You might remember X user HIM'EL (@BasedLEDA), the fan who previously went viral after having a complete meltdown over Nina Purpleton's storyline in . His raw, honest takes on the Gundam franchise have earned him a following among fans in Japan and abroad.
Well, he's back at it, this time diving into the 1993 series Mobile Suit Victory Gundam. He shared his journey on X, and his descent into despair over the show's brutal plot and the grim fates of its characters has once again captured the internet's attention.
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993) broke from tradition by featuring a 13-year-old protagonist, Uso Ewin. The series was initially pitched as a "return to the roots of TV anime, a fun robot show."
However, behind the scenes, a merger between Sunrise and Bandai, coupled with heavy commercial demands, reportedly sent Tomino into a deep depression during production. The result was a chaotic and brutally violent series, a far cry from the "fun" show it was meant to be. It has since become infamous among fans as a prime example of "Kill 'em all Tomino" at his darkest.
HIM'EL went into Victory Gundam completely blind, his hopes initially buoyed by the "V" for Victory in the title and the killer opening theme, "STAND UP TO THE VICTORY."
At first, he was intrigued by Uso's story, noting that Gundam protagonists always seem to get caught up in some wild situations, but everything felt relatively normal at the start. Uso's piloting skills were a bit terrifying, but hey, that's standard for a main character.
Then came a scene where an enemy pilot, after being defeated by Uso, breaks down in tears. "This might be the first time I've seen an adult in Gundam genuinely grieve for a child pilot," HIM'EL wrote. "At first I thought it was funny, this guy crying because he lost to a kid. But the more I listened, the more I understood his anguish."
"Uso should be playing with toys, but instead he's forced into a war, piloting a killing machine and holding a real gun. He's just been thrown into this and doesn't get what's happening, but the deeper he gets, the worse and crazier it's going to become. Welp, looks like we're back on the classic Universal Century track... gotta brace myself."
It didn't take long for the show's tone to take a nosedive, leaving him deeply unsettled. "Why the hell is there a guillotine in a Gundam show?" he questioned.
Despite being only 13, Uso is surrounded by women. Watching his interactions with Katejina Loos gave HIM'EL flashbacks to Kou Uraki from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory...
But hey, it wasn't all bad. There were definitely moments where he envied Uso.
Soon enough, Katejina's betrayal sent him spiraling. "It's always the beautiful ones who pull this kind of crap... I can't believe she's trying to kill Uso! She was the one taking care of him, who cared for him at the start. How did it come to this? What happened to her?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER?!?!" (He was on the verge of a breakdown.)
As the plot grew increasingly cruel, HIM'EL couldn't help but wonder where the "Victory" in V Gundam was supposed to be. Characters were introduced only to be killed off moments later. It was just too devastating, too brutal.
His raw reaction resonated with Japanese fans, who know all too well the pain of watching V Gundam.
He was especially disgusted when Katejina sent out a squad of female pilots in bikinis as a distraction. The goal was to make Uso think he was hallucinating—a fantasy born from his crush on older women—to create an opening to kill him, since she could no longer beat him in a fair fight. "Doing something so vile to a child is just sickening..."
In the end, Katejina is blinded by the V2 Gundam's Wings of Light, loses her memory, and is last seen returning alone to her war-torn hometown. Despite her villainy, HIM'EL lamented her fate, remembering the kind person she was at the beginning.
After finishing the series, he posted his final thoughts on Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, earning praise from Japanese fans for his insightful perspective. He wrote:
To be honest, I didn't really enjoy this show. But do I like it? Yes. There's a lot to unpack with V Gundam... some things I absolutely loved, and some things that made me furious.
The whole series is a rollercoaster. Halfway through, you almost want to give up, just like the characters. Their struggles often feel meaningless, but the story keeps telling you to "hold on," as if to say: victory comes to those who endure to the end... or something like that.
The anime portrays the horrors of war with unflinching realism, showing just how low humanity can sink—to the point of sending children to the front lines to die. It exposes the true evil of conflict, revealing that there are no winners. Both sides lose people they love: partners, parents, children... anyone can die in an instant, leaving behind unfulfilled promises and dreams.
So, where's the "Victory" in all of this? The war, waged in the name of victory and sacrifice, only brings suffering to Earth and space alike. Peace is a lie. It's heartbreaking to see kids who should be enjoying their childhood forced to clean up the mess adults created. A child like Uso, thrown into war and tormented—the injustice and victimization are horrifying. Experiencing it all through his eyes is enough to drive you insane.
V Gundam is a cruel, raw, and unforgiving series. It shoves the most painful and helpless aspects of humanity right in your face. Finishing it leaves you with an overwhelming sense of frustration... but at the same time, you have to admit, it's incredibly real.
His review was widely praised by Japanese fans, who found it refreshing to see someone articulate the show's complex themes so accurately, especially for a series that's decades old.
Many fans can probably relate to his pain. Victory Gundam was a shocking series back in the day, especially its sharp turn from a peaceful beginning to chaotic brutality. While HIM'EL's live-tweeted meltdown might seem a bit dramatic, it's an authentic reaction to a truly gut-wrenching show. Now the only question is... what's he going to watch next? XD.