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

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Like has already been stated, while a plot contrivance, I believe Euphie first meets Suzaku while trying to escape from her rooms so she can explore the city. It's just destiny/fate/pick your Clamp tm term that he happens to be right there when she does.

Going onto character similarities, one could just as easily claim Lelouch is "Raito" and C.C. is "Ryuk" but you don't see that as often because Lelouch is most people's favorite character ~.~

To me the only similarities between Euphie and Lacus are the physical. ^^;; Lacus is a much stronger character and really refuses to let herself be manipulated by others. Euphie is also more willing to overlook the flaws of those she loves in a way Lacus is not. Euphie loves all her siblings (with a particular fondness for Cornelia, Lelouch, and Nunnally) and mourns the loss of Clovis, who we've already seen cold bloodedly order the liquidation of the Shinjuku ghetto. Lacus would never overlook something like that. lol Euphie is more than just a pawn since she is one of the few people Lelouch actually cares about. If you want to find a character to compare her to, she's really more like Meer.

I somewhat disagree with you on Nina. Milly (and Shirley to some extent) are shown caring about her and one could argue that until Euphie appears Nina has something of a hero crush on Milly. Euphie is a gorgeous princess, and then after saving Nina's life Euphie actually seems concerned about her. I really don't think her obsession is that odd to take a real life example look at how many people posted to LJ about how awful it was that Heath Ledger died. I seriously doubt any of these people had met him in person let alone had him save their lives.

As for Suzaku I really don't see him like Kira at all, and long before the big reveal about his father. One minor thing, Kira as a coordinator can pass. In Orb he faced little discrimination as coordinators and naturals lived together in peace, but no one can tell he is a coordinator just by looking at him. Suzaku is Japanese. His people have been completely subjugated since he was about 10 years old and forced to live in ghettos. He can't hide his difference and has had to face LOTS of racism. He's also in a more difficult position from the start, as the son of the last Prime Minister, it makes sense that the Britannians want to co-opt him into the system as an "Honorary Britannian", but it's clear next to no one sees him as an equal and he is still faced with constant bigotry. I am sure part of the "boku" personality and control over his emotions comes from the fact he is now always on display. He is a public figure so to speak, particularly after Euphie makes him her knight. He has a responsibility to give a good impression of the Japanese and its obvious he really wants to find some way to save his people.

Kira does not have a death wish/suicidal tendencies. While eventually Kira develops guilt for the people he is not able to save, he's not actually the person who killed them and he doesn't want to die because of it. He also doesn't really develop this guilt until quite a few episodes in.

Personally, the character from another series that most reminds me of Suzaku with his selfish wishes hidden under a kind exterior is Sumeragi Subaru of X.