Episode 19 discussion?

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Since the last episode discussion post went so well, I figured why not give it another go-around? My original plan was to post these on Saturdays so people had a good day to check out the raw and track down summaries and the like but since I enjoy the discussions myself and won't be around much Saturday, this one comes a bit early.

I'd also like to point out that I am extremely biased in what I talk about to start the discussion so if you have characters/topics you're more interested in, feel free to thread about them as well.



I knew the island arc would be entertaining, but I was hardly expecting it to be good. I love that Euphemia knew who Zero was the entire time but never told Cornelia because she didn't want to cause her sister any more pain by knowing it was their own brother fighting against them. I love Euphemia in general now. The scene where Lelouch and Suzaku are facing off and Kallen's basically calling Euphemia a vapid princess just before Euphemia tells Suzaku to forget about her and kick Kallen's ass, that was the first sign of Euphemia's edge that I've ever seen. I liked it. Not as much as Lelouch totally failing at survival life, unable to even dig a hole. Why were you born a man, Lulu? It was hilarious of the writers to continuously compare Lelouch's failures with Suzaku's leet fishing skills.

Though I agree with the anime bloggers that the Euphie/Lulu parts were hella better than Suza/Kallen. Suzaku and Kallen were just a world of bitchery, while Euphemia and Lelouch had connection and understanding, at least in part. I wonder how the knowledge that Cornelia is investigating what happened to Lelouch's family will affect his thirst for vengeance. With his family members each revealing themselves as decent human beings, Lelouch is losing more reason to hate them. What does this mean for his purpose in the Rebellion?

People say that because Lelouch showed friendliness to Euphemia, he's all up for siscon. I point out that Lelouch is generally nice to girls, and I think the flashback revealed that Lelouch's family had always been close to Euphemia. I think this was another reason he stayed his hand back during the hotel incident, the exact behavior that led Euphemia to believe he was Zero. I didn't pay much attention to other aspects of this episode until the surprise attack at the end because I think I need to really know what's being said in the Gawain and Black Knights scenes to truly appreciate them. Summaries are not going to do it.

I hope we get more of Suzaku's reaction to the whole "live" incident next week since he didn't have any character-revealing moments in his time with Kallen, aside from his telling her he killed his father. I think this is a big step for him. Words cannot describe how much I adore the way Lelouch GEASSed Suzaku. When I first saw the shot of Suzaku with the red-rimmed eyes associated with GEASS, I was sad because I thought Lelouch was finally favoring the Rebellion over Suzaku. I was extremely relieved to learn his GEASS command to Suzaku was simply "live." Others are talking about the command having a lasting effect, which I think would be smart of the creators, but I'm not sure if they're going to do it. In the past, we've seen the GEASS can last for an infinite time when a non-descript command is given. People ask why Lelouch didn't use multiple commands at once such as "Fight your way out of here. Leave Britannia. Join the Black Knights." I think the most obvious reason is that Lelouch wanted immediate action. He knew Suzaku was going to sacrifice himself to ensure Zero was destroyed, and had to revert that decision immediately. He probably didn't have time to evaluate all the possible commands. He never intended to GEASS Suzaku in the first place so it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.

I think the command itself shows Lelouch's continued loyalty to Suzaku, although I fully admit it also allowed Lelouch the opportunity to escape himself. But that was a gamble, and we're not even fully sure how that happened; it's hinted it has something to do with the unseen GEASS user. It seems to me Lelouch was more focused on getting Suzaku out of harm's way than escaping himself -- He could have told Suzaku to simply "Get us out of here"-- but I'm an optimist when it comes to them so I could be wrong. I wonder if the GEASS user zapped everyone to the island to simply put the Gawain in Lelouch's possession or if they know about Lelouch and the royals. I'm also unsure why Suzaku freaks out when the whole group is controlled by the GEASS teleportation at the end of the episode. Is he recalling what happened with C.C.?

Comments

[verity-isle.livejournal.com]

The threesome would bring the question of who bottoms, Lulu or Euphie. I find this most interesting

He was just joking about himself being an incompetent knight, and then goes "BTW, about Kururugi Suzaku, your real Knight. Can I ask why you chose a Honorary Britannian?"

And then wham! Said Honorary Britannian appeared.

OT threadjumping!

[verity-isle.livejournal.com]

Soukyuu no Fafner is awesome and worth a watch if only because Soushi/Kazuki is as canon as it ever gets but annoying nitpick! It's made by XEBEC, not Sunrise. Just shared character designers with G.Seed is all.

I really love Fafner, though, moreso than G.Seed. And I also love Ryvius. XD Both are pretty refreshing takes on the whole 'youth+mech' shenanigan, similar in some ways and very different in others.

*shuts up now*

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I'm going with Lulu. XD

I'm curious why Lelouch cares why Euphemia chose Suzaku.

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

I almost didn't watch the recap, since I figured it would just be Lelouch whining about his boyfriend leaving him for his sister, but it was suprisingly good! I mean, as recap eps go. I'd have preferred to just stick that "o i bet suzaku rly wants to die D:" observation in Lelouch's thought process somewhere and devoted an episode to, like, Cornelia and Euphie's adventures in the Secret Garden, or Cecile feeding Suzaku.

Heh, and he didn't Geass Euphie, either. I call Lulu and Euphie merging their harems for great justice at someome in the near future.

Re: tl;dr

[(Anonymous)]

I so totally agree with your analysis. Throughout the series Lelouch has been compared to Light but this episode clearly showed that Lelouch is not all head but he still has a heart unlike Light. With Light my approval went down as time went on with him utter cold-bloodedness but with Lelouch even though he is becoming more cold-blooded he still retains kindess to those that REALLY precious to him.

When I found out that Lulu told Suzaku to "live" my heart melted. True he was saving himself too but he could have said "evade". This shows that he was following his heart in the spur of the moment instead of using his head. As stated by Mao, wording of the commands are everything.

I was so afraid because the spoilers say that he was gonna become more and more cold but its this far down the road and he still at least has people that are important to him. I really didn't want him to turn into his dad.

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

"He has mysterious ability -- say his name three times, and he appears!"

[zalem.livejournal.com]

Must say I was really ambivalent about Euphie before...just didn't care one way or another about her. I guess because I was a bit skeptical she was a Lacus-clone. But I think I am rather fond of her after this episode. I do hope she develops more. Looks like someone's gonna have to save Euphie from Nina's evil clutches next episode.

LOL...lulu. Such a silly, silly boy. *pets*

I agree with most of you guys in that the Euphie/Lulu scenes were way more interesting. I really don't want to see Lulu fighting his siblings anymore ;-;...Lulu you moron, they actually LIKE you and probably had nothing to do with your mom's death. But that father of his is another story...I still think he's a right bastard.

Damn, I really love this series! ^__^

Re: tl;dr

[zalem.livejournal.com]

As much as I love Light, I don't want Lulu to be a Light clone. If I want Light I'll go watch the very wonderful Death Note anime currently running or look at the manga. So I really LIKE the fact that Lulu is struggling so much and hestitant. His fall from grace seems more subtle and gradual. But I do notice some harping in the fandom about how Lulu isn't evil enough and I don't get it. Why do they need him to be more evil? Maybe because the rumors/spoilers keep saying that he will takes certain steps towards heartlessness/evil and they expect it to happen right away for some reason. But if he's meant to be evil then he will eventually be, so they should just be patient.

Though I don't think Lulu will ever be like Light even if he does become a "villain"...he still has some goodness in him that won't be crushed so easily (like his love for Nunnally).

Re: tl;dr

[nayami.livejournal.com]

The way I see it is the only way Lelouch can achieve the darkness some of the interviews hint at is he would have to lose one of his special people. I hope it's not Nunnally. I also don't understand why people want so much for him to be evil and get all pissed when he isn't a cold-hearted bastard all the time. I like it that he surprises us; predictable characters are only so much fun.

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I still wonder what the series actually plans for Nina? But I'm happy to see that they're actually going to go somewhere with her plot by having her meet up with Euphemia. I want something bad to happen.

I liked hearing how Lelouch wouldn't mind going back to his life with his sisters, but near the end he regretted that not being possible. I wonder if Lelouch truly has changed his mind on Cornelia or not. He seems closer to Euphemia so opening up to her is easier for him. Now we just have to figure out how Schneizel (that name is killer hard to pronounce) feels about the situation.

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

I was thinking the scene with Euphie and Nina might have been "Euphie tried to stalk Lelouch and wound up at the clubhouse with Nina."

Re: tl;dr

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

Lulu and Light are completely different. I've said Lulu is like Light + Kamui, but Lulu is not Lulu = Light.

Mostly because when Light sees Misa Misa, he immediately thinks "I better not fall in love with her. that's how all those stupid guys lose in the end" or something like that.

While Lulu obviously has attachments to several ppl in his life such as Nanully and Suzaku and possibly Euphie. Also Lulu's one of the main objective is to create a world that's peaceful for Nanully. while Light wants to create a world that's basically HIS and judged by HIM ALONE. sorta deal.

so no worries about Lulu ever becoming Light. :P

Re: OT threadjumping!

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

Fafner is LOVE!!! XD

Re: tl;dr

[verity-isle.livejournal.com]

Lulu was actually a criminally nice person as a child, and he's still rather nice deep down in his silly little heart. I'm not sure why fandom wants him to be like Light. Light's sociopathy was fascinating, but it's also one-dimensional. Lelouch is going against his nature with his decisions and delusions, and I think it makes for a much, much more interesting character. Maybe they want him to be smarter? I like his plans being flawed, though. It makes him so much more 17th year old human and not this calculations machine. (This doesn't mean I don't like Light, it's just that Zero is a more multifaceted character than Kira)

Unless she dies. He might really become a monster that way, though I also think he wouldn't ever really become irredeemable.

Re: tl;dr

[verity-isle.livejournal.com]

People are still comparing him to Light? While that couldn't be helped early on, I think it's obvious by now that Lelouch is quite different from Light. Lelouch's problem is in perception, he's partly Suzumiya Haruhi in that he views people he doesn't know personally as potatoes/chess pieces. It's the way he's raised and the way he's survived his 'dead years', I suppose, which was why CC needed to reality check'd him that they are people. Even then, he avoids 'tactically unnecessary casualties'. He simply has something he has to do that justifies everything. ('They killed Mother/Japan/destroyed our lives, it doesn't matter' which is quite human really)

I know. ;_; Plus, it's how LL thinks Suzaku wants to die, too, so that could be just "Stop hurting yourself so much, you idiot" in less verbose terms. Most moving use of Geass ever.

Something drastic would probably happen to him later. Not sure when, though.

[oh-geass-no.livejournal.com]

This whole episode was really nifty, I thinks~! Lots of OH SNAP moments and revealings of things. Can't go wrong with Lulu getting a shiny new knightmare either.

I have to say, one of the most amusing things about this episode for me, is that it's on an island, so I get to see how Lelouch would survive on one and he... isn't very good at it. Ah ha ha I get to do some muse torture later.

It really makes me wonder just what Lulu can do in the terms of survival. He obviously is pretty failget at the most of it, but can he even cook or anything? Haha, oh , the curiousity.

. . . Then again, since he always orders out for C.C. and has a maid, I get the feeling he doesn't know much, if anything about cooking. Oops.

[verity-isle.livejournal.com]

I agree with this analysis. There will be sulking persons, but he's cute doing it, so.

Suzaku = Jigokumimi? XD

[verity-isle.livejournal.com]

Euphie would never let him live it down. XD Eternal sibling teasing ftw

Maybe he's just curious, maybe he wonders how much she knows Suzaku, maybe it's the whole Nunnally thing and he was just broaching the subject, maybe he was jealous?

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

I was thinking Beetlejuice. :P

[nayami.livejournal.com]

At least Lelouch can sew his own clothes if worst comes to worst. He might be able to do some interior decorating around a cave. XD

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Still so cute, and I can actually picture Euphie doing it too.

God your icon is the awesome.

[oh-geass-no.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, yeah, I doubt he sent out a comission for his original Zero outfit. Clearly, if the whole Rebellion falls through, he can go off and start a clothing line! He'll make millions! 8D

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I think it's a mixture of the second and the last really. It was just terribly cute the way he went about broaching the subject. Heck, he and Euphemia are just terribly cute around each other.

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

Haha, thanks!