So MuvLuv takes place in an alternate universe where Berlin Got Nuked (Twice) and WW2 ended with Japan keeping the entire East Asian Co Prosperity Sphere- this is portrayed as a good thing. It was also forced to reform into a constitutional shogunate (There's... a Shogun who is essentially the SPIRITUAL LIEGE of Japan, but also an Emperor, but also a Prime Minister and democratic institutions). Then Aliens invaded, there was a moon war, and then they landed on earth. Most of Eurasia is controlled by the aliens except for the British Isles and (half) of Japan. Apparently there are only 1 Billion humans on earth. Also the entirety of Canada, like ALL OF IT, is a nuclear wasteland because the US nuked Athabaska when the aliens tried landing there.
So let's go down the list of "Very bad kinda upsetting nationalistic and militaristic things in MuvLuv", starting from that short summary.
-When the Aliens are overrunning southern Japan, US forces there engage them in the suburbs of Kyoto to give the Japanese military time to retreat and reform a defensive line. This is portrayed as a bad thing because "our historic buildings." The political fallout forces the US to pull out and Japan then goes "AMERICA ABANDONED US"
- The Japanese military is divided into the normal military and the IMPERIAL GUARDS. The normal military answers to the Prime Minister, and the IMPERIAL GUARDS, who only recruit from noble families and answer directly to the Shogun, get the best equipment and the most support.
- Japan develops its own mechs because its too proud to rely on American made ones. These mechs are portrayed as being ULTIMATE SUPER BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE's, but with the caveat that YOU NEED JAPANESE SPIRIT TO PILOT ONE CORRECTLY.
- So when the Aliens are overrunning, the father of a major character engages in a delaying action in Korea to let Korean civilians escape to Japan. He dies, and his family is demoted from the nobility for it, and is treated like dirt and traitors for putting the lives of Civilians ahead of the lives of Japanese Soldiers. I don't think any Korean characters appear in MuvLuv either.
- There's a military Coup in Japan, because the Imperial Guard and ultranationalist hardliners are mad at the UN and the US being in Japan to help them fight against the aliens. So they launch a Coup and kill the Prime Minister and try to restore absolute power to the Shogun. They're portrayed as wrong in their actions, but not wrong in their goals and that their deaths fighting against the counter coup and UN and American forces are Noble. Also, they kick the shit out of top of the line American F-22's with previous generation Japanese made mechs because of the earlier "JAPANESE SPIRIT".
- Now let's go to Europe. Apparently the French Revolution never happened. WW2 did, and despite Berlin getting nuked (TWICE), Germany still got split in half. Except West Germany became a 'Democratic' State but with nobles with actual power. France also had Nobles with actual power. As does the UK.
- The Stasi are portrayed as noble and tragic, hard men making hard decisions.
- Meanwhile, in Total Eclipse, a character who is half american and half japanese is told that he has to embrace his japanese heritage and abandon his american heritage to properly use a Japanese mecha. The show portrays this as right.
- In one timeline, things go wrong, and the US goes with plan "Fuck it, use super nukes on every alien hive." This goes... not good. In the aftermath, France and Canada team up to invade the US and fight them in about four wars. Meanwhile, Japan gets given Hawaii and a good chunk of the West Coast, including Seattle, as their own Sovereign territory.
-Every single thing to do with MuvLuv America. This deserves a list of its own, but the best summary of it is "Wow, the CIA makes COBRA look competent and Lawful Good!"
