The fake McDonalds here is a different fake McDonalds than the one in Zeta. I don't know what to do with that information.
This one opens with a police detective grilling Chris with a very on-the-nose description of why the feds are evil. They play scary music over it but he's 100% right about everything and I think that's supposed to be the takeaway. Chris does not "get it" in her position as unknowing antagonist in this story she's just a careerist soldier.
Now just in case you think the guys fighting for Zeon kinda being more sympathetic means Zeon is good in this one:
- Of course not why would you think that.
- The new Zeon bad guy is comically evil to the point that his name is literally "Killing" and he's going to nuke everyone. The two things that made me laugh this time were this dude's name and the incredible fake German accent guy who shows up later.
So the rest is good character conflict stuff where Al has matured enough to see the artifacts of war he once coveted are horrific and is the only one who defaults to having the good sense to want to try and save everyone instead of running. Bernie has to be convinced to fight the Gundam by seeing a drunk lady. This is good stuff I like this.