first of all i want to point out i like both Shinn and Kira as characters and no i won't pick a favourite..

Freedom got wrecked that much is certain, lots of debris floating in the ocean as you can see in the ending shots
although reality and common sense state that Kira can't possibly be alive we also have seen him survive a similar
scene back in GS (Athrun/Kira fight where Athrun self destructed), that plus the fact there's info about a new and improved Freedom i think we haven't seen the last of Kira

from the flashes of the coming episodes i assume that the Destiny Gundam will finally make it's appearance
so Shinn will get Destiny, Impulse is passed on the whomever, i don't care to much about that
concluding from episodes 33 and 34 it looks like Athrun got some sense knocked back into him
Gladys' statements and Kira's presumed death should have created a shock big enough for him to come back to reality and be the skilled pilot he obviously was back in GS

to conclude, i'm happy for Shinn and hope he finds some piece in his heart now, the boy really needs it
Rey needs to stop fuelling Shinn's rage (yes yes he fuels it just listen to what he says to Shinn all the time)
and Kira will most likely be back with a brand new suit, and i'm very anxious to see Shinn's reaction when and if he recognizes the pilot and suit he'll be fighting once more (well most likely be fighting once more)

Originally posted by: FelixZeroAlastor
I am pretty sure that Athrun can open his seed at will just like Kira. Just noone has given him reason enough to do it yet. Cagalli... I'm not sure about her. One thing is for sure though. When those seeds open then they better come with a serious can of ass whooping for whoever they are opening them for cause they need to make up for not doing it these past 34 episiodes. Man how I still wish Cagalli went seed on Shinn when he decided to butcher the orb ships. Would've been interesting but didn't happen... oh well.
to be honest, and this is not just a Shinn fanboy comment, Shinn would've whooped Cagalli's ass if it was one on one, because i really think that you can't compare Shinn and Cagalli as mobile suit pilots
it's true that Cagalli fought at Yakin Due (sp??) and killed some folks and even went Seed there
but based on actual fighting experience you have to admit that Shinn has the advantage over Cagalli
but ofcourse we saw in this episode experience isn't everything because the more experienced Kira (which i still think him to be) lost to Shinn

Originally posted by: antoine
They're mixing up seed colors for some reason because last time I saw Kira going into seed mode Athrun's green seed was shown.
that's not true actually
last time we actually saw Kira's seed pop was in episode 32, the Destroy fight and it clearly is purple (11:15 on episode 32)