Well, as I got the last Season 1 DVD for Christmas, and I've planned to watch each disc a day, I'll review Gundam 00 - 1 disc at a time. I've already seen both seasons (just need to see the movie), but let's take another look.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 - Episodes 1-5:
As much as I love the show, I will say this - The first five episodes are nowhere as awesome as the latter half of the season, or the entirety of Second Season. One thing that instantly hits me as a problem is the large cast of characters, and how all of them have to be introduced - some of them not even playing a significant role until season 2.
First thing I have to get off my chest is: I don't like Setsuna. I never have. Tieria, in these first episodes, comes off as a know-it-all brat; the only Gundam meisters that I can really grow attached to at this point are Lockon Stratos and Allelujah Haptism. I've always felt an affinity for Lockon; possibly because in FPS games I'm always a Sniper, and he comes across as the more "mature" of the Gundam meisters. Sumeragi shows both her intelligence and human side in these few episodes, which is great, and for some reason, I really like the way her hair is drawn. Shame that in these first five episodes, the only non-Gundam Meister member of Celestial Being were get more than a couple of lines from is Sumeragi.
I can definitely feel the post 9/11 attitude that the writers were going for, but I feel that somethings were a bit force fed to make Celestial Being seem super-special-awesome so early on, like the Real IRA ceasing activities. Obviously, we'd all like to see that happen, but I doubt it would due to some interventions in a completely different part of the world.
I can still never really get why Saji Crossroad and Louise Halevy were in the story at all. Even in season 2, I don't remember them really being that useful. Saji is the Hanataro of Gundam 00.
The start of Season 1 is definitely one that you should marathon; because at this point, it's hard to keep your attention.
So far, I'd have to give these episodes a 7/10. Not that it's bad (The series is one of my favourites), but the later episodes are much better.
Well, my episodes 6-9 DVD is waiting for me to press my play button, so I'll come back with my opinions on them =3
