Definitely not peer pressure. I won't lie, I wasn't initially too impressed by episode 1. I was like "oh hey, this is pretty neat. A story told from the perspective of a kid." Around the time Al joined the Zeon soldiers, I was hooked and really emotionally invested in the story. Poor Bernie. Poor poor Bernie. I really liked him. Christie, I initially liked but as the focus shifted from her to Bernie, I definitely started liking him more. Both were cool though.
I liked the captain alot. Steiner, I think his name was? Nice guy but tough. That show was a god damned tragedy.
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"Don't freeze up girl, you're looking quite a sight." - Adam Ant.
"Baby, can you dig your man? He's a righteous man." - Larry Underwood