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

[sevthebat.livejournal.com]

I think the reason most people tend to sympathize with Lelouch over Suzaku is because we as an audience still feel a tiny sting of betrayal over the revelations made in season one, where we realize that Suzaku is just as much of a hypocrite as Lelouch in some ways. Lelouch is established from the onset as an antihero, and so with him, we expect and even relish the pride that comes before the fall. With Suzaku, we were hoping for righteousness and got self-denied hypocrisy.

Another reason is that Lelouch doesn't pretend to himself that his morals are sound in the same way that Suzaku does. Suzaku wants and needs to think of himself as "one of the good guys". That in itself ought to be a noble pursuit, but it is turned on its head when we realize that he's been continually lying to himself in attempts to convince himself that he's right.
Lelouch, on the other hand, doesn't need to convince himself of anything. His methods are underhanded, true, but he doesn't see that as anything to be ashamed of.

Not that I'd rather meet Lelouch down a dark alley than Suzaku, but we're talking about their strengths and weaknesses as characters here, not as human beings.

[sakurina.livejournal.com]

At least you know you could outrun Lelouch from the alley easily.

I like your points on Suzaku. Although I'm rather happy he's no longer a purely righteous character, and that he's gotten a bit more complicated than that. Messed-up!Suzaku is a lot more fun.