Episode 22 Discussion

[nanya-hime.livejournal.com]

Just finished watching Episode 22... I'm so heated up I had to take a shower after this.  It's a very brilliant and tormenting episode.

In episode 21, Euphie announced her brilliant plan and though a simple and crazy idea it appeared, if accurately executed, there is a possibility it can work.  Of course, all sides doubt the success of the plan - the Japanese people themselves, the group in Kyoto, the E.U. & Chinese federation, the Black Knight Organization, and even within the Britannians there seem to be other people with different agenda.  However, Euphie's image - the innocent and kind hearted princess - seems to win over people trust and finally the whole world have their eyes set on the event that might alter the fate not only of the Elevens/ Japanese people but also the rest of the world (because Japan is not Britannia's only colony).

The event is all set to go but there is still an empty seat left for Zero.  Finally Zero appeared riding the knightmare.  He demanded to talk to Euphie alone and so Euphie and Zero relocated to the room.  Zero asked Eupie to shoot him and Euphie went (?).  Well, if Eupie shoot him, then Euphie's popularity will go down and there will be riots so in this way Zero can proceed with his original plan - to create the country.  All his previous obstacles were cleared ... until this plan.  However, Euphie wanted Zero to cooperate with her and she told him that to exchange for the permission of creating the special administrative region Japan, she gave up her rights to succeed the throne.  Lelouche's geass was about to break at that point but Euphie's annoucement soothed him down, especially when Euphie said she was doing this not for his sake but Nanali because Nanali would be satisfied as long as she had her brother.  Lelouche softened and agreed to cooperate with Euphie but made it clear he's not her subordinate.  He also started joking that if he ordered people to do things, they can't refuse.  Sadly, his joke went too far and when he said if he ordered her to kill Japanese people... that point Euphie was influenced by geass.  She struggled because she did not want to kill the Japanese people but she lost and then she went beserk.  She even shot the Britannian soldier who was trying to question her behavior.  Since she fired the first shot and ordered the rest of the Britannia army to do so, the soldiers obeyed her order and thus what initially would have been a celebration for the Japanese people for reganing their identity turned up to be the opening ceremony of a war the people would never forget.

Back in his knightmare, Lelouche realized the adverse consequences of using a dangerous weapon as geass.  Sadly, all he could do by then was to order his black knight organization to start hunting for Euphie (in tears) ...
And KILL HER.

That's the main storyline.  Other developments:
C.C.: While Lelouche and Euphie were talking alone, she sensed the changes in Lelouche's geass.  At the same time, she also realized that Suzaku seemed to have an affiliation with geass as well...

Suzaku: When Lelouche and Eupie were talking alone and Lelouche's geass started altering, he saw a figure on Lelouche's knightmare.  Then, when C.C. realized Suzaku might have something to do with geass as well, she came out of Lelouche's knightmare.  When Suzaku touched C.C., he saw the girls from C.C's tribe (?) and then she saw Lelouche's mom in something like a priestess outfit?  He then fainted.  The rest of the soldiers tried to approach C.C. but that's when geass went beserk.  After he regained consciousness, he couldn't believe Euphie ordered the massacre and started searching for Eupie.

Emperor of Britannia: He was laughing when Euphie ordered the massacre.

Schnizel: This guy was just shocked and could hardly react ...

Cornellia: Swiftly reacted and brought her soldiers and knightmare to the scene of the massacre.

My impressions:

Sorry for this summary (Crowd: You call this crap summary?)
I watch this raw and heck... my Japanese is as good as a kindergarten kid so ... ^_^;;

Anyway, the initial reaction is ... AWE.  Having said that though, from a scan I saw on 2ch, it's already printed that Euphie had to die and frankly, I think killing Euphie is the best thing Lelouche can do now.  Even if Euphie's not dead, when she's lifted of geass' control and realizes what she'd done, she woudl (a) commit suicide, (b) become crazy and end up in mental hospital.  What a brilliant way to get rid of an annoying princess Okouchi san! Euphie's innocence annoyed me to no end.  Yet, to see how a kind-hearted princess who loved her siblings and the people around her to meet such a tragic end... I must say it's VERY DEPRESSING.  Thanks to this now I love Euphie... A LOT!!!!!

Next, move on to Lelouche.  This is where the brilliance lies.  At first, I thought the Mao arc only served to reveal that (a) there are other geass users out there and (b) Suzaku's secret of killing his own father.  Now it seems I'm wrong.  The whole Mao arc served as a WARNING to Lelouche... that there is a chance you can't switch off Geass.  Sadly, Lelouche was too confident of himself and dismissed that warning.  The outcome? The bloodshed and the loss of another sibling.  I suppose those tears we see in the end of this episode says it all.

Next to C.C.  Nothing much more is revealed about C.C. than the fact that now she realizes Suzaku seems to be linked to geass.

Next to Suzaku. I suppose it's been speculated before by many fans that Suzaku could be a geass user.  Whether or not he is one is still not confirmed.  However, he definitely has been in contact with geass before ... or at least a geass user.  If Suzaku is a geass user, what's his power then? Every time he comes into contact with C.C. he seems to see flashback of the past.  Could it be that his power has something to do with seeing the past? Another thing that bothered me... why would a child like Suzaku go and kill his father thinking it would achieve peace? It's quite unusual a child would think like that.  Someone might have put the idea into his mind (probably?)... interesting.  At any rate, without Euphie, Suzaku's position in the Britannia army might change.  Will he return to being a normal Britannia solder? Or will he leave the Britannia army and join the Black Knight Organization <- but I don't see that happening... the future of Suzaku is certainly interesting.

Next to Cornelia & Schnizel.  I thought in an interview before, Okouchi said Schizel's a good guy.  I suppose after this episode it's safe to assume he's NOT HARAGURO (actually from the point when they casted Inoue a.k.a. Master Keaton as Schnizel's seiyuu, he can't be evil).  Still, considering he's the MOST INTELLIGENT & OUTSTANDING among all the royals... his reaction is a bit hetare (laughs).  Compared to him, Cornelia KICKED SO MUCH MORE A$$.  I just love Cornelia but I wonder what she'll do in the next episode and how she'll confront Euphie ... alive or her body... hmmmm....next episode might also mark the end of Cornelia... who knows?

Next to the Britannia Emperor.  He is the one that bothered me the most throughout.  In episode 6 if you recall, he mentioned about he just spoke to Clovis.   That was after Clovis' death though.  What did he mean by that?  Could he have special power that would allow him to speak to the dead or to see flashbacks to the past like Suzaku by touching Clovis' body or something? Then in this episode the laughter. Actually, I have a strange thought ...just a speculation.  I think the Britannia Emperor is actually being controlled by some mysterious group (mainly the masked people surrounding him).  The basis for my speculation is that almost all his children so far are kind hearted.  I'm not arguing the Britannia Emperor is kind hearted but I thought he might be just an ordinary man who used to have feelings as well.  He would fight for glory, fight to defend his family ... but he's not "crazy" as one who would laugh when he saw people being slaughtered ... hmmm....

Next ot Lelouche's mother.  So far, all we know is that she's one of the earliest pilot in the early development of knightmares.  Because of that, she became a noble and ultimately got married to the Emperor and gave birth to Lelouche and Nanali.  However, we also know from this flashback that she's got something to do with the mysterious girls (probably geass related people like C.C.)  It's funny because if she's a pilot, then she must have good reflexes but Lelouche sux and can't pilot knightmares.  On the other hand, Suzaku has that ultrahuman ability.  Then there is Nanali... at the moment Nanali is handicapped but probably if she weren't, maybe she would also inherit the genes and be a good pilot? Dunno.  Now, back to my previous speculation... if the Emperor is controlled by this mysterious force and the mysterious force thinks Lelouche's mom is a threat, then they order her assaination.  That's the reason why the Emperor felt no emotion for her death and even drove Lelouche siblings away... make sense?

That marks the end of my babblings and please correct me where I'm wrong and shout out your views toward this episode.

Comments

[lacus.livejournal.com]

Just posted my thoughts here (http://lacus.livejournal.com/288781.html); in short, if Euphemia's gonna die I'd at least like it to be an interesting death, and it looks like it's going to be.

[thomasvye.livejournal.com]

I thought it was just awesome. Took me about 2 hrs to calm down myself. ;)

I have always said Lelouch should have paid more attention to the fate of poor Mao. U_U

[nanya-hime.livejournal.com]

I think it's impossible he would because people usually overestimate their own power and think this will happen to other people but not me. If it were me, I would be able to control it... just like taking party drugs. Other people would get hooked to ecstasy but I won't but then end up overdosing someday...

[zalem.livejournal.com]

Absolutely AMAZING episode. Read the spoilers from fake Okouchi but was NOT expecting Euphie to go around actually shoot people. O_O

It's really tragic the way it played out. I mean they were on the verge of totally reconciling. Lulu had basically GIVEN UP and was going to work with Euphie....and THIS happens. How messed up is that? As they were talking and laughing I was cringing cause I knew the wonky geass order was coming up. I'm really feeling so bad for Lelouch and Euphie now. And this will definitely bring about a permanent gap between Lulu and Suzaku. I just don't see them EVER working together again. Suzaku should be able to figure out that something isn't right and that Zero did something. Darlton figured it out afterall. And if Suzaku learns more (which is inevitable), he will never forgive Lelouch. Of course, I don't think Lelouch will ever forgive himself. It's always going to be in the back of his mind.

Other things that I noted...Schneizel was really shocked and horrified. I guess this means he really was just using the plan to put the Black Knights in a political bind and not to actually physically do anything to them. The Emperor....damn. I'm starting to think that Lulu is actually just the Emperor's pawn.

Interesting note, we see Marianne in C.C.'s flashback again. People already theorized that perhaps she was a geass user. It seems she knew or had a connection with C.C. so that guess may not be far off.

I don't think Suzaku is a geass user. At the ruins site he stepped onto the ruins and it did NOT react. It was said previously that the ruins react to all geass users and C.C.'s people. It only reacted after Lulu actually stepped onto it. Suzaku did have an odd reaction to the ruins though and he was able to see C.C.'s image in this episode. He definitely has some weird connection to C.C.'s people...we just don't know what it is yet.

This whole episode has totally convinced me Lelouch will die by the end of season 2. There's no way they will let him live after this. And he's not even finished "his path towards ruthlessness". There's more to come. Even if it was an accident in this case, I just don't see him coming out on top in the end. He's in for a huge fall. *sighs* I was really hoping he'd win, but I guess that's not to be.

[nanya-hime.livejournal.com]

But Suzaku has no right to "forgive" or "not forgive" lelouche. After all, Suzaku murdered people just like Lelouche... and Lelouche didn't even INTEND for the massacre but Suzaku voluntarily murdered the innocent people in episode 1 + his own father...

Schnizel... he's definitely ust a good old folk like Okouchi said.

I'm not sure if Suzaku ain't a geass user just coz the platform didn't react when he stepped on it. On the very contary, I think Suzaku is more than just a geass user. He might be an alien himself (which explains his superhuman reflexes) and not human.

Marianne ... I dont' think she's just a geass user. I think she's one of C.C. type of being... probably even a priestess. Guess what, maybe Marianne IS like Suzaku... who tried to CHANGE Britannia from WITHIN and that's why she volunteered to be a pilot and stuff but when she became the lady in court and knew too much, she had to be silenced.

Lelouche will die - I have no doubt about it. If he doesn't, then maybe he'll be geassed and have no memory whatsoever. Alternatively, he might end up like Camus in Gundam Z (a.k.a. become mental). More likely than Lelouche to die though is Suzaku. Regardless, I don't think both will be main in the second series. There's got to be a third person as main.

Say if Lelouche is Dark Vadar and Suzaku Obiwan then we'll have Luke & Han (another pair) in the second season... the Luke-to-be will kill Dark Vadar ... and Obiwan will die before that... something like that.

[may-neuma.livejournal.com]

I don't think Suzaku is a geass user. At the ruins site he stepped onto the ruins and it did NOT react. It was said previously that the ruins react to all geass users and C.C.'s people. It only reacted after Lulu actually stepped onto it. Suzaku did have an odd reaction to the ruins though and he was able to see C.C.'s image in this episode. He definitely has some weird connection to C.C.'s people...we just don't know what it is yet.

I sooo agree with you; moreover, C.C had stalked Suzaku and Lulu ever since they were 10 right? We just need to wait what's his connection with Geass which might be revealed on the second season.

As much as I hate to see him dead, the possibility for Lelouch to ever be the same confident evil cackling youth and prevail is almost to none. His relationship not with Suzaku but also with Nunally is bound to be doomed since sooner or later his Zero-ness will be revealed. That if he isn't eaten up by his own guilt first. Lulu's the kind of people who takes responsibility on whatever happened to his closest ones.

~ m a y ~

[magical-poof.livejournal.com]

I think the connection thing might be right on. His mother sure appears a lot, and that makes me sometimes think she's a contractor like C.C. I also find it incredibly strange/creepy how the Emperor was laughing. He must know that Lulu is alive and he also must know about C.C.'s existance, at least, but he sure seems to be plotting something. (On the otherhand, I would die of joy if Lulu ended up Emperor)

However, on a whim, I felt like rewatching the first episode. I was surprised to see that when Lulu first climbed onto the truck with C.C. in it, he heard her saying "I found it. My..." which might mean that Lulu does have some reasonance or something with Geass.

I don't think Suzaku is a Geass user, either. Mostly because of my prejudice against him being the goody-two-shoes hero-complex character, who has no right to pwn over the main character, who is beyond cool. Anyway, he can hardly be a user, considering he hasn't come in contact with a contractor, either. I suppose he has the potential, but I'm pretty sure that just about anyone can be one.

On the more squee-ish note: LULU'S EYE IS STUCK! OMG! Alright, I admit it, I'm a sucker for angst and suffering. I can't wait to see how this ends up. Will he have to quit school? Unless he just goes around and Geasses everyone...

I truly hope Lulu doesn't end up dead until the end of the show, but I guess he might. But really, it is his show, it's freaking named after him, I don't think he's allowed to die half-way through. Sure, in Death Note, L dies, but Light/Kira was really the main character, anyway. In my book, Lulu's gonna make it 'til the end. Suzaku on the other hand...

[angelyuzu.livejournal.com]

Ok, I am totally shocked. I didn't think it was possible for Euphie to die, however her last actions didn't really pleased Lelouch and his plans. I wonder what will really happen to her now.

And I am also very interested in the C.C./Geass/Suzaku story.

And for the Emperor...yes, he's truly evil (and scary T_T).

[zidane.livejournal.com]

As gruesome as it was, I was most pleased by this development. Dramatic, and yet Lelouche didn't consciously become a Total Bastard.

GIP.

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

I don't really have any coherent thoughts right now, aside from "Euphie socute," "Euphie soscary," "Lelouch soemo," "Darlton is the goddamn coolest character in this show, and could totally kick Guilford's Clow Reed ass," and "mmm. Schneizel." I thought it was an amazing episode.

My only concern now is the quality of Euphie's death (since, well, she's pretty clearly going to bite the bullet). If Gawain just steps on her, I'll be very disappointed. If it involves Suzaku and Lelouch and crying, I'll be fine. Come on, Euphie. Rally for a good send-off.

Re: GIP.

[zalem.livejournal.com]

omg...that icon rules. You made it?

[(Anonymous)]

Couple things to note,
Marianne was a superhuman pilot (who else is a super human pilot? hmm point of interest, Suzaku sees Marianne, who he's never met before each time he touches CC)
Nunnaly is a leet pilot in an alternate version of Code Geass: Knightmare of Nunally where Lelouche goes missing after letting CC out of the capsul.
Suzaku's father was an evil person. Killing his father wasn't JUST about saving japan, but about saving Nunnally.
Schnizel like Lelouche is calculating. He's also very cold and deceptive. a Sociopath.
Nunally has overheard about the geass and murders via a conversation Mao had with lelouche over the phone.
Is there a more significant meaning behind Nunnally's blindness? Her eyes are intact, but she can't open them due to "psychological trauma" or is it?
It is suggested that VV has (past tense) given someone certain powers.

[tatooine.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure evil!sorta-pedo!Genbu is wacky novel canon only...

[kamuro-ishigami.livejournal.com]

Ever since the spoiler about Lelouch's geass evolving in this episode, I've been wondering what form it would take..my thoughts were more along the removal of the "once-only" rule..BUT I never thought it would go berserk like even jokingly delivered suggestions and orders would work..now it would seem he would have to watch out for his words..sad..

But really this is one great episode..it made me want to take back my wishes for Euphie's death because of all the SuzuEuphie cheesiness in episode20..poor girl..but this made me love CG all the more..

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I think I need at least a more concise summary before I'm prepared to tackle this one. I do want to know what was up with Lelouch all "Nunnally" at the end though. Is he afraid of geassing her?

So much to question here: Schneizel's reaction, the Emperor's glee, Suzaku sensing C.C., how Lelouch is going to deal with a permanently activated eye, what will happen to Euphie, will Cornelia come to stop her insane sister, will Kaguya do *something*, why is Kirihara so friggin creepy... it just goes on and on.

I do think it's most tragic that Lelouch ended up hurting Euphemia most right when he was on the verge of adopting her plan. I did want to smack him upside the head when he was thinking of geassing her to make her look bad when she shot at him. F'ed up, Lelouch. He was so deliciously happy about it too. Again, I think was his emotions getting the best of him. Maybe it truly is better for Lelouch to "throw them away." It was especially creepy the drawn-out scene of him putting away his school uniform while talking to Nunnally about Euphemia. I wonder if that was supposed to be symbolic at all.

Is it at all important that Euphemia tried to resist her order? We've never seen someone do that before. Maybe the flaw of evolved geass is that while it remains on constantly, it loses some potency. Maybe there are those who can fight it. Still hoping for a Suzaku vs. Euphemia of ultimate angst here.

I love how the all-powerful Suzaku continually gets pwned by C.C. Him in his knight suit in the Lancelot = more love than I thought possible. Still say Suzaku has geass, don't care if it conflicts with the ruins rules. That boy was hauling ass when he as trying to get to Lancelot.


Also, Shirley? There is a point to her still, right? She's not just a red herring. Someone assure me.

[puchikonyo.livejournal.com]

i think it cld be impt tht euphie tried to resist her order. ~____~ i don't think geass is really as absolute as it seems.

its not tht potent when it comes to memory-wiping rmbr? lol i thought MAYBE, just MAYBE, it cld fend against any memory triggers but it doesn't. [tho it it were THT absolute, it wld make the plot less interesting :S]

[puchikonyo.livejournal.com]

i've thought of this possibility of euphie being geassed accidentally to perform atrocities [because of how lulu was said to have said some tasteless joke to trigger the tragedy. afterall, the 'blood' in the title doesn't necessarily mean just euphie's blood].

i suppose this is a much better plot advancement than zero's deliberate killing of euphie D: still kinda sad.... but oh well.

[clamp-hikari.livejournal.com]

Omg~!!! that fried my brain.

Damn, Lulu's geass went berserk. Does that mean he can't go to school without an eye patch??? I was totally thinking that lulu's geass will make his mind go crazy, not make it stuck in Geass mode.

The emperor got to have some kind of power. The all seeing god of Norse mythology? Does he know zero is his son?

Zomg. what Euphie said on stage sure did shock me. At least she should choose her words to indicate she's not nuts. Sigh, I can't believe lulu agreed to Euphie's plans. He's never ever going to get Suzaku on his side o_v

everyone's predicting Lelouch is going to die~!!! T-T I want him alive~~~~

[zalem.livejournal.com]

After this episode, I don't think he'll be going back to school at all. O___O

[fukou.livejournal.com]

[kanki-yamato.livejournal.com]

Yes...I think so too...poor Euphie! ;_;

[kanki-yamato.livejournal.com]

I have no words...this episode totaly shock me!!!!!
I'm so sad... ;__;

[ryans-cupcake.livejournal.com]

I haven't actually watched the ep yet... but from what I hear it looks like Lelouch -could- die by the end of the season... which sort of makes me think this was planned because we only just got confirmation of a second season... But they might continue it and call the second season: CODE GEASS The insanity of Lelouch. But seriously... if he's got permanent geass how long is it going to take before he turns into someone like Mao, now a series all about Mao would get pretty boring... so I think if he really can't turn his Geass off he's going to have to die...

[smilbe.livejournal.com]

The most shocking episode ever, hands down.

[mossygirl.livejournal.com]

;_; I can't believe I was right ... way back when the spoilers were flying (not the Euphemia death one yet) and this episode title was revealed I suggested that Euphie might be doing some killing, since she was "stained with blood." I didn't really expect it to happen though ... poor Euphemia. This is going to be an intense episode to watch. I also hope that Euphie's death is worth it >_

[psych-ten-chan.livejournal.com]

I think what ever will happen in the future depends on how lasting the Geass effects are. If they are permanent, then expect Suzaku and Euphie to be on very opposing sides.

I'm also wondering how the event will be perceived by the Britannians? We know that the Japanese will be enraged to the point of rebelling, but the Britannians? How will they react? Will they see Euphie as a hero for enacting Britannian supremacy or be aghast by her slaughter spree? I'm leaning towards the former as we'll get more story out of it. The whole Britannnia headed by Euphie vs Independent Japan by Lelouch will probably the main story of the next season. As to where Suzaku will side? Probably will be going solo at first but will end up in Lulu's corner at the finale.

[nanya-hime.livejournal.com]

You think Euphie can survive this?

[defade.livejournal.com]

What bothered me most about this episode is not only the Emperor's glee alone, but also the fact that he was referring to Lelouch when he said "That guy...really did it!*insert maniacal laughter*"

...seems like the previous spoiler about the emperor is true then.

[trellius.livejournal.com]

My take was that the Emperor was talking about Euphie, the "decoration princess" who was too weak and kind to excercise her powers would finally go forth with the Darwinian motion he's been trying to establish.

"Ayatsu" is a gender nonspecific pronoun

[empanadas]

Wow... I'm speechless.

To be honest? I was hoping it'd be Suzaku who will initiate Euphie's death, and not Lelouch since I felt it'll be slightly predictable. =/

But damn, that was tragic!

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

I think the Emperor is reminding me far too much of Escaflowne. I was rather liking him at first, but the more I see, the less I like.

I saw a lot of discussion of Lelouch dying. I think that while the show has the balls of steel to do this, I don't know that they would, given his outrageous popularity. I'm sure the darker he gets, the more his more squeemish fans will fade away, but it looks to me like they'd risk alienating a huge chunk of the fandom if they killed him.

I already knew the gist of what would happen, unfortunately, but I loved the way the tone of the show shifted so abruptly. It started heavy, but lightened up, and at it's lightest, went deep into darker territory than it has before.

I'm really looking forward to seeing more of an outright conflict. When the civilians know that they are no longer safe... there's going to be a lot more support for the Knights, I feel. Moderate 11s are going to be forced to reconsider after this. I love the political and war feel of this series, I really would like if it took this as an opportunity to shift it further in that direction.

As for Lelouch, I really loved his continuously poor choices. The worst things that happen to him seem to be a result of his previous actions, and then he compounds them with poor choices on top of that. It makes him just sympathetic enough for me without being overly pitiable. He's tragic, but deeply flawed.

[nanya-hime.livejournal.com]

Talking about the political side of the anime... to be honest, I don't think Euphemia's suggestion is a good idea. I preferred Lelouche's initial plan - to eradicate the presence of the Britannians and to build a kingdom. Euphemia's plan is just a good way to suppress the rebellion voices for a while. However, a Special Administrative Zone doesn't eliminate the fact that a colony IS STILL A COLONY....

[alleona88.livejournal.com]

I can't bloody calm myself down. I just watched 22. my god! I didn;t think it would end up like that. Lulu should have just shot her just to hinder her! at the very least! damn...*still not calm* will post later...

damn..