Code Geass R2 — Episode 9
This happens way too little in real life
After last week’s break, episode 9 is finally here! I find this episode’s plot logically defective but the character interactions melodramatically delightful, so on the whole the episode is sufficiently entertaining. Hey, it’s like I just described 90% of Sunrise’s works.
Summary
The Chinese Federation leases Horai, an artificial power generation island, to Zero to house the one million Japanese who have escaped Area 11.
Judging by the rudimentary map shown, the fictional man-made Horai is located off the eastern cost of Jiangsu, about 300km from Nanjing, which happens to be my hometown. Yes, I did check Google Earth.
Oh yeah, isn’t it interesting how Japan’s geographical outline appears so detailed in the map above, but China’s looks like a rough outline drawn in Illustrator? Artificial coastline due to geo-engineering, or lazy animators? You decide.
More hair = more powerful
The Black Knights get a timely resupply, including brand new Knightmares from India thanks to Rakshata. Apparently India is actually part of the Chinese Federation, which I find quite interesting. I always assumed it was part of Britannia, what with Rakshata being Llyod’s former colleague in Britannia mainland and the whole real-world British colonial era thing.
A romance that transcends generations…
Unfortunately, before the Black Knights have time to bask on their new concrete island, a terrible news rudely interrupts their high spirits. The Empress of the Chinese Federation is to be married to the crown prince of Britannia, in a political arrangement by Schneizel and the Head Eunuchs. Britannia gets some land concessions and the Empress as their hostage, while the Head Eunuchs get Britannian titles and presumably the benefits that come with them.
Kaguya is too loli for my taste, but she sure is awesome
A party is held to celebrate this sham, and Zero takes the liberty to invite himself in as usual. Much drama and awkwardness ensue as familiar faces meet. Kaguya kicks Suzaku’s metaphorical butt and Nina predictably goes Eva-Berserk on Zero.
She carries a cutter around with her all the time?
Meanwhile, Xingke and his group of loyalists are shocked by the eunuchs’ action and a plan is drawn to save the Empress from that sad paedophilic excuse for a crown prince. Unfortunately, a surprising betrayal gets the better of everyone…
“Your assault rifles are no match for my antique sword!”
Thoughts
The whole episode pivots on the fact that the Head Eunuchs basically decided to trade the symbol of their nationhood, the Empress, in exchange for useless Britannian titles.
He’s like twice her height and thrice her age
This is the part that makes no sense to me. Why would the eunuchs want titles? They are corrupted, I get that. But isn’t there enough wealth and power to be had in the Chinese Federation already? Giving away the Empress, essentially the sovereignty of the Federation, just for some stupid titles makes no sense.
Unless perhaps the Chinese Federation is actually so weak that the Head Eunuchs intend to appease Britannia and accept its dominance before their impotence become apparent. (I kid.)
And another thing…
Spoiler Alert |
Screencaps
Jeez, does he ever wear normal clothes?
“I’ll just stand on this unstable bit while Lelouch is below me and…”
“Oh wow. This is totally unexpected.”
“I want Tabasco…”
Just what race/nationality is Cecile anyway?
Nice… uh… hair style.
Anyone get the feeling that he is grooming her to be a ruthless killing machine?
Can’t a would-be assassin conceal a knife in his right hand behind his back?
Don’t ask, don’t tell
They stand no chance against Kaguya’s teasing power
Awkward…
Yup, still insane
What era is this again?
Oh yeah, Simplified Chinese was a communist invention
He’s not helping his own case with that orange accessory
By the way, some guy went on a stabbing spree in Akihabara today. 7 people are confirmed dead. Apparently it was a random act of violence and he only chose Akiba due to the high pedestrian traffic.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:58 am
No one other than the chinese will understand your simplified chinese caption.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:11 am
@Lian
That’s why people like me have to clarify so that the non-literate won’t go saying, “They use Simplified Chinese in Code Geass!” based on a popular blog.
@DM
I was wondering where your theory came from since there hasn’t been much revealed about the Chinese Federation yet. I doubt you’re fan enough to have bought any of the guide books floating around either. Anyway, it’s fictional so it doesn’t really have to make sense although it would certainly make it more believable or more appealing to viewers who like to scrutinize everything.
Now where’s my old man avatar so that I can sound more like an a****** here!
June 9th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Because DM is from the Chinese Federation so he knows best!!
June 9th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Well, the Chinese Federation is clearly not “communist” as we can see, so I guess, for whatever reason, the Eunuchs were either once more progressive and revolutionary than they currently are, or that’s just what they claim to be.
Maybe that’s what their speeches and officials say, like a certian country in real life Asia has the word “Democratic” in its name but isn’t really democratic.
Or, more likely, it was a case of lazy writing at a time when China wasn’t really part of the main plot. Still, my point is that you can explain it away, in any case, if you try.
As for the so-called loopholes, they didn’t bother me. The eunuchs may simply be corrupt individuals who realize that they’ve mishandled the country so much that any “honorable” (read: greedy and egoistic) exit is better than to stand up to Britannia and show just how weak they are. By allying with Schneizel they ensure their own futures, regardless of what the future may bring, just in case things go wrong.
Certain world leaders are accused of “selling out” to greater powers in such manners and this may just be a fictional representation of that, in a cartoony way or course.
Zero’s actions will become clearer in the next episodes, but we know he’s too self-centered…to rely upon the Chinese, whoever they are, would require us showing that he trusts them. He’s been rather cold to Xing Ke, so maybe he thinks that taking over the entire cake is better than allying with Xing Ke and having to rely on someone else. That may turn out badly for him.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Question: Isn’t Schneizel’s last chess move illegal? You can’t willingly put yourself into a check position. I know you can’t do this in Chinese Chess. At least the symbolism from that move rocked.
P.S. Long time reader, first time commenter. I enjoy your blog DM.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:37 am
@TJHan
Gah, you win.
Btw, from the very first screenshot I think DM is trying to hint at something to his RL female readers ;)
June 9th, 2008 at 6:42 am
AHAHAHAHA
let me just stand here on this unstable thing and oops!
I just almost kissed Lelouch
better luck next time Kallen.. better luck next time
June 9th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Yep. House rules i guess?
I dont get it. Why didnt he just win and claim his prize?
June 9th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Bigdeath you’re going to have to give us a citation for that, because I just checked wikipedia, and it says that it’s an imperial monarchy, and from what i see, that’s exactly what it is.
Do you watch the original anime or the subbed? Because I’ve heard of several different ways that the CF was described in the Darwin Emperor’s speech, including “everyone is equal” to “wealth is equally distributed.”
But I love your reviews Darkmirage. They’re pretty funny. Nanjing’s my hometown too.
Also, am I the only one who has a hard time wrapping his head around the chess scene? I’m not sure that anyone at Sunrise knows how to play chess. I mean, what was the point of Lelouch backing off his king? If he’s not gonna take Shneizel’s king then the game will never be over, and Schneizel can just go around with his king eating pawns.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:21 am
The symbolism behind the move I think, was that Schneizel was willing to sacrifice the king. Usually in chess, the king is a representation of self. However, it seems that Schneizel’s implying that he doesn’t view himself as the king, and so is willing to sacrifice it, meaning he’s willing to sacrifice the Emperor his father.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Zero is acting really well in this situation. That coup would not have lasted long, Britannia would have moved in. Now Xingke will not appear as a loyalist to Zero and will instead be an acceptable partner for the Brits.
He can meanwhile consolidate his own power by getting rid of the Eunuchs while the Empress gets to play with Kaguya and see the outside world.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I think I see the symbolism behind the chess move. Schneizel seemed to be really pushing for a psychological impact on Zero/Lulu. While the symbol itself may be apparent (he is willing to sacrifice the king in order to achieve his ulterior motives), this also applies literally to the situation at hand as well. If you noticed the bet, it would be apparent that the situation in the game is also apparent in real life. By giving up the “king” the representation (Suzaku) would also be given up. But that was the bait. It was almost as if he was urging Lelouch to take it. On the other hand, Lelouch knew that Schneizel is really testing him. By the rules of chess, a stalemate is the end of the game but if he took the king, then he would be by courtesy’s rules, taking Schneizel’s charity. In that regard, he knew that it would not be a true victory against Schneizel because Schneizel would have intentionally lost that one.
This brings us to my conclusion, Schneizel was testing Zero’s resolve. He basically deduced that unlike his father, Zero was someone who wants the victory by recognition rather than a victory by default.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:44 am
In other words, Lulu is a vain idiot.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:35 am
You’re from Nanjing, DarkMirage? Excellent, as I’m from Shanghai.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Wiki says Xing Ke has the skills and intelligence that rivals Suzaku and Lelouch, respectively. :O:O:O:O