Summary

Char in Gundam GQuuuuuuX pilots the RX-78-02 in a pivotal role for Zeon during the war.
The series contrasts Char, a trained soldier, with Amuro Ray, a novice pilot, from the original timeline.
Char's intentions in the new series could involve avenging his father and altering the power structure in Zeon.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is one of the most interesting anime series of this season, and it could be one of the best reinterpretations of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. So far, it has a bold plot that is not shy to twist the events of Gundam 0079.

One of the most intriguing things for old-time Gundam fans is the whereabouts of Char Aznable, the antagonist of the original series whose role in this one is still unknown. What could have happened to Char, and where could he be now?

Gundam GQuuuuuuX Gets Off to a Strong Start

The new Gundam series starts in a beautiful yet familiar way.

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By Sebastián Osío

What Do We Know About Char In Gundam GQuuuuuuX?

In Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Char Aznable accidentally found the RX-78-02 Gundam during a mission on Earth. So, instead of Amuro Ray piloting this mobile suit, it is Char who ends up using it in the One Year War.

The RX-78-02, called RX-78-02 White Gundam in this timeline, was an advanced mobile suit produced by the Earth Federation. Once in the hands of Char, this mobile suit played a key role for the Principality of Zeon during the war. Through reverse engineering, Zeon has been able to produce more Gundams.

Char was ordered by Lady Kycilia to pilot the RX-78-02, now painted in red to suit his personality (this was also Kycilia's order). The RX-78-02 alone wouldn't give Zeon much of an advantage, Char's abilities as both a pilot and as a Newtype made the difference. Furthermore, it seems that Amuro Ray has never joined the Earth Federation forces in this timeline.

However, during a mission to counter the Federation's forces in Solomon, all the Psycommu attached to Char's Gundam go out of control. While the whole incident forces the Federation to accept a ceasefire treaty, Char and his Gundam are gone since that day.

How Is That Different From Char In The Original Gundam?

In the original timeline, Amuro Ray accidentally finds the RX-78-02 and starts piloting it. Though young, he is drawn into the war and joins the Earth Federation forces, who win the war against Zeon after a year of fighting.

In the series, there is this interesting contrast between Ray, who is not a trained soldier but pilots an advanced mobile weapon, and Char, a trained military man who pilots a "less advanced" mobile weapon. Of course, Ray learns how to use the mobile suit as the story advances, but there is a big difference between him and Char when it comes to combat skills in the beginning.

What Can We Guess Considering The Original Timeline?

If we consider that what has changed is "only" the outcome of the war, and not the intentions of the characters, then Char should have no real sympathy for the Principality of Zeon. His real name is Casval Rem Deikum, and he is the son of Zeon Zum Deikun, a key figure in the founding of the Republic of Zeon and its declaration of independence from the Earth Federation.

However, Deikun died of an apparent heart attack shortly after, and Degwin Sodo Zabi then claimed to have been appointed as Deikun's successor, with no credible evidence. Degwin changed the nation's name to "Principality of Zeon" and then placed his own family in high-ranking positions.

With all of this in mind, it is not hard to guess that Zabi most likely staged a coup d'état. For this reason, it is quite possible that Char was planning to avenge his father and stage another coup (or restoration, if we may call it that) to remove the Zabis from power in Zeon.

There is a dialogue between him and Challia Bull in Episode 2 that makes it look like he was indeed planning a coup:

There's a better way, in which you don't have to suffer from being torn between Lady Kycilia and the supreme commander. [...] Teaming up with me... Lieutenant Challia Bull.

— Char Aznable in GQuuuuuuX Episode 2

Where Could Char Be In New The Series?

picture: char aznable in gundam gquuuuuux.

Whatever Char was planning to do, he changed his plans after the mission in Solomon. Challia Bull, who was with him on the mission, has been looking for Char ever since, and he seems to understand that Char saw something that made him turn to a different path.

If the pre-war events were still the same, Char's sister, Artesia Som Deikun, should be out there somewhere. In the original series, she takes the name "Sayla Mass" and joins the Earth Federation, but we don't know what might have happened to her in this timeline. She might still be serving the Earth Federation, or she could have died, or she could have followed a different path, especially after the ceasefire.

Given that Sayla served the Federation during the war, she could have been assigned to the Solomon mission, and she could be the key to knowing more about Char's whereabouts, if she ever appears in GQuuuuuuX. Whatever he saw there, it could be related to his sister.

It seems hard to imagine a scenario where Char completely changed his mind about Zeon and gave up on trying to take out the Zabis. It's more likely that he decided to do things in a different way, and realized how much chaos and pain wars can cause. While Char joining the Federation would perhaps be too much, he is probably doing things in the underground, and we might even see him collaborating with the Federation at some point.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, with English subs and dubs.

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