The betrayal of Garma Zabi is a pivitol moment for Char Aznable. It wasn't just a first step. It was not simply just revenge against a father who killed his own. These are all true, but also part false. Why did Char really end the ill-fated prince of Zeon? : A Thread

As portrayed in the original series, Char's targeting of Garma Zabi seemingly comes out of nowhere. An attempt to disconnect his communication and remove his support, leaving him to fend for himself against the Trojan Horse and it's White Devil. Many viewers ask, why.

The answer to which would, in part, be revealed just five episodes later. Revenge.

I want to ask a different question, one that will help us see Char with more clarity. Not 'Why', but instead: 'Why now?'

While at first glance, Char's betrayal may seem like a long-planned conspiracy, it is evident from the fallout of the event (and how it could, and did, set him back) that it was done more in the spur of the moment.

So then, my take on the matter:
Char had been climbing ranks in the military with only the vaguest ideas of eventually getting even with the Zabi Family. No concrete plans to do so what-so-ever. He becomes friends with Garma Zabi as a means to get to Degwin and Gihren.

(The two Zabis most likely to be involved with the assassination of his father) Of course, keeping Garma at arms-length. As Char became more and more of a noteworthy ace, his priority were slowly... distracted. He was the best pilot Zeon had in his eyes, he could bide his time.

Until Side 7 and the ensuing encounters with the White Devil. That was a shock to his ego, it reminded him of the urgency of his initial goal, and how he had been slacking.

It was then he decided to recommit himself to his revenge plot and to prove so by killing Garma Zabi.

While Garma was not complicit in the assassination of Deikun, he was the easiest way for Char to prove to himself that he could do what he had desired. To prove he could take revenge and intended on doing so.

What I am proposing is that the murder of Garma by Char was done completely for the sake of his damaged ego received from his encounters versus Amuro. To remind himself that he was serious about his plans and could do them.

Char gained nothing from Garma's death and infact, only puts himself at risk of discovery. It would make more sense to continue to use Garma to get closer to the guilty parties, but Char is not acting here on reason. He is satisfy an emotional need.

I kinda don't know how to end this, but I'll leave this on a few disclaimers. I wanted to isolate Char's motives to 0079 and ignore the additional and slightly distorted motivations presented in The Origin, CDA, Zeta, and CCA. Each adds their own context to a very complicated man

And considering the distance between 0079 and Zeta (not to even mention The Origin) I can safely say that the additional context was certainly not planned in advance.

So consider this messy thread me seeing if I can even go back to thinking of Char as 'only just' the man we see in 0079 and think through his motives there.
END
RIP Garma

Let me know what you think. I might make a video on this in the future (I say, with 3 videos in my backlog.)