Suisei no Gargantia - 13

Legend of the Verdurous Planet

It was a poignant moment when Chamber spoke up against Striker in defense of Ledo’s perspective. By this point, we have learned to accept that Chamber will always favour the Galactic Alliance's brand of logic, and will not deviate from its totalitarian ideal.  For Chamber to actively reject the conclusions of a higher ranking unit and officer demonstrates an ethical awareness previously lacking.  Ledo’s reaction and the dramatic music definitely make this one of the defining moments of the last episode, and the season as a whole, showing that even a mechanical entity, shown as one extreme of humanity’s degeneration, is capable of change.

(I'm guessing they mean "doesn't")
Possibly the only time this line has ever been used correctly in science fiction

The decisions of Pinion and Flange to maintain their posts, even at the cost of their lives, was touching, but ultimately worrying. Previously, it was shown that battles on Earth are generally non-fatal, while this final battle seemed to claim many casualties, judging by the size of explosions. This progression into more formalised warfare, demonstrably instigated by the appearance of the Galactic Alliance soldiers, once again portrays Earth as a previously unspoilt planet, slowly being corrupted. As Ledo notes before he activates Neuroplus power, ‘There’s no place for us on this world that’s been reborn.’

Said the human to the giant floating robot

The revelation that Gargantia was originally a Mass Driver, and built around the central column was an interesting and enjoyable call-back to the past. It is also heartening to understand that they cannibalised this weapon, using it as a sprinkler to help nurture new life. This metaphorical beating of swords into ploughshares is strongly symbolic of Suisei no Gargantia as a whole – Ledo and Chamber finding non-pugilistic aptitudes, the Yunboros used by the humans, the very name Gargantia itself.

Not to be confused with Sword Art Online

I think, for me, the most touching part of the series was Chamber’s sacrifice. To view events through his eyes, an additional layer of meaning becomes apparent – in detecting Ledo’s desire to live, Chamber refuses to let him kill himself, working within his own programming to achieve an ideal outcome. However, this is not the first anti-military thought Ledo has had – Chamber specifically chose to notice and take action this time, in order to spare Ledo’s life. Furthermore, Chamber realises that while he and Striker are not part of this world, Ledo could be, and attempts to facilitate the outcome whereby the influence from the Alliance is minimised.

However, Chamber’s parting words were the most touching – ‘Go to hell – tin can!’ In this line, we understand that Chamber was likely truly sapient, learning from his exposure to Gargantian humanity, both in terms of words and attitudes.

Feels?  What are you doing here?

The epilogue was both heartening and worrying, showing a shift forward in thinking toward technological development. Though the future may be uncertain, and perhaps tending toward the previous failures the human race experienced, the emphasis placed on archaeology and learning from the past to achieve the future creates an overall positive outlook for the future.

Speaking of archaeology and massive floods, it's probably a good thing I didn't notice any religious undertones...

Suisei no Gargantia as a whole is like a breath of fresh air. It subverts standard mecha conventions, placing fight scenes as a backdrop to philosophical exploration and character development, and in no way the focus of the series. The series paints a generally positive outlook on life, portraying the majority of people as genuine and well-meaning, while a less positive anime might have turned Pinion and Flange into villains.

Look at him!  He combs his hair - how could he not be a villain?

Ultimately, the question it poses is “what does it mean to be human?” Has the Galactic Alliance lost its humanity by prioritising efficiency over the individual utility of its citizens? Have the Hideauze lost theirs by altering their outward appearance? Have the citizens of Gargantia retained their humanity through a lack of technological advancement? Did Chamber attain humanity in his final moments?

These questions are all unanswerable. That is simply because there is no empirical definition for the concept of humanity. Suisei no Gargantia, is, to me, an exploration in humanity, but ultimately, it cannot provide us with answers. We must draw our own conclusions from the questions it poses us.