Code Geass R2
“Where’s my pizza?”

It’s cool now guys. Code Geass is back from the dead. As Pierce Brosnan would say if he were an anime otaku blogging about Code Geass: It lives to die another day. Okay, so it’s not perfect, but at least we are free of this particular uninspired story arc and on to greener pastures, hopefully.

Summary

Zero’s plan is to force the eunuchs to attempt to kill the Empress, so that he can save the day and record it with his low quality camcorder for street cred. (We all know that rebels can’t afford proper camera equipment.) He puts up an act to protect the empress, and in doing so position himself to gain the trust and goodwill of the people of the Chinese Federation and Xingke.

Code Geass R2

Of course, in order to achieve this, he needs to be actually capable of protecting the Empress in the first place. We all saw how hard he got owned in the last episode, and it certainly wasn’t an act considering poor Kallen was made POW because of it. :( So how exactly does he intend to put weight behind his words? Perhaps some kind of brilliant master plan involving the reanimation of China’s past emperors as invulnerable zombies of terror?

Code Geass R2
“I have cooties!”

But of course, this is Sunrise. The First Law of Gundamian Robotics: all sticky situations can be resolved by introducing a new mecha.

Code Geass R2
Hey, how did Sunrise get this picture of me?

Its name is Shinkirou (蜃気楼), which is Japanese for Mirage. It’s also painted mostly black, so I’d say that it can fairly be described as “dark”, no racism intended. Therefore, I shall christen it Dark Mirage because Sunrise was clearly inspired by my blog.

Code Geass R2
Any resemblance to Tiananmen is purely coincidental

The Chinese people revolt after seeing Zero’s propaganda YouTube video, the eunuchs get owned, Britannia withdraws, Zero and the Black Knights are the heroes, and all’s well that ends well.

Code Geass R2
That girl on the right needs to get more airtime

Diethard thinks that a political marriage between the Empress and a Japanese will be necessary to cement the relationship. Lelouch is stupid enough to agree. As any one with half a point of EQ can tell, that is a stupid idea that will only serve to destroy any current goodwill. The plan is promptly aborted in face of overwhelming oppositions from the “true love” camp, i.e. the girls, which surprisingly includes C.C.

Code Geass R2
Shirley—she’s still a character in Code Geass

Lelouch then heads back to Area 11 in Dark Mirage, which also happens to be a submarine, and takes over from Sayako, who has been filling his role since he left for China. (In various ways.) School life hilarity intertwined with counter-intelligence operations await us in the next episode.

Thoughts

Code Geass R2
Real men have holes in their shields

So, Dark Mirage, or DM, is a Knightmare Frame which apparently specializes in defence. But the designers probably forgot to send DM that memo, because after defending Xingke and the Empress from a barrage of artillery fire, it calmly proceeds to shoot the crap out of everyone with its overpowered phase transition cannon prism thingizmo. This is very unfair because as anyone who has played World of Warcraft would know, speccing stamina means that you don’t have enough points for agility and strength.

Apparently, DM also stands for deus ex machina.

Code Geass R2
The Chinese girl gets like one entire line in this episode

Nitpick of the week: In one scene, some peon is informing the eunuchs that cities all over the Chinese Federation are revolting after watching Zero’s masterpiece and he mentions Jakarta and Islamabad. This is something that wouldn’t happen in real-life (if they were part of China), because the official names of those cities would have been in transliterated Chinese. Moreover, the name “Jakarta” is a recent rendition of the city’s name and it would make more sense to use more historical names, depending on the time it was assimilated into the Federation.

Code Geass R2
The Geneva Convention never happened

This episode is also noticeably strong on the fanservice front. Not that I am complaining. But I do wish Kallen’s Britannian captors treated her better. She’s all bound up and stuff. T_T That sick bastard Suzaku and his BDSM fetish.

Also, isn’t it interesting how Lelouch immediately thinks of Nunnally after Shirley explains to him the meaning of true love? Oh Lelouch, your harem is wasted on you, you siscon rascal.

Screencaps

Code Geass R2
I don’t understand Toudou’s role in the story

Code Geass R2
Rakshata is a bloody genius

Code Geass R2
The garage couldn’t fit

Code Geass R2
“Who needs tactics when you have technology?”

Code Geass R2
“Sir, Zero is drinking our milkshake”

Code Geass R2
Do not adjust your monitor

Code Geass R2
When characters do this, what are they actually staring at?

Code Geass R2
The Britannian Eunuch

Code Geass R2
Only in anime, folks

Code Geass R2
One day, Shirley will reveal herself to be the true evil mastermind and do something

Code Geass R2
What every world leader needs: a loli and a 20-feet mecha

Code Geass R2
It’s amazing how Lelouch manages to stay focused on Nunnally

Code Geass R2
I mean jeez, even the camera is distracted

Code Geass R2
Nice boat.

Code Geass R2
The new love interests in Lelouch’s ever-expanding love comedy harem

Code Geass R2
And the yaoi fangirls go wild!

My midyear exams are next week. Or rather, this week. Or more precisely, today. I should get some sleep. Japanese paper in a few hours… T.T

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