Ep 16. The Sorrowful Battle

The Sorrowful Battle is the sixteenth episode of the first season of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. The episode starts with the OZ army's search for the mysterious Gundams. Treize Kushrenada is planning a counter-attack after his defeat in Siberia. Meanwhile, the Gundam pilots realize that their mission in space is far from over as they confront an enemy mobile suit, belonging to the OZ army, that has followed them from Earth. Heero engages in battle with the enemy, still determined to destroy all Gundams. The battle is fierce, and both sides end up causing substantial damage to each other's mobile suits.

While the fight is going on, Heero and Duo are unaware that they have been lured into a trap. With their mobile suits damaged, the pilots are unable to evade the powerful energy beam that the enemy custom mobile suit unleashes. Duo's Gundam is ultimately sliced in half, and with his mobile suit disabled, Heero is left to fight alone. The episode showcases Heero's resourcefulness as he uses his piloting skills to evade and outmaneuver his opponent while trying to find a way to counterattack.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Relena Peacecraft meets with her father, Duke Dermail, and her new guardian, Lady Une. Duke Dermail is instructed to increase military efforts, including the development of the Taurus mobile suits that would be the ultimate weapon to eliminate any opponents that would get in their way. After the meeting, Lady Une has a private conversation with Duke Dermail where she expresses her doubts about their actions and their motives. Lady Une is also shown in this episode as an enforcer, struggling to follow orders she disagrees with. She develops into a conflicted character who becomes more sympathetic to the Gundam pilots' cause.

The episode ends with Heero, who is still battling the enemy suit while attempting to find a way to destroy it. Eventually, Heero unleashes his own powerful energy burst, which nearly destroys the enemy's suit. The battle ends with the OZ pilot narrowly escaping with injuries. After the battle, Heero salvages Duo's Gundam by attaching it to his own and carrying it away. The episode concludes with Heero resolving to not be merciful in his next battle.

The Sorrowful Battle is a pivotal episode in the series. It displays the complexity and depth of the different characters, particularly Lady Une, who shows signs of struggling with her loyalty to OZ. The episode's central theme is that every victory comes with a cost, as the Gundam pilots continue to fight the OZ army. The episode is suspenseful, action-packed, and highlights the developing bond between the different Gundam pilots. Amidst the chaos of war, we see the unfolding of deeper relationships and the growth of moral consciousness in the characters. Overall, it is a compelling episode that offers viewers a glimpse into the cataclysmic world of the series.