The episode "Falling on the Moon" from Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Season 1 opens with a flashback to the final stages of the One Year War in Universal Century 0079. The Earth Federation is executing a desperate plan to cripple the Zeon forces by dropping the asteroid fortress Solomon onto the lunar city of Granada, a key Zeon stronghold on the far side of the Moon. The Federation's goal is to obliterate Granada by using Solomon as a massive kinetic weapon.

Char Aznable, commanding the Zeon Sodon Fleet, leads a counterattack to prevent the Federation from succeeding. Char plants explosives on Solomon's asteroid base intending to destroy it before it can be dropped on Granada. Secretly, Char also plans to use the explosion to kill Kycilia Zabi, his rival within Zeon leadership, revealing internal conflict. During this operation, Char encounters a lone Federation pilot, whom he identifies through his Newtype abilities as someone close to him named Artesia. This confrontation interrupts Char's plan.

As the battle escalates, the Zeknova--a powerful and mysterious explosion--triggers, causing Solomon to be destroyed and Char's Red Gundam to disappear. Before vanishing, Char communicates with an unseen character, hinting at deeper conspiracies. Meanwhile, Kycilia is informed that a test subject under her control, codenamed the "Rose of Sharon," has gone missing following the Zeknova event.

The narrative then shifts to the present day, five years after the One Year War. Nyaan arrives in Granada, now a lunar city under Kycilia's influence. Kycilia's plan involves using Nyaan to trigger another Zeknova event, which would presumably serve her strategic goals. Nyaan is shown at her most lethal, indicating her importance and capability in Kycilia's schemes.

Throughout the episode, there are hints and small revelations about Char's disappearance and the mystery surrounding his potential return. A character named Shirozu, a blonde man with a piercing blue eye and a name linked to the number four (a nod to Char's alias Quattro Bajeena), appears, suggesting a connection to Char's identity and future involvement.

The episode ends with the tension between Kycilia's plans on Granada and the unresolved mysteries of Char's fate, setting the stage for upcoming confrontations and revelations. The story threads from the past and present intertwine, emphasizing the ongoing conflict and the stakes involved in the lunar city of Granada.

Short, Simple Narrative of the Ending

At the end of "Falling on the Moon," Nyaan is taken in by Kycilia Zabi, who is unaware that Challia Bull is plotting to assassinate her and overthrow the Zeon leadership. Meanwhile, Amate Yuzuhira (Machu) and the Gundam GQuuuuuuX are captured by Challia and the Sodon crew. Shuji Ito and the Red Gundam mysteriously vanish into the Kira-Kira phenomenon. The episode weaves together past and present, revealing secrets about Kycilia's plans and the true nature of Nyaan, while setting the stage for a major confrontation.

Expanded, Chronological, Scene-by-Scene Narrative

The episode opens with a flashback to the final days of the One Year War, specifically the battle over the moon fortress Granada. We see a younger Kycilia Zabi and Char Aznable, with the Federation attempting to hijack the Solomon asteroid base and crash it into Granada to destroy the city. Char, however, has his own agenda: he plants explosives on Solomon not just to defeat the Federation, but also to kill Kycilia, with whom he has a personal vendetta. During the chaos, Char is intercepted by a Federation pilot he recognizes as Artesia, a figure significant to him. As the battle reaches its climax, a Zeknova event is triggered--a massive, unexplained energy phenomenon--and both Char and the Red Gundam disappear into the Kira-Kira, a shimmering, otherworldly light. Kycilia, surviving the attack, is informed that one of her test subjects, codenamed "Rose of Sharon," has also gone missing in the aftermath.

The narrative then shifts to the present. Nyaan, who has been brought into Kycilia's inner circle, begins to suspect that Miguel, a member of Kycilia's staff, has been poisoning previous candidates for a mysterious project. Nyaan deduces this after noticing a pattern in the deaths and the cakes Miguel has been serving. She secretly messages Xavier for help, but when Xavier arrives, he only points his gun at Miguel without firing, creating a tense standoff. Nyaan's quick thinking and survival instincts are on full display as she navigates the danger, her fear and determination palpable.

Meanwhile, Amate Yuzuhira (Machu) and the Gundam GQuuuuuuX are captured by Challia Bull and the Sodon crew. Machu is visibly distressed, her usual confidence shaken as she is separated from her allies and her mobile suit. Challia, cold and calculating, reveals his plan to assassinate Kycilia and overthrow the Zeon leadership, though Kycilia remains unaware of this betrayal. The tension between loyalty, ambition, and survival is stark among the Zeon ranks.

In a separate thread, Shuji Ito and the Red Gundam are drawn into the Kira-Kira, a phenomenon that has been hinted at throughout the series. The scene is visually striking: the Red Gundam is engulfed in a radiant, almost liquid light, and then vanishes without a trace. Shuji's fate is left uncertain, his disappearance adding to the growing mystery and sense of foreboding.

The episode closes with Kycilia privately revealing to Nyaan why she recruited her, hinting at Nyaan's true nature and the larger plans at play. Nyaan, though relieved to have survived the immediate threat, is clearly unsettled by the revelations and the dangerous game she has been pulled into. The atmosphere is one of unease and anticipation, as the characters' paths are set on a collision course with the secrets of the past and the uncertainties of the future.

Fate of Each Main Character at the End of the Episode

• Nyaan: Survives an assassination attempt, deduces Miguel's treachery, and is brought deeper into Kycilia's confidence. She is physically safe but emotionally shaken, aware that she is a pawn in a much larger game.
• Amate Yuzuhira (Machu): Captured by Challia Bull and the Sodon crew, separated from her mobile suit and allies. Her usual bravado is replaced by fear and uncertainty about her fate.
• Shuji Ito: Disappears into the Kira-Kira along with the Red Gundam. His current whereabouts and condition are unknown, adding a layer of mystery to the story.
• Challia Bull: Successfully captures Machu and the Gundam GQuuuuuuX, and his plot to assassinate Kycilia and seize power within Zeon moves forward, though Kycilia remains unaware of his betrayal.
• Kycilia Zabi: Unaware of Challia's plans, she survives the immediate threats and begins to reveal her true intentions to Nyaan, setting the stage for future confrontations.
• Char Aznable: In the flashback, he attempts to kill Kycilia during the battle of Solomon but disappears into the Zeknova/Kira-Kira phenomenon. His fate in the present timeline remains unresolved.
• Miguel: Exposed as a poisoner by Nyaan, he is confronted by Xavier but not immediately neutralized, leaving his ultimate fate uncertain.

The episode ends with multiple threads left hanging: the mystery of the Kira-Kira, the true nature of Nyaan, the looming coup within Zeon, and the fates of the captured and disappeared protagonists. The tension is high, the stakes are personal and political, and the characters are all in positions of vulnerability, setting the stage for the next major turning point in the series.

Yes, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Season 1, Episode 8, titled "Falling on the Moon," does have a post-credit scene. This scene is significant as it reveals the long-awaited Zeknova Incident, a pivotal event that was previously only hinted at but never shown in the anime until this episode. The post-credit scene provides crucial context to the alternate timeline of the series, showing Char Aznable's Newtype abilities going out of control during the incident, which adds depth to the story and connects past events to the present narrative.

This post-credit scene serves as a major reveal that fills in a key gap from earlier episodes, especially episode 2, where the Zeknova Incident was notably absent due to time constraints. Its inclusion in episode 8 enriches the storyline by explaining important backstory elements and setting up future developments in the series.

Kycilia's plans on Granada are central to the episode's plot, revealing her strategic moves on the dark side of the moon and her intentions involving the character Nyaan. The episode connects these plans to the larger conflict and political tensions within the Zeon forces, especially the escalating rivalry between Kycilia and Gihren, who is sending spies to assassinate pilots Kycilia selects.

Episode 8 includes a flashback to UC 0079, showing the battle over Granada where the Federation attempts a last-ditch effort to damage the Zeon cause by dropping the asteroid fortress Solomon onto the lunar city of Granada. This battle is shown as a pivotal moment five years before the main story, providing context for Char Aznable's disappearance and the strategic importance of Granada.

The episode reveals more about Char Aznable's role during the One Year War, including his involvement in the battle near Solomon Fortress defending Granada. A character named Shirozu, who has traits suggesting he might be Char (notably the use of the kanji for 'four' linked to Char's alias Quattro Bajeena), appears, deepening the mystery around Char's disappearance and potential reappearance.

Nyaan is shown navigating her new role under Kycilia's influence, using her Newtype abilities to activate a second GQuuuuuuX unit named GFred. She faces internal threats such as a spy among her fellow ensigns, whom she ultimately deals with lethally. Nyaan also gains an ally in Xavier, who defends her against the spy, highlighting her growing importance and lethal capabilities in the story.

Episode 8 is structured around two timelines separated by five years. The first half is a flashback to the One Year War, focusing on the battle over Granada and Char's actions. The second half returns to the present, focusing on Kycilia's plans, Nyaan's situation, and the political intrigue within Zeon. This dual timeline approach connects past events to current developments, setting up future conflicts.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Season 1, Episode 8 "Falling on the Moon" is generally suitable for older children and teens but may not be fully family-friendly for very young or sensitive viewers due to some intense and potentially upsetting content.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Violence and action scenes involving mecha battles with explosions and destruction, including a Gundam vaporizing a character, which may be intense or frightening for children.
• Themes of betrayal and espionage, which involve emotional tension and some darker character interactions.
• Military and war-related content, including strategic attacks and references to large-scale destruction, which might be unsettling for sensitive viewers.
• Some scenes may have emotional undercurrents of loss, distrust, and manipulation, which could be complex or heavy for younger audiences.

There is no indication of explicit language, sexual content, or graphic gore in this episode based on available reviews. The episode mixes fast-paced plot developments with dramatic and emotional moments, which might require some maturity to fully understand and process.

In summary, this episode is best suited for teenagers and older viewers familiar with Gundam themes of war and conflict, while parents of younger or sensitive children should be cautious due to the intense action and emotional complexity.