Lelouch's Path into Darkness

[crossxx.livejournal.com]

:( Hai guyz, read what I have to say nao!

I'd always feared Sunrise would take a copout and direct Code Geass R2 through the path of Death Note, where the hero becomes pointedly the anti-hero and his death is happily justified to the viewer due to the hero's eventual ignoble intentions. Lelouch started out with incredible intentions, wishing to create a world of peace and equality. Sure, he's been the cause of a lot of deaths, but they were somehow always for a reasonable cause. However, watching episode 14, I'm starting to fear that Lulu's batshitting is just the beginning of more senseless destruction. In 14, even his subordinates remarked on the parallel between Britannia/Japan and OoBK/Geass Cult with regards to the slaughter.

It worked for Death Note but for Code Geass, having a vilified Lulu die in the end will be utter crap. One of the reasons why I like Code Geass is because  Lulu keeps a sensible head on his shoulders. Unfortunately, I just don't see the CG world just stepping around Lulu's massacre with all the dissent from the order and given the flow of the plot, I doubt this will be an isolated "sorry haha!" incident.

Comments

[trinities.livejournal.com]

I hate to point it out, but Lelouch has been fucked up since the very beginning. He walked in and killed his own brother in cold blood in the first episode, later on he cracks after finding out that Suzaku pilots the Lancelot—among other things. Yes, he massacred people, but it's definitely not the first time he has done it. I think the constant parallel between Lelouch and Charles, however, has been ... well, constant.

[crossxx.livejournal.com]

True, he has been a bit messed up since the start (killing his brother and then throwing up the next day upon the very memory? Geez). However, it's the first time that I can remember that this behavior's really been brought to light and seen by those who follow him.

I don't know enough about Charles to make a decision personally but I do see that their tactics are both unrelenting. It's just a matter of how "unrelenting" will be taken given their obviously different backgrounds.

[clones.livejournal.com]

I agree. Lelouch's goals have always been selfish. He doesn't genuinely care about Japan, he just sees joining the rebels as the easiest way to bring down the empire. He may be getting worse as the series goes on, but Lelouch was ultimately always a messed-up character.

and that's why I love him

[dist.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I've never seen Lelouch as a remotely purely-intentioned character, and not an exceptionally sensible one either despite his talent for strategy. I think the dangerous downward path he's been going on has been pretty much laid out since the beginning and has always been forseeable.

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

I decline said statement, not only due to the ambiguous meaning of "fucked up," but also that Lelouch was in the rationale and emotional advantage against Clovis.

Clovis recklessly made the decision that killed off a defenseless ghetto and Lelouch's best friend. Then that decision SHOULD have killed Lelouch, in any aspects given to a normal person, he was to die right then and there.
Geass allowed Lelouch to live, avenge the sacrifice of Suzaku, and rise as a true leader, all as a stepping stone towards destroying Britannia.

Clovis has nothing to protect himself from Lelouch except for their childhood, which is one of the more sad and ironic truths as Lelouch is unable to realize who is his ally with those sided with Britannia.

However, Lelouch declared that he abandoned Britannia and swore to destroy it and seeing that Clovis is sided with Britannia, his father and possibly the conspirators that murdered his mother, he is liable because accordingly to his plans, any Governor General fits the bill and Clovis happened to be in those boots.

Also with Clovis' death, the Britannian Administration over Area 11 is at a halt which allowed enough time for the creation of Zero and a reorganization of the Resistance, which also should have been killed wasn't said for Lelouch, before the next Governor General assumed duty.

If Lelouch's "fucked up-ness" didn't start here, then all that's being targeted in the older brother's natural instinct to protect and assumed responsibility or to the duties that he fulfills as a true leader.

_______________________

Although the parallels between the slaughter of the Geass Cult and ghetto seem similar to the untrained eye, only Lelouch and his close subordinates realize the dangers that the Geass Cult poses which the ghettos clearly did not define. The Geass Cult is the research of weaponry and seeing how V.V. is the master, must be sided with the Emporer and Britannia which V.V. pointed out by nearly sending the transport that would have aided Britannia. I agree with the comment down there that it's hard to show empathy for trained weapons.

Also asking for a clear distinction of Charles is hard to draw due to how it has only been stated and not explained. Yet I believe what Charles seeks to destroy is countries, who are invisible deities that cause humans to fight amongst themselves, and believes that by world domination, those gods except for one are destroyed. If so, would that mean the end to conflicts and is this not similar to a peaceful world that Lelouch has always envisioned?

[jczala.livejournal.com]

Lelouch dying in the same way as Yagami Light? There is a possibility, but I don't want to see it coming. It even surprised me that he went and slaughtered the members of the Geass cult, and I was even heartbroken for the children. I do love Lelouch for his cunning skills and leadership, but what he did to the Geass cult was something shocking to me.

[breepants.livejournal.com]

I find it hard to feel sorry for children who are trained weapons. But that's just me. :/

[kirarakim.livejournal.com]

Lelouch is still different from Light because there are people he genuinely cares about. If you recall Light cared about no one and was even willing to sacrifice his family for his cause.

I think what Lelouch did in this episode was despicable but I also don't think Lelouch's goals were ever selfless. It was always about making a perfect world for Nunnaly not a perfect world for Japan. Just helping the Japanese sort of went along with his goals. And keep in mind that this massacre was all because of Shirley. Lelouch tends to think about the people that are close and loyal to him. I don't think he really cares about the world as a whole.

I don't know if Lelouch will die but I doubt it will be a happy ending for him.

[lulu-holic.livejournal.com]

i totally agree with you, u protected lulu, thank you

[hobbit-hunter.livejournal.com]

I imagine where Lelouch came from in this episode besides his revenge for Shirely was that "The world will be better off without people like Rolo."

Lelouch does things that he thinks will keep himself, his friends, and Nunnally safe. When Rolo nixxed Shirely, it shook that whole foundation (and possibly false sense of security) around him. He knew that those people were just like Rolo and would just cause more misery and be potential enemies in the future, and therefore removed them from play.

He still killed people, and it's wrong. However he has killed people on a large scale before. The Britannian Army at Towkow, the people at Narita. This is nothing new to his character, however he will have to explain why he killed children.

Of course there was always the possibility that they wouldn't have turned out like Rolo - but was it worth the risk? Lelouch wouldn't want to have that risk out there and let things like Shirely's death happen again.

It doesn't make up for the fact of killing children, but those were most likely his reasons outside of revenge.

and I've been trying to keep from making Anakin jokes but :'[

[silvatine.livejournal.com]

"The world will be better off without people like Rolo."

People like Lelouch too, as he basically is one of those children, save for the training-upbringing. What he doesn't realize is that although Rolo physically killed Shirley, it was his actions that lead to Shirley's death and the chaos the world was thrown into. Yes, those geass-weapon children would perhaps lead the world to destruction, but Lelouch will achieve it first.

[master.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to make a crack & say I hope there will be some Swimming Lessons if Lelouch kicks the bucket.

[crossxx.livejournal.com]

Heh ;D

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with the comments above about Lelouch being messed up since the beginning... for me, the point where it became clear that he became pretty much insane was that scene where he speaks to Suzaku after Euphy's death and then laughs like a maniac... X'D

This episode is making me feel like he is so cruel again. He's my favorite character, but nonetheless... the way he thinks the things he does are justified is making me sick sometimes @_@ I mean, the massacre was really uncalled for and although I didn't like Rollo at the beginning, I feel so very sorry for him, because he's doing everything for Lulu, believing in him and in return being used and almost getting killed off -.- I mean... Shirley's death was never entirely Rollo's fault to begin with *cough*... Who dragged her into this whole affair, anyway? >_>;;

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Oh, and about that Death Note - Code Geass parallel... I've never liked it much, because there are some similarties (genius boy trying to better the world), but I feel like it's completely different.

Raito was seemingly perfect in everything, while Lelouch is pretty weak physically and while Raito wanted to be the god of his new world, Lelouch is trying to create a better place for his sister. Raito would've sacrificed those close to him, while Lelouch is trying to protect them... well, mostly, anyway. I wouldn't feel very satisfied with Lelouch dying like Raito... I mean, I wasn't back then, either (though it was a really beautiful ending in the anime!), but for Lelouch, it wouldn't feel right. Raito was pretty mad, willing to kill everyone in his way and pretty off from his "kill only the criminals!"-way of thinking. But Lelouch... I guess I just feel more sympathy for him, because he was made this way by the murder of his mother when he was such a small child and his envinronment. I was always hoping there would be a happy ending, but meanwhile I think he wouldn't even deserve it anymore... o.o

[lulu-holic.livejournal.com]

thank you for defending our dear lulu

[moonloop.livejournal.com]

AGAIN with the Death Note comparison? Death Note != Geass.

[crossxx.livejournal.com]

I'm comparing nothing so far. I'm just saying it'd be sad if Code Geass ended like Death Note. If I were lamenting about the fact the Code Geass might end like DBZ, I would still not be comparing the two series, hahaha. :)

[minamint.livejournal.com]

i always figured that Lelouch was a more emotional version of Light.

[defade.livejournal.com]

Lelouch will never be Light as long as he has people that he selfishly cares about. Which is what I love about him.<3

Actually, given how episode 16 will turn out, the whole incident might be just forgotten for a while. The Black Knights ultimate goal is still to free Japan, if they can see how close they are to achieving that goal after 16, they'll probably choose to turn a blind eye to just one questionable incident. But then again, there's Viletta, who was, and still is, a wild card.

I personally support Lelouch's decision in destroying the Geass cult. If those children are allowed to grow the way they are, who's to say that the same tragedy won't repeat itself? Sure, maybe they could've been taught right, but is the risk really worth it? Lelouch has been leaving out too many details that might prove to be fatal for him, it's good to see him take safety measures for once.

[inulovinkit.livejournal.com]

YOU HAVE SAID THE FORBIDDEN WORDS. D:

[crossxx.livejournal.com]

O.O

[kaine-maxwell.livejournal.com]

The whole Royal Family needs a spanking and a timeout.

[aimakichan.livejournal.com]

I second this one. XD

[nekroskoma.livejournal.com]

code geass =/= death note

though the writers might be using your expectations to screw with you like they did with suzu and euphie

[crossxx.livejournal.com]

Yep, I agree. I'm just using a pretty well established anime to portray the ending that I do NOT want.

It'd make me so happy if Lulu could have a happy ending :3 I totally hope they are screwing with me, lol.

[hylarn.livejournal.com]

It seems to me like Lulu's level of darkness depends on his mood. He was nearly heroic during the China arc, when things were going well for him. Slaughtering not-really-innocent researchers and sociopathic geass-using child assassins is just his way of grieving.

Aside from which, Turn 7 served to give Lelouch a more positive motivation than revenge, so unless the writers want to make it pointless, said motivation probably be brought up in a few Turns. Plus, the Geass Cult really did need to get wiped out.

If there's anyone you should be worried about sliding into villainy, it's Suzaku.

[glenngunnerzero.livejournal.com]

It can't end like Death Note.



Lelouch doesn't have the stamina to swim like Light.

[hobbit-hunter.livejournal.com]

I lol'd.

[zalem.livejournal.com]

But the thing is, no one's hands are clean in this series. There is no clear cut good guy. If Lelouch has to die to "pay" for his sins then so does the majority of the cast. Suzaku fell further down the dark path this episode as well and I'm guessing he's not done either. So either there will be redemption or there will be a massive bloodbath at the end of this series. Hell, there could be both.

[nelotizapu.livejournal.com]

You know, besides a revenge killing, I almost see the killing of the geass!children as a... mercy killing. Geass isolates people, as CC said. The killing of Shirley reminds him of this. Geass also killed Euphemia. If Euphemia was his first love, then Shirley could well be his second love, and they both died.

Good or evil, what would have happened to those children? If they're anything like Rolo, they're already messed up a bit in the head, and even if they could be completely reformed... they could go crazy like Mao, or accidently make someone go insane like Lulu. Maybe Lulu thinks he's doign the kids a favour too, by killing them. Same reason that he kills the rest of the lab: no moar geass plz.

If Lelouch dies like Raito, it better be the manga ending. I jsut saw the anime ending last week, and omg it was so sappy. Blah. I actually liked the manga ending, it... suited him. XD ...anyways, I see Suzaku killing Lelouch. I mean, Suzaku already blames Lulu for Euphie, an accident, and blames Lulu for Shirley, which he is totally didn't do, and then all the things Lulu DID do... XD

Or Charles kills Lelouch next week THE END.

[neltis-screi.livejournal.com]

lol, many might prolly be annoyed with this comparison but it's not really that easy to avoid comparing. they do have similarities. I think I never said this here, but I must give Death Note proper credit for leading me to Code Geass :D I was a Death Note rabid fan before Code Geass came. I read a post saying CG is kind of the same. so I went to check it out. and now what? huh, what's Death Note again? XD haha. jk. I freakin love both.

I know slaughtering those kids is evil, but I'm not seeing a degraded Lulu dead in the end because of it. simply because I've started seeing those nightmares since Season 1. LOL

no, I'm not expecting him to live. BUT I AM DESPERATELY HOPING HE DOES LIVE. that is if, if it goes along right for him. cause you know, there are some cases wherein death is classic. XD I just hope that when he dies, he dies with a proper death. It's going to be a pain to see him die but it's even more painful to see him dying without having done or proving anything at all. my first time to sympathize with a character this much. i don't care what others say, I'm a Lulutard and I love him XP at least end him decently Sunrise.

[spleener.livejournal.com]

Light fans may come here and disagree with me, but Light is very clearly supposed to be seen as the bad guy from episode 2 at the latest. Lelouch is supposed to be a more sympathetic character- yeah, he's a conniving backstabbing bastard, but he's still shown to be human and have people he cares about- he does plenty of monstrous things, but he's not a monster. I'm not saying he's a perfect angel who's justified in everything he does- he's *not*, that's the whole point of his character, he's supposed to be a morally ambiguous protagonist, you're not supposed to clearly like or dislike him and everything he does. But he's nowhere near Light, who's very clearly supposed to be a villainous protagonist.

[xcutout-miracle.livejournal.com]

I Agree. Light was evil from the get-go.
Ugh. (I seriously hate Light with a passion.)
And Lelouch wasn't always like that. He cares about alot of people, and he's trying to to make a world for those people that he loves. And he just lost someone he might have possibly loved/ he really cared about. Grief will make anyone do really stupid things. :P

[konataizumi-san.livejournal.com]

I believe the massacre of the Geass cult was in fact justified. These people were being experimented on not to mention they were being used as tools of destruction. So either they were suffering and wanted to die, or they liked killing and deserved to die. Yes even the children.