Two cents

[spaleween.livejournal.com]

First off, I like this anime because it involves war, political intrigue, friendship, and betrayal. Then I was miffed at the stereotypical characters--bad protagonist, heroic antagonist/best friend/greatest enemy, sexy and mysterious girl with mystical powers, helpless sister, megalomaniac king.

And then, as other LJ people have mentioned, they're not stereotypical after all. They're not completely good/bad people...most of them anyway.

There were two things I hated: (1) the Pizza Hut product placement, but this has already been beaten and murdered in other posts so I won't do it, and (2) the god-awful deus ex machina.

There were plenty of deus ex machina in Code Geass (read: V.V.), but what annoyed me most was when Euphie dropped out of nowhere and into Suzaku's arms. Somebody explain to me why a princess would drop out of nowhere? Ah, *forehead smack* convenient plot device...of course.

Many people don't like Euphie because she's a Lacus clone. I initially agree. But when she became a killing doll, I liked it. She became one of Lelouch's many accidental pawns in that last-8-minute chess game of his. This confirms Euphie's purpose in the series: convenient momental plot device.

Now Nina. Everyone is creeped out. But I like it that there's a one-sided-stalker-worship-dirty-love going on with Nina. She never really had anyone care for her before, and here comes this radiant glowing princess that values Nina's life so much that she's willing to exchange her life for hers. Nina is so awestruck because no one ever does this for her before that she entrusts her never-ending and never-wavering loyalty and devotion to her. Someone actually treasured her, in Nina's view. So the girl who was never appreciated before becomes obssessed with the radiant princess because she's afraid no one would appreciate her life again. I kinda understand it.

Suzaku. Agree with the initial Kira-clone impression. Agree with the later omg-he's-actually-two-dimensional-because-of-that-patricide impression. I truly appreciate characters who are not one-dimensional. I don't like perfect characters. I like it that he's a contradictory character. I like it that he's trying to convince himself of doing the right thing, justifying himself of his father's murder. He's haunted by all the bad things he did, but he still weaves the illusion onto himself that "this is for the good". He has a mask, just like Lelouch's Zero, but Suzaku's mask is harder to remove as it's from childhood. I agree that he keeps repressing all that emotion. Once, he managed to let a bit out in front of Lelouch, but that's just a bit. His guilt is slowly eating him and he doesn't notice it. Euphie was, once again--convenient plot device--, the trigger to release all that pent-up emotion since childhood. He doesn't care anymore. He doesn't care that Nunnally is in danger. He doesn't care that Japan is in complete chaos. He doesn't care that Lelouch is his best friend. He doesn't care. All he cares about is killing this guy, riddle him with bullets and make sure he's DEAD.

I haven't read Suzaku of the Counterattack, you see.
A favor? Would anyone mind doing a character sketch of Suzaku? I really want to understand him more.

Comments

[sapphynashi.livejournal.com]

The thing is that Lelouch is grounded in reality - this is made visually obvious when Euphemia announces her plan from high atop the Knightmare Suzaku is piloting. Both of them are placed against the sky, representing a dream that cannot be reached. Meanwhile, Lelouch is literally crouched low to the ground, in disbelief at this spectacle and angry at how Euphemia is derailing all his carefully-laid plans. The shot of Euphemia's happy face is eerie to me, like she's a child who is earnestly trying to make things better, but doesn't have a full understanding of what's going on. She is blissful, honestly wanting to help, and clearly very loving towards Lelouch, Nunnally, and Suzaku. On one hand, this is ridiculous to Lelouch, but he also finds himself wanting to believe.

I'm not sure he's overcome it so much as it's just been taken away from him... But we'll have to wait to find out. D:

Lelouch believes in "the end justifies the means" - the fact is, he did use Euphemia, and had planned to use her from the start. He doesn't think of himself as a nice person at all, he sees the truth and acknowledges his sins, and probably doesn't expect to convince Suzaku by spilling all these things. Especially with the way Suzaku is now, he'd just be more determined to fix all the wrongs. Lelouch wants to win Suzaku over, he states that he won't use the Geass to control him, and really hinges a lot on obtaining Suzaku's loyalty. Lelouch is also clearly attached to his friends and tries very hard to keep them separate from the conflict, expressing extreme guilt when they do get involved. Even at the very end, Lelouch clings to the hope that Suzaku will side with him and doesn't raise his gun until Suzaku denies his existence. That one line is what really shatters him, and implies that he's feared rejection all this time. It easy if Suzaku hates Zero, because Zero is not the whole picture. But Suzaku denying Lelouch, his childhood friend, his closest friend in the world? Totally different story.

edit: Agreeing with the above about Suzaku's kindness as a child - that scene where they walk among the dead and little!Suzaku is crying his eyes out is what I had in mind when referring to his kindness. He's a brash, violent kid, knocks Lelouch down when they meet, but backs off in surprise and guilt when he sees Nunnally. When they do become friends, they grow very close, very quickly.

QFT

[volfield.livejournal.com]

Wow, I love you guys. That first paragraph really sums it up.

(Hmmm, I remember reading those spoilers somewhere, something about the director saying that "Lelouch will first have to overcome something"... I don't really remember where I read that, but it'll be stupid is his Geass was to disappear. Even though I've also read that his contract with C.C. was broken now... Argh I don't know what to think anymore ;_;)


Oh wow, that was brilliant. Yes, yes, YES! I fully agree with you there. Even though I think that Lelouch only rose his gun when Suzaku stated that Nunnally wouldn't be his concern on the future anymore. I really think this was what triggered Lelouch, because when Suzaku denied his own existence he was in complete shock. The idea of his dear friend saying something like that must've never crossed his mind.

Oh right, Nunnally. I think that in the end, if Suzaku never got to shot Lelouch it had to because of Nunnally. She has an ability to call him over, just like when they were kids.


I really enjoyed reading your comment and have nothing else to add... wow *claps*