Gundam is an enormous franchise. It has spawned spinoffs in every medium you can imagine and it's hard for any new series to carve out space within the One Year War narrative, which is why it's impressive that gundam thunderbolt managed to do so with such aplomb. It's not as ambitious as some of the other major Gundam titles, avoiding big battles and notable names in favor of two smaller factions fighting for control of a shoal zone. But it makes up for it with a deeper look into both sides and some of the most elegantly choreographed mobile suit battles I've ever seen.
It opens with the standard Gundam tropes - a space colony seeking independence from the Earth Federation declares war and both sides begin their struggle for control of a shoal zone known as the Thunderbolt Sector. The action takes place in a region of space littered with debris from destroyed colonies and prone to electrical discharges that trigger massive fireballs. This particular theatre of the conflict is occupied by the Earth Federation's Moore Brotherhood and the Principality of Zeon's Living Dead Division.
This is where the series really shines as it introduces us to the main characters and their respective mechas. The highlight comes towards the end of Season One or the theatrical compilation December Sky when the Moore Brotherhood's High Mobility Type Zaku II "Pyscho Zaku" and the Zeon's Mobile Suit FA-78 Full Armor Gundam clash in an insanely badass fight. Both units have some seriously sick weaponry including the Pyscho Zaku's incredibly powerful rocket booster and the FA-78's double Kapool lock system that can trap enemy mechs in an infinite loop.
