Gundam Build Divers is back with a sequel series, Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE, that is just as referential as its predecessor. It would take a keen eye and bottomless Gundam knowledge in order to catch the more obscure references it makes to every corner of the Gundam multiverse. Fortunately, we have Gundam expert Tom Aznable to help.
Welcome back to Deep Dive, Tom Aznable’s reader-favorite column all about catching the more esoteric aspects of the Gundam multiverse that make it into the show. Nothing passes Tom’s eagle eye for spotting this stuff (we suspect Newtype abilities), but this column focuses specifically on rare sightings and deep cuts. Read on to see what you may have missed:
Episode 07: Battered Crown
Eldora Daughtress
- Base kit: DT-6800A Daughtress, After War Gundam X (anime)
This week’s episode was a bit light on references, so let’s talk about the tough new enemy Gunpla: the Eldora Daughtress (totally called it on the name by the way!).
Kazami is right to be surprised by the unbalanced power of this Daughtress. In its original setting, the Daughtress is a commonplace grunt suit, the United Nations Earth’s analogue to the Earth Federation’s GM. In the context of Gundam X’s Seventh Space War, however, the Daughtress is not a scaled back version of a Gundam prototype, but rather a mass production suit that predates any Gundams at all. Many Daughtresses survive the war’s apocalyptic conclusion, with plenty of variants out there (both manufactured and customized). During the events of Gundam X, the New UNE later deploys the more advanced Daughtress Neo as a successor to their old standby. The Eldora Daughtress’ Multiple Barrel Rifle is distinct to this incarnation of the suit, most closely resembling the Gundam AGE-3’s Blustia Cannon.
There hasn’t been a new Daughtress Gunpla since the Daughtress Custom set from when Gundam X aired back in 1996, so a new Daughtress appearing in Build Divers gives some hope for the future! Unfortunately, it looks like the Eldora Daughtress is a P-Bandai exclusive – maybe that’s where it gets its power from.
Patrick Colasour (Gundam 00) dressed as Shiro Amada (Gundam: The 08th MS Team)
Patrick returns in cosplay once again, this time as Shiro Amada, commander of the Kojima Battalion’s 08th MS Team. Considering his frequent ill-fated encounters with Celestial Being’s Gundams, it’s kind of a surprise he’s only just now cosplaying a Gundam pilot of any kind.
