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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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 :'[

[sevetenks.livejournal.com]

I am very glad I'm not the only one that feels that way.

[likeviolins.livejournal.com]

Why? Because of the damage they have the potential to create or because they were put in this situation by exploitative forces? I mean, they are trained weapons, not innately destructive, meaning they could possibly be reformed.

[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]

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

[lulu-holic.livejournal.com]

thank you for defending our dear lulu

[moonloop.livejournal.com]

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

[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:

[fox-holland.livejournal.com]

Reformed... like Rolo? :x
More Shirley corpses please.

[kaine-maxwell.livejournal.com]

The whole Royal Family needs a spanking and a timeout.

[nekroskoma.livejournal.com]

i too am glad i am not the only one

[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

[aimakichan.livejournal.com]

I second this one. XD