Gundam Seed Volume 5: Archangel's Flight (DVD) - Anime Reviews


	Number of Episodes 5 Language Options English/Japanese/English Subtitles Released by Bandai Entertainment Extras - Gundam Encyclopedia - Textless Opening #2 - TM Revolution “Invoke” Music Video
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Gundam Seed Volume 5: Archangel's Flight (DVD)

After a final pitched battle in the desert, the Archangel must begin to make her way to the Federation base at Alaska. Cagali and Kisaka decide to accompany them, although no one is sure why. En route, they are attacked numerous times by ZAFT maritime mobile suits. The Strike, which can’t operate well underwater, is at a distinct disadvantage.

During the battle, Cagalli’s Skygrasper is shot down and she lands on a deserted island. But Athrun has also crash-landed there. Cagalli takes an instant dislike to Athrun, who doesn’t seem to care. The war just became personal.

Finally, with an exhausted crew and badly damaged ship, the Archangel reaches the neutral nation of Orb. They think that they are safe, but how long will it last?

The Desert Tiger seems like a nice enough of a guy… if he wasn’t planning on killing everyone and blowing up the Archangel. But don’t let his smile deceive you, everything that has happened up to this point has been orchestrated much like the Desert Fox, Rommel, and his coming attack may blow away everyone.

Episode 21: The End of the Sandstorm

Both sides are now preparing for the inevitable conflict – the Desert Tiger has been issued new pilots: Dearka and Yzak; and the Commander reads Yzak’s temperament and state of mind perfectly. They are going to be attached to this battle group temporarily along with their personal mobile suits. For the Earth Forces side, the rebels are all moving out to prepare to help escort the Archangel to safety and every one else is getting ready in their own way. The battle begins with the ZAFT forces springing the minefield that the rebels had prepared, and then moving in with part of their main force; one of their other capital ships will move in later to complete a pincer move. With the intense battle, La Flaga is going to try and defend against smaller targets while Kira engages the BuCues. Unfortunately for him, the Desert Tiger has decided to join in on the mission and will pilot his personal BuCue.

With the start of the battle, the number of ZAFT forces available is forcing the defense close to the Archangel and the carrier is taking quite a few hits. Once the second capital ship arrives to complete the pincer, the situation doesn’t look good especially with Kira tied up fighting the enemy BuCues. Cagalli leaves the battle momentarily to run to the flight deck of the Archangel – jumping into the 2^nd Skygrasper, she flies to the air and helps reduce the number of enemies and forces the other capital ship to keep its’ distance. With the sudden opening, the Archangel is finally able to get a clean shot on one of the capital ships and hull her. The loss of a capital ship causes the Desert Tiger to order a complete retreat, but he intends to finish his fight with Kira. Despite both pilots being low on energy, the Desert Tiger

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presses on and Kira cannot keep his armor active and must attack with only his dagger. The attack is effective though, he kills the Desert Tiger but he is not happy with killing yet another person.

Episode 22: The Sea Dyed Red

After their victory, the Archangel and the rebels celebrate their survival, and the crew of the ship just became larger with Cagalli and her handler deciding to come aboard. Now able to escape to

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the ocean, the Archangel has made way to the Indian Ocean. Having the sea underneath has made the top deck a popular visiting place, and Kira decides to spend some of his free time up there. Being alone however, brings back the voices of those he’s lost and he begins crying again. Cagalli walks in on him and despite her gruff nature, she comforts him and once he’s calmed down, they finally have a chance to talk. After a decent chat, Flay finds him talking to Cagalli and so she interjects herself on Kira and Cagalli finds the situation uncomfortable and leaves.

Le Creuset has chosen his next group to attack the Archangel, an undersea team. The Commander of the team moves to attack the ship with a group of GOOhN suits (which specialize in underwater combat) while another force attacks on the surface with Dinns. This is a bad situation, as Kira has not been able to modify the Strike to either fly above water. With this attack from both sides, Kira is forced to improvise, he grabs a bazooka and begins diving underneath the water to target the GOOhN suits. Despite his limited mobility under the water, he’s able to get a bead on the two suits and sink them. On the surface, the ship’s gunners and La Flaga are able to suppress the Dinns and defeat the attackers. Back at the PLANTs, Nicol and Athrun board their ship and are preparing to head to Earth for Operation Spit Break.

Episode 23: Fateful Encounter

Athrun and Nicol make their atmospheric entry into Earth and link up with the ZAFT forces being led by Le Creuset. He must remain at the headquarters planning Operation Spit Break, but Dearka and Yzak want to sink the Archangel. Le Creuset agrees and wants to keep the group attacking the ship, so he creates a new group of the four suits and names Athrun the leader of this team. The Archangel continues along towards Alaska, but they still have not seen the capital ship that launched the attack. La Flaga believes that it is most likely a submarine, and believes that they should counter-attack once they have the chance or else it will follow them the entire time. Flay has become sea-sick and is not the best patient and so Kira is doing his best to care for her. At ZAFT headquarters, the Zala Team prepares to depart with transport carrying their suits out to their new base; unfortunately Athrun’s is delayed and so he is separated from his team.

ZAFT forces from the Carpenteria (the sub) renew their attack on the Archangel using the same attack pattern – Dinn and GOOhNs but the Commander is using his personal suit this time: the ZhO (which looks like an underwater Zaku II with claws). Kira has launched in Sword Strike and has gone underwater to defend against the GOOhNs. Cagalli has raised a stink on the launch bay about not being allowed to sortie in the other Skygrasper – and with her argument, La Flaga agrees and she is allowed to launch. La Flaga and Cagalli are going to try and control the skies while Kira handles the underwater threat. Unfortunately, with his lack of ranged weapons under water – Kira isn’t exactly a dangerous threat and the Commander in his ZhO orders his GOOhNs to continue the attack on the Archangel while he fights the Strike. In the skies, La Flaga is able to find the submarine and launch an attack against it, but the inexperienced Cagalli is more hindrance than help in the skies and she ends up being damaged in the fighting. La Flaga orders her to return, and while she becomes disoriented and cannot find the Archangel. She does come across Athrun’s transport and she engages it; the pilots eject Athrun and his suit and manage to shoot down Cagalli just as she downs the transport. The Archangel is able to defeat the GOOhNs thanks to some excellent piloting – a barrel roll to use their upper guns to shoot down their attackers; Kira is finally able to pierce the ZhO with his sword; and La Flaga clears the skies.

Cagalli crashes Skygrasper and lands near a small uninhabited island and she comes across Athrun and his mobile suit. Taking initiative, she fires on him (he accidentally drops his ‘kit with his service revolver) and wounds him, but he’s not caught yet.

Episode 24: War for Two

Cagalli and Athrun battle for dominance on the island, but despite her advantage in firepower, Athrun’s mobility and guts allow him to take control. He manages to disarm her and tie her up, while he tries to contact the base. On board the Archangel, the Captain has decided to have Kira search for Cagalli despite the arguments from Lieutenant Natarle, but has decided on a 2-hour search window. On the ZAFT side, Yzak is now temporarily in command in Athrun’s absence and declares that they will begin the search in the morning.

Through the night, Athrun has left Cagalli untied and the two talk about their stances in the war. Neither can bend the other to their opinion, and the conversation ends with Athrun falling asleep from his atmospheric re-entry and long day. Despite the situation, Cagalli doesn’t want to surrender control and she stares intently at Athrun’s sidearm. Kira has been searching desperately and when he returns to base to refuel, he is dragged out of his Gundam by La Flaga who insists that he must rest.

In the middle of the night, Cagalli finally decides to move against Athrun and she is able to take possession of the pistol. She claims that she doesn’t want to hurt Athrun, but wants to prevent him from killing people with the mobile suit. He responds that if she wants to prevent the suit from killing anyone, she should kill him. She cannot and throws the gun away, injuring Athrun. Feeling sorry for what she did, she bandages his wounds. The next morning, Athrun is able to get a communication from Nicol and they are going to send help immediately, at the same time, La Flaga and Kira see the distress beacon and are heading towards the island. So both Cagalli and Athrun agree to head back without turning in the other to the enemy.

Episode 25: Land of Peace

The Zala Team has launched a serious attack against the Archangel, and the pressed assault is wearing on the damaged ship. Already damaged from numerous skirmishes, the additional missile and beam hits are piling on. Despite the valiant fighting of Kira and La Flaga, it appears desperate and the Archangel may be sunk. Cagalli rushes on the bridge and tells the captain to head towards the neutral waters of Orb – she reveals that she is the daughter of the chairman and orders the guards to not fire on them. One moment later, the attack is successful in knocking out both engines of the Archangel and she goes down into the territorial waters of Orb. The boarder guards open fire on the ship and force the ZAFT pursuers away.

Once the enemy has been forced away, the Orb forces bring the downed ship to a hidden repair yard and allow the Archangel to effect repairs on her damaged hull. Orb then issues the statement that they have sent the Archangel away, thus the ZAFT forces have no repercussions against the neutral nation. The Chairman meets with the command staff of the Archangel to discuss the situation. For the time being, the nation of Orb has offered protection while the repairs are being done, but they request assistance from Kira to help with their mobile suit program… and so it all comes to the captain, who must decide what to do. The Zala Team has made their move as well, they’ve infiltrated the nation to look for the Archangel.

This disc of Gundam Seed has flowed much better than the last few, the action and drama have been better portioned and you start to get a feeling of progress in the storyline for each episode. Much better disc, the show is finally starting to hit its’ groove.

- Tazman

(September 25, 2005)

"Is he going to be able to move? Because if I woke up looking like that, I'd head towards the nearest living thing and kill it."

- Master Shake (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)

Related Links:

Anime: Gundam Seed Vol. 4 (DVD)

Anime: Gundam Seed Vol. 3 (DVD)


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