Episode
                  48: Take Off Into Confusion 
                  Airing Date
                  2000-05-10

                 
            If war is truly a confusing place then this is one aptly named 
            episode. "Take Off Into Confusion" runs from one side of the battle 
            to the other and back again so swiftly that it's hard at times to 
            realize where the characters are or what exactly is going on. 
            Overall, we're given some majestic shots of the battle from afar and 
            there's definitely no shortage of action. Still, a little bit of 
            narration (which is the norm for this series) would've helped place 
            the comings and goings in a more clear frame. The highlights are 
            fast and furious so stay with me, Gundam heads. 
            Quatre makes his way into the Libra's Mobile Doll control room where 
            Dorothy (wearing her Zero System helmet) challenges him to a sword 
            fight. Old twigbrows is so into the inherent drama that when she 
            runs Quatre right through center, we're not sure if she's happy or 
            sad. Worse still, we're not sure if Quatre's dead or just 
            unconscious. It's a scary moment that leaves us wanting more. 
            Duo, who located the five original Gundam scientists in the previous 
            episode, agrees to escort them to the Peacemillion. The brainiacs, 
            looking to redeem themselves for designing the Libra, have pledged 
            to assist Howard and the rest of Peacemillion's crew in destroying 
            the hated space fortress. 
            This is where things get a little confusing because Duo seems to be 
            in two places at the same time. One minute he's with the scientists, 
            then he's back in his Gundam suit attacking some Mobile Dolls and 
            chatting with Trowa, then he's right back with the scientists again 
            escorting them to the Peacemillion. Either my synapses aren't 
            clicking or this guy moves at the speed of light. 


                  Now that I'm dead, I wonder why I liked this jacket so much. 
            In other big news, Chang Wufei engages in a heated battle with 
            Treize Khushrenada. It's kind of strange, to be honest, because 
            neither takes the offensive -- they both block more shots than go 
            for the jugular. Once Wufei does finally deliver a death blow, he's 
            immediately sorrowful. He's helpless to watch as Treize's Tallgeese 
            MS explodes, taking one well-dressed leader of planet Earth with it. 
            Lady Une, now seemingly in command of the entire Earth Forces, sends 
            a message to the Libra that Earth surrenders. Again, maybe this is 
            just me, but I don't think old Treize would've wanted it that way. 
            Anybody wanna check his will to make sure? 
            Zechs points the Libra toward Earth and sets the fortress on a 
            collision course. When it hits ground, the result will be a nuclear 
            winter that'll never end. Meanwhile, in soap opera-ville, Heero 
            parts with Relena in order to engage her brother Zechs in a duel to 
            the death. The two reluctant lovebirds put their heads together and 
            promise to trust each other. I guess in the future a goodbye kiss 
            would be considered too retro, huh? Which leaves us with one, final 
            Gundam Wing episode. Par for the course, we want more. 

            --Ross Brooks hates golfing terms. A birdie flies, Bogey is a movie 
            star and Par is where Star Trek comes from. Understood?