Gundam SEED Destiny 42

Lunamaria Hawke: Shinn's Destiny took that golden commander-type mobile suit down a few pegs but was interrupted by the return of Freedom. Rey later got him to return to the Minerva to recharge and resupply. I wanted to join him and Rey in battle but Rey said that, right now, I am a distraction to Shinn and will cause him to lose.

Gundam SEED Destiny 41

Another recap episode. No new Lunamaria scenes. Bleah. The only new stuff like changes to the OP, the ED Zaku! Zaku!! campaign and GSD 42 preview has already been covered and screencapped, with his usual verve and efficiency, by Omni.

I will just conveniently use the structure of this episode to discuss some concepts in international relations theory which GSD brings out quite well. There is nothing original about this, of course. In my undergrad days, there was a conference on the influence and uses of popular culture in international relations theorising and one of my profs' papers was on how technology can radically change political norms, imagined through the sci-fi novels of Iain M. Banks. I would love to be able to do something like that with anime one day and am hopeful that Prof Matt Thorn will continue to pave the way.

Gundam SEED Destiny 40

Lunamaria Hawke: For my efforts at Heaven's Base, I got a medal! But since I was playing third fiddle with a hand-me-down Gundam, I was still behind Rey (who was awarded the same medal as me and inducted into FAITH) and Shinn (awarded the Nebula medal and inducted into FAITH). Then shocking news that Djibril had been sighted in Orb. Things came full ciricle, since our descent down to Earth after trying to break apart Junius 7, with the Minerva joining the attacking force. On his own authority, Shinn launched into battle.

Gundam SEED Destiny 39

Lunamaria Hawke: Hardly any screen time for me in this episode. Rey told us that Djibril had escaped from Heaven's Base, abandoning his fellow Logos members and that it wouldn't be so easy to end the fighting. Shinn flared up and seemed just a bit too determined to crush the rest of Logos and their supporters.

Gundam SEED Destiny 38

Lunamaria Hawke: Before the battle, I told Shinn that I don't blame Meyrin or Athrun. That it was really Logos' fault. I didn't say it but I think he knew I didn't really blame him. After having comforted me, it was my turn to comfort him. And we kissed. He promised to protect Impulse always. We launch after Heaven's Base caught us off guard with a pre-emptive missile strike, launching five X1-Destroys and then destroying our orbital drop reinforcements with an anti-air radiation weapon. Shinn told us that the Destroys' weakness was against melee and we destroyed them, leading to the surrender of Heaven's Base.

Gundam SEED Destiny 17

Lunamaria Hawke: I try to talk some sense in Shinn. Athrun had the right and the authority to give him a tight slap but Shinn just told me to can it. That boy!!! And has Meyrin been trying on my miniskirt!?

Gundam SEED Destiny 16

Lunamaria Hawke: The Minerva is attacked on the Indian Ocean. Athrun took command of our airborne mobile suits, i.e. Saviour and Shinn's Impulse, against Chaos and 30 Windams. Rey and I were sent to fight the sub-marine threat of Abyss. I got hit by one of Abyss' torpedoes but no serious damage. However although Athrun and Shinn managed to destroy all but one of the Windams and Chaos, Abyss destroyed our submarine escort. Shinn found a EA base and laid waste to it after seeing civilians being shot by EA troops despite Athrun's orders to focus on the mission at hand. Shinn's heroic euphoria evaporated when he got slapped and told off by a newly assertive Athrun.

Gundam SEED Destiny 15

Lunamaria Hawke: Athrun returns to the Minerva with the Saviour. He's rejoined ZAFT and has been assigned to the top elite FAITH! He seemed a bit out of sorts and was really shocked when he heard that Cagalli-san is getting married to some weird guy. Anyway he let me sit in Saviour's cockpit and have a good look at all the controls!

Gundam SEED Destiny 14

Zyl: No Lunamaria in this episode. Bleah. But new OP and ED. Screencaps ahoy!

Gundam SEED Destiny 13

Lunamaria Hawke: Shinn returned to much acclaim. I conjectured that he just snapped and went berserk. Rey came and said some weird stuff. He's a strange one, that guy.