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

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

actually I think Suzaku likes Kallen. (not in love sense) More like he does admire her bravery? because Suzaku says "Is this how you normally act?" Kallen "Yeah, got a problem?" Suzaku "No. I think you have more charm/charisma with this personality. You should show it more often" and Kallen sorta hmphs and slightly blushes. it was sorta cute XD Suzaku said in matter of fact tone, not "omg i love you" tone. which was cool

I also think Kallen is blindly in admiration of Lulu. It isn't that she hates Suzaku, it's more like Suzaku is not against Zero so i think only in black and white! Suzaku is now bad! sorta thing :p

I also believe Lulu loves Suzaku. Probably not sexually per say (though we can always argue this too hehe) but he cares deeply for Suzaku a lot. I believe Lulu is a type of person who you need to earn respect. He will ignore you and use you like pawns, unless you earn his respect, then he'll go out of his way to protect you sorta....


Also yes the series is Sunrise with only character designs by clamp. but seeing how much the characters ACT like clamp characters... all the way down to, "Hey let's have a lot of beginning episodes of fluff and after that it's ANGSTY TIME!!!" i think sunrise does ask "so, how would this character act in this situation?" and with the answer they get, alter it so the plot and the characters fit again. sorta thing. my opinion though. Either way, Sunrise sponsored Gundam Seed, so oh well, Sunrise, yer copying yer own work again~~~ XD

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

"it's more like Suzaku is NOW against Zero " not "not" my spelling error :P

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Oh I didn't get that out of the episode at all. I'll need to rewatch. I thought they were just acting more bitchy toward each other now that they learned they had warring views. But I can see your interpretation of Suzaku's reaction now.

As far as Kallen's viewpoint on Suzaku, that is what I was going to. Suzaku being against Zero makes Kallen all "GRR!!" toward him and the more he does it, the further he drives that wedge. Kallen is only a touch away from being crazy possessive of her ideal of Zero.

As for the love issue, I have an entire essay on this, based around Lelouch's narration of 17.5. I don't go into the sexual aspect because that doesn't interest me as much but moving along... I do like this idea of earning Lelouch's respect, and Suzaku did that from day one when he kicked Lelouch's ass. Suzaku is also special to Lelouch in both being his first friend and serving as Lelouch's remaining piece of his happy life in Japan.

The combination of fluff meets angst is very reminiscent of Clamp, isn't it? As is giving one character a potential death wish and the family "closeness." I do love your version of how the series is written. That would be hilarious if it were true. I think Sunrise has a reputation of copying itself but it does so in an amusing way so nobody really minds. After all, people do say Geass is a hybrid of all the Sunrise series, which sort of makes it its own whacked-out animal. I approve.

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

they weren't bitchy at all in my opinion... i think you'll understand it more if you watch it with translations ^^ that's all

basically kallen and Suzaku yell why they are on the right side, then kallen says I have to fight! That is what my brother would want. otherwise, my brother's death is meaningless etc. And suzaku reveals to her he killed his own father too, for peace.

Here you can see Kallen's eyes widen, almost in pity/sympathy, and then hides her emotion by being all huff and gruff, but it did get her attention. Kallen softens towards Suzaku after that.


And regarding Code Geass? from episode 1 I said this is hybrid of Death Note, X/1999, Tsubasa, V for Vandetta, Infinite Ryuvius, and Gundam seed. ... wrote an entire essay on it back on my lj looong time ago XD good gawd.

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I may have been slanted by the two anime blogs I read to have some comprehension of what's going on in the series. I don't think they put as much of an emphasis on the Kallen/Suzaku talk as you did. It definitely seems more worth my while now. This is good since Kallen's attitude in this episode was irking me, and now I can see there's more to it and that she wasn't just being a spaz. ^^;;

Heh. I need to read this essay.

You know, I hardly remember Fuuma's proposal to the Dragons. But we could easily go for the focus on the eye thing and how Jeremiah probably lost one of his. Or how about the abundance of both gears and feathers in the opening? Hey where's my sakura? For shame, Clamp.

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

Hmm? really. Fuuma holds out his hand to take Kakyou to be one of his dragons. same with a few other dragons but Kakyou is the one that I remember best.

Also the EYE!! dang it CLAMP and the EYE!!! Eye things been going on since Subaru x Seishiro and now Tsubasa's Syaoran XD my opinion again where I think CLAMP had some hand in the plot line~~

And I thought Euphie acted a lot like Sakura and Lacus Hybrid~~~

CC definetly reminds me of the myterious girl from Infinite Ryuuvius o.o (Which is the series that the director of Gundam Seed did before GS and Scryed)

Lulu = Raito + Kamui
Suzaku = Kira Yamato + Syaoran

XD

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I have to see Infinite Ryuuvius still. It's somewhere on my Sunrise list, probably somewhere after Fafner.

You forgot Fai in your eye scenario. Though his was arguably one of the sexiest eye incidents.

I always love that comparison at the bottom. It's everyone's initial one, but it's still the most awesome.

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

hm i suppose. I was thinking I covered Fai since syaoran takes his other eye... but meh, as long as you got what i meant, i don't care

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*

Re: OT threadjumping!

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

Fafner is LOVE!!! XD

[prides-tears.livejournal.com]

I think Suzaku has a hint of Subaru as well, with the green eyes and the self-sacrifice thingy. >>

Which I ranted about on my post about this crazy family tree which made no sense at all about Suzaku being the spawn of Sakura and Syaoran in which Sakura was spawned by Subaru and Seishirou.

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

oh and about stuff about CLAMP

the Contract that Lulu and CC make... even down to the way you hold out the hand, is like the Proposal that Fuuma makes to all the Dragons :P

the tiny little stuff like that makes me think CLAMP had a lot to do with detail work. my opinion only of course XD

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Completely OT but I just realized you were in that awesome DGrayman cosplay group from Katsucon. Since I was overall unimpressed by that con's cosplay, yours truly was the highlight of my day. ^_^

[rukawagf.livejournal.com]

lol oh erm thank you XD Though i think my costume was the most unimpressive among my group bwahahahaha XD