Turn 24 Questions

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I know I know you're all expecting tealdear here. Sorry, I operate on the boys, and they be PRACTICALLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE. So you just get the questions or rather plot points and no analysis. Yes, I'm sad too.



1. "Serve Zero."
My main issue with this is that it's not a full-scale "Do what I say from now on" or "Acknowledge me" or "Be my slave, bitch." It's not even a "Serve Lelouch." Zero is all but dead at this stage of the game. Why would Lelouch use this phrasing? If there's one thing we know about Lelouch, it's that he is always deliberate. He also refers to the order as a "present." And he does not call it an order but "words." For a person who has no motivation in life, such an order almost seems to suggest one. Even Kannon notices when he notes how Schneizel shoots Diethard to protect Lelouch, saying that Schneizel wouldn't even have lifted a finger to protect his own life. We saw this in Turn 24 as Schneizel repeatedly asked Lelouch if he was going to kill him and just before he was geassed says "You were never going to kill me." The man is shocked and horrified. I used to joke after 23 that Schneizel would simply give up. As Lelouch says, Schneizel never wanted to win. My assumption is that Schneizel has always just been that damn lucky; he wins without trying. There's no effort.

So now he has an order that will force effort. But what does it mean? Throughout the series, it has been emphasized that Zero is more than a person; it's a symbol. Yeah yeah V for Vendetta. MOVING ALONG. But why does the world still need Zero? I have no doubt Lelouch does not intend to return after the events of 24, going so far as to tell Sayoko and the others to blame everything on him. Will someone else be Zero? Unlikely. My prediction: It ties into Zero Re;quiem. Not entirely sure how yet. But in a way, this command seems less like the vicious commands Lelouch has given since 20 and more like his usual way of deciding what's best for people. "Serve Zero" is likely to give Schneizel an existence from now on. Note, I never say this choice is right. It is simply selfish Lelouch.

2. Pink Lancelot's shield?

In 23, Suzaku tells C.C. that while he is Lelouch's sword, she is his shield. This is taking the symbolism a little far. And considering that Pink Lancelot got kind of busted up by Guren, I am curious how this is going to come into play in 25. I don't think it's any type of weapon but hmmm...

3. The future?

Lelouch and Suzaku go on about the future throughout this episode, but as of yet, we have no idea what their future means. Lelouch suggests that it requires the free will and struggle of the people. Suzaku suggests that it's something to protect. Lelouch says that Schneizel's focus on stopping war and bringing everything back under Britannian rule was trapping everyone in the present. So what's the alternative? I know some are going to pull out the old destroy Britannia rhetoric, but I think it's more than just that. I still think the whole think is complicated like hell by Lelouch's theatrics in 22. Though it's also obvious, he is so playing everyone. The big why will be answered in 25. We hope.

But everyone else has something they are protecting. Gino says he fights for what's inside him. I am not sure if this is fighting Lelouch's oppression or what, seeing as he started jumping for Lelouch's throat before that brilliant display with the UFN. Obviously, it's not just for Britannia since he joined the Black Knights. So what is Gino fighting for? I only bring up his motives in this topic because he has to have his own version of the future as well. Suzaku tries to ward off a fight, but Gino will not have it since he must stop Lelouch. Contradictions aplenty? Bad writing? Or something else?

4. Anya?

Seriously, what is up with Anya? "I don't like this Lelouch." Having her fight Jeremiah seems mostly anti-climatic. I hope she lasts to do something worthwhile. Poor Anya deserves more than what the series has given her. It makes me wonder if she really was the person Marianne was supposed to geass in the original script. But then again, they do bother to give her scenes. And if there's one thing I learned, unless you are Rivalz, snippets tend to mean the writers are teasing before they pull something. Case in point: Suzaku in Turn 19. Yeahhhh. I don't know if Anya has that level of value, but I do hope she has more meaning than just a brawl with Jeremiah.

5. Nunnally

I'm guessing if she got back in her chair from where she was while she was crawling around looking for the Damocles key, she has to have a little more than the usual use of her legs. In addition to the whole seeing thing. By the way, her challenging Lelouch to geass her was so cash. I don't think she knows about the whole self-destruct thing if Schneizel's talk was any indication. And if Lelouch tells her, she's a vi Britannia, meaning she's probably willing to go down with the ship to take him out. I do love how he's doing he's selfish love thing again here, telling her that the key is too dangerous for her, mothering her just like he's always done. It makes me wonder about his words to C.C.: "If she stands in the way of Zero Re;quiem..." Lelouch is a liar but I don't know... One thing is for sure, he's sure taking his time in getting that key so he can't be that much of a bastard about his damn promise.

Now, I'm still of the belief that Nunnally knows Lelouch was lying through his teeth when he told her he was doing everything to rule the world. Nunnally knows her brother better than that. Thus, she feels worse because she realizes everything is, in a way, her fault. Losing her soul to save her brother's is fair penance perhaps. In some way, it's not too different from Suzaku's killing "Zero" but not Lelouch. I still contend that cooler-minded Suzaku, which we saw in Turn 2's flashback, brought Lelouch to Charles for multiple purposes. Everyone believes killing the demon in Lelouch is the only way to preserve what he was. Which actually wasn't all that nice either. Ironically.

So is Nunnally the Big Bad? I personally hope this is resolved quickly but with some damn good dialogue so I can get SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR THE LAST FOUR EPISODES.

I'm out of plot points I question. Ramble on dudes.

Comments

[fujiappletan.livejournal.com]

1. Serve Zero: I think because Lelouch thought Diethard would react... that way yet refer to him as "Zero" that Schneizel under geass would take note of that and therefore protect "Zero"...? Least that is my opinion on it. (Or also when Lelouch uses the geass sometimes he feels more like... Zero? Fuck it. idk. I just miss Zero.)

5. ...all I want out of the finale is. Dialogue between Lelouch and Nunnally. ;___;

[jczala.livejournal.com]

Lelouch playing the villain, making the world hate him, and then the Zero Requiem... Well, I'm really curious to know what this Zero Requiem is. It might be the end for Lelouch. He told C.C. that he's willing to get rid of Nunnally if she gets in the way. I doubt it. Lelouch cares about his little sister. But he could be serious at the same time. Well, Lelouch is good at lying.

I feel sorry for Anya. Her role has been drastically reduced. She was majorly important when Marianne was still inside of her.

[chickee1.livejournal.com]

My take on Nunnally, and how Lelouch is going to react to this:

When we first see Nunnally she is an image of fraility, the symbol of what Lelouch wants to protect, therefore the viewer sees her as the weak younger sister that needs protecting. Nunnally's character certainly doesn't get as fleshed out in season one as someone so close to the main plot should. We see glimpses of her being helped by Lelouch, being helped by Sayoko, being adored by everyone as she meows into the mic. We see parts of her own ideaology, where she wishes for a peaceful world, yet we don't find out how she would like to create that peace. The viewer only sees Nunnally through Lelouch's eyes, therefore she can only possibly be a sweet little girl who needs protection.

Then Nunnally is put in a position of power in R2. She manages to control a nation fairly, while abiding the rules of her own nation. If something was unfair, she took it on herself to make sure it wasn't done. She showed the strength of a leader in all circumstances, the most prominant being her initial meeting with Zero. The revelation that Nunnally had a mind of her own shook Lelouch to the oint of a mental breakdown, to the point of near drug abuse and the break-up of everything he knew.

We see Nunnally confront Suzaku, using a kind of mind manipulation similar to that of her siblings. "You're the same as Nii-sama." This had the desired effect on Suzaku, who is, unfortunately, manipulated rather easily when using the right words, and is what I beleive led to most of Suzaku's actions when he met Lelouch at the shrine. By this point Nunnally has worked out that all is not well as far as Lelouch is concerned, how much she worked out on her own and how much she was told by Schneizel I'm not sure, but I choose to believe she had alot of the events worked out before Freija.

So now she comes back, and in knowing the truth, what does she do? She kills, offerring to use freija to kill her brother, sharing his sins. She kills because of her ideals, exactly the same as Lelouch or Schneizel. It also shows that, like her brothers, she takes a "The ends justify the means" approach, so where is our cute little kitten now?

Nunnally is the same as Lelouch. Had it not been for her physical impediments, had she had the geass, I do not believe she would have operated any different from him. So in order to see what Nunnally is going to do, we need to look at what Lelouch would do. If the ends justify the means, what is the most logical option?

I think she is going to pull an "All sinners must go, including me!" I don't think there is any talking her out of her convictions, any more than you could Lelouch.

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Hmm, overall I am intrigued by this notion of Nunnally being so close to her brother. I still think that there are some differences. She is a Britannian to be sure so yes, ideals are what matter and what she thinks is right. I wouldn't really say Nunnally manipulates though. She does challenge. She challenged Suzaku to tell her the truth. She challenged Lelouch to geass her. When she was a child, she even challenged Suzaku to hit her. Nunnally has ever been strong-willed; people just have rarely gotten a chance to really pay attention to it. As the novel explains, Nunnally forced a fever upon herself to get back at Lelouch for going to Narita. Child!Nunnally was boisterous and wild. These aspects still remain, just suppressed. Then again, Nunnally is still a child, a young teenager at that so of course selfish desires are going to come out.

Also, I agree and disagree with the ability to manipulate Suzaku. I prefer to say Suzaku is a result of his environment. When it changes, Suzaku changes with it. Suzaku is the phoenix, ever dying and being reborn. Suzaku takes what he hears and decides where to go with it. He doesn't automatically agree. Young Lelouch encouraged Suzaku to not be afraid of being a child, and it took a while before this advice truly sank in. Shirley told Suzaku to try forgiving Lelouch, and he made his own choice on that as well. Requiem is Suzaku's choice. I won't comment on V.V. since I still think that whole setup was asstarded. Suzaku adapts.

I am not sure whether Nunnally can be talked out of her convictions either. But I also know that Euphie once stopped Lelouch so I can't say it's impossible. Lelouch was willing to give it all up for her and Nunnally's wish.

[aidama.livejournal.com]

What's going to happen is, Nunnally is going to blow up Damocles, and basically everyone important will die. Thus, Arthur the Cat will inherit and rule the world.

[animenutcase.livejournal.com]

TRUE END.

[leelee316.livejournal.com]

AND you Both are Idiots

[nayami.livejournal.com]

Tee hee.

[hina.livejournal.com]

"I'm guessing if she got back in her chair from where she was while she was crawling around looking for the Damocles key, she has to have a little more than the usual use of her legs."

Something that was noted by... someone, I forget who, was that, whilst Nunnally was on the ground hunting for the key, she stopped suddenly and looked up. Then we cut away to something else, and didn't see her again until Lulu did - in her chair, with the key. It was hypothesised that someone helped her back into her chair.
I'm not sure on that though.


I'm most dissappointed that it doesn't look like we're going to get any more explanation on Geass - what it is, why it exists, a philosophical ramble about Jupiter and power... It's just going to be Nunnally + Lulu. I really don't see how we can wrap this up in one episode at all.

[god-diva.livejournal.com]

I noticed that Nunnally looked up, but what I thought wasn't that someone was there. When she looked, she looked directly at the key; at that moment, I knew she had regained her eyesight. She stops and rather slowly looks EXACTLY where the key is. I somehow don't think that when she opened her eyes for Lelouch was her first time opening her eye; it was too effortless. However, I can imagine her being so desperate for the key that she opened her eyes in search of it and that's how she guided her way back to her chair. We have had clues that Nunnally can walk or crawl well for short distances, so I wouldn't be surprised if she was able to get back to her chair with her eyesight. Or it could be that someone is there like that other person said, but that never crossed my mind. If it's someone, who would it be?

I don't think we need any more explanation on Geass, we have everything we need; all those episodes on the Geass was enough. I believe we can expect an extra about it or something.

[darksage29.livejournal.com]

I predict the end of geass will be thirty minutes of filling up of loose ends without any real plot whatsoever.

[klingon-jedi.livejournal.com]

Excellent thoughts on Serve Zero and Nunnally. I agree completely on why she's doing this. At the same time, she realises what horrors she doing to accomplish it. Though she isn't the Big Bad. I know that much...

As for the shield, it seemed to me to merely be a device to get CC back on the Avalon.

One thing that sort of amazed me this episode is the character deaths, or the lack there of. Both Tamaki and Tudou ejected (Tudou right into Chiba's arms no less), Cornelia lives (thankfully spared from crap death). It's interesting that Schneizel didn't shot to kill. It seems odd with him, and yet not too much so. Even Guilford is still alive... How I don't know. And Schneizel gets geassed into having a purpose. Only Diethard dies. Seems interesting after all the bloodlust of the series.

Even I'm at a loss for Gino. Is he merely fighting for Kallen now?