這一集是全劇的關鍵轉折點，也是情感張力最高的一話。故事逐漸逼近高潮，角色之間的羈絆開始與戰爭任務直接衝突，鋪墊了最終的悲劇性結局。

劇情方面，獨眼巨人隊在潛入「里伯」後接連遭遇挫折。前幾集的行動雖勉強進行，但隨著時間推進，戰況越來越不利。到這一集時，獨眼巨人隊已經幾乎全滅，巴尼成為小隊唯一的倖存者。失去戰友的他，心中充滿無力與茫然，卻又不得不背負「摧毀聯邦新鋼彈」的使命。

在阿爾的視角裡，他依舊將這一切視為「冒險」或「遊戲」，甚至為能幫助巴尼而感到興奮。但觀眾能清楚感受到，這份天真正在與殘酷的現實形成強烈落差。阿爾並不知道，巴尼心中其實明白這幾乎是一場必死的任務。雖然如此，巴尼仍選擇踏上戰場，不僅是作為士兵的責任，更是因為他與阿爾之間建立的羈絆，讓他不願讓這個孩子失望。

另一方面，克莉絲作為聯邦軍的測試駕駛員，也即將正式投入戰鬥。她原本只是臨時擔任駕駛，但情勢的惡化讓她不得不駕駛新型鋼彈，與即將來襲的吉翁殘兵正面交鋒。諷刺的是，克莉絲與巴尼彼此並不知道對方的真實身份——兩人分別是敵對軍陣營的駕駛員，卻同時又是阿爾生命中最親近的存在。

在演出層面，第五話大量運用「日常」與「末日」的對比。阿爾依然天真無邪，甚至為了幫助巴尼而充滿熱情，但同時，戰爭的陰影卻已經徹底籠罩殖民地。動畫中多次出現殖民地內平靜的街景、孩子們的生活，與巴尼孤獨準備作戰的場景交錯對比，這種張力強化「戰爭奪走日常」的主題。集末，巴尼最終下定決心，準備單獨挑戰新鋼彈，而這一切也為最後一話的悲劇作了最沉重的鋪墊。

市場評價方面，〈告訴我你在說謊，巴尼〉被認為是全作情感最為壓抑的一集。許多觀眾指出，這一集完美展現了《口袋裡的戰爭》作為「反戰作品」的深度：戰爭不是英雄的舞台，而是迫使普通人做出無法迴避的殘酷選擇。巴尼與克莉絲之間的「宿命對決」更被視為鋼彈系列最令人揪心的橋段之一。評論家普遍認為，這一話徹底打破了傳統機器人動畫的浪漫幻想，將觀眾帶入戰爭的冰冷現實，為最終的結局累積了極大的情感張力。

總體而言，第五話〈告訴我你在說謊，巴尼〉是鋪墊悲劇的經典篇章。它不僅將阿爾、巴尼、克莉絲三人命運之間的矛盾推到極致，更讓觀眾在心裡做好了準備，卻依然無法逃避接下來的心碎衝擊。

The fifth episode of Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, subtitled “Say it Ain't So, Bernie!,” marks the dramatic turning point of the OVA. First broadcast in 1989, this episode drives the narrative into its most tragic and irreversible stage, as the bonds of friendship, trust, and innocence begin to collapse under the weight of war.

In the story, the Cyclops Team faces the critical stage of their mission. Their goal of destroying the Federation’s prototype Gundam pushes them into increasingly desperate measures. Bernie, now the last surviving member of the unit, finds himself burdened with the task of carrying out an impossible mission alone. His inexperience, coupled with the crushing realization of what lies ahead, forces him to mature rapidly. Despite his fear, he resolves to act, believing that it is the only way to prove himself as a soldier.

At the same time, Al begins to sense that the war is not the adventure he once imagined. The excitement of espionage and secret missions gives way to confusion and dread as he starts to understand the true consequences of conflict. His idolization of Bernie begins to blur with fear of losing him, and for the first time, Al questions the meaning of war and heroism.

Meanwhile, Chris’s role as the Gundam’s test pilot intensifies. She is fully drawn into her duties as a soldier, her perspective now shaped by the looming threat of Zeon’s attack. What she doesn’t realize is that the enemy pilot she may soon face is none other than Bernie—the young man whom Al adores and whom she herself knows only as a kind neighbor. The cruel irony of this setup foreshadows the devastating climax of the series.

Thematically, this episode highlights the illusion of choice in war. Bernie believes he has no alternative but to fight, while Chris feels bound to her duty as a Federation soldier, and Al is trapped between admiration, fear, and helplessness. The personal lives of all three characters—once seemingly separate from the grand scale of war—are now completely consumed by it.

From a directorial standpoint, the pacing of Episode 5 is deliberate and foreboding. Long silences, lingering shots of the colony’s peaceful setting, and the juxtaposition of everyday scenes with preparations for battle amplify the tragedy that is about to unfold. The episode functions as the calm before the storm, emphasizing inevitability rather than action.

In terms of reception, Episode 5 is widely regarded as one of the most heartbreaking chapters of the OVA. Fans and critics alike praise how it builds unbearable tension, knowing that Bernie and Chris are set on a collision course without either of them realizing the truth. Many point out that Al’s growing despair encapsulates the series’ anti-war theme most poignantly: through the eyes of a child, the romanticized image of war collapses into devastating reality.

Overall, “Say it Ain't So, Bernie!” is the emotional crucible of War in the Pocket. It strips away the last illusions of adventure, revealing the devastating consequences of conflict on individuals caught between duty and personal bonds. By the end of this episode, the viewer is fully aware that tragedy is inevitable—making the OVA’s final installment all the more impactful.