When we looked at the first volume of ENDLESS WALTZ, the three-part followup to 1995's GUNDAM W television series, in EX 2.2, we were mightily careful not to reveal too much of the plot or the shocking revelations about the heroes' pasts. But now the series is over, and we are taking off the kid gloves for this wrap-off. Though we will be as vague as possible in the following discussion, the spoiler-averse should stick with our review of the first volume, whose observations about production quality and narrative emphasis apply equally well to the rest of the series.
Okay, now those wimps are out of here. Let's dish.
From the first episode, it was evident that ENDLESS WALTZ would be devoting a lot of effort to fleshing out the Gundam pilots' oh-so-sketchy backgrounds, while at the same time introducing a new foe and a new conflict. The second episode, aptly titled "Operation Meteor," reveals that the past and present narratives are in fact inseparably intertwined. Though there is a certain element of retroactive elaboration involved, the revelations nonetheless serve to resolve some key loose ends from the television series.
As those who have made it all the way to the end of the GUNDAM W series may recall, we eventually meet a mysterious character by the name of Quinze, leader of the colonial resistance army White Fang. Quinze turns out to be the man who coordinated Operation Meteor, commissioning the five scientists to create the mighty Gundams, which were then dispatched to Earth to strike back at the terrestrial tyrants. But when he and the scientists at last confront each other, he accuses them of subverting his plan and changing the orders given to the Gundam pilots. This begs the question of what the original plan was. In ENDLESS WALTZ, we at last find out.

The redesigned Wing Zero and Deathscythe are among Katoki Hajime's more awesome and fear-inspiring designs to date.

To be sure, it is a little slippery of the creators to insert a new character into the back story of Operation Meteor, claiming that Quinze was but a lackey of an even more devious and mysterious villain. But once this hitherto-shadowy figure steps to the fore and explains his grand plan, many stray pieces of the puzzle fall neatly into place. And while the continuing flashbacks show how each of the Gundam pilots and their patron scientists rejected the genocidal blueprint for the true Operation Meteor, the heroes fight in the present tense to prevent it from happening this time around.
By the time viewers see the beginning of the third and final installment, "Return to Forever," they will have learned the great mysteries and watched all the maneuvering. Now all that remains is to reunite the Gundams and their pilots, and for the faithful viewers to bear witness to the epic battle they have been patiently waiting for. As expected, it is not until this final episode that all five Gundams appear on the scene, but viewers will no doubt be gratified to see that all five are "packing extra cans of whup-ass." In particular, the Heavy Arms' flamboyant entrance should tickle Trowa fans.

Once presumed dead, Zechs reappears and fights alongside our heroes as a member of "Preventer".

Even more impressive is that the resolution of the story keeps within GUNDAM W's philosophical themes. Though there is a hefty helping of heavy metal head-banging, the combination of force, persuasion, and courageous self-sacrifice is what ultimately resolves the crisis. Even bloody-minded Heero learns from Relena's example that sometimes the best way to win a battle is not to fight. And rather than derailing the human race's newfound striving for universal peace, the events of ENDLESS WALTZ ultimately spur the characters to make their commitment to peace a total and irreversible one.
While I'm sad that this appears to close the book on the GUNDAM W universe, I'm nonetheless pleased that the people of this world are actually making progress towards a better future rather than being trapped in an endless cycle of bloody but merchandising-friendly wars. Kudos to the creators for having the courage and persistence to stick to their philosophical guns.

The protagonists pound the enemy forces with their nigh-indestructable Gundams.

What else is there to say? The animation quality, storytelling and other production elements remain top-notch throughout — perhaps the three month interval between episodes helped the staff avoid that dreaded sophomore slump. Mecha buffs will gasp in awe at the revamped Wing Gundam Zero, and special effects, like the visual distortion caused by clashing beam sabers, give GUNDAM 0083 a run for its money.
And for those who are wondering, the later episodes go even further than the first one in finding ways to shoehorn the maximum amount of story into the allotted thirty minutes. There is still no opening and no eyecatch, and now they are even running the credits over crucial plot points. Fortunately the last volume includes no-credits versions of the endings of episodes 2 and 3, giving us a clearer look at a couple of minor characters whom we might otherwise have given up for dead. Verily, 'tis the sugary glaze on the cherry that sits atop the whipped cream that adorns this great big sundae of fun for GUNDAM W fans.

GUNDAM W: ENDLESS WALTZ VOLUME 2: OPERATION METEOR Copyright © Sotsu Agency, Sunrise VC: BEAL-978 - 25 April 1997, ¥4800 CAV LD: BES-1573 - 25 April 1997, ¥4800 Both formats 30 minutes stereo GUNDAM W: ENDLESS WALTZ VOLUME 3: RETURN TO FOREVER Copyright Sotsu Agency, Sunrise VC: BEAL-979 - 25 July 1997, ¥4800 CAV LD: BES-1574 - 25 July 1997, ¥4800 Both formats 34 minutes stereo