Silence is Golden ☆ Gilded Surfaces ☆ Silver and Gold
Silver Leaf ☆ Gold Leaf ☆ Fool's Gold

Episode Zero

Now, we go onto the manga. Going in order of events, the Gundam Wing: Episode Zero manga is first. It is accepted as full canon by some, as an author's note explains that the back stories presented in the book were intended to be animated into the Gundam Wing television show, but were cut following scheduling conflicts. Due to this, many fans like to take it as fact and thus began the belief of Trowa and Catherine being full-fledge, genetically related siblings.

In the manga, when Catherine was little she lost a younger brother when the wagon they were in with her parents exploded. From the pictures it looks as though both the parents were left in the explosion, while both children were thrown out of it. Some say that from a manga Gundam Wing: Episode Zero it is shown that they are in fact siblings. I'd like to believe this as well, but it is never said flat out in that manga.


In Gundam Wing: Episode Zero, Trowa's past is laid out. Despite that it is still vague on certain areas. It is known that in AC 190 he had been in a Mercenary Corps for a while - ever since he could remember actually. There he had no name and thus was called such. It was also in AC 190 did he meet a girl named Midii Une.

Some have speculated she might have been a younger version of Lady Une, but it is unlikely if the drawing style stays true from past to present. They look nothing alike even when both have their hair down.

It is later shown a flashback. If it is Trowa's it is uncertain, but highly likely.

In the flashback there is a family affected by war. A mother and father hold their daughter and son while in a carriage. A bombing raid occurs sending the carriage over. The parents lose hold of the baby boy and little girl. The boy is shown all alone and then it transcends to him when slightly older. At least that is what can be deduced from what is presented. That boy ends up being the Trowa we know during Operation Meteor. He is alone and thinks of space; therefore, he is obviously on Earth. One day Mercenaries find him and offer lets him come along with them.

Back to the present time he and Midii are off on the road with the Mercenaries. They pass by a circus. Trowa's interest seems peeked a bit and Midii questions if he is remembering something. He says he has nothing to remember. As they pass, though, a girl who is older than them is shown. She is Catherine Bloom. It is stated that she is the girl who had been thrown from the carriage in the flashback. That was nine years before. She belongs to the circus and hates war.

Now this could all be coincidental, but it is quite a coincidence. For those who think she is not his sister, it could be interpreted that the flashback was not Trowa's but merely something to prepare the reader for when Catherine shows up. Others will argue that there is no reason show Catherine at all if it doesn't back up the flashback to show they are indeed siblings.

Even more there is the case that it is only really in Gundam Wing: Episode Zero, in terms of television series and manga, does this idea really come up and thus has undergone much controversy due to the somewhat subtle portrayal. On television he does get to know her and they become close. Catherine called herself his older sister in a playful way when they first performed together. (In Japan it is common for a person somewhat younger than a person he or she looks up to or admires "Older brother" or "Older Sister". This can be reversed as well, where a person slightly older than his or her junior will fondly call them, "Little Brother" or "Little Sister".) Trowa never follows up on this other than when he truly believes she is his older sister when he lost his memory, and there is the possibility.

Many make sure to note that the manga displays only possible events that could have occurred in between the TV series and the OVA, Endless Waltz. Therefore, their relationship is still that of speculation. Until I am to find such things first hand, which I doubt in, I'm likely left in the speculation sphere, but still lack in the idea of him and Catherine being together. The subtle hints from the manga are actually glaring ones, but still I regress, it is not stated flat out.

From this, there is constant argue of whether they are siblings, lovers or friends. All that is known certainly is that Trowa and Catherine possess a tight bond from trust in accordance to the second article that appears after Trowa's Act in the manga. It reads at the following:


"2. The knife-throwing woman The relationship with Catherine...

When Trowa descends to Earth in Operation Meteor, he chooses the circus as his cover. As he spends time with Catherine, he begins to feel at peace in the circus. After he loses his memory, he calls Catherine his sister, but there is a possibility that they really are siblings. Catherine had a brother who was lost - actually, went missing - in the war, named Triton Bloom. And Trowa has a burn scar on his back that he didn't get in battle. The truth is unclear, but there does seem to be a bond of mutual understanding between them somehow."


People will note the "there is a possibility that they are really siblings" and take it as proof. The only problem is that those who see them as siblings see it as proof because to their eyes it hints even more that they are. Those who see them not as siblings will stress the usage of "possibility" to show that it is still not directly determined.

It also leaves question to why the writers decided to add in the word "possibility". Was it to make sure the readers didn't consider the two siblings due to how influential the scenes were? It seems pretty messed up really.


In any case, Catherine seems to have protective, sisterly feelings towards Trowa. She hates war. She lost her family to war. Now she finds a person who is just a boy fighting in it. This boy happens to be the same age range of the brother she lost due to war. So far, it looks like she sees her brother in Trowa. It just isn't flat out told whether he is or not. As for how Trowa sees Catherine... all we know from this is that he feels "at peace" around her and the circus.



☆ Main Page
☆ Silver and Gold
☆ Catherine