Gundam: The Witch From Mercury came to an end recently, with the anime’s finale confirming a romantic relationship between heroines Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran.
It’s also heavily implied that the two women were married off-screen, as they’re seen wearing matching rings. One even refers to themselves as a “sister-in-law” to their partner’s sibling. Witch From Mercury does everything in its power when it comes to making sure we know these two girls are far more than just roommates.
They’re gay, and because we can’t have nice things in this world, a controversy has kicked off thanks to Bandai Namco pussy-footing around the blissful reality of Sulette and Miorine’s sapphic romance. This past weekend saw the company issue an official apology after an editing oversight between the digital and physical versions of the September 2023 issue of Gundam Ace Magazine saw fans questioning the validity of Suletta and Miorine’s status in the finale. In the recent issue’s physical printing, Suletta voice actor Kana Ichinose makes direct reference to the romantic pairing, believing that their bond could extend beyond the marriage implied in the series and how both characters care very deeply for one another.
Fast-forward to the digital version’s release a few days later, and this quote from Ichinose has for some reason been removed. Readers viewed this as censorship of the same-sex marriage, or Bandai Namco fearing that some fans may express backlash towards LGBTQ+ characters in a flagship franchise like this. It was too late though, with social media trends across Japan cementing fandom excitement, which in turn saw audience members rebel with a mixture of gorgeous fanart and reasonable debate once the omission became so obvious. It was especially confusing when in the past we’ve seen official accounts make direct reference to Sulette and Miorine’s romantic relationship while directly supporting it.
Bandai Namco then proceeded to step on even more rakes positioned across its straight little garden, with a duo of statements claiming that the omission was an editorial mistake, and then following that up with another statement which told fans events of the series and the relationships contained within were “open to interpretation” in the eyes of viewers. This was complete nonsense, and fans were quick to point out that not only was the marriage of Suletta and Miorine confirmed in the final episode, but also in commentary from voice actors and those involved in the creation of the show. There is no room for interpretation in a love story which is not only definitive, but has been building up to this resolution for months now.
The first episode of the series ends with Suletta triumphing against Miorine’s former fiancée in a Gundam battle, only for her to take his place by Miorine’s side as her future bride. It was huge news at the time, and few expected the narrative to double down on this sapphic bond in ways that went beyond the occasional reference and smatterings of fan service. It became one of the strongest Gundam iterations in years because it wasn’t afraid to mix fresh visual and narrative ideas with a love story eager to subvert the usual clichés. It’s an easy foundation to root for and fall in love with, so it hurts to see Bandai Namco dampen the hopes of queer viewers when the truth is staring them right in the face.
Describing a canon queer relationship as ‘up to interpretation’ is more hurtful than discarding it outright, because it allows homophobic viewers to depict these characters as straight or in a heteronormative relationship with other characters free from criticism. Bandai Namco is so afraid to stick to its guns or support a sizable audience of LGBTQ+ fans who have earned a right to celebrate Suletta and Miorine’s marriage. It comes across as cowardly, bowing down to pressure which didn’t exist until you surfaced your own prejudice through a mistake which shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Apologise for it, move on, and acknowledge this queer relationship that fans and actors alike are in full support of. Anything less and you’re letting everyone down. Suletta and Miorine are married and in love - that much is a fact.