Question about reactions to ep 6

[sumeragiskank.livejournal.com]

I seriously loved this episode and all of the great Lloyd and Suzaku moments in it. But I'm kinda scratching my head after reading some reactions to it that make no sense to me. I've not been very involved in Geass fandom and am rather shocked at some of the prevailing attitudes ^^;;;



I'm rather confused as to why everyone thinks Nunally has been brainwashed by Suzaku. After all, he's not the one who actually uses an evil brainwashing power to murder people. That's Lelouch. He's never used someone important to him as a political tool. Again, that's Lelouch. And if you want to argue that he used Lelouch, I think he had more than enough right to do so after Lelouch murdered Euphie and completely fucked over his country and plans for peace.

I'm glad to see Nunally taking some initiative and for them to develop her character more. I also am eagerly awaiting to see her reaction to learning Lelouch is Zero. I was glad she told him he was wrong. Because he is. And I do not think that, even as much as she loves her brother, she is going to take very kindly to the knowledge that he has been murdering people left and right and committing all sorts of atrocities all in her name. She'll likely be horrified and so far, no Britannian telling her has been a mercy. Lelouch has made this bed for himself and he seems awfully upset that now he has to lie in it. Poor baby. This is me feeling completely not sorry for him.

I like Lelouch as a character, but I hold no illusions that he's a nice person in the least. He puts selfish goals ahead of the plight of an entire nation of downtrodden people, nevermind lying to, manipulating, and using people who honestly care for him. Along with murdering family members and innocent people in cold blood and all of that. I don't think the ends ever justify the means, and while he had good intentions at some point - is he now going to fuck over Nunally for his own goals and ego or will he let her lead her own life - I think Lelouch's pretty far along on his trip to hell. I jiust don't understand why everything Suzaku does wrong is picked apart and held against him while Lelouch's various crimes, which are a much much much much longer list, are immediately forgiven. I understand that he's the main character and all, but I just can't give him that leeway and have to hold him to the same standards as every other character.

Comments

[ketchupblood.livejournal.com]

Well, for their ideas of a 'better world,' they do. Kind of.

Lelouch's actions are pretty much focused on one thing: keeping Nunally safe. She is the closest thing to his heart, and so she's the only thing he really considers. In his 'better world,' Nunally is safe and happy and no one would ever try to use her. He saw that some people tried to use her once before, and so this goes against his whole world view and he attacks them, regardless of consequences or his chance of success.

Suzaku, on the other hand, strives for a world that's as good as possible for everyone (or at least, all the Japanese). Logically, it makes a whole lot more sense to do it his way. There's less bloodshed all around, it's a less dramatic revolution. But he has to put aside his feelings. He has to accept that if his close friends are killed in the name of his goal, he can't do anything about it and he has to put his feelings aside for his ideals.

Then again, PENISES > ALL

[rubberandtea.livejournal.com]

What makes it all ironic is that despite LeLouch's actions being self-centered, they ultimately have more of a potential to make the world a better place than Suzaku's. Don't get me wrong, Suzaku is clearly the more moral character and his method generally works better, but because he is backing a Monarchy, there's somewhat of a limit on what he can/can't change.

[ketchupblood.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* For the bigger picture, slow changes work way better, historically. Revolutions seem to lead to a lot of general bloodshed, even after they're over. Lelouch's way will work, but Suzaku's way will too. Buuut... Suzaku's method doesn't make for very interesting anime. :(

[rubberandtea.livejournal.com]

-also shrug- True. I think that Suzaku's way would ultimately work but it's something that would require several large time skips to fully portray. It could be an interesting anime in its own right.

[ketchupblood.livejournal.com]

a;dsfkj PLEASE NO. Those are the types I normally avoid, because all the characters just PROMISE to be epically annoying. Just... POLITICS. *dies*

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Actually, if Lelouch had not geass'ed Euphie when he did, what Suzaku was working for and his way of doing things would have worked Britannia was just about to give Japan a small self governing area thanks to Euphie's plan.

It must be particularly painful for Suzaku to have his best friend literally rip away what he has spent so much of his life working towards for no apparent reason (to Suzaku) than his own self-aggrandizement. Because think about it honestly, we as viewers know it was accidental, but really why would anyone have any reason to believe Lelouch if he said to them: "I have these mind powers and I was showing Euphie how cool they are but accidentally commanded her to kill all Japanese when I was goofing off, so then I had to kill her, my bad."