Ep 26. Kira

Kira Yamato, the main protagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED HD Remaster, has been through a lot in the past 25 episodes. He's seen friends die, fought in intense battles, and uncovered conspiracies about the war he finds himself in the middle of. But in episode 26, simply and aptly titled "Kira," he faces one of his toughest challenges yet.

The episode starts with Kira and his crew on the Archangel ship attempting to infiltrate the Earth Alliance's headquarters. They're hoping to both save their friend and ally, Athrun, who has been captured by the Alliance, and gather information about the enemy's secret weapon: the nuclear-powered mobile suit known as the Freedom.

Kira, a natural-born Coordinator with extraordinary piloting skills, has been a reluctant hero throughout the series. He's been forced into this war, fighting on behalf of his fellow Coordinators against the Naturals (non-genetically modified humans) who seek to destroy them. But Kira's heart has always been conflicted; he doesn't want to be a killer, and he's struggled with the morality of his actions.

In "Kira," we see Kira at his most vulnerable yet. He's still reeling from the fact that his friend and mentor, Flay Allster, died in the previous episode. Kira had developed feelings for Flay, despite her hatred of Coordinators, and her death has left him traumatized and emotionally unstable.

But Kira must put his own feelings aside if he hopes to succeed in his mission. He and his crew, along with Athrun's fiancé Lacus Clyne, disguise themselves as Earth Alliance soldiers and sneak into the base. Kira even manages to worm his way into the Freedom's cockpit, where he discovers just how powerful the mobile suit is.

It's a tense, action-packed episode, full of the trademark mecha battles that Gundam fans have come to expect. But what makes "Kira" stand out is how it focuses on Kira's emotional journey.

Throughout the episode, Kira is plagued by doubt and guilt. He questions whether he's really doing the right thing by fighting in this war. He worries that he's become a monster, consumed by his own rage and desire for revenge. And he struggles to come to terms with Flay's death, wondering if he could have done more to save her.

But amidst all his turmoil, Kira never loses sight of his humanity. He remains a hero because he cares about others, because he's willing to risk his own life to save those he loves. And in the end, it's that compassion that helps him overcome his doubts.

"Kira" is a powerful episode that showcases both the strengths and weaknesses of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED HD Remaster. On the one hand, the mecha battles are thrilling and well-executed, and the animation is beautifully updated for the HD remaster. On the other hand, the dialogue can be clunky and the characterizations can be simplistic at times.

But ultimately, the episode succeeds because it never loses sight of its main character's emotional journey. Kira Yamato may be a skilled pilot and a badass fighter, but he's also a deeply flawed and complex human being. And it's that complexity that makes his story so compelling.