G White | Bedford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom | 12/13/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"On the technical side of things, the menus are exactly the same as last time only with footage from this volume's eps sprinkled in. We get another informative Mechanical File, as well as the music video for the opening song 'Invoke'. The video is...interesting. I personally found I could only watch it once because it was just too silly. For those interested, it is completly unnconnected to the show. Sadly, Bandai will give us this exact same extra in later volumes.
Volume 2 picks up from exactly where the first volume closed- after making their way to their allies Artemis space fortress, the Archangel crew hope for time to regroup and plan their next move. But the crew's bad luck strikes again when their supposed allies reveal plans to confiscate the Strike for their own use. Further problems plague the crew later when they're forced to resort to desperate means after their already low supply of food and water begins to run out. In solving this problem, a new face appears on the ship- Lacus Clyne, pop star and Coordinator daughter of the head of PLANT.
This volume is firmly centered on showing us the rocky politics which make up all aspects of the SEED world. We learn about the in-fighting which occurs amongst the so called Earth 'Alliance', the rulership of the Coordinator space nation of PLANT and the high tensions between Coordinators and Naturals. The key point these all combine to make clear is that Kira may very well be fighting on the wrong side. He is mocked by high ranking officers and receives prejudice from the very same people he has vowed to protect. We also get a much better idea of the Bloody Valentine incident which has only been briefly mentioned so far. After being introduced in perhaps the most negative way, the Coordinators manage to gain some sympathy with this volume.
The biggest con is pacing. SEED's pacing is very slow and annoying and that fact starts to become clear. Very little is achieved in this volume then "Archangel carries on towards Earth". It's practically impossible to avoid comparisons to the original Gundam series, so I feel I should mention that the main ship in that series completed it's "escape ruined colony and flee to Earth" arc MUCH quicker.
A handful of new characters is introduced in this volume, the most notable being Lacus Clyne. A 16 year old pink-haired pop star, her father is the current head of PLANT (the Coordinator-filled cluster of space colonies of which ZAFT is the military). Similar as to what happened with Flay, Kira finds her adrift in a lifepod and brings her back to the ship. It's perhaps somewhat ironic then that Flay is the most vocal about her dislike for their new 'guest'. The crew whisper about the possible strategic value of having Clyne's daughter in custody, but other than her status Lacus doesn't appear to be anything noteworthy. She reacts to her situation with a very naive, child-like attitude which only serves to make Flay dislike her more when the battles the Archangel are involved in intensify.
Lacus also has an effect on Kira and Athrun's struggle- as important social figure from PLANT, Athrun and his comrades are dispatched to rescue Lacus. He's visibly disgusted with the way the Alliance choose to use her as a bargaining chip. Kira doesn't feel much better about the situation, as these actions come after he once again insists to his friend that the Naturals aren't as bad as he thinks.
A slow volume. Has some decent moments but is mostly too sluggish for it's own good."
Gundam Seed Volume II
Adaptation | TX USA | 08/22/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The next chapter in Gundam History. In this set, you will begin to see how chaotic the war against ZAFT truly is. Kira Yamato, the newly appointed pilot of the Strike (GUNDAM) is now torn between his Attacking is Old friends to defend his new ones. Here's some additional backround, Now that Kira has become a considerd threat,, ZAFT has deployed it's elite "Le Creuset" team which uses the GUNDAMs ZAFT stole in the first episode. One of the members (Nicol) will attack the Strike, and will walk away shamed and scarred. Episodes in this DVD are as follows:
Phase 06: The Dissapearing Gundam
Phase 07: Scar of the Cosmos
Phase 08: The Enemy Songstress
Phase 09: The Dissapearing Light
Phase 10: Divided Paths
Having seen the series on TV, I can ASSURE ANY anime fan, you will NOT be dissapointed.
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I suggest this DVD to any fans of the following Genres:
English Dubbed Speaking and Singing Voices For Lacus Clyne a
Crusher Joe | 10/11/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Overall, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - Unexpected Meetings (Vol. 2) is a good volume. But the English dubbed speaking voice (by Chantal Strand) for Lacus Clyne and the English dubbed singing voice (by Jillian Michaels) for Lacus Clyne ("Shizukana Yoru ni" aka "In the Quiet Night") are awful and out of tune. They do not even sound alike. Only the English dubbed singing voice (purportedly also by Jillian Michaels) for Meer Campbell ("Quiet Night C.E. 73") in Gundam Seed Destiny is more awful and more out of tune. Just terrible."
My Favorite!
Lisa S. Gerena | 11/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I own the entire Gundam Seed anime and this is by far my favorite DVD in the series, this is were things really star to heat up and Kira is introduced to his future wife Lacus Clyne( They get married in the Gundam Seed Destiny OAV). I also love the T.M Revolution Music video on this DVD, I highly recommend it."
*The* Anime Series to Watch
Allan | 09/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I first started watching Gundam Seed, I wasn't excatly impressed. The animation seemed like a regression from Gundam Wing, and there weren't as much battles as I liked it to be. However, merely after two eposides I was hooked until the very end (in fact I liked it so much I found it hard to indulge and watch multiple eposides a day).
What makes Gundam Seed different from the other Gundam series is that it is a philosophical study rather than a visual show of big mobile suits battling each other (not that Seed is devoid of it - there are plenty of action in Seed). Gundam Seed focuses more on the human aspects of the pilots, and especially choices they make. To expound the choice motif, Seed explores the very controversal issue of gene modifiction and cloning and takes it to the next logical step: that is, where there exists a race of genetically enhanced humans called Coodinators. The central conflict is between the Coodinators and the so called "Naturals". However, Seed goes to demostrate that humans with gene enhancement does not necessarily make better choices, or more generally: gene enhancements does not create a person with better moralities. In fact, Seed goes to show that sometimes the oppsite happens.
Vol 2 contains some of the most exciting eposides, and it is where the story really starts to move. Do yourself a favour and watch these anime in the orginal language with English subtitles. I can assure you that it is a much better experience.