Andrei Smirnov

Andrei Smirnov (アンドレイ・スミルノフ, Andorei Sumirinofu) was a Human Reform League (HRL) pilot in Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season, the son of Sergei Smirnov. His complicated relationship with his father, characterised by resentment over Sergei’s attention to Soma Peries, formed a central aspect of his character development throughout the series.

Biography

Early life and military service

Andrei Smirnov was born as the son of Sergei Smirnov, a respected HRL commander. Growing up in his father’s shadow, Andrei developed a complex relationship with Sergei, characterised by both admiration and resentment. His father’s military career and his commitment to duty often kept him away from home, creating distance between them.

Andrei followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the HRL military, though his motivations were influenced by both a desire to prove himself and a need to gain his father’s recognition. His military service placed him in a position to directly interact with his father, creating opportunities for both conflict and understanding.

Relationship with Sergei Smirnov

Andrei’s relationship with his father was complicated and strained. He resented Sergei’s attention to Soma Peries, a Super Soldier who served under his father’s command. Andrei viewed Soma as receiving the fatherly attention and guidance that he himself had been denied, creating jealousy and bitterness.

This resentment was compounded by the differing approaches to military service between father and son. Sergei’s pragmatic and compassionate leadership style contrasted with Andrei’s more rigid and sometimes harsh approach, reflecting their generational and philosophical differences.

Service in the Human Reform League

Andrei served as a Major in the HRL military during the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, participating in operations against Celestial Being and later serving with the A-LAWS organisation. His piloting skills made him an effective combatant, though his personal conflicts often influenced his decision-making.

Andrei’s military career was marked by his struggles to reconcile his duties with his personal feelings, particularly regarding his father. His service alongside Sergei created opportunities for their relationship to evolve, though their interactions remained tense and complicated.

A-LAWS service

After the formation of A-LAWS, Andrei continued his military service with the organisation, participating in its operations against Celestial Being and other threats. His role in A-LAWS placed him in a position where his personal conflicts and his military duties intersected, creating additional challenges for his character development.

Character development

Throughout the second season, Andrei’s character arc focused on his relationship with his father and his struggle to understand Sergei’s choices and motivations. His experiences in combat and his interactions with others gradually helped him develop a more nuanced understanding of his father’s character and his own role as a soldier.

Personality & traits

Andrei Smirnov was characterised by his resentment, determination, and conflicted feelings towards his father. He possessed strong military discipline and piloting skills, but his personal conflicts often influenced his behaviour and decision-making. His jealousy towards Soma and his frustration with his father’s attention created a complex emotional landscape for his character.

Despite his resentment, Andrei also demonstrated capacity for growth and understanding. His experiences throughout the series gradually helped him develop a more mature perspective on his relationship with his father and his own role in the conflict.

Skills & abilities

As a Major in the HRL military, Andrei possessed competent piloting skills and military discipline. His service record demonstrated his effectiveness as a combatant, though his personal conflicts sometimes affected his performance. His ability to operate various mobile suits, including the Tieren and GN-X, showed his adaptability as a pilot.

Relationships

Sergei Smirnov

Andrei’s relationship with his father was the central aspect of his character development. His resentment over Sergei’s attention to Soma, combined with their differing approaches to military service, created a complex dynamic between them. Throughout the series, their relationship evolved as both characters gained a better understanding of each other.

Soma Peries

Andrei’s jealousy towards Soma stemmed from his perception that she received the fatherly attention and guidance that he had been denied. This resentment influenced his interactions with her and contributed to the complexity of his character arc.

Mecha

Andrei piloted various HRL mobile suits throughout the series, including the MSJ-06II-A Tieren and the GNX-603T GN-X. His piloting skills made him effective with these units, though his personal conflicts sometimes affected his combat performance.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season

External links

• Andrei Smirnov on the Gundam Wiki