Code Geass Episode 8: Discussion!

[gods-debris.livejournal.com]

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas (or a happy holiday if you're not into that) and I hope you guys proceed to have a happy New Year! I'm posting a day early because I feel like it! >O And because, as it turns out, I have to go on a nice little drive tomorrow and the roads are supposed to be icy so I figured I'd get it out of the way now. <3

Stage 8: The Order of the Black Knights
黒の騎士団





It looks as though the council members are going on a little field trip. Well, the female ones, at least. Nina is as racist as ever when it comes to the Japanese/Elevens. The translation says, "We won't leave you behind this time" (in Japanese she uses今度) which makes me wonder if there was a situation Nina was in that caused her to have this fear that I missed out on in previous watchings.

Some time must have elapsed between their arrival and when Zero introduces his band of merry men to their new hide out because in between our last visit with the girls they have now been taken hostage in a hotel by Mt. Fuji. It hits home for Kallen and raises the attention of Zero who seemed pretty apathetic to the whole ordeal. Todo is also pretty peeved. Perhaps due to some of his members going off and doing something on their own without consulting him or anyone else?

But not to worry. Cornelia is already on the scene and trying to break through the terrorist's defenses. However, despite her pride and her order not to show weakness to the terrorists, we find out that Euphemia is trapped inside as a hostage—but the kicker is the Japanese terrorists have no knowledge of her being there. Her Clark Kent glasses are totally keeping her from being recognized.

C.C. is talking to herself which brings her up a peg on the creepy list. But when you live as long as she does, perhaps it becomes something of the norm to talk to yourself about such things. She's so apathetic to Lelouch but she needs him to survive. Sometimes her feelings towards what he does feels hypocritical.

Sometimes I do wonder why they didn't just kill Zero there when they had the chance. I mean, he was right there! Of course, doing that then the story wouldn't continue. But I'm sure they could have done something to save the hostages and kill Zero. However, Zero got to get one word in with Cornelia, thus verifying his idea that Euphemia was trapped inside.

Of course, Nina acts up and becomes hysterical about the situation. Understandable, yes, but in that sort of situation she could have at least appealed to them by calling them Japanese instead of calling them Elevens. When they tried to haul her off, Euphemia stood up, named herself and gave herself in place of Nina who stood there awestruck and frozen in fear at the same time. Of course, Zero comes in and saves the day (while shedding some blood) and meets Euphemia who seems pretty curious to who Zero is. Meanwhile, it's nice to see that Suzaku is still as awesome as ever. Can anyone tell what pronoun he used today?

In the end, Zero can be pretty clever when he wants to be. Taking a camera with to show his good deeds? Wooo, you're really one to show the public that you aren't out there to be like the other terrorists. Suzaku, on the other hand, feels as though he's let everybody's life slip through his hands "just like last time". And Zero's talk of mercilessly killing people and how he has punished them... seems a little hypocritical, too, given his own actions at times.

I am going to be skipping Stage 8.5. If you wish to watch it, you may but next week will be Stage 9.

Next time:
Stage 9: Refrain
リフレイン

Comments

[kiraya.livejournal.com]

You know, Sunrise, you can just explain what happened to Nina in the show. You don't have to let it slip in some obscure side materials so the rest of us are left scratching our heads. It might make me hate her less.

I absolutely agree with this. Seriously, it would have made her at least marginally sympathetic, even if she still does end up being a racist psycho.

Cornelia, so like Lelouch...seriously, her face, her tactical genius, her weak point being her little sister...I think they are the most alike of maybe all the Britannian siblings (with the *possible* exception of Schneizel and Lelouch.)

I wish the show had done a little more with this tack. It could have been really interesting.

[carlenne.livejournal.com]

You know, Sunrise, you can just explain what happened to Nina in the show. You don't have to let it slip in some obscure side materials so the rest of us are left scratching our heads. It might make me hate her less.

Wait, so what did happen to her? *hasn't seen the side materials you mention*

[megalomaniageek.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen it firsthand but I've basically pieced the major facts together from what's been mentioned around here and TV tropes: Nina, as a child, was left behind in a ghetto. It has scared her for life. She may have been raped; I don't know that it was implied in the actual side materials or whether some people have just inferred that from her strong reaction.

[carlenne.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember a friend and I were discussing before how Nina's actions wouldn't really make sense unless she had been raped by an Eleven or something like that but I didn't know that there was stuff actually on it. Looking at her from that perspective, she does become a bit more sympathetic.

[megalomaniageek.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you've said. :D