"I'm sorry..." Snap! The Moment Char's Pride is Hurt and He Cuts Off a Subordinate's Apology in "Mobile Suit Gundam"

"Who do you think I am?" -- This line might have revealed a bit of Char's irritation. In episode 32 of the anime "Mobile Suit Gundam," the interaction between Char Aznable (CV: Shuichi Ikeda) and his former subordinate Dren (CV: Ichiro Nagai) regarding the movements of the White Base is depicted, and through that brief "moment," the human-like nature of Char Aznable can be glimpsed.

The battlefield once again shifts to space, with Char leading the battleship Zanzibar to pursue the White Base. In this episode, the strategy involves leaving the interception of the White Base to the Camel Fleet, led by former subordinate Captain Dren.

In the communication sent from Zanzibar to Dren, Char orders, "With your fleet's position, you can capture the head of the Trojan Horse." Dren promptly agrees, replying, "Understood." He then continues by asking, "Can you catch up?" To which Char, without batting an eyelash, replies, "Dren, who do you think I am?"

If you only hear this line, it sounds confidently boastful, but when Dren immediately apologizes with "I'm sorry" and starts to say "Colonel," Char wordlessly cuts off the communication with a snap.

It was supposed to be a mere exchange of work-related messages, but it comes across as oddly surreal and subtly humorous. Even though Char's expression didn’t change, there might have been something that pricked his pride in that brief moment. The way the scene is timed offers such intriguing speculation that makes it remarkable.