Code Geass R2 – The unintentional cruelty of Lelouch
Ep 21-23 had me believing that CG R2 was hurling towards a GSD-class wreckage. In those eps, I saw the classic SUNRISE syndrome of plot driving cast - characters making choices inconsistent with their motivations just so that the story could be steered into "WTF!?" territory. The tale, it seems, was no longer a culmination of coherent choices made by credible characters but confluence of convenient circumstances conjured by the very cynical in SUNRISE. (Yeah, the usual Gundam fare of ridiculous mecha upgrades, secret ultimate weapons and reckless/unconvincing shifts of allegiances.) If I was to judge R2 from those eps, I'd wish Code Geass never happen. (Sorry Kaguya chan! I meant almost..).
But ep 24-25 turned those thoughts around, rescued mainly by Lelouch/Nunnally exchanges and Lelouch death. Lelouch's death signified a breakthrough in SUNRISE pensmanship. I wished they has possessed the same testicular fortitude with Mai HiME's end. The only way for Lelouch to retain any shred of dignity as a man was to atone for his sins through meaningful sacrifice. And surely it was the most painful of paths he chose, denying all to build the 'perfect' world for Nunnaly. While Lelouch exhibited a seemingly noble and almost selfless love for his precious sister, I thought the truer tragedy was his failure to grasp, in turn, the extent of Nunnaly's love/need of him.
I understand the motivations behind Zero Requiem and indeed it may have seemed sound after the Charles/Marianne's revelation in C world. Given that Lelouch has presumed his sister dead and that Marianne has turned out to be an immensely selfish mother while in cahoots with his hated father, Lelouch was left with completing what he set out to do if only to make Nunnaly/Euphemia/Shirley's deaths worthwhile. But the subsequent discovery of Nunnaly should nullify the justifications for Zero Requiem, at least for Lelouch. Maybe that's what got Lelouch into this mess anyway - his failure to realise what was truly important to Nunnaly. Nunnaly didn't need a gentler world. She just need to be with her oniisama. If Nunnaly had to choose between heaven without Lelouch or hell with her oni-oniisama, she'd undoubtedly choose the latter without batting a lid (Not like it's something she does often actually.) Lelouch, through Zero Requiem, you have been more cruel to Nunnaly than yourself and caused her more pain than any person or evil system, could possibly inflict.
Zero Requiem may have finally created the utopia befitting of Nunnaly's smile but never again would true joy grace her blessed countenance for a world wrought through the deep sins and untold sacrifice of her very dear brother. May Lelouch's soul find rest in harem-spinoffs from a tanuki's fantasies.
Related posts:
Recent Comments
- Sora no woto 6 (3)
- Jesus159159159: almost...
- Crusader: You will...
- Sora no woto 5 (13)
- Crusader: I’d...
- Bakemonogatari 14 (2)
- ghostlightning: I...
- abao: lawl…...
Series & Themes
Maki Maki Blogroll
- byakuya
- moe moe rabu
- scrumptious
- yuri goggles
- moe for moe?
- josh's anime blog
- blue fox alley
- incredible nothing!
- tenka seiha
- wakaranai
October 4th, 2008 - 15:41
So it’s okay if the world is bad, as long as your little sister is happy?
October 4th, 2008 - 16:57
epi 25 was lovely.
Best part for me was the Nunnally parts where she went: Here you go brother~ *in happy and sweet tone* + taken abit when Zero leapt onto the platform where she’s chained + osmosis(??) of memories from Lelouch
Lelouch was alrdy on the path of no return. Good thing he finished the job and didnt stop at Damocles to elope with his sister to enjoy simplicity instead. That would have been the WTF ending for me, hahaha.
Knowing human nature, pple will soon blame beyond Damocles, i.e., on those who invented or fired the bombs. Lelouch might as well bring those to hell with him.
Anyway, I dont think Lelouch will execute plan requiem in the first place if he cannot become eternal
But, World of C totally changed that perception/restriction. And I suppose Nunnally might realise that from the memory osmosis(??) too. Otherwise there’s always Suzaku to explain to Nunnally slowly during his lifetime.
October 4th, 2008 - 18:17
I totally agree the last two episodes (mainly the fabulous finale) helped garner much more enthusiasm toward the show from this viewer. The scene where Nunally gives up the Fleia Key with that sweet voice was absolutely stunning. It was as if Nunally’s feelings (non-incestuous) at that very moment went from liking her brother to hating him cause he dared to geass her. While watching the first season I would’ve never guessed that such a showdown would occur with Lulu being utterly cruel and Nunally coming of her shell showing humane colors. Thats why I love Sunrise they usually hire writers with guts who don’t mind soiling their characters as long as they can tell a good story. If and thats a big IF Mai-Hime had such a hard-hitting ending…it would’ve been put on top of many people’s untouched top anime pedestal, it would’ve been godly with that crazy momentum. Alas nothing is perfect aye?
October 4th, 2008 - 19:09
I found the siblings identical in a sense. Both felt that they would gather up all the world’s hate in one place/person in order to achieve a peace. In episode 23, both had resolved to face each other in battle, even if it meant destroying the other. Although, I’m sure that Lelouche had intended to try to keep Nunnally alive.
Although Lelouche’s original plan was to make a world that Nunnally could freely live in, it probably changed dramatically during the second half of the second season. He lost Shirley, almost lost Nunnally, Rolo, and he probably felt something for Guilford’s sacrifice (or at least for the message left behind). In the end, the Zero Requiem’s purpose was for the whole world, rather than Nunnally. It became clear when speaking to Charles that Lelouche felt that he must bring the world to tomorrow. Granted, he thought that he had already lost Nunnally then. However, from what I understood, the Zero Requiem was designed after Lelouche became Emperor. So I think Nunnally was out of the picture in the first place. Lelouche faltered a bit upon learning about Nunnally, but it was Suzaku who set Lelouche back in his place in episode 23. They both just had to hope that Nunnally would survive in the end.
Hope that made sense. I think my mind jumped around a bit…
October 4th, 2008 - 21:17
Sixten: It really depends what you can do about it. And if you are in a position to act, it would be imperative not to allow the process corrupt the very motivations you began with, which was what hijacked Lelouch and Suzaku in this case.
crimson: Code Geass victim/users appear to share out-of-body experience upon touch. While I’m relieved that Nunnaly finally realise Lelouch’s love and noble plan, it may actually be less cruel for her not to know the truth. I’m torn here. Not sure whether ignorance or knowledge would be the lesser of evils for Nunnaly. But the one thing I’m certain is that it is Lelouch himself who place Nunnaly in this position. To believe the brother a demon who was evil-incarnate or to live with the life-long guilt that her selfless visionary brother sacrificed all for her. Either way it’s cruel.
Ivy: SUNRISE’s pen has the history of floundering when it came to killing off their leads. (Shinn of GSD should have died to salvage whatever shred of dignity he has as a man.) I’m of the strong suspicion that toy sales (pressure from their parent company – Bandai) is a factor. Otherwise unleashed, they spin a terrific tale, even if it weren’t always coherent. XD
Asrialys: Zero Requiem was designed to remake the world and indeed as you mentioned it conceived with the knowledge that Lelouch has nothing else to live for (ie Nunnaly dead). But that should change with the fact that Nunnaly was alive. I lament that he did not realise that whatever the state of affairs, Nunnaly’s first and foremost wish was to be with Lelouch. If we break it down, Lelouch’s basest reason for executing Zero Requiem was for Nunnaly. But to continue with that plan with Nunnaly being alive, would rob Nunnaly of the bliss/joy that Lelouch so yearned for the sister. Kind of self-defeating isn’t it?
Still it made for a compelling and memorable tale.
October 4th, 2008 - 23:10
But I don’t think that anything would have changed upon the appearance of Nunnally. It just made the Zero Requiem be about the world plus one more. I think the focus of episode 23 was to show that Lelouche wouldn’t back down from his (new) ultimate goal, as it involved all major characters aboard the Avalon, especially Suzaku. Throwing it away for Nunnally would have been selfish (although the end can be considered a bit selfish too) and probably provide for a far worse result in regards to the world. After Charles’ defeat, Lelouche was already set to make the world hate him, and he did a good job doing it. But then choosing to live in the end would break the promise he made for the Zero Requiem. Allowing him to live would probably set up contradictions between the people of the world, instead of having them focus on peace. There’s no way he’d be able to justify his actions and still go on living. Even if he was imprisoned for life, people would know that he’s still alive. And of course, Nunnally would still support him regardless, and that could eventually put a stain on her, something Lelouche wouldn’t dare wish. And faking his death just seems cheesy
Lelouche chose to atone for his sins the only way he thought most effective: to be publicly executed as an all-powerful tyrant by a symbol that seemingly never fell from the side of justice. Lelouche took all the blame and made sure it fell on no one else.
October 5th, 2008 - 00:51
I really liked ep 25, the insert song continued story, mixed with the chants of Zero and nunnally’s painful really left a massive impact when i watched the finally that is Code Geass.
To me Lelouch realised that he has gotten his hands tangled far too deep and that it can no longer be about just Nunnally anymore. Too many lifes have been lost and sacrifices made that he can no longer look just at nunnally anymore.
That is ultimately what Zero requiem was about, to mourn the loss that incurred due to Lelouch’s crusade to create a peaceful world, by ultimately creating one with his death. Irony at it’s best.
October 5th, 2008 - 01:03
I think for this case, I’ll rather let Nunnally know at the end of the plan instead of keeping it from her for as long as possible only for her to find out truth later, whereby, the gap from “end of incident” to “ono the truth!” she had alrdy spent o so many years cursing and stabbing her deceased bro’s voodoo doll.
Lucky for Lelouch, Nunnally decided to touch him and got the facts directly from him. If Nunnally cant deal with the truth….that’s why she’s still got years to flourrrish
On a side note, wished there’s such technology….but I think you can only use it when you have nothing to hide
Ignorant is bliss.
But I felt they had concealed an important adjective for this type of bliss.
Ignorance is only ignorant bliss.
If Nunnually knows the whole picture, I suppose she’ll be able to establish all her emotions and memories on the right foundations instead. That cannot be cruel except for those who have yet to learn to deal with it.
So let’s say Lelouch is now an incorrigible demon pretending to be a saviour but Suzaku saw thru it and slew Lelouch instead, should Nunnally know that his brother was actually a demon?
uhm…technically yes she should, but as a selfish person, my initial thought is that I hope a gust of wind whisks Lelouch’s corpse away so Nunnally dont get the facts this time.
But for 20 years to come, Nunnally might be hailing her evil bro as a hero and decorating him in celebrative colours (and if you love drama, Nunnally’s gonna let her hair down and go wild to plot for Suzaku’s massacre, wooohooooo).
What her evil bro need is colours of repentance, not celebrative colours. After considering the future scenario, I backtrack and say yes she should know the truth.
October 5th, 2008 - 06:25
The ending really did improve my overall impression of the show, especially after everything that happened mere weeks before. I guess you could say that Nunnally did end up losing out in the end, but I suppose the ending needed something bittersweet to go along with it. After all, most everyone else was happy.
October 5th, 2008 - 14:16
Is this another imouto rant?
Lelouch and Suzaku, after the thought elevator incident, pacted to make the world a better place (or the so called Nunnally and Euphy’s world).
I guess he did the “greatest good for the greatest number”. He probably didn’t realize that Nunnally could mind read anyway.
If this was a harem, Lelouch should have went away and lived a quiet life with Shirley. XD
October 5th, 2008 - 14:27
I have to say that I’m beliving that Code Geass ended in this way:
It’s just something to think about
October 6th, 2008 - 16:44
But he still made her cry.
October 6th, 2008 - 20:42
@flaskis
Delicious copypasta is delicious.
Not that I disagree. CC is a little too happy that her reason for living on is dead.
October 8th, 2008 - 23:20
Poor Nunnally now that her nii-san is dead she can be happy no more, I’d cry but that would mean that I actually gave a damn. Beautiful as Lulu’s death was with that revolving door of death and his slaughter of a greater part of the world population I can’t particularly say that I was moved.
Well Geass is dead Long Live Gundam 00!
-Introduce a little anarchy
October 10th, 2008 - 09:58
Asrialys: Zero Requiem was sent in motion for Nunnaly, for her smile but executing Zero Requiem with Nunnaly alive would erase that. I think ultimately Lelouch utterly underestimated Nunnaly’s love for him. Sometimes, nothing hurts more than a loved one sacrificing and suffering injustice for your sake
crimson: I’m with you that Nunnaly should know the truth too. The problem here is that she’s forced to choose between 2 very hurtful representations of Lelouch. The demon who united the world or the loving brother who endured the world’s hatred to give his sister a future. The latter’s result guilt may be more crippling than Charles’ geass.
ETERNAL: Lelouch’s death was a powerful moment for me. Who’d thought the SUNRISE to rise to the occasion and kill off their much celebrated lead XD
Vin-nii: I’d choose Kaguya though after all she’s pretty approving of polygamy. XD
flaskis: Wow, interesting thought indeed! Although I think the show would have been made better if Lelouch really died. A fitting end to a great show.
The Sojourner: And she’d continue to cry at the thought of her beloved onii-chan.
Beowulf Lee: C.C. has always been cynical to death. I suppose living for eons wishing for liberation from life does that to people
Crusader: A reminder I need to catch G00. Is it any good? Mai HiMEsque? Code Geassy?
October 10th, 2008 - 18:57
Stripey: Gundam 00 is a SUNRISE show through and through, so a fair warning. Also, many see it as a reimagining of Gundam Wing with FMP! added in (except with a four-man group), so that’s SOMETHING to set your expectations to.
October 10th, 2008 - 19:36
Wow! That sounds exciting enough. Gundam Wing got tedious after a while with all the ridiculous changing of sides to prolong the fighting. But it’s SUNRISE pacing after all so I got sucked in anyway. FMP element… meaning the cool lambda driver CG/concept? That’d be nice…. Of course looking fwd to the SUNRISE eye candy too.
October 10th, 2008 - 22:28
@Myssa Rei
I don’t know if it turns out a bit like Zeta it might end up being too hardcore for Stripey.
@Stripey
No lambda driver, but we do have this GN drive that can give the occasional power-hax and it gives people GNAIDS. Other than that it is a Gundam Series more in line with the older ones than with SEED and Wing to a lesser degree. Hopefully the attrition rate for the grunts won’t be so bad. Still I suspect your milage may vary, didn’t you quit Macross Frontier because you felt it was fake and didn’t have enough sis-con?
October 11th, 2008 - 06:37
Sunrise pacing was awesome in Gear Fighter Senshi
October 15th, 2008 - 20:49
I had to ask….anyone able to find (at least the name of) the BGM used in episode 25 around 16:04 when lelu handed the mask to Suzaku?
Thanks!
October 17th, 2008 - 09:52
Crusader: Actually I quit MF cos Ranka wasn’t lolicious enough XD Will surely give G00 a try!
crimson: Haven’t been able to get my paws on GFS…
I have to say the animation looks dated though 
October 20th, 2008 - 08:33
ifffff you want i could always meet you up and lend my precious GFS dvd
October 21st, 2008 - 09:24
heh, thanks for the offer! Will keep that in mind
October 22nd, 2008 - 03:50
Polygamy. I haven’t heard this beautiful word since the last episode of shuffle…
February 10th, 2009 - 13:42
idk but of coruse you all will disagree me becuase even when lelouch is so stubborn and destroy everythinh even he had a awesome laugh he remind me of heero yuy *lol* idk why? people say suzaku look like heero cuz the hair but still of lelouch his face that was so serious *lol*
June 14th, 2009 - 21:45
I like the episode 25. It’s just because lulu is nOT trully dead.He is the driver of that cart and hid his faCe so that no one will see his demon face. They need to leave that place so that no one would reveal that emperor lelouch is alive ( im sorry because im just 15 yr old filipino,so that im not good enough in speaking in english)
April 20th, 2009 - 15:40
Thank you.
I must say your logic impresses me. And the fact that you could prove what I wanted is astounding. I’m glad he stays alive in the end. It is quite reassuring. As, for of now, all other animes that I’ve finished, have been not according to this path. Which in the least is most annoying.
Also, finally finding another story that could actually make me cry involuntarily is beyond exciting.
Well… good day Flaskis