McMurdo Barriston (マクマード・バリストン?) is a character that appears in the Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS television series.
Personality & Character[]
Despite being the leader of Teiwaz, which is rumored to be run like a mafia, McMurdo is an amicable person. Hospitable and respectable, he takes a liking to the Tekkadan crew, specifically Orga, accepting him as a member of Teiwaz brass via Sakazuki blood oath, and Mikazuki, whose piloting skills impressed him. He acts as a doting grandfather to Tekkadan, and muses that they are growing up in most amusing ways. He is also someone who honors his promises once he makes them.
McMurdo can be blunt, speaking honestly and objectively about current events and their repercussions, if only to inform people so that they may make informed decisions.
Despite his reasonable disposition, he does not allow his emotions to blind him, showing pragmatic business practices. Looking out for Teiwaz and his personal interest is his top priority and he is willing to make deals with opposition parties if it suits his purposes, even if it means discarding his own subordinates.
He can be sympathetic with his subordinates, as shown when he agreed to take in the former members of the Turbines in order to make Naze happy, but he is also cold with traitors as shown when he left Jasley to his fate. Despite Tekkadan leaving him, he was happy to see their loyalty to Naze and did not hold it against them.
Skills & Abilities[]
History[]
323 P.D[]
He is introduced to Orga and Kudelia by Naze, who took a liking to the crew of Tekkadan. He talks with Kudelia and warns her that her path to equality for the people of Mars will lead to a lot of bloodshed, and that he would support her if she was ready to follow through. Though he wanted an answer quickly he understood that it was a tough decision and gave her some respite. After Kudelia agreed, he oversaw the sakazuki between Orga and Naze which was proof of their new bond of brotherhood.
He gave Tekkadan a delivery mission to the Dorts colonies, fully aware that the client was sending weaponry in order to drag Kudelia into a war and have her killed. He sent Naze and the Turbines with them. After the war started, he called Nobliss and warned him not to cut down a money tree. After Tekkadan completed their journey to Earth, he took an oath of brotherhood with Orga.
325 P.D[]
McMurdo became a partner of the Admoss Company led by Kudelia and benefitted from the halfmetal that was mined from Mars. After Tekkadan wiped out the Dawn Horizon Corps, he gifted them a mine. He was also seen trying to fend off Jasley's jealous remarks about Naze and Tekkadan.
Jasley eventually got tired of having his arguments deflected by McMurdo and framed the Turbines, causing Gjallarhorn to go after them which resulted in Naze's death. McMurdo knew what was going on but couldn't afford to get involved with Gjallarhorn, though in his final conversation with Naze he agreed to take in all his people and reorganize them into Turbine's ranks. He then arranged for Naze's funeral, much to Jasley's annoyance. When Jasley tried to convince him not to, McMurdo hinted at Jasley's betrayal. This further irritated Jasley and he plotted to kill McMurdo along with Tekkadan. McMurdo would outsmart Jasley and get into contact with Rustal Elion, who was the superior of Jasley's contact: Iok Kujan. He made a deal with Rustal which forced Iok to cut ties with Jasley, leaving Jasley to fight the enraged Tekkadan fleet alone. The desperate Jasley would contact McMurdo for help, but he told him he knew about his betrayal and to deal with his own mess. He then complemented Tekkadan on avenging Naze.
Relationships[]
Naze Turbine[]
Naze requested admission into Teiwaz with the goal of supporting his ever-growing family, something that McMurdo approved of. McMurdo got along with him very well, irritating some of the other members of Teiwaz. They were close enough that McMurdo held a funeral for the deceased Naze despite the Turbines becoming an illegal organization, as well as bringing in the Turbines' surviving members into a new transport division under his control. Jasley Donomikols once even mused that Naze was McMurdo's favorite 'son'.
Mikazuki Augus[]
Mikazuki was present during McMurdo's first meeting with Kudelia Aina Bernstein. McMurdo took an instant liking to Mikazuki after hearing his advice for Kudelia, and offers to overhaul the Gundam Barbatos, calling it the whim of an old man. After Mikazuki's victory over the mobile armor Hashmal, McMurdo invited him to his office for snacks and small talk, and congratulated him on his skills.
Gallery[]
Official Art[]
Screencaps[]
Notes and Trivia[]
- McMurdo Barriston's voice actor, Unshō Ishizuka, also voiced Aimzat Kartral in After War Gundam X, Gerhart Schmitzer in Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front, Sergei Smirnov in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Yonem Kirks in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
- McMurdo marks Unshou Ishizuka's last role in the Gundam franchise prior to his passing.