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]

I can't remember where it was now. ~.~ It was either in Newtype or maybe Suzaku of the Counterattack. I wish I could remember. However, I do remember there is a version where Suzaku specifically kills his father because his father is plotting to murder Lelouch and Nunnally. It know this version was shared a long time ago. ^_^;;;

I do think we just have completely different takes, but I guess my point is it's important to understand that not everyone sees Suzaku as a hypocrite and if you believe that it definitely colors your perspective on him, much like how my belief he is not colors mine.

And see to me, the death weighs on his conscience because he actually killed someone and I think he does regret it.

I do like Lelouch, but nowhere near as much as Suzaku. lol

So the question is who would be the judge lol

[sapphynashi.livejournal.com]

I think you're referring to the Stage 0 novel (http://verity-isle.livejournal.com/tag/stage+0), which is sort of questionable in regards to canon. It has some nice other details and parallels between Lelouch and Suzaku though.

[volfield.livejournal.com]

Ohh, thank you! Indeed, I remember seeing scans from that but never got to see the translation.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I knew there was something where there is a version of Genbu's death where Suzaku did it for Lelouch and Nunnally!

It gets very confusing as to what is canon and what is not.

[volfield.livejournal.com]

Now I'm picturing C.C. as the judge and they both get arrested XD;;;;


Hmmm, maybe it was on Suzaku of the Counterattack? I only have one chapter of that, I might search for it later.


Oh, you're right in there. But well, I think that most people really hate him because of that. That's certainly not my case. At first I really didn't care much about him, because he really seemed a little bit... "Jesus" to me. Always saving people, being the hero, etc. But as soon as his past is revealed on Mao's arc, my interest for him grew significantly. I'm a sucker for characters like him and Lelouch, and I even like his wallrunning skills. I do think he acts a little off sometimes, hypocrite and such... I also think in my mind he's somewhat different than in yours, but overall I think he's a really nice kid. In fact, every one on that series IS a good person. There are no *evil* or *bad* ones. They honestly fight for what they believe and hell, I can't pick a side. To tell you the truth, I'd rather chose both Lelouch and Suzaku to live or die, because if only one of them dies it'd be extremely unfair.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

CC is biased towards Lelouch XD; I vote Euphie she loves them both :P

And see for me Lelouch sometimes seems too much like Raito and unbelievable in his insane and complicated plans and gets on my nerves. I like him but I don't really get all the fangirl adoration of him where he can do no wrong. To me, he's really selfish and only really cares about a few very select people and is happy to use everyone else.

I think there are some people who do more evil things than others. No matter how gay and flouncy Clovis might have been, or how much Euphie liked him, he did order the liquidation of the Shinjuku ghetto. And the captain who Lelouch first uses his geass on is much more on the dark side of things as well.

I think the fact that Suzaku is so flawed and has been from the start and it has been a part of the story that he is flawed, keeps me from ever seeing him as Jesus-like. I don't think he is a hypocrite and it is just a word that happens to really get my goat. lol

I think we just come down on different takes on the characters XD;

[volfield.livejournal.com]

XD;

Euphie: Etto.... (´・ω・｀)


Hmm, I think the fangirlism over Lelouch is mainly because he's a total bishie. As for me, I really like his way of thinking and all those things you mentioned XD; You see, I somewhat like riddles, puzzles and chess, so it's not difficult for me to fall for Lelouch. I love his way of thought, the "just as planned" and all that... Surprising enough, I also like it when Suzaku messes up with his plans... I'm always curious to know what he'll make up to get away with it. I guess this is why our opinions vary a lot!

Oh yes, about the evil and good. You know, I really think it has nothing to do with that. From Clovis POV, if C.C. project was leaked out, his head will roll. You can't really blame him from wanting to save his skin. As a child of the emperor, he was raised the way that man thinks (inequality) so he doesn't have any regret on using people's lives, mainly the Japanese. Safe for the emperor, all the characters behave accordingly to what they believe, they don't have this *evil* aura that makes them do things. Even Lelouch, he doesn't take much pleasure in killing people around. In fact, he has some issues regarding that. The only questionable character is in fact the emperor.

Oh yes, I liked that word - flawed. That's what reminds me about Shinji on him... But when you really look at it, Suzaku is in constant denial and WANTS to change. He really wants to take action towards himself.