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I made the mistake of watching the last 16 or so episodes of the first season of Code Geass. I say mistake because while it was possible to watch those first ten episodes without being compelled to watch more, the more you watch, the more addicted you get. It's a truly fascinating series. I know it's so popular because it has a bit of everything for everyone (mecha fights, cute love stories, tragic love stories, crazy school festival stories, tactical matches, a hero with brains and heart (though you'd have to debate long and hard to decide who the hero is), even nude women for those more interested in such things *L*). Of course, once I finished season 1, I was compelled to rewatch the first part of season 2 since I had missed a lot by watching that first, and then I couldn't stop watching. I tried - I went to sleep after episode 13 thinking it was a good stopping point, but my mind was buzzing so much with thoughts about the show that I couldn't get to sleep and when I did, I woke up three hours later with my brain still feverishly going through potential scenarios (and this is with me knowing how it ends!). I finished it all today, and now I'm sitting here all teary eyed trying to come up with a coherent response to the whole thing.
I loved the way Suzaku and Lelouch went round in circles through this series from the very beginning when Suzaku attacked Lelouch for being an evil Britainian, and, of course, ending that exact same way after circling each other several times. Poor boys. I'm not really sure if it's a good choice to leave Suzaku with everything because he really is a bit unstable, though he did get better as the series progressed. It's Lelouch who really evolved in this series though. He started out quite amoral, using logic to justify his emotional reactions, but in the end, he decided to believe in the hearts of the people. Quite the romantic of him, and I suppose it was inevitable he'd be cruel to Nunnally to make himself a martyr to his cause right in front of her (Good on her for calling him at least on how he does all this for her (in the beginning) without asking if this is what she wants.). It's a pity his solution will only last until Nunnally dies or even earlier but it was a decent plan disregarding the millions who died in the process. This is what you get for letting two arguably crazy young men decide the fate of the world.
I wish Lelouch had explained things more, at least to Nunnally. Or even told someone that what he did to Euphemia was an accident, even thought, it's true, he does need to take full responsibility. Schniezer was really creepy and felt that way from the start, though hopefully he sees no need to act now and will retire to the countryside. (I was laughing so much to see Orangi-kun picking oranges, though, uh, how exactly does that work? Did people just forget he existed or is he in happy hiding with that pink haired knight?)
They actually killed less people than I thought they would. (How in the world did what's his name, the black haired knight with the glasses, survive?).
One of the things I really loved about Lelouch is he could keep his composure, except for when he had a mask on, then he kept loosing it *L* But his reaction to pretty much the ultimate betrayal by his parents was gorgeous. And he still thought of a plan afterwards that allowed him to die, which really was all he wanted by that point. At least he got to see Nunnally grow up before it happened.
What else? Gorgeous art all around from character designs (which were always distinctive enough that even though I can't tell you the characters names, I can tell you what they look like) to the beautiful fight scenes, especially near the end there where everyone had realized their final mecha forms. This was also a very well directed series with awesome pacing and some amazing cliffhangers (that season 1 one was a doozy).
I really liked all the little details in this series too - the backstory to so many of the characters, the way one little decision by a minor character could cause such a big change (Nina, for example), the way characters changed and grew, or just simple things like Lelouch having horrible stamina physically and being quite good at piloting a mech, but not so much at the fighting. These little things make stories good.
They really surprised me with how graphic the story got (I understand it's because they moved it to a more adult time slot after the first several episodes) and some of those massacres and things they showed were not something you usually see in an anime (reminds me a bit of Full Metal Alchemist). I was also surprised by the change of heart by Jeremiah (though glad of it cause he's sort of unbeatable). His changing to Lelouch's side was a key moment. And the betrayal of Zero by the knights was so nicely orchestrated by Schneizer cause if Lelouch had been there to defend himself rather than beating himself up over grief for Nunnally, I bet he could have talked the knights into keeping him on. Not to mention, Lelouch could have gained a lot of support by showing what his father was planning for the world, but he a) never takes the easy way and b) I doubt it really occurs to him to tell the truth. So many what ifs? in this series. I love it.
Oh, and my biggest love? The sheer multitude of revelation scenes! God, it got to the point where there was at least one each episode. People found out Lelouch's identity left and right and Suzaku's etc. So much fun! *squee*
I want to read lots of AUs diverging from different points in the series (any fic recs?) which shouldn't be all that hard since they're writing weird, official AU's in Japan right now. The weirdest has got to be Code Geass: Tales of an Alternate Shogunate which is set during the bakumatsu. It has Lelouch as the commander of the Shinsengumi! God, that's gotta be weird. I have to read it *L*
The only problem with this series? I really want some pizza now *L*
I loved the way Suzaku and Lelouch went round in circles through this series from the very beginning when Suzaku attacked Lelouch for being an evil Britainian, and, of course, ending that exact same way after circling each other several times. Poor boys. I'm not really sure if it's a good choice to leave Suzaku with everything because he really is a bit unstable, though he did get better as the series progressed. It's Lelouch who really evolved in this series though. He started out quite amoral, using logic to justify his emotional reactions, but in the end, he decided to believe in the hearts of the people. Quite the romantic of him, and I suppose it was inevitable he'd be cruel to Nunnally to make himself a martyr to his cause right in front of her (Good on her for calling him at least on how he does all this for her (in the beginning) without asking if this is what she wants.). It's a pity his solution will only last until Nunnally dies or even earlier but it was a decent plan disregarding the millions who died in the process. This is what you get for letting two arguably crazy young men decide the fate of the world.
I wish Lelouch had explained things more, at least to Nunnally. Or even told someone that what he did to Euphemia was an accident, even thought, it's true, he does need to take full responsibility. Schniezer was really creepy and felt that way from the start, though hopefully he sees no need to act now and will retire to the countryside. (I was laughing so much to see Orangi-kun picking oranges, though, uh, how exactly does that work? Did people just forget he existed or is he in happy hiding with that pink haired knight?)
They actually killed less people than I thought they would. (How in the world did what's his name, the black haired knight with the glasses, survive?).
One of the things I really loved about Lelouch is he could keep his composure, except for when he had a mask on, then he kept loosing it *L* But his reaction to pretty much the ultimate betrayal by his parents was gorgeous. And he still thought of a plan afterwards that allowed him to die, which really was all he wanted by that point. At least he got to see Nunnally grow up before it happened.
What else? Gorgeous art all around from character designs (which were always distinctive enough that even though I can't tell you the characters names, I can tell you what they look like) to the beautiful fight scenes, especially near the end there where everyone had realized their final mecha forms. This was also a very well directed series with awesome pacing and some amazing cliffhangers (that season 1 one was a doozy).
I really liked all the little details in this series too - the backstory to so many of the characters, the way one little decision by a minor character could cause such a big change (Nina, for example), the way characters changed and grew, or just simple things like Lelouch having horrible stamina physically and being quite good at piloting a mech, but not so much at the fighting. These little things make stories good.
They really surprised me with how graphic the story got (I understand it's because they moved it to a more adult time slot after the first several episodes) and some of those massacres and things they showed were not something you usually see in an anime (reminds me a bit of Full Metal Alchemist). I was also surprised by the change of heart by Jeremiah (though glad of it cause he's sort of unbeatable). His changing to Lelouch's side was a key moment. And the betrayal of Zero by the knights was so nicely orchestrated by Schneizer cause if Lelouch had been there to defend himself rather than beating himself up over grief for Nunnally, I bet he could have talked the knights into keeping him on. Not to mention, Lelouch could have gained a lot of support by showing what his father was planning for the world, but he a) never takes the easy way and b) I doubt it really occurs to him to tell the truth. So many what ifs? in this series. I love it.
Oh, and my biggest love? The sheer multitude of revelation scenes! God, it got to the point where there was at least one each episode. People found out Lelouch's identity left and right and Suzaku's etc. So much fun! *squee*
I want to read lots of AUs diverging from different points in the series (any fic recs?) which shouldn't be all that hard since they're writing weird, official AU's in Japan right now. The weirdest has got to be Code Geass: Tales of an Alternate Shogunate which is set during the bakumatsu. It has Lelouch as the commander of the Shinsengumi! God, that's gotta be weird. I have to read it *L*
The only problem with this series? I really want some pizza now *L*
