I can accept the new channel for his grief idea. If I latch onto that, I can be more forgiving to the creators regarding his character. I don't know. I'm not a big fan of the talking to the dead. It feels like pandering to me.

I don't think he ignored so much as just didn't want to believe it. Like Suzaku didn't want to believe Lelouch was Zero in S1. As you say.

Still not sure who will be left standing.