Episode 18 Discussion?

[nayami.livejournal.com]

You know, I reached the point of my Geass watching where I crave discussion. Sadly I cannot convince any of my buddies to watch the series with me so I was hoping we could establish a regular episode commentary here. I'm most interested in 18 for now since a lot happened in a short span of time, and I thought it would fun to gather some opinions on the matter. I also think it might be fun to evaluate the paths of Lelouch and Suzaku. Surfing the Japanese fanart sites the other night, I encountered many pics comparing the boys' young and then older selves (Yay, my Geass fanart count is almost 700 now). So yeah let's toss up theories for anything and everything regarding the story so far.

Also, is this more of something I should try for after the subtitled versions are released?



My love for Suzaku grows as he continues his bull-headed drive to change Britannia from within. Watching him pursue his fight with Zero, even when he knew Britannia was firing missiles at their location, was so tragic. And Lelouch, who knows what an obstacle Suzaku is but can't bring himself to take the quickest route to dealing with him. I read on the anime blogs that Lelouch was going to geass Suzaku to save himself before the missiles hit. While this is probably true, I prefer the more optimistic view that Lelouch was also trying to save Suzaku in the process. Lelouch has still yet to show which is more important: his revenge or the only people who've ever represented family to him. I say this because he hasn't really been put to the test. This would be the first time, but the fact that both were in a life or death situation tilts the scale a bit. Then we have Suzaku, who doesn't know who Zero is. Someone said Zero was set on eliminating on the Lancelot pilot but was forced back to Lelouch when he learned it was Suzaku. So it remains to be seen whether Suzaku's steadfast devotion to his peace will override his loyalty to his friend once he learns who Zero is. The first picture drama has Lelouch calling Suzaku his worst enemy. While I fear this eventuality because I enjoy the relationship between the boys, I'm curious to see how it will come about. I would hope that the eventually end up working together, but it does not seem to be in Geass' nature.

On that note, I have this feeling either Suzaku or Lelouch might "die" in the break between the series. I foresee a vicious confrontation between the two over something akin to the typical rival/best friend battles.

Diethard scares the shit out of me, and I see him as causing a major problem for Lelouch in the near future. I think he might make another attempt to off Suzaku. I think if anyone takes him out of the picture, it will be Kallen. The two seem to have the greatest respect for Zero, but both have entirely different views of what Zero is. While Kallen wants the leader, Diethard wants the bloodthirsty revolutionist. Now that I've seen Kallen willing to risk everything for Zero, I wonder how she and Suzaku will fair during the island arc. Will she try to win over Suzaku as Zero tried?

I am really tired of any storyline with Nina. I already know it's going to be crappy so I don't care. Shirley, on the other hand, I'm interested in since she knows who Zero is and has knowledge he killed her father. I also fear they're going to butcher any potential Jeremiah had with his new form.

I've read mixed reviews about how Nunnally feels about Suzaku's new position so I'd like a consensus.

Comments

I do hope I don't bash but it's just my opinion...don't sue or flame me...

[gackt-gratia.livejournal.com]

Need to drop some comments here...not inttending to bash this anime series but...

1. This anime is freakishly reminding me of Athrun and Kira of Gundam Seed with the whole intrigue of best friends/childhood friends aka Lelouch and Suzaku's relationship. Not to mention they hate each other's guts when their in battle yet in the neutral ground aka the school, they act as civilized students and best of friends. The dramatization of their love/hate relationship is just soooo similar to that of Gundam Seed...I wonder if the ending will be similar to how Athrun and Kira end up. Yet I do pray not!

2. As usual...Lelouch still disappoints me as he is not as villain as he should be. There are many and much opportunities of kicking all the Britanian asses but of course his path has to be hindered by his emotion while his calculation is freakishly accurate, still, it's his heart and his attachment that cause him often to hesitate to finish the job. Not a very good badass since well if you want to be a villain you should be prepared for the worst and that should be including killing your friends.

But!

1. I like the irony of Lelouch and Suzaku's relationship. I do hope they end up better than Kira and Athrun. I wonder if circumstances are kinder to them. May their future kind to them!
2. The emotion of Lelouch as often he shows while he is as ZERO is very good too, marvelous and hillarious as it keeps reminding me that a villain is too a mere human!
3. Actually, why can't they guess that ZERO is Lelouch is beyond my thought. Well at least they should have a psychiatrist to analyze that ZERO is far too idealist to be an adults. Adults, even as an idealist, is not that headstrong upon obtaining what he wants and usually they compromise. Lelouch is just like a child that is obsessive-complusive to me. Furthermore, even if he is genius, it's quite clear that he is inexperienced in the field battle which is not as constant as what to predict on the board of chess pieces. And why the heck he can't even predict or calculate Lancelot's movement? Ck ck ck in this game you should predict all the usages of all those chess pieces, considering he has met Lancelot twice! --> please refer to the battle in Narita .

Personally, I like this anime! I even adores Lelouch! Can' resist his sharp purple eyes.

I do hope the ending won't be like what I have thought I would be...ZERO aka Lelouch died in the battle but it's not SUzaku who killied him (or perhaps Suzaku killed him), then all left is Euphie living in harmony with Nunnaly as she now takes care of Nunnaly in the absence or death of Lelouch. I personally think Lelouch can't have his revenge fulfilled. C.C'll die and Suzaku will live alongside Euphie and Nunnaly as he swears himself that now he takes care of Nunnaly.

That would be sucks if my predicament is more or less accurate!

Pray it won't be...that's why I keep watching this movie, not to mention I am very yaoi-minded girl therefore I kinda see there is something between Suzaku and Lelouch hahahaha ;P

They're one of my OTP pairing these days ^^

Re: I do hope I don't bash but it's just my opinion...don't sue or flame me...

[thomasvye.livejournal.com]

On your criticisms, I still think it is very important to keep reminding this fandom that not everyone in the world has seen this Gundam Seed. I haven't. And I'm not interested in it. I have certainly realised from the constant going-on about two characters called Athrun and Kira (and someone called Lacus) that there seem to be some similarities, but these comparisons some people see are not universally perceived. I feel lucky to have never fallen over Seed; I can enjoy Geass for itself. ^-^

Further, Lelouch is not the villain! Lelouch is the hero. Anti-hero, since Code Geass is delightfully ambiguous when it comes to it's character's morality, but the anti-hero nevertheless.

Re: I do hope I don't bash but it's just my opinion...don't sue or flame me...

[black-rose.livejournal.com]

Everyone's going to compare Geass to Seed. I enjoyed Seed. It's worth watching if you ever have the time (and inclination). But. I prefer to watch Geass without making the comparisons. And I'm living proof that it can be done.

*pats pats* I loved (and still do) Gundam Wing before Seed, and when Seed began, everyone in fandom was comparing it to Wing. And then by the end, it stood on its own. And Geass will as well.

*hugs thomasvye*

Re: I do hope I don't bash but it's just my opinion...don't sue or flame me...

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

I won't believe it's a full-out SEED rip-off until Suzaku meets a pink-haired princess random island antics Lelouch blows up three red Gundams.

Joking aside, the dynamics are quite different from Gundam SEED's (with the exception of Euphemia, who seems to be following Lacus's path from "pretty in pink" to, hopefully, "badass ninja leader"). In SEED, there's basically no point to any of the fighting going on, as the Clyne Faction so helpfully points out. However, in Geass, Lelouch's Rebellion has a very clear, achievable goal that doesn't involve a) nukes, b) giant lasers, c) genocide, or d) blowing up the Earth -- in short, they're fighting a war they can win. So I'm not sure I can see them finding common cause, as Athrun and Kira did, to stop "pointless fighting." Plus, for most of SEED, the drrrrrrrrrama with Athrun and Kira is that each knew who the other one was; Geass got two-thirds of the way through the series before Lelouch found out about Suzaku, and Suzaku still doesn't know about Lelouch.

Re: I do hope I don't bash but it's just my opinion...don't sue or flame me...

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I want to tackle more of this, but as work is approaching, I'll just take on one part. You say you are disappointed because Lelouch isn't the villain he should be. I think Lelouch's failure to fully engage is what makes him so interesting. He wants to be all conviction and righteousness, but when you get right down to it he chokes half of the time. He has issues with killing and not just for fear of making a mess. Lelouch is truly a little prince playing warrior and though I love him for it, a revolutionist needs to be willing to be extreme and not get freaked out the few times he does. But this inability to be what he's supposed to also helps make Lelouch's character more of an individual and not just your typical hubris/fall from grace character. I imagine we might see him lose more and more of this hesitancy if certain things are lost to him.