Code Geass R2 — Episode 1 | Ramblings of DarkMirage

Code Geass R2

Surprise! I bet you totally didn’t expect me to blog Code Geass, especially considering that awful parody video I made which should best be left to rot in the depths of hell, my MySpace account and the fact that I used to own code-geass.com.

That said, the fact that I’m a huge Kallen fanboy has absolutely nothing to do with why I have decided to blog R2.

OP Sequence

Code Geass R2

Code Geass R2
Miku miku ni shiteageru~â™ª

Code Geass R2

Code Geass R2
OMG who made her cry? T_T

Code Geass R2
Hurray for racial stereotypes!

Code Geass R2
For King and Country

Code Geass R2
Whose illegitimate child is this?

Code Geass R2
I hope this won’t be the eventual pairing…

Summary

Season 2 starts off with a fast-paced bang that manages to give airtime to most of the major characters that we have come to love/hate.

Code Geass R2

At the end of the first season, Lelouch faced off his former friend Suzaku and the confrontation ended inconclusively. Due to his (Zero’s) absence from the front line during the critical moment of the Black Knights’ insurgency, the Order was eventually crushed, with most of its senior members captured. (Kallen escaped, though.) Zero himself was announced to have died. Due to the failed revolt, Elevens are now mistreated even more badly than before.

Code Geass R2

Since then, Lelouch’s memories have been sealed off, presumably by C.C., and he has returned to his regular life as a Britannia student in Area 11.

Code Geass R2
Kinky

Interestingly, Villetta (the platinum blonde Knightmare pilot) is now a gym teacher at Ashford Academy, placing her right in the comedic relief section of the Geass cast, although that is probably going to change soon.

And I must have missed a few memos, but out of nowhere, Lelouch now has a younger brother called Rollo. Whatever happened to Nunnally?

Code Geass R2
mai waifu~

In the first episode, Lelouch and Rollo go to a high-rolling casino where Lelouch intends to challenge rich Britannian nobilities to chess as usual. Unknown to him, the remnants of the Black Knights are betting all their remaining strength on a plan to reunite with him and bring back his memories as Zero.

Code Geass R2

A secret royal military unit meanwhile has kept Lelouch under constant surveillance to lay an ambush and wipe out the Black Knights when they make a move.

Code Geass R2
chuuu~

The episode ends in (predictable) bloodshed, and Lelouch regains his memories in a dÃ©jÃ vu sequence that feels just like the first episode of the last season. Still, C.C. fans can rejoice.

Code Geass R2

Kallen and the rest of the Black Knights are once again under the command of Zero. (It seems that they all know his real identity now.)

Opinions

I think it’s a pretty good start. The feel is a bit too similar to the start of the first season, but I’m sure the story will diverge soon considering the difference between then and now, content-wise. The fact that Lelouch regains his lost memories in the first episode suggests that the comedic aspect of the show will probably be short-lived as compared to before.

At this point, Code Geass is pretty hard to screw up. Even if we are served more of the same, the well-established characters will probably pull the series through to the end. That said, I really do hope that Sunrise tries something different. Looking back, the most awesome shows from Sunrise are always the ones that try to be different from Gundam, while the rest suffer from the burdens of their past (“staying loyal to the franchise”) and are inevitably overshadowed by their similar predecessors.

I mean seriously, Sunrise. Let’s be creative and go all out! Make Kallen the main character! Kthx bye.