Patrick Zala

Patrick Zala (パトリック・ザラ, Patorikku Zara) is the Chairman of the PLANT Supreme Council in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and the father of Athrun Zala. Known for his hardline anti-Natural stance and extremist policies, Patrick serves as a primary antagonist whose actions escalate the First Alliance-PLANT War. His genocidal plans and uncompromising ideology contrast sharply with the more moderate leadership of Siegel Clyne.

Biography

Early political career

Patrick Zala was born in Cosmic Era 32 and became involved in PLANT politics, rising through the ranks to become a prominent member of the PLANT Supreme Council. His political career was shaped by his experiences as a Coordinator living under the threat of Natural persecution, leading him to develop a hardline stance against Naturals.

Patrick’s personality was marked by his uncompromising ideology and his belief that Coordinators must eliminate Naturals to ensure their own survival. His extremist views put him at odds with more moderate members of the PLANT Supreme Council, particularly Siegel Clyne, who advocated for peace and coexistence.

The Bloody Valentine War

The “Bloody Valentine” incident, in which the Earth Alliance launched a nuclear attack on the PLANT colony of Junius Seven, had a profound impact on Patrick. His wife, Lenore Zala, was killed in the attack, deepening his hatred for Naturals and solidifying his extremist beliefs. This personal tragedy became a driving force behind his hardline policies.

Patrick’s response to the Bloody Valentine attack was to pursue increasingly aggressive military actions against the Earth Alliance. His extremist policies and his desire for revenge led him to support measures that escalated the conflict, including the development and deployment of superweapons.

Leadership of the PLANT Supreme Council

Following the assassination of Siegel Clyne, Patrick became Chairman of the PLANT Supreme Council, consolidating power and implementing his extremist agenda. His leadership was characterised by hardline policies that prioritised military victory over peace negotiations, and his genocidal plans for Naturals demonstrated the extent of his extremism.

Patrick’s leadership style was authoritarian and uncompromising, with little tolerance for dissenting views. His policies put him at odds with more moderate factions within ZAFT and the PLANTs, creating internal conflicts that weakened the Coordinator cause.

Relationship with Athrun

Patrick’s relationship with his son, Athrun Zala, is complex and strained. Whilst Patrick initially supports Athrun’s service in ZAFT, their relationship deteriorates as Athrun begins to question ZAFT’s methods and Patrick’s extremist policies. Patrick’s uncompromising ideology and his genocidal plans create a conflict between father and son, as Athrun struggles to reconcile his loyalty to his father with his moral principles.

Athrun’s eventual defection from ZAFT represents a rejection of Patrick’s ideology, demonstrating the son’s growth beyond the father’s extremism. Their relationship serves as a central conflict in the series, exploring themes of generational conflict and the struggle between loyalty and morality.

Downfall and death

Patrick’s extremist policies and his genocidal plans ultimately lead to his downfall. His plans to use the GENESIS superweapon to destroy Earth and eliminate all Naturals represent the culmination of his extremist ideology. However, these plans are thwarted by the combined efforts of the Three Ships Alliance and moderate forces within ZAFT.

Patrick’s death occurs during the Battle of Jachin Due, where his genocidal plans are finally stopped. His death represents the end of the extremist leadership that had escalated the war, though the damage caused by his policies would continue to affect the Cosmic Era for years to come.

Personality & traits

Patrick is characterised by his extremist ideology, uncompromising nature, and deep hatred for Naturals. His personality is shaped by his experiences with persecution and the loss of his wife in the Bloody Valentine attack, leading him to believe that coexistence between Coordinators and Naturals is impossible. His authoritarian leadership style and his intolerance for dissenting views reflect his rigid worldview.

Patrick’s extremism drives his policies and his actions throughout the First Alliance-PLANT War, leading him to support measures that escalate the conflict and pursue genocidal plans. His character serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extremist ideology and the consequences of allowing hatred and revenge to guide political decisions.

Political philosophy

Patrick’s political philosophy is based on the belief that Coordinators and Naturals cannot coexist and that Coordinators must eliminate Naturals to ensure their own survival. This extremist ideology drives his policies and his actions, leading him to pursue genocidal plans and to reject peace negotiations in favour of military victory.

Patrick’s philosophy contrasts sharply with more moderate views, such as those held by Siegel Clyne, who advocated for peace and coexistence. His uncompromising stance and his genocidal plans represent the extreme end of the spectrum of responses to the Natural-Coordinator conflict.

Legacy

Patrick’s extremist leadership and his genocidal plans have a lasting impact on the Cosmic Era, contributing to the ongoing tensions between Coordinators and Naturals. His policies and his actions serve as a reminder of the dangers of extremist ideology and the consequences of allowing hatred and revenge to guide political decisions. His character contributes to the series’ exploration of the costs of extremism and the importance of moderation and compromise in resolving conflicts.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

External links

• Patrick Zala on the Gundam Wiki
• Patrick Zala on Wikipedia