So it seems that Soma is Marie permanently stuck in her "Hallelujah" mode. Not a twist I can say I expected, but it might be very interesting to see her have a breakdown like Allelujah always had last season turning him into a bloodthirsty slaughterer. The only difference is that when Soma eventually turns back into Marie, she'll be the exact opposite. I guess her yellow eyes make sense too now.

Lyle does intend to double up or use any and all CB missions to the best use of Kataron, no surprise there.

I don't know how much of Marina "Why can't there be peace?" Ismail I will be able to stand if this is going to last all season. However, I loved Setsuna's line to Saji about how Saji's perfect world was just a selfish ignorance about the real world. I half expected Setsuna to say, "Only where you lived." It seems like they will slowly be converting Saji to the understanding of how the real world works.

This does leave me wondering when or if they will ever be explaining how Louise got her hand back and joined A-LAWS. I know she is barely even a secondary character, but for such an equally huge change as last season, I think we have earned a little explaination sooner than midway through the season.

As for the superior enemy mobile suits, there's always the possibility that Billy, striken with grief over Sumeragi, may end up tuning up a few of the Aheads. I also suspect that Nena, in her super sparkle pilot suit, has an equally improved Throne Gundam hidden away. Once Wang Liu Mei turns on CB (and she definitely will) the Gundams will have something to contest with again.