ED Discussion

[cardslash02.livejournal.com]

Here's some copypasta from 4chan:

"Devil Wings: Show a willingness to ignore the repercussions of terrible deeds, and a connection with each other. Four characters have these: the grandest, Lelouch, the middle ground, Kallen, one fully grown wing, CC, and the weak single wing, Rollo. These wings are both a show in villainy and a connection to Lelouch, the most previlant devil shown.

Fake Angel Wings: There are two scenes with what appears to be ceramic angel wings. These must symbolize a false purity, an agenda beyond the true noble calling the wings seem to convey. Anya seems to lean on one, showing her possible faith in this false ideal, and VV spouts them.

True Angel Wings: In the lead here is Suzaku, the character with the most profound scope of making a better world without extraneous sacrifice, with brilliant white wings which out-span any other. Next is Anya, who has medium sized wings, showing she has a similar attitude to Suzaku and Euphie, yet her path is more developed than Euphie's own, whose wings are stunted, probably by her untimely death by the hands of Lelouch. The final character with angel wings is Rollo again, who seems in conflict about which path to take.

No wings: I would say it means that they either haven't found a path yet or genuinely don't let one mindset bind them down. Nunnaly, Zino, Cornelia, and the Emperor... by the characters like this, it also probably means that they aren't necessarily trying to change the world, but to just live life as life is given to them.

Gold Chains: Everyone has these chains. The amount a person is tangled is probably paramount on how much this person is held back by their relations with other characters. Kallen is chained like a dog, around the neck. CC's wing is tangled, showing her relationships hurt her effectiveness to Lelouch. Cornelia is bound only by her sword, as if she could give up all ties if she gave up battle. Suzaku's arms are tangled, giving a sense that his full might is somehow impeded by commitment. Lelouch has only a loop around his arm, most likely signaling Nunnaly, which is dangerously loose. Characters such as Nunnaly, Euphie, the emperor, and VV have hardly any restrictions at all, showing that who they are connected with doesn't limit their actions."

What do you guys think about this?

Comments

[wishmasterfuuma.livejournal.com]

I’ve thought Lulu and Suzaku’s devil/angel wings have simply been because of their correlation to Kamui and (Not really) Fuuma from the beginning. In that case, I really, really do think it was just CLAMP going “Pretty people with wings~ Pretty people with wings~~~”

I think if you were going to tie symbolism to it, the only case I see is Rollo. But that's because everyone's wings are so different, here. It doesn't seem to be just angel and demon. It's angel, demon, ceramic, shreaded, pink... I don't see symbolism in pink wings.

Regardless! I disagree with the assessment of the chains!

When I saw the chains I didn’t immediately jump to any conclusions. I set all the pictures up somewhere that I could stare at them all at once and decided placement meant something, not just the fact that chains were there.

I did not come to the same conclusion about Lelouch’s chains. A loop around the wrist is not something CLAMP does normally. When CLAMP intends you to be trapped, you look trapped.

-Mad crazy fan of X that still stares at the pictures on a regular basis

The loop looks more like a lead for a dog leash, and considering he comes first, it makes sense that he’s tugging the rest along. But Lulu does not have power over everyone, so the characters tied in would make or break the theory. So who is wrapped and who isn’t?

Well, obviously, CC’s caught. She and Kallen have collars and are the closest to Zero. If he falls, they fall. If he succeeds, they succeed. Of course his ‘possession’ of them would be illustrated in the most obvious of ways. Otherwise, CC seems to be a little preoccupied with her other endeavors, the chains just inconveniently there, while Kallen seems much more free and accepting, going so far as to take hold of the chain that supposedly restrains her.

Nunally is not wrapped in chains. She is instead wrapped in ribbon, which CLAMP also likes, but no chain. She is not caught up in the insanity that is Zero’s plight. She looks blank, confused, completely untouched. And I’m sure Lelouch would like to keep her that way.

Rollo, on the other hand, is trapped by his foot. We don’t know much about him, but we can assume he can’t get away, whatever it is. Something has him linked to Lulu, regardless of whether he wanted to be or not. We’ll see if this enfolds in later episodes.

Onto the sisters! Euphemia is free. Euphemia is no longer caught in Zero’s web. We all know why. Cornelia is only caught by her hand in battle, and is otherwise left alone. Other than her role in the army, Zero has no interest in her. Last season he got what he wanted.

The knights of the rounds don’t seem to really care. The chain’s barely there and where it is, they don’t mind. Wow. They’re so passionate. But really, Zino looks like he’s up to the challenge, whatever it is. And Anya just looks bored and disinterested.

Now, VV and the emperor aren’t hindered by their chains at all! They’ve got chain everywhere, but it seems instead of being controlled, they are controlling it, themselves. Makes perfect sense to me.

Suzaku is the most bound by the chains. Even more bound than the girls with collars, because while the chain is around them, it’s not tight and it’s not meant to hurt. But here Suzaku is not just wrapped; he’s outright restrained and tied down by them. There isn’t a loose chain there. And who is Zero’s best enemy, worst friend, and all around obsession?

But as far as outfits go, in my experience with X, they don’t mean much. I think CLAMP just decides whether they want something ripped or not, what color, what style, and goes from there. State of dress is more important than dress. And even that’s not always important, ‘cause sometimes they just like to show their fans some skin.

I’d like to mention I’ve read a lot of CLAMP and my favorite part has always been staring at the art books.