We Need To Put "Up to Interpretation" To Rest, For Good
It's been nearly 2 years since Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch From Mercury ended with Suletta & Miorine explicity married to each other, sharing a tender moment together among family and friends. Sapphics and yuri fans were given an absolute treat that is still a rarity these days: a mainstream anime that is centered around two queer women and their relationship, one that ended in them being married.
And yet, if you bring up Sulemio or The Witch From Mercury, there's a 90% chance someone will bring up "Up to Interpretation." And it almost always feels like it's just to downplay the relationship. Let's be clear: Bandai refusing to openly stand by and support the show they created is still a spineless move. But the reality of the statement has been so thoroughly twisted by bad actors and people with only a passing knowledge that there is a common belief that it was much worse than it actually was.
Bandai has never rejected or denied Sulemio, nor have they tried to bury the show and the relationship. They continue to create Sulemio merchandise, often specifically pairing the two of them together. They're putting out a spin-off manga featuring them later this month. And they have frequently talked about what a success the show and the gunpla was, how many new fans it has brought into the franchise and have featured it in SD Gundam and Super Robot Wars now. This may not be the 50 episode sequel series with Sulemio kissing and having sex on screen like some queer fans wanted, but that was never going to happen anyway. We know Bandai's Gundam lineup was full for a few years out regardless of the success of G-Witch, and if you're familiar with the franchise, you know that Bandai has hardly tried to bury the show to any extent.
Bandai's "Up To Interpretation" statement was literally just that: they said fans should interpret the show how they want. And the Witch From Mercury only has one good faith Interpretation of it's ending: Suletta and Miorine and married and in love. Anyone who isn't a bigot that keeps bringing up Bandai and the statement whenever Sulemio is discussed is merely doing the work for them. Continuing to bring it up is acting in just as much bad faith as the people who continue to argue the show and the girls aren't gay.
Don't allow G-Witch not being the perfect queer show you imagined in your head to lead you on the path that puts you on the side of bigots.