Code Geass – The End? No, not really…
27 August 2007
Well, I just finished Code Geass and for all the time (about nine hours or so) I invested in the first season, I was rewarded with a most despicable cliffhanger. I can understand Code Geass’ attraction, be it aesthetic or intellectual, but it lacks a certain depth, as if the characters and story were scratching to break the surface of something greater. The characters felt like paper cutouts and only when the light hit them at a certain angle did they look real.
At first, Lelouch appeared to be the Code Geass equivalent of Yagami Raito. Both were quite Machiavellian in their approach, the ends justify the means. However, Raito had the ruthlessness necessary to achieve his ambitions, whereas Lelouch had actual consideration for others, a hindrance, really, in the “I’m out to create a new world order” business. If Lelouch didn’t care for Suzaku, how the hell did he manage to stay alive this long? Raito used his own father like any other pawn and Lelouch couldn’t even get rid of a childhood friend. That was exactly what he was missing, until he shoots and kills Euphemia, the ultimate “the ends justify the means” scenario. Sure, you killed your own sister and your first love, sure your best friend hates you and wants you dead, but look what it achieved: uniting the Japanese people against the Britannia Empire, the long-awaited rebellion finally begins. And I think he finally has an epiphany of sorts, that he’s going to have to give everything up to see his ambitions through and ultimately, he’s going to be alone (but not quite, because he has C.C.).
I actually liked the Shirley arc. Maybe it was the kiss in the rain, maybe it was Lelouch actually caring, maybe it was the fact that he erased her memories, maybe it was everything that happened, that was one of the rare times during the series where I actually felt something. The part that really got me was when Lelouch tells Shirley that he didn’t know how much she meant to him until she wasn’t there anymore. And, even worse, Shirley had no idea he’s talking about her.
I’m quite partial to Suzaku because of his uncanny resemblance to Sayoaran Li and for a while, he looked like the only one headed for a happy ending. A Japanese Knight, third princess to the Britannia Empire for a lover, stable social life, goes to school, totally oblivious of the fact that his best friend is his enemy, and then everything falls apart. But I guess that was the ultimate sign for tragedy, right? Episodes 15 and 16 didn’t have subs, for some goddamned reason, and I missed out on a crucial plot point, so I had to piece together late that Suzaku killed his own father. It wasn’t that surprising, every since C.C. made contact with him, that whole scene in his head, I had a sinking suspicion that he did something terrible to his father.
Lancelot is also my favorite KnightMare, my favorite mecha design second to Duo’s Deathscythe (that thing was just too damn cool). Watching Suzaku launch in the Lancelot was love at first sight. Not only is the pilot simply adorable, that giant hunk of metal he’s piloting is gorgeous! It’s so shiny, and fast, and nimble, and powerful and agile and did I mention shiny? Code Geass, for a not so mecha oriented mecha anime, it had some incredibly nice designs. Come to think about, Code Geass had some incredibly nice everything.
It’s apparent that Suzaku and Lelouch are never going to see eye to eye. No matter how many enemies Lelouch has, the only one he can’t defeat is his best friend. That’s why I really despise that awful cliffhanger of an ending to episode 25. Gunshots, blank screen, I’m going to have to wait till October to find out what happens?! Aside from that, I was quite pleased with the last two episodes, actually, I was quite pleased with everything from episode twenty-two onwards.
The excessive talking, plotting, scheming, and negotiating that, in the end, led to nowhere and accomplished nothing made it very difficult to maintain interest – until episode twenty two. Then, all hell broke loose and it finally felt like it was getting somewhere. Episode twenty-two was, to me, the tipping point. When Euphemia pulls the trigger and shoots that first Japanese man, it was literally the shot heard around the world. For the first time, after Euphemia’s psycho massacre speech, I was gaping not with impatience, but with pure shock. What a twist that was! For crying out loud, after finally achieving peace and agreement, Lelouch accidentally uses his Geass and orders Euphemia to kill all the Japanese!?!? And then, and then, he shoots her and she actually dies, throwing poor Suzaku in a venegful rage!? Twenty two episodes for some freakin’ plot movement!
For all it’s seriousness, Code Geass is actually full of humor. I loved Orange-kun’s momentary comeback. Ever since the whole Orange-kun thing started, it was hilarious to watch Jeremiah go crazy over that nickname. Arthur, the cat, actually helped out Suzaku in the end and I couldn’t help but laugh as he gives the cat one last look. All the times Arthur’s bit him, hilarious. The School Festival episode is a particular favorite of mine, just the right amount of humor, right before Pandora’s Box opens.
I usually like eating a sandwich like a sandwich, with the meat, the tomatoes, the lettuce and what not sandwiched between the bread. My friend, on the other hand, likes to go straight for the meat, hell with the bread, the lettuce, he just eats the meat. In retrospect, I wonder what it would’ve been like if the scriptwriters just went for the meat of the story, hell with everything else. At the end of it all, I just really wanted some answers. Who, and what, is C.C? And V.V.? What is Geass? What is the thought elevator? What’s the Britannia Empire got to do with it? What the hell happened to Lelouch’s mother? What the heck is going to happen!? It’s like I spent nine hours examining sesame seeds on top of a bun.
In the end, Code Geass should have been the perfect anime (for me anyways), the hot guys, the guns, the mecha, the loud and bright colors, the flawless animation coupled with a decent soundtrack, perfect in every conceivable way. So, why do I feel like it’s missing something? Perhaps it’s because I’m not emotionally captivated. Every climactic moment turned out to be a letdown. The final confrontation between Lelouch and Suzaku was a cliffhanger, a terrible, terrible cliffhanger. Nothing feels resolved, nothing feels like it’s changed. What was it all for? Finding happiness? It was all very pretty to look at, but what I am looking at?
Though the first season didn’t live up to all the hype and my expectations, I’m looking forward to the second season, some answers, resolution and character development. In any case, there’s no harm in watching cute guys duke it out in shiny, shiny mecha.
0/10, I want my 90 seconds of life back reading your stupid entry plus typing this comment about how you lost 9 hours marathon through a show serialized over 9 months period.
@Falen – Of course you have your 90 seconds of life back! Not sure how, but tell me if I can help. I just didn’t like it, I’m guessing you did. O_o, and, as they say, good things come to those who wait. I waited 9 months to get off my lazy ass to watch it in 9 hours. Oh, well.
Whoo, late reply.
I don’t really know what to make of your assessment due to its rather oddball nature; on one hand, I can see where you’re coming from. On the other hand it’s kind of pushing it to say that there isn’t any plot advancement when all the episodes leading up to Euphemia’s death has been about Lelouch building up The Order of Black Knights; if that isn’t plot movement, I really don’t know what is.
The “nothing happens despite all that” part — it just goes to show Lelouch’s innate immaturity beneath that slick and glossy veneer he’s been showing the world. For all of his genius he’s still a kid (hence his abandoning the army to go look for his sister). His ideology is based first and foremost on “a place where Nunaly can live”, not “equality for all”.
Also, a Code Geass that answered everything within what you deem a reasonable time frame would lend poorly to a second season. That and how part of the draw of it is the mystery; like Darker than Black, it’s holding its cards close to its chest, and it’s all the better for it, if I might say so myself.
@Owen S – I think we live in different timezones (gee, when did I notice that?). Actually, I’m under the impression you live on the other side of the planet, judging from the time frames. O_o, it’ll be really sad if you actually lived on the East Coast…
As for plot movement, I guess I was waiting for Sunrise to finally drop the massive nuclear warhead sooner. I can understand why it was necessary, Lelouch building the Order and all, I just thought it took too long. Three hours later, mushroom cloud and nuclear fallout. Why did you guys take so long?
Nothing happened because Lelouch is still just a kid, agreed. But that’s what bugs me, if he has the ambition, if he has the will and wish to grant his sister a peaceful world to live in, if he goes as far as assembling an army and killing his own siblings, then it’s about damn time he grew up.
Darker than Black, in my mind, is a different animal. The mystery and allure is crafted so that even if it holds its cards close to its chest, there’s an occasional glimpse that sates my curiosity. Code Geass, to me, was like a headwall moment. In the end, Cornelia didn’t know anything either. I was waiting, waiting for some revealing information and it gave a “I don’t know” cliffhanger. Headwall!
I hope, in season two, that something happens. I want to see if they allow him to win, destroy the empire and see his wish fulfilled. Or, die a Raito-esque death and leave the world to learn from his tragic revolution.
Of course we do, I’m from Malaysia. :Þ
I suppose the difference between Darker than Black and Code Geass is in the way they tease the viewer with information — while DtB’s more of like teasing a donkey with a carrot, CG’s like taunting a rabid and hungry tiger with raw meat. So your disappointment at the cliffhanger is justified, and speaking of which, I heard rumours that they made it into a cliffhanger only due to the confirmation of a second season. Maybe that explains things somewhat.
@Owen S – Malaysia! O_o! I missed that vital piece of information.
I guess you can say that, but it’s certainly not the only difference between the two shows. And, that’s so evil! Just because they confirmed a second season doesn’t mean I don’t get my meat! T_T
Eh, I’ll really be annoyed if they make a third season and drop another damned cliffhanger at the end of the second. Doubt it, but I’ll go crazy regardless.