[Spoiler Warning] Review and Discussion of Requiem for Vengeance.

Spoiler from here on out;

So! Episode 1 was kinda rough, with some off animations and voice acting, but the moment the Gundam EX shows up, everything because pretty fun, pretty quick! The designs of the show have been a little controversial, but it clicks together well in motion and on screen. We found ourselves quickly invested, laughing how effectively the EX acted as a veritable White Devil. The first episode ends in a cliffhanger, and while we weren't impressed exactly, we had a fun time.

Episode 2 introduces us to some new characters, and them trying to figure out how to escape the Gundam. From here on out, animations, voice acting, and whatnot improve, and the show becomes... good? We were pleasantly surprised! We enjoyed the arc where, starting in Episode 3, they have to rebuild 2 scrapworks Zaku II's while dealing with a contentious Major; he ends up being rather likeable and has some of the most solid motivations in the show, since while at first he seems like your typical, overly pretentious Zeon officer, he's really just trying to keep the men and civilians under his command alive. Episode 4 is a follow up to Episode 3, features a 2v2, results in the Major's shit getting blown up, and has a cameo of an 08th MS Team character. We really were feeling it by the this point!

Episode 5 is probably the best episode by far, with an infiltration mission gone wrong. We learn the Gundam Pilot is a kid (SHOCK, I KNOW) who the main protagonist resonates with; since she's a mother, she really doesn't want to kill this kid; her son's around the same age. Animation was polished up, voice acting was mostly good now; it seems like everything was going the right direction to this point, and this would be a mostly positive review.

Until Episode 6, the finale.

The Gundam Pilot and MC do a classic "argue about motives" debate while fighting through Odessa. An HLV that gets shot down has its debris rain all over the battlefield, and the Gundam EX Pilot saves the MC; just as they're about to agree to not fight, a Gouf Custom kills the EX with its Heat Saber, crushing the MC's heart, since they had just, in their mind, managed to resolve this conflict without killing the child soldier Gundam Pilot.

Unfortunately, she, for some reason, abandons her dream of reuniting with her son, which has been her stated goal for the entire series, to be a ZEON REMNANT to fight against the EFF so that "no one has to be a child soldier anymore." This comes out of absolutely nowhere, makes no sense either for her nor in general, and ruins what was honestly a pretty fun ride. I'd happily recommend this show if it weren't for the last minute or two. The cruel tragedy of the EX Pilot getting killed was a fitting ending for me, but it's absolutely spoiled by the ending narration. :/

What are your thoughts?