Ep 20. On a Calm Day

On a Calm Day is the 20th episode of season 1 of Gundam SEED. The episode opens with the Archangel crew taking a day off on a deserted island. Kira and Flay spend the day together, but Kira keeps thinking about the increasing violence and death toll of the war. Meanwhile, on the ZAFT side, Athrun is put on trial for losing the Justice Gundam, and he is stripped of his rank and forced to undergo retraining.

Back on the island, Kira and Flay stumble across a ZAFT pilot who has washed up on shore after his mobile suit exploded. Kira wants to help him but Flay is reluctant, as she worries that he might pose a threat to their safety. Eventually, Kira decides to help the pilot and the Archangel crew brings him on board the ship to be treated for his injuries.

As the crew treats the injured pilot, they discover that he is Yzak Joule, one of the highest-ranking ZAFT pilots. Yzak is surprised to find himself being treated by the enemy, and he is initially hostile towards the Archangel crew. However, as he gets to know them better, he starts to see that they are not just mindless killers, but people with their own hopes and dreams.

Meanwhile, Athrun begins his retraining and is assigned to work on a new revision of the Aegis Gundam. As he works on the new Gundam, he starts to question his beliefs and wonders if he is fighting for the right side. He also thinks about Kira and wonders if he was wrong to try and kill his childhood friend.

On the Archangel, Yzak continues to recover from his injuries and starts to develop a friendship with Flay. However, tensions between the crew and Yzak rise when they discover that he was responsible for an attack that killed many of their comrades. Kira is torn between his desire to be a pacifist and his need to protect his friends and fellow soldiers.

As the episode ends, Yzak is fully recovered and ready to go back to the frontline. He leaves the Archangel with a newfound respect for the crew and a hope that someday, the fighting between ZAFT and the Earth Alliance will end.

Overall, On a Calm Day is a thoughtful episode that explores the human side of war and the fragile bonds that can form between enemies. It is a reminder that even in the midst of conflict, there is always hope for peace.