After the rather hectic volume five of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny you might expect volume six to slow down, and let us catch our breath. Sadly not as volume six is probably the best instalment of the series so far.

After saving Stella from near death, Shin discovers she is actually one of the Earth Forces’ “Extended”, and she is quickly placed in restraints in the medical bay to be tested.
Meanwhile the real Lacus Cline leaves the Archangel in order to return to the PLANTS in order to find out the Chairman’s true intentions. The Earth Forces and Orb once again plan a joint attack against the Minerva,

and as things once again look grim for the Minerva the Archangel intervenes once more. Athrun is dismayed to have to fight against Kira, and Shin flies into a rage taking out most of the Orb forces. When Shin later finds out Stella will most likely die if she doesn’t get the proper treatment he stages a daring rescue aided by Rey, to return her to the Earth Forces and the masked man Neo.

The second battle between the Earth Forces/Orb, the Minerva and the Archangel is incredibly similar to that of the first in the previous volume. At points it feels you are watching the exact same

battle, which doesn’t help to keep the series feeling fresh. Kira in the Freedom glides through the enemies as if they were made of paper, even when he confronts Athrun; it seems so effortless that it almost seems like laziness. Only when Shin dodges Kira does anything interesting happen, and after that Shin begins to destroy the Orb ships with the same amount of ease.

Although the action feels a little stale, the drama manages to keep things afloat. As the battle rages it’s not entirely clear who is going to be left standing, and the show often tries to keeps you guessing as to who has made

their final appearance. One death scence stands out in particular, although by a smaller role, in which we are shown a short flashback as this character dies, which paints far greater a picture of the true tragedy of the situation. It’s not all doom and gloom though as the real Lacus’ stealing of a shuttle to the plants of the fake Lacus, and the Chairman’s recollections of an old friend will keep fans happy as we see an old face, for the first time!

Volume six of Gundam SEED Destiny holds things together strongly, although feels as if it is treading on stale old ground at times.