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There are just some people out there who think that a show isn't serious unless lots of named characters die. We call them "Zeta/Victory fans". Of course, the downside to that is that it's harder to connect with characters and enjoy them if you think/know they're going to be dead in a few episodes, and it's hard to feel sympathy for people who got maybe two episodes of development before taking the long dirt nap.

For a similar example, the show I'm currently watching (Code Geass) just had a major sympathetic character accidentally fall victim to the hero's mind control power, turning her into a genocidal maniac. A lot of people are upset, because we've had about 18 episodes to get to know and like this character, and all of a sudden her death is assured. Despite that, her death is going to have signifigance and meaning, which is more than can be said for the random named deaths in things like V Gundam, where they only died to show you that war is hell.

Mu surviving was crap, plain and simple. Zechs was one thing - the fans wanted more, and there was no definitive answer to whether or not he survived. Mu... was dead. As in, DEAD. Possibly dead people are perfectly allowed to come back. DEAD people are only allowed to come back as clones or if the show they're in has some sort of crazy magic thing.

Lack of death isn't a bad thing... like Void said, it's better than killing everyone off like in Zeta (though I do like it so far), and who else could've been killed off? I think all five of the Gundam pilots had to live, as well as Relena, Noin, and Une. The scientists all got killed, so there's some semi-major characters. I guess they could've killed off Howard or something?

Short lifespan is a bit of a problem towards getting attached to a character. One of my all-time favorite anime - Gunslinger Girl - has only 13 episodes in total. It is, in my opinion, one of the few shows that can make you feel for the characters in so short a time span. And there's more; a character who only lasts about 3 episodes after her appearance. Having only a few episodes makes it difficult to get to know a character - not impossible, but in a much larger cast like most Gundams have, it gets to be pretty redundant.

Chris: Admittedly killing off Heero would have taken Wing in a whole new direction. Then again we might have ended up with a sequel with Duo as a protagonist. As I believe, Destiny has Shinn in the forefront but is alos supposed to shed more light on Athrun over Kira. This failed miserably though and Kira became "God" much to everyone except the silly fan girls' chagrin. Now if Kira had died, I someow believe things would have gone much better but that's my opinion since he wasn't meant to be the focus of Destiny and somehow stole the spotlight. So yes, EW was pulled off nicely with Heero alive because he was still meant to be the main character. If they had tried to drag in a new main protagonist, I think it wouldn't have turned out as well.

Aona: SEED is full of magic! You know, with the pink haired pop singing politician's daughter who can command an army just because she has super powers- I mean- is a coordinator. Blergh! Ín my opinion, getting your head chopped off kills you indefinitely no matter how cool you are.

Void: Maybe they should kill him again?

In the end of the graphic novel, he's seen visiting Treize's grave so that's one hint that they didn't want him six feet under even before series production. I did hear that the graphic novels were based on the original Wing script. It got scrapped and they weren't able to tell Koichi Tokita, the manga-ka, in time so the graphic novel deviates immensely from the series. 3nodding

I agree that EW was only pulled off because Heero lived. However, I can't help but think it would have been good to see him die (as bad as that sounds! sweatdrop ) I mean, we finally saw some resolution between him and Relena (as much as we were probably ever going to see) and Heero's character had evolved just enough to show everyone that he was opening up a little...but not too much...Dying in the end would have been a harmonious ending...Heero's life would have ended for the very thing his entire life had been given up for. It would have been complete somehow. (I thought throughout the whole show that...if any of the pilots were to die it would have been him.)

However, I am glad he lived for we got to see Endless Waltz! YAY and I can't see Duo being a protagonist...I mean he was throughout the beginning of the show but mutual respect grew, from what I could tell. This is really evident in EW...yea it wouldn't have worked w/o Heero.

Wah! I had a really cool paragraph and my computer ate it. gonk

Anyways. Here are my thoughts:

Maybe killing off main characters has its benefits for other series, but I don't think Gundam Wing needs to reach a death quota to make it "better". People who rely on this are forgetting the traumatic suffering that the characters endured. Quatre helplessly witnessed his fathers death and has to live knowing he wiped out an entire colony. Relena unknowingly handed Lady Une the bomb that would kill her father. Everyone that Duo seems to come in contact with dies. Trowa's only memories are of being on the battlefield. Wufei watched his beloved colony be destroyed, lost his wife, etc. Heero's situation is much like Trowas (Easily throwing away his life. Grew up on the battlefield). You get the picture. These characters suffered. Their pasts are smeared with blood and the deaths of the one's closest to them. It would probably be easier in the end if they did just croak.

However, Gundam Wing isn't just another war story. We don't have time to sit and feel sorry for them. Their pure attitudes keep them driven towards ending suffering so others won't have to share their experience. It's a sacrifice that's more meaningful than death itself. These characters have the strong ability to overcome their stories and fight for their common goal: Peace. It makes this series into a story about connection. They evolved throughout the series because of one anothers character. Not from their deaths.

Treize is the acception for all of this. But, I don't think it was a matter of circumstances or to show how 'real' war is. Treize probably didn't figure he would live through the war. This was the final stage of his plan, and peace would ultimately come. So, what better way to leave than passionatly fighting in a battle and die to someone who understand you?

I have class now. But, in a nutshell, that's my defense for Gundam Wing. heart

Yeah, but I don’t think he shared the same attitude as Treize. He did put himself fully into Treize's design and character, forcing himself to believe that he wanted the Earth destroyed. But, Zechs realized that his part in Treize's plan had been fulfilled in the end. Meaning, there was no reason left to keep up the act. Heero and Zechs battle was done and it had impacted space and Earth by the time everyone was set on destroying the remainder of Libra. That's why Zech's helped save the Earth by blowing up the power source. His true feelings are revealed as his attitude changes entirely.

I agree that it was awesome of Treize to sacrifice himself in the end. But, I think Zechs still deserves respect for pulling through. Perhaps that's why he lives in the shadows after Endless Waltz? So, the world can keep on believing that both leaders sacrificed their lives. He can uses the rest of his to help Relena keep peace a reality while he's "dead".

Or, could it be that when Heero told Zechs that "Relena would be sad", it softened him up..?

D'awww. That's what I'd like to think. 4laugh

Yeah, I know Zechs exaggerated with his intensions. But in order for their plan to carry out, I still think he had to make himself truely believe that the Earth's destruction was necessary. Zechs had to give into his meaningless cause, and prove it through his actions. That's probably why Dorothy was so shocked when Zechs turned down Treize's dual. It was proof that Zechs had abandoned his past ideals and had seriously taken on the position as Treize's opposition.

But, yeah. Reguardless of what steps he took to become the enemy, Deep down he(and Treize) were hoping for a world that Relena could bring peace to.