Spanning five decades and fifteen different series, Gundam is a beloved manga and anime, and the latest installment is breaking new ground. The Witch From Mercury (which is streaming now on Crunchyroll) is the only franchise show led by a female character and after watching the first episode, fans now know it’s the first queer one as well.
The official show description reads:
“In the year (Ad Stella) 122: An era in which a multitude of corporations have entered space and built a huge economic system. A lone girl from the remote planet of Mercury transfers to the Asticassia School of Technology, run by the Beneritt Group which dominates the mobile suit industry. Her name is Suletta Mercury. With a scarlet light burning in her pure heart, this girl walks step by step through a new world.”
Spoilers for episode one ahead…
In “The Witch and the Bride”, Suletta meets Guel and Miorine, an engaged couple. Suletta finds herself drawn to Miorine and notices Guel’s casual cruelty toward her. She decides to challenge him to a duel for Suletta’s freedom. But Miorine says she’s sick of people making decisions for her and decides to pilot her Gundam herself. Since she doesn’t have much experience, she loses the battle. With Suletta’s win, Miorine is officially free from Guel, but then Suletta informs her of the other part of their agreement: she has won her hand in marriage.
“But I’m a woman,” says Miorine.
“I guess Mercury is rather conservative,” replies Suletta nonchalantly. “That sort of thing is commonplace here. Nice to meet you, my groom.”
Tweet: https://twitter.com/Erivlt/status/1576733002003935233
As Gizmodo points out, “The casual nature of its queerness is surprising for a franchise as old as Gundam. Nothing is played for comedy, and although Suletta is initially shocked, it’s made clear she is drawn to Miorine throughout the episode, and Miorine is likewise as accepting of her “groom” regardless of their gender.”
The episode just premiered on Sunday, October 2nd, so fans can’t wait to see where the series is headed next.
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