2008-04-21 18:59![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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code_geass
nayami.livejournal.com in code_geassIt's so great to see our community activity with things aside from icons and RP ads again. All this discussion makes me a very happy Geass fan. But I still love my epic posts so here's another one. As always, no character bashing or I will eat your soul. I hear they go quite well with bread pudding.
It was refreshing to finally have an episode that gave us a chance to breathe and wrap out heads around some things without reeling from the OMG SHOCK of a moment before. I admit I was completely against an Ashford episode from the start and still believe that the plot should be dropped sooner rather than later. We were promised a world stage and yet we have yet to escape Japan. Much the same as Lelouch. Suzaku seems to be the only one with true freedom, but even that is debatable. I also think that this episode did a decent job of paralleling last season but to a much less irritating extent than previous ones. I still whine that all Lelouch did was sit on the horse. TEASES.
Since everyone is all over Rollo, I will deal with him later and instead put the perplexing issues of the episode to the forefront. The largest of these being GEASS. In Turn 2, we hear the Emperor tell Suzaku that only he knows about geass. I'm guessing this means he's the only KotR to know about geass. Clearly, other people do, although they may not know the full extent of the power. Villetta and Rollo chat about it. They also apparently bank on Lelouch's reliance on it it, a very poor move on their part, as most of Lelouch's building of his army was done without the use of his power (I will acknowledge winning them over was done through the geassing of Jeremiah and the rescue of Suzaku). Whoever is advising them that Lelouch abuses his power is working off a biased scenario. Is it Villetta's? Is it the Emperor's? Is it Suzaku's? Their observation itself is terribly hindered by the belief that Zero would immediately take action if Lelouch was back to his old ways. Again, the crew is not entirely playing with a full stack of cards. But I doubt the Emperor is this sloppy. And it's rather convenient that nobody knows what happened within Babel Tower if both of the group were apparently striving for the same thing.
I also have nit-pickery with Lelouch this time around. While I understand that the student council all had their memories rearranged to remove knowledge of Nunnally and Zero, meaning that Shirley was probably geassed a second time (a cop-out way to deal with the issue of her remembering things last season), Lelouch fully remembers what happened. I find it interesting that Lelouch is still willing to use Shirley to lure out Rollo and his other followers, knowing what he already put her through. I could even forgive this behavior, as Lelouch has always shown himself to be of the "ends justify the means" mindset if not for his later reaction. Upon Shirley pointing out the cable car, Lelouch suddenly feels guilt. Why was this guilt not present before? Did he conveniently shove it to the back of his mind? I fully believe that he feels responsible for what happened to his friends and wants to avenge them, but the combination of these two elements sat extremely awkwardly with me. It was almost like an afterthought. Even if Lelouch wouldn't know a date if it bit him on the ass, he knows how Shirley feels about him so agreeing to go do something with her would clearly count as playing into those feelings. Lelouch, you are a bastard. Though, I will add he was certainly hot when he was joking with Shirley about the spectacular trick he was going to play on the council.Talk wicked to me, baby.
People have pointed out Villetta's conflicted reaction to Ougi's fate. Interesting now that Villetta has some of the power she sought, noted by the surveillance members all referring to her as "lord." I am not sure how I feel about this since the Ougi/Villetta storyline was not one of my favorites. My interest in this is that Villetta seems somewhat... compromised and none too agitated by her role at Ashford. I would have thought a teacher would be demeaning for a warrior.
While we're exploring Britannia, we should also take a moment to brush over Schneizel and Suzaku. Some people have made some good comments about Suzaku's fight with the EU, particularly his focus on disabling rather than killing the pilots. Even if his words come across harsh, practically demanding their surrender, something feels different about this fight than his previous ones. Also Shinigami. I wonder if Suzaku did not earn the name from his homicidal battles in the Black Rebellion. There was no such quarter given then, and for good reason. Whatever Suzaku is after, there is a sense of weariness about him now. His final question to his opponents is whether they still want to continue fighting. Yes, Suzaku, may be different now, but his issues with outright killing seem to be a new spin on his old preservation. There could even be a degree more sanity involved in this style. Schneizel, who continues to be our red herring, alludes to as much when he talks about Suzaku bringing a sense of responsibility and conscience to the field. Ironic description for someone who would betray his own friend hmmm.
Lelouch has also returned to genuinely focusing on Nunnally, something that was missing quite heavily from previous episodes, and something that irked me. We see that he holds back because he's afraid of her being used as a bargaining chip, we see how resentful he is that the council has forgotten her and we see the rage toward the brother that replaced her. The locked, as some have suggested, was most likely a gift for her, purchased early, and then given to Rollo after Lelouch's memories were wiped. Hence, Lelouch's comment that a locket doesn't truly suit a boy. Ouch, Sunrise, giving them the same birthday. This is also where I point out that I love Lelouch's quiet, deadly rage when he makes this realization. Even if that one later frame was totally stole from the scene where Lelouch is watching Suzaku and Nunnally while deciding to tell Suzaku to be Nunnally's knight. As always, the majority of Lelouch's rage is turned toward his father.
Further following my attempt to sort out Lelouch's current thoughts on Suzaku is Lelouch's casual remark about Suzaku taking Arthur. Of course, it's adorable because it shows that Lelouch loev the kitty, as we all already knew. But that Lelouch automatically jumps to knowing that Arthur is with Suzaku is equally noteworthy. I have seen theories about Suzaku taking Arthur because of the cat's connection with Euphemia, thus Suzaku wanting to keep everything about Euphemia as far from Lelouch as possible. And here, I think Lelouch understands this. For his words are not bitter but a simple observation, an understanding as Lelouch always tries to boil things down to. Oh yeah, Lelouch also mentions Nina, which I assume is because she was another staple of Ashford that is now missing.
I am loving the theories I've seen floating about Rollo. While I was already intrigued by Lost Colors, the boy totally won me over with his shanking the Britannian guy and his later freakout in front of Lelouch. I am guessing Rollo is in a way a trained weapon because of his power. He may have been kept from people for a better part of his life or at least raised in a way that he felt perpetually detached. He doesn't care too much about following any orders but a prime directive, as seen in his killing of the guy who walks in on the secret of the geass. There is also his ability to switch modes, especially his creepy departure from the Chinese Embassy. I do buy into the notion that Rollo grew accustomed to his familial relationship with Lelouch and even started to believe it. He seems absolutely shocked in the scene where Lelouch gives him the locket and later reaffirms to himself that birthdays are important to people, furthering his belief that receiving the locket was a big deal. Add to that his total panic at losing it, at losing this reminder that he has family. Lelouch gave it to him! I love the raw emotion in his eyes in this scene. And his later confusion as Milly talks about Shirley possibly joining the family.
It is also hinted that Rollo doesn't want to give up his fake life, seen in Turn 1 with him trying to keep Lelouch from returning to his old ways and his attempts to convince himself that Lelouch can't possibly be this Zero in Turn 3. I especially love the way he still calls Lelouch "nii-san" because of his panic in the mall when he tries to reach Villetta. As always in geass, only an especially vicious catalyst manages to break the bond, with Rollo reverting back to "Lelouch" when Lelouch pulls a gun on him. His final words also speak to his take on his own power, referring to the geass as a "demon's eye." Perhaps Rollo resents what has happened to him because of his power; it can be suggested he is unstable with it at times. I guess here we can also toss in questions about who granted Rollo geass and how long he's had it. We've seen from Mao that geass can be given at a very young age, which I think is most likely with Rollo. But he also has managed to keep his control of it, possibly through outside influences.
I also want to give a shout-out to the music in this ep. "Masquerade" and also the cheesy but still amusing dramatic piece that plays out in the mall. I enjoyed. And I don't care what anyone says, I loved the cat-fight between C.C. and Kallen. I want more. It's not just fanservice; it's the development of their relationship, which was severely overlooked in S1.
Nope, no easy questions for you guys this time. They be in the analysis itself.
It was refreshing to finally have an episode that gave us a chance to breathe and wrap out heads around some things without reeling from the OMG SHOCK of a moment before. I admit I was completely against an Ashford episode from the start and still believe that the plot should be dropped sooner rather than later. We were promised a world stage and yet we have yet to escape Japan. Much the same as Lelouch. Suzaku seems to be the only one with true freedom, but even that is debatable. I also think that this episode did a decent job of paralleling last season but to a much less irritating extent than previous ones. I still whine that all Lelouch did was sit on the horse. TEASES.
Since everyone is all over Rollo, I will deal with him later and instead put the perplexing issues of the episode to the forefront. The largest of these being GEASS. In Turn 2, we hear the Emperor tell Suzaku that only he knows about geass. I'm guessing this means he's the only KotR to know about geass. Clearly, other people do, although they may not know the full extent of the power. Villetta and Rollo chat about it. They also apparently bank on Lelouch's reliance on it it, a very poor move on their part, as most of Lelouch's building of his army was done without the use of his power (I will acknowledge winning them over was done through the geassing of Jeremiah and the rescue of Suzaku). Whoever is advising them that Lelouch abuses his power is working off a biased scenario. Is it Villetta's? Is it the Emperor's? Is it Suzaku's? Their observation itself is terribly hindered by the belief that Zero would immediately take action if Lelouch was back to his old ways. Again, the crew is not entirely playing with a full stack of cards. But I doubt the Emperor is this sloppy. And it's rather convenient that nobody knows what happened within Babel Tower if both of the group were apparently striving for the same thing.
I also have nit-pickery with Lelouch this time around. While I understand that the student council all had their memories rearranged to remove knowledge of Nunnally and Zero, meaning that Shirley was probably geassed a second time (a cop-out way to deal with the issue of her remembering things last season), Lelouch fully remembers what happened. I find it interesting that Lelouch is still willing to use Shirley to lure out Rollo and his other followers, knowing what he already put her through. I could even forgive this behavior, as Lelouch has always shown himself to be of the "ends justify the means" mindset if not for his later reaction. Upon Shirley pointing out the cable car, Lelouch suddenly feels guilt. Why was this guilt not present before? Did he conveniently shove it to the back of his mind? I fully believe that he feels responsible for what happened to his friends and wants to avenge them, but the combination of these two elements sat extremely awkwardly with me. It was almost like an afterthought. Even if Lelouch wouldn't know a date if it bit him on the ass, he knows how Shirley feels about him so agreeing to go do something with her would clearly count as playing into those feelings. Lelouch, you are a bastard. Though, I will add he was certainly hot when he was joking with Shirley about the spectacular trick he was going to play on the council.
People have pointed out Villetta's conflicted reaction to Ougi's fate. Interesting now that Villetta has some of the power she sought, noted by the surveillance members all referring to her as "lord." I am not sure how I feel about this since the Ougi/Villetta storyline was not one of my favorites. My interest in this is that Villetta seems somewhat... compromised and none too agitated by her role at Ashford. I would have thought a teacher would be demeaning for a warrior.
While we're exploring Britannia, we should also take a moment to brush over Schneizel and Suzaku. Some people have made some good comments about Suzaku's fight with the EU, particularly his focus on disabling rather than killing the pilots. Even if his words come across harsh, practically demanding their surrender, something feels different about this fight than his previous ones. Also Shinigami. I wonder if Suzaku did not earn the name from his homicidal battles in the Black Rebellion. There was no such quarter given then, and for good reason. Whatever Suzaku is after, there is a sense of weariness about him now. His final question to his opponents is whether they still want to continue fighting. Yes, Suzaku, may be different now, but his issues with outright killing seem to be a new spin on his old preservation. There could even be a degree more sanity involved in this style. Schneizel, who continues to be our red herring, alludes to as much when he talks about Suzaku bringing a sense of responsibility and conscience to the field. Ironic description for someone who would betray his own friend hmmm.
Lelouch has also returned to genuinely focusing on Nunnally, something that was missing quite heavily from previous episodes, and something that irked me. We see that he holds back because he's afraid of her being used as a bargaining chip, we see how resentful he is that the council has forgotten her and we see the rage toward the brother that replaced her. The locked, as some have suggested, was most likely a gift for her, purchased early, and then given to Rollo after Lelouch's memories were wiped. Hence, Lelouch's comment that a locket doesn't truly suit a boy. Ouch, Sunrise, giving them the same birthday. This is also where I point out that I love Lelouch's quiet, deadly rage when he makes this realization. Even if that one later frame was totally stole from the scene where Lelouch is watching Suzaku and Nunnally while deciding to tell Suzaku to be Nunnally's knight. As always, the majority of Lelouch's rage is turned toward his father.
Further following my attempt to sort out Lelouch's current thoughts on Suzaku is Lelouch's casual remark about Suzaku taking Arthur. Of course, it's adorable because it shows that Lelouch loev the kitty, as we all already knew. But that Lelouch automatically jumps to knowing that Arthur is with Suzaku is equally noteworthy. I have seen theories about Suzaku taking Arthur because of the cat's connection with Euphemia, thus Suzaku wanting to keep everything about Euphemia as far from Lelouch as possible. And here, I think Lelouch understands this. For his words are not bitter but a simple observation, an understanding as Lelouch always tries to boil things down to. Oh yeah, Lelouch also mentions Nina, which I assume is because she was another staple of Ashford that is now missing.
I am loving the theories I've seen floating about Rollo. While I was already intrigued by Lost Colors, the boy totally won me over with his shanking the Britannian guy and his later freakout in front of Lelouch. I am guessing Rollo is in a way a trained weapon because of his power. He may have been kept from people for a better part of his life or at least raised in a way that he felt perpetually detached. He doesn't care too much about following any orders but a prime directive, as seen in his killing of the guy who walks in on the secret of the geass. There is also his ability to switch modes, especially his creepy departure from the Chinese Embassy. I do buy into the notion that Rollo grew accustomed to his familial relationship with Lelouch and even started to believe it. He seems absolutely shocked in the scene where Lelouch gives him the locket and later reaffirms to himself that birthdays are important to people, furthering his belief that receiving the locket was a big deal. Add to that his total panic at losing it, at losing this reminder that he has family. Lelouch gave it to him! I love the raw emotion in his eyes in this scene. And his later confusion as Milly talks about Shirley possibly joining the family.
It is also hinted that Rollo doesn't want to give up his fake life, seen in Turn 1 with him trying to keep Lelouch from returning to his old ways and his attempts to convince himself that Lelouch can't possibly be this Zero in Turn 3. I especially love the way he still calls Lelouch "nii-san" because of his panic in the mall when he tries to reach Villetta. As always in geass, only an especially vicious catalyst manages to break the bond, with Rollo reverting back to "Lelouch" when Lelouch pulls a gun on him. His final words also speak to his take on his own power, referring to the geass as a "demon's eye." Perhaps Rollo resents what has happened to him because of his power; it can be suggested he is unstable with it at times. I guess here we can also toss in questions about who granted Rollo geass and how long he's had it. We've seen from Mao that geass can be given at a very young age, which I think is most likely with Rollo. But he also has managed to keep his control of it, possibly through outside influences.
I also want to give a shout-out to the music in this ep. "Masquerade" and also the cheesy but still amusing dramatic piece that plays out in the mall. I enjoyed. And I don't care what anyone says, I loved the cat-fight between C.C. and Kallen. I want more. It's not just fanservice; it's the development of their relationship, which was severely overlooked in S1.
Nope, no easy questions for you guys this time. They be in the analysis itself.
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xxxxD
Lelouch and Rollo - Family bonds
First, Lelouch. It seemed this episode was more "gathering information" sort of episode, as Lelouch learns where he stands and what he can do. Lots and lots of silent RAGE from him as he learns that everyone forgot about Nunnally and Rollo replaced her.
Though, in the Lelouch vs. Rollo relationship on his side, it's complicated. I mean, he remembers how he felt about Rollo during that one year with the wiped memory, and I think, he feels just a little bit of affection for the kid, even if he knows that Rollo is working for the other side.
I mean, look how cute Rollo is. How could even Lulu stand up to that cuteness without SOME feelings? While Lulu is focused on Nunally and that is a good thing, I noticed how he didn't really want to "dispose of" his fake brother, but still "use" him. Deep down, somewhere in that twisted heart of his, Lelouch cares. A bit. It wasn't really seen in this episode because Lulu was still trying to figure out what Rollo WAS, but the locket scene definitely implied it.
And Rollo. This episode was ALL about Rollo. Cute little badass Rollo. The thing I noticed about him was all about how, in his scenes with the surveillance gang, Rollo seemed more focused on catching CC and eliminating the Zero threat rather than threatening his big brother. I think Rollo may have started out as an average spy, but he got used to Lulu treating him like his dear little brother and got used to it. Now, he doesn't want to lose that relationship -- thus his conflicting ideas about whether or not "Zero" has awakened, and how he doesn't want to believe it until Lulu slams it in his face. He's grasping to try to eliminate Zero in order to keep Lelouch, almost.
And then, there was the way he called him "Lelouch" instead of "Nii-san" after the timehax! scene. That signals to me that he does separate the "evil" side of Lelouch from the sweet older brother that he once knew. Because he loves his brother, and looks up to him as the only family he has, he can't put Lelouch = Zero together, unlike Suzaku who can do that all too easily.
Even after Lelouch shows Rollo that he got his memories back, I think Rollo just didn't want to connect the two--after all, once "Zero" has awakened, "Lelouch" as he knew him would be gone, thus the different name.
This brings to another point: Rollo's family issues. Now, while Rollo can be badass and knife people who walk in on him during conversations, the boy has some SERIOUS issues, shown by the locket thing. What's in the locket? I mean, that probably is important, but the symbolism of the locket is even greater.
I mean, Lelouch gave it to him (even if, I think, it was originally for Nunally) it's HIS. It's something that his only brother in the whole wide world gave to him. So, Rollo treasures it, and panics at the thought of losing it. Considering how hax! Rollo is with mecha and knife fighting skills, I don't think, outside of the year he spent with Lelouch, Rollo had something that could be called a "normal family". Heck, for all we know, he could have been related to Lulu after all, but never met him (showing how he looks a lot like Nunally did) thus reaffirming the family thing.
But even without a blood connection, there really was a bond there, as shown in Turn 1. And Rollo grasped on and treasured that bond. Now, after Zero has woken up, he can't sever that bond by identifying his loving "Nii-san" with the terrorist "Zero". In essence, Rollo is so afraid of losing that family bond he has with Lelouch, that it gets in the way of his spy job.
Even though Rollo is undeniably cute, the fact that he doesn't want to lose his brother as he knows him and wants to keep that family bond will be his downfall. At least, I'm sure, it'll turn him from the "dark side" and over to working with Lelouch eventually.
Because, I'm sure, like Suzaku and Lelouch, when Lelouch and Rollo work together, (and have mind control + timehax! geasses) they can probably do (almost) anything.
Re: Lelouch and Rollo - Family bonds
Yes, someone else brought up Rollo's focus on C.C., further adding to his wish to distance Zero and Lelouch. As I've said before, the very obvious switch between the "nii-san" of moments ago and the "Lelouch" after Lelouch pulls a gun on him is most revealing. If it were all just a ploy, Rollo would have no trouble saying "nii-san" all snide like. But Rollo doesn't want to merge the two. I truly believe Rollo thought as long as Lelouch didn't remember, they could continue their life together, and Rollo was getting used to it.
Re: Lelouch and Rollo - Family bonds
I meant more that the feeling he felt for Rollo is probably repressed--I mean, he remembers what he did during the year of the memory loss. And you can't forget how you felt about someone before, even if you hate them now. I'm getting strong vibes--especially from hints like the second Lulu paused over the picture of Rollo smiling--that somewhere along the line, he's going to start caring about Rollo again.
But right now, he doesn't know fully what's going on, and still has to deal with that RAGE he's got locked inside of him. It's too soon for him to feel for Rollo at the moment, but sonner or later, I think Rollo is going to win back his place in Lelouch's heart.
Re: Lelouch and Rollo - Family bonds
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...Every time I go to write my thoughts on this Shirley thing, I get to a point where I fear I will anger someone and decide to stop. This is not good.
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and well, i understand your fear but i don't think you should let that stop you. i mean, you're free to voice your thoughts...or in this case, type your thoughts just as much as everyone else. it's nice to even have a bit of clashing opinions. just so long as it doesn't escalate--or more like devolve--into something personal. xP
Re: Lelouch and Rollo - Family bonds
Like
While Lulu is focused on Nunally and that is a good thing, I noticed how he didn't really want to "dispose of" his fake brother, but still "use" him.
That really struck me because Lelouch is trying to do to Rollo what Charles did to him. They're enemies, but so long as he had some use value, he could be exploited. Oh, Lelouch...you're more similar to your daddy than you care to admit.
Re: Lelouch and Rollo - Family bonds
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No one is cool enough to be Larsa.
I agree, although in line with the sibling relationship, I fleetingly had an idea of Lelouch being Larsa, which is wrong in so many levels that I purged the thought out of my mind at once.
C.C. == Balthier will be so much =3
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I certainly won't put it past Charles that he knows about Suzaku being Lelouch's friend long time ago. What bugs me is how he finds out that Lelouch still matters to Suzaku and vice versa and therefore sees it necessary to break the bond.
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I don't want to assume. Oo... Or would you rather me say it all, anyway, because discussion is fun?
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That aside, the student body council members may possibly have forgotten about not only Nunnally, but Nina, Suzaku & Arthur. There's no mention so far that they remember them or believe them to have transfered away.
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I'm thinkin' there's a moral debate in there, somewhere.
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Don't get me wrong. I love both boys, but I always want to make sure that flaws are explored and acknowledged on both sides. Lelouch killed Euphie and has persisted in denying Suzaku the truth about what happened. I am not saying this is a bad decision, but it is the one he has made. Suzaku, with the knowledge he has, is in full rights to feel betrayed and vengeful.
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Re: Lelouch and Rollo - Family bonds
You could very, very easily explain his reluctance to kill Rollo with that alone.
That's not to say I don't think he likes Rollo or anything. Actually, that point has nothing to do with their relationship at all. I just don't want to let ya'll read into something coldly strategic and call it feelings. He's trying to control Rollo because he can't let him act on his own, but he also can't just off him. "Using" him is his only real option.
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You know he's 1337. You know he knows it, too.
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It's not a "bit" of a clash, though, else I wouldn't mind sneaking it in. Fact of the matter is, I don't have a problem with what Lulu did to Shirley. At all. Not even on the hypocrisy side of things. But I don't really want to be torn apart by five people at once. Oo...
And it doesn't help that I don't like her, so I'm afraid my opinion is bias, anyway.
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If by 'regret' you mean his slight inclination to be protective of the locket (thus extended onto his relationship with Lelouch) and enjoying his lifestyle at the Ashford Academy...The way Rollo immediately decided to off Lelouch at the end of episode 3 indicates that he can easily discard his tendencies in favor of his other goals. Certainly it's possible that Rollo may be 'misguided' for now by higher powers, but it seems like he believes in what he's doing.
Rather much like Suzaku in season one, come to think of it.