerous and unsanctioned mobile suit battle between two clans. Amate then lost her balance and fell onto Nyaan.
The GQuuuuuuX in action
The story returned to space, where Xavier tracked down and fought the Red Gundam. The Gundam's movement, combined with the bits, outpaced and outclassed the Flanagan School alumni. Xavier then tried to use the Omega Psycommu, but the device wouldn't activate, showing that Xavier had failed the authentication process. He then tackled the Red Gundam into the colony.
Returning to Amate and Nyaan's perspectives, the two girls arrived at the package destination and met the person who requested the installer device. They were participants in the Clan Battle and demanded the item. Amate then observed the place and found the hidden Zaku by the window. However, their meeting was interrupted by a sudden shake.
The Red Gundam and GQuuuuuuX entered the colony from Xavier's tackle. They continued the fight in the colony, and neither used their beam weapon as there were too many civilians in the area. However, the shake alerted the military police, and they rushed to the location. Xavier, who noticed the arrival of the MP, retreated using smoke as his cover. The Red Gundam did the same.
When the MP arrived they ransacked the slum as they were illegal in their eyes, doing so without any remorse for the refugees. Amate, annoyed by the MP, tried to fight back against them by stealing the installer device and the clan's Zaku. After putting the device in, she tried to control the Zaku but failed because she didn't have the required knowledge and will. The MP easily dispatched Amate's Zaku and kicked it into the decommisioned maintenance tunnel, where Xavier and Gundam GQuuuuuuX hid.
The Military Police followed the Zaku and also found GQuuuuuuX. While he was surprised to see the Gundam, his attention was more on Xavier, a Zeon pilot, who asked what he was doing in Side 6, a neutral colony. Xavier then tried to explain the situation before Amate hit the gas and charged the Military Police's Zaku. She then stole the Gundam GQuuuuuuX, although was confused on how to activate it. However, to her surprise, the Omega Psycommu reacted to her, confirming she was a Newtype.
Chalia and the crew of Sodon noticed the activation of Omega Psycommu. However, they didn't know who activated it and assumed it was Xavier. Back to the Colony, the GQuuuuuuX was now automatically reacted to any attack and countered the military police, even when Amate didn't react. The GQuuuuuuX eliminated one Zaku while the other arrived and pushed the Gundam into a corner. The bullet from the MP, however, opened the emergency hatch and threw the GQuuuuuuX into space.
While in space, Amate had difficulties controlling the GQuuuuuuX. However, she finally awakened her Newtype power, which she described as “kira-kira” or sparkly, and met with the Red Gundam. She then suddenly understood how to control the GQuuuuuuX even without prior knowledge and quickly disabled the MP's Zaku. The story ended with Chalia saying that it wasn't Char Aznable inside the Red Gundam.
Who's inside the Red Gundam?
Episode one of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX left the viewers with so many questions. Who was the person inside the Red Gundam? Why did the Omega Psycommu react to Amate but not Xavier? What was a Zeknova? Why did the Red Gundam suddenly appear? While it gave so many questions from just one episode, it did one thing perfectly: hooking the viewer to continue watching the series.
The official account of GQuuuuuuX has already spoiled the answer for the pilot inside the Red Gundam. However, the rest is still a mystery even after watching the prologue movie.
One suspicion I had regarding why Omega Psycommu reacted to Amate but not Xavier was that it was the alternate-timeline version of Bio-Sensor from Zeta Gundam or ZZ Gundam. Bio-Sensor was a Psycommu device that pilots with high Newtype aptitude could activate. This meant that Amate had higher Newtype aptitude than Xavier Olivette.
The next episode will retell how Char stole the Gundam in Side 7, marking the first time we saw Char and young Chalia Bull in the series. It would be interesting to see what Char would do with the Gundam (besides painting it red), as he tended to push the suits he drove to overdrive.
