Code Geass Episode 5: Discussion!

[gods-debris.livejournal.com]

Episode 5: 皇女と魔女
The Imperial Princess and the Witch










We begin by seeing Cornelia taking control of Area 18 with her army. For whatever reason I always somewhat felt that Lelouch had some sort of a similarity with her. Well, at least for this episode they were both introduced with a fiery entrance (at least Zero was shown to the public that way in the last episode). Cornelia has decided to take control of Area 11 and avenge the death of her brother, Clovis. Her goal? To find Zero!

Lelouch returns home to see a familiar face of someone whom he thought died via bullet to the brain. I guess I'd be a little surprised too. I mean, he did watch her die in front of him. There was a bullet in her head, after all. She survived and there's not even a scar to show she was ever shot. At any rate, it's nice to see that Nunnally and C.C. are getting along pleasantly—except she's under the assumption that Lelouch is marrying her. I gotta say, though, I didn't get the feeling that Nunnally really believed the breaking of that cup was legit. Unfortunately for Lelouch he doesn't get to have a lot of his questions answered by the mysterious C.C..

In other news poor Jeremiah has lost his leadership due to the whole "orange" incident. No one trusts him after he let Zero escape and even attacked his own men claiming they were disobeying his orders. For those wondering what "orange" meant, Lelouch claims it was just a casual remark that some people will want to know the meaning of and others will begin to analyze what it does mean. Suspicion. Luckily for Suzaku, due to the whole ordeal they acquitted that there was not enough evidence to charge him with the murder of Clovis, so he was found innocent! Other than that other terrorist groups are making a ruckus because of the whole Zero thing, thinking it's time to revolt; even the Japanese that Toudou is a part of wants to act now, but Toudou seems to be very patient and he wants to wait and not get caught up in the whole Zero thing.

Anyways, is it just me or is this entire anime built on lies? When Suzaku meets Euphemia for the first time one of the first thing she says to him is a lie. She's being chased by bad people? Moreover she lies about who she is—well she omits the fact that she's the princess Euphemia and just tells Suzaku that she's Eufie. However, I get that she did that so she could see who he was on a different level. For example when Suzaku stepped in when some Britannian soldiers were creating a ruckus with an Eleven. He took a lot of heat from the Britannians. Later he stepped in when there was a coup d'état against Jeremiah, which later caused Euphemia to step in and stop the fight using her royal power. Maybe it was a test for Suzaku because she knew who he was when they met, I believe. Either way, Lloyd knew the entire time, that bastard!

I gotta hand it to Lelouch, though. He put Geass on a girl to test how long Geass stays on a given person for. Every day at the same time she goes to the same spot and carves in the wall the same image. Even C.C. is impressed.

Suzaku is attending Ashford Academy! :D

Next time: 奪われた仮面
The Stolen Mask

P.S. I will be deleting previous image batches from my flickr account within the next week, save for this one.

Comments

Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

- I still lol at the idea of Knightmares with capes, even if they are pretty damn badassed. Cornelia's entrance is still amazing.
- I love Lelouch's expression on realizing Nunnally is with C.C. The rest of his freakout while Nunnally worries about his relationship with C.C. is also priceless.
- I just love Lelouch's relationship with C.C., especially the way he keeps trying to emphasize he's only doing thing in his interest. Him picking up her fallen clothes is so OCD.
- I adore Euphie. I forgot how soft her voice is and how gentle and sincere she is. This brings back my Euphie/Lulu shipping hardcore. Her wanting to know the real side of Area 11, her uncertainty over how to eat civilian food and looking to Suzaku for advice, her wanting to stop the fighting and her general wish to know more about the people she is about to claim authority over. Euphie. ;;
- Interesting the way Suzaku explains what happened to his father. "My father had to die in the war." Had to die, Suzaku? I thought you regreted that action.
- I actually find the fact that Suzaku spends this entire episodes with his eyes hidden quite interesting, aside from the obvious necessity. It hides the viewer from his primary way of expressing emotions: his eyes, although we still get his adorable Suzaku grins. The greatest example of these is when Suzaku is trying to figure out why Euphie is lying to him about running away and his reactions to the Britannians mad-mouthing the Japanese. Man, those kids are assholes. It's a good thing we have the Ashford Student Council to counter the perception of all Britannians being jerks. The glasses also serve a nice role during the Lelouch/Suzaku dual monologue. I love this because it's presented as one whole piece to show how the boys very much view the situation and its consequences in the same light; it is only the methods of correcting that situation that stand between them. Lelouch has his answer through destruction, while Suzaku is not quite sure what can be done but wants to choose the path of least death. Very nice.
- Lelouch stalking Suzaku over Google.
- Kallen FINALLY bringing up the phone thing. Way to wait on that one, Kallen. Also, nice confusion for poor Shirley again.
- C.C. is always hot in Lelouch's clothes. Possibly because Lelouch is drastically skinny and is practically a girl anyway.
- Cecile and Lloyd stalking Suzaku lol. Also, Suzaku coercing Lloyd into letting him use the Lancelot by appealing to what he know Lloyd loves. Suzaku can be pretty perceptive when he wants to be. Even though he only wanted to get involved in that fight to kill himself. orz
- The scene where both the Japanese and the Britannians denounce Suzaku, the Japanese for stopping them from beating up the Britannians and the Britannians for Suzaku not interfering earlier. Boy just can't get cut a break. It does a good job of showing how much of an outsider Suzaku really is, as he prefers. It also shows his wish to stop all fighting by BASICALLY DOING WHAT LELOUCH SAYS. Suzaku ends the fight by overpowering Tamaki, just as Lelouch quips that the fighting will stop when someone wins. Tricksy parallel that. Also, great that he loses his glasses in this scene, effectively stripping his emotions bare so the viewer can see how much his place in life pains him.
- SLAP!
- So many coups in the Britannian military. Charles' influence of pitting everyone against each other reaches far. I do love how Villetta defends her lord though. Too bad her outfit is as out of place as the Knightmare capes.
- Aww, Suzaku's honor.
- I love the way Cornelia handles the pathetic fawning the Area 11 officials do.
- Guess you can stop Googling Suzaku now, Lelouch.
- Also, I always wonder whether Suzaku's saving of Jeremiah ever had any ultimate effect on their relationship once both Jeremiah and Suzaku became Lelouch's knights. I love any fic that mentions this relationship. There should be more Jeremiah/Suzaku that's not S1 rape.
- Does anyone but me look at the ED for this season and wonder whether Naoto and Ougi would make good slash fodder? There should also be fic for this.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[kiraya.livejournal.com]

I still lol at the idea of Knightmares with capes, even if they are pretty damn badassed.

I know! It just seems like such a risk -- one more thing for the enemy to grab hold of.

Cornelia's entrance is still amazing.

YES. I will freely confess to being a huge Cornelia fangirl, and the way she's so take-charge and confident is a big part of that.

Interesting the way Suzaku explains what happened to his father. "My father had to die in the war." Had to die, Suzaku? I thought you regreted that action.

My theory is he's either completely blacked out that event in a case of selective amnesia, or he's been lying to himself about it for so long that he's starting to believe the lies. Look at how shocked he is when it's revealed later on.

I love your point about Suzaku and his glasses. I didn't even think anything about them except how unflattering they were.

Does anyone but me look at the ED for this season and wonder whether Naoto and Ougi would make good slash fodder? There should also be fic for this.

I'm sure there probably is somewhere, and that there'd be more if Ougi were as pretty as the majority of the major characters. Oh, and if Naoto weren't dead.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Maybe Cornelia's soldiers are so BADASSED nobody would dare try to pull that move. XD

It's probably the latter part, about him lying to himself so long that he's starting to believe the lies, except for when they're SHOVED INTO HIS FACE. Also, I love Suzaku and his ridic glasses in their own dorky way.

Oh come now, death never deters fanfic writers.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[kiraya.livejournal.com]

Oh come now, death never deters fanfic writers.

Then why isn't Lulu/Euphie more popular? :(

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Because the world hates us and wants us to be miserable. :(

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Am I the only person who genuinely doesn't understand that ship?

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I love it because it's so messed-up yet beautiful and even has canon support to boot, but I can get if it's not everyone's cup of tea. Personally, I'm a trio lover. Sex for all!

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

It's more that I don't actually see their interactions as shippy in the slightest. (My reaction to that one line was basically, "Where the hell did that come from?")

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[kiraya.livejournal.com]

Some days I feel like the only person who doesn't understand, oh, Lelouch/C.C., so ymmv I guess. Subtext is weird that way.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[megalomaniageek.livejournal.com]

'Cause they're siblings. It's a cute ship but, y'know, brother and sister. I don't mind innocent/childish Lulu/Euphie though.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I blame Angel Sanctuary and CLAMP for breaking me of any incest shame. orz

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

This, too. Their moments of closeness always struck me as more familial than anything else.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[ichinichinemasu.livejournal.com]

Cornelia's entrance is still amazing.
YES. I have a total girl-crush on her.


Interesting the way Suzaku explains what happened to his father. "My father had to die in the war." Had to die, Suzaku? I thought you regreted that action.
I think it's just because he's gotten so used to lying to EVERYONE, even himself, about it.


...I like the hidden eye thing! That's an awesome observation.


It does a good job of showing how much of an outsider Suzaku really is, as he prefers.
Yes :(

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Hee, girl-crush. Me too. /o\

And Suzaku needs a hug. :(

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[welyn.livejournal.com]

C.C. is always hot in Lelouch's clothes. Possibly because Lelouch is drastically skinny and is practically a girl anyway.
I find it amusing that Lelouch's clothes fit Kallen, C.C. and Nunnally. Especially on hips.
And that it is one and the same set, like he has no other clothes. I know the reasons behind this but still.

It also shows his wish to stop all fighting by BASICALLY DOING WHAT LELOUCH SAYS. Suzaku ends the fight by overpowering Tamaki, just as Lelouch quips that the fighting will stop when someone wins.
Ohh, nice catch! I mean, even if it wasn't Suzaku's intent, it did work nicely. Parallels are love.

Even though he only wanted to get involved in that fight to kill himself. orz
Hmm, I thought Suzaku got involved into Jeremiah's fight for the same reason as in students incident, though the possibility of death is always a bonus. But now you've got me thinking...

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

It's definitely the hips.

Well, I do think Suzaku did generally want to stop the fighting because of his ideals, but potential for noble sacrifice in something like that is very high.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[welyn.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that's sad but true.

Also, re. father's death, now that I've rewatched the moment, it seems to me that he's not even speaking to Euphie, but tries to persuade himself that his father had to die. On the first go, though, I was under impression that he kinda removed that fact from his memory.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

That's true, that could very well be a "convince himself" moment in action.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[seshiru-san.livejournal.com]

Cornelia's entrance is still amazing.
Yes, it is!

Does anyone but me look at the ED for this season and wonder whether Naoto and Ougi would make good slash fodder? There should also be fic for this.
A Naoto/Ohgi doujinshi does indeed exist. Here's the cover (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/ayacuore/03_samurai_hyosi.jpg) and one preview page (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/ayacuore/03_samurai_hon.jpg). (Safe for work)

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this. I am intrigued. :D

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[otakukeith.livejournal.com]

Interesting the way Suzaku explains what happened to his father. "My father had to die in the war." Had to die, Suzaku? I thought you regreted that action.

That is interesting - I don't remember that at all. Is it in most/all translations?

Suzaku ends the fight by overpowering Tamaki, just as Lelouch quips that the fighting will stop when someone wins. Tricksy parallel that.

Ooh, nice catch. It's interesting to speculate on exactly what Lelouch meant by that quip - that *he* intended to win or simply that the wars can only end with the establishment of a worldwide tyranny? Both can be seen as foreshadowing Zero Requiem (where Lelouch 'won' and then effectively relinquished power).

C.C. is always hot in Lelouch's clothes.

Fixed it for you. :P

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm watching the official translation. I don't remember what the fansubs say anymore.

I never know since I think Lelouch, like most of his family, suffers from a touch of power-hungry himself. XD But I do like the foreshadowing interpretation.

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

I always got the impression that Lelouch had never entirely grown out of his childish ego-centrism, that whole "I'm the one who knows just what is wrong with the world, and I will be the one to fix it."

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[nayami.livejournal.com]

That too! orz

Re: Random thoughts and some SPOILERS

[welyn.livejournal.com]

Is it in most/all translations?

gg's early subs have it exactly like this, with 'had' in caps.