Love Never Dies

...it's an age-old concept that never seems to fade.  It's the same as saying a never-ending love, or an eternal love.  It's a love that stands the test of time, distance, faith, and any other test imaginable.  So I guess it goes without saying that I think Une feels this love for Treize.  ^_^;  I guess it's sort of "up in the air" as to whether the feeling is mutual or not (especially since this is mecha anime and not shoujo anime), though it is quite obvious that Treize cares very deeply for his dear Lady Une (as discussed on for his love).

So how about those final GW episodes, eh?  Is it just me, or was anyone else a tad disappointed?  My first reaction was yes, I was disappointed.  But now, much later, when I look back on the whole of Gundam Wing, I'm starting to think that it wasn't so bad afterall.  I mean, it would have been nice to have a "happy ending" but would that have really done the series any justice?  Just what's so happy about war, anyway?  That, I think, is a major point of GW.  War isn't happy, but we try our best to find something good from it anyway.

But I'm getting off-track... this page is called "love never dies" because I believe that that is true.  I believe that once you truly and honestly love another person, even if you break up or never see each other again, you still carry that love with you.  I know I'm an idealistic romantic dreamer, but so what?  ^_^  The world needs people like that, so dream on!

*ahem*  Sorry about that... sometimes these tangents just create themselves. But as for the point of this page, I'd like to just briefly discuss one of the most terrible, tragic events in all of GW.

Treize dies.

I'm very disheartened by this, and yet it seems so right for it to happen.  Oh, but poor Une... she just watched the one person she trusted, cherished, and loved with her whole heart and soul, die before her eyes, and the strongest emotion she shows is the clenching of her fist.  Not only that, but she remained strong for the other soldiers around her, and gave them orders just as she would have before; hardly the selfish, uncaring, and commanding woman she once was.

And then she tells Relena to go ahead and kill her.

I love this scene and how Une is portrayed, not just because of what is spoken and the context it is in, but also because it's true!  I mean, Une isn't making any of that up, not making excuses.  She's speaking her feelings, out in the open.  She doesn't need a fancy dramatic display of emotions - that's not her way, nor is it the way she felt her love for Treize. Perhaps because it wasn't a "true" relationship in terms of spoken I love you's and acknowledged feelings, or perhaps it was simply what Une considered a private love.  Perhaps something that may have been obvious to others, but which she still kept to herself anyway.  And, to me, the fact that it was a private love makes it even more beautiful.  It's not that she had to keep it private, it's that she wanted to.  Of course the fact that the series takes place in the midst of war makes it a challenge to find a way to express your feelings, but I don't believe that the war was what was holding her back.

Another interesting tid-bit is this quote from the dubbed episode 47:

"This battle is a crucial moment in our history.  It must be something that people will talk about for generations to come.  [with tears in her eyes]  For that reason, many warriors will end up having to sacrifice their lives."
- Une

This interpretation is really a judgement call, and to me there are two sides to this quote.  The first side is that Une's tears are for the lives that will be sacrificed for this cause, as they prepare to fight a massive battle.  Now, finally, Une truly understands Treize and what he believes in.  Just as Une cries for the loss of so many lives, so does Treize recite the names of every man who died in battle for him.  It really is beautiful, to see how Une has changed from her very first scene in GW to who she is now.  Before, she recklessly sacrificed lives without a second thought, and now she sheds tears for those who aren't even dead yet.  Quite a change for the dear, graceful Lady.

The second side to her quote is that, perhaps, she somehow knows that Treize will not live after this battle.  It could be logic that tells her so, or perhaps some heart and soul connection to him.  This could also explain how she was able to so easily control her emotions when Treize actually did die.  Though I admit that knowing in advance wouldn’t make it any easier on her, if she were even somewhat mentally prepared for his death, she would have a much better chance of controlling her emotions than if it had come without any warning at all.

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