Code Geass R2 – 25 [END]

by eternal on September 29, 2008

We’ve sure come a long way since the beginning, haven’t we? Through the American history, through the Death Note-esque foreshadowing, and through the complexity surrounding the power of Geass – at the end of it all, the conclusion awaits. Was it good? Bad? Did it even make sense? At the moment, mixed opinions are likely circling the internets, but there’s one thing I know for sure by now: this show isn’t bad. In fact, it’s probably quite good.


Spinzaku…lost?


Orenji-kun xD

All right, to start, let me say this: as much as I like complex stories (heck, as much as I like writing them), there’s something I’ve always hated, and that’s keeping track of every last detail for 50 episodes. Some people on the internet – more often than not, the nameless denizens of various forums – take the time an effort to analyze shows like this to death, likely in more detail than the writers ever intended, and try to make sense out of them. Some people do that, but I won’t. Partially because I’m bound to make a mistake somewhere along the line, but mainly because there isn’t much to be gained from forcing a relatively open ending to be closed.

Now, onto my opinion.

With the rather nonsensical bits of the show now past us, I believe it’s fair to say that Geass finally made it back on it’s feet. Looking back, my opinion of it right now isn’t all too different than it was way back when I first saw season one – original, a little predictable, and all-around awesome. It was hard to describe, but it was a good show, and it still is today. In trying to do a bit of everything (from mecha/military action to virtually plagiarizing Evangelion), we ended up in a very unique but very interesting place – a place where a terrible ending was almost guarunteed. Would Lelouch go mad and die just like Light? Would we see a Mai-HiME end and disregard everything that happened for 49 episodes? There were a few possibilities, but none of them were pleasant.

None, except for this ending.

Frankly, I’m impressed by the way Sunrise decided to end the show. It felt almost unfair for so many characters to be left alive – what happened to the countless implied deaths mere episodes before? – but in the end, pretty much any other way out they could have chosen would have ended up being predictable. This way, the characters acted logically (well, by Geass standards). Heading into this, I was having quite a bit of trouble understanding why Lelouch turned against everything – true, they could make some sort of excuse to justify his turning insane, but it wouldn’t exactly be in character, would it? He really isn’t a bad guy when you think of it, and the entire notion of him trying to rule the world seemed pretty stupid. It could have been believable, and could have been pulled off, but it would still have been stupid.

These were the problems that the ending solved. Sure, some things were still messed up – especially for the Kallen fanboys – but when it comes to the very core of the story, things came together in a way that was both plausible and unpredictable. It was nice to see the characters acting normally again, for once – weren’t the only “evil” people supposed to be Charles and Schniezel? – and I was surprisingly pleased to see that Nunnaly learned the truth of her brother’s life. I normally don’t get emotional at all during shows like this (my emotions are saved for Key and good shoujo), but it really was nice to see everything work out.

But, that leaves us with one question…and it’s a question I simply can’t answer.

Did Lelouch survive? In all likelihood, yes. I’ve seen some crazy theories that I couldn’t begin to paraphrase but still made good sense, and I’ve also seen some decent arguments against them. However, after taking this all in and looking at the big picture, it seems as if both Lelouch and C.C. survived with their eternal life, and they’re now left wandering around the world on a cart. Does that count as a good end? I guess you could say that. While the series doesn’t particularly need any bonuses, it would be nice to get an OVA that would clear this whole thing up, but in the end I suppose it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Lelouch was a (somewhat) rational human being after all, and that he succeeded in saving the world. It’s one of the few all-around “good” ends I can think of that I genuinely enjoyed, most likely because of the impending trainwreck.

All in all, congrats, Sunrise. There might still be some naysayers, but as far as I’m concerned, Geass ended as well as it should have.

And let’s not forget: Lelouch x C.C. end! w00t!

~ ETERNAL
つづく

{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

Saku September 29, 2008 at 8:01 pm

I like how everything ends and it just sums up the series nicely. Whether or not lulu is still alive, that’s just another question. My guess from before was somewhat correct that Suzaku killed lulu ;p

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Sandy-kun September 30, 2008 at 6:13 am

I was very sad knows that Lulu is Die… :(

Hope there’s something nice as CG in this Fall….

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Sandy-kun September 30, 2008 at 6:20 am

Anyway, mind for Link Exchanging?? :)

I already added you to my blogroll… :)

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zenical October 1, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Lelouch lives, I think.. Lol. Unless they’re bringing in R3(which I doubt so) i won’t be bothering myself to ask whether he died. LOL. It doesn’t matter XD

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James October 1, 2008 at 1:18 pm

I loved that end , i was scared to see something bad , after those strange last episodes … but no , it’s great and it was the only way to end it correctly ^^

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ETERNAL October 1, 2008 at 9:43 pm

@ Saku: Haha, lucky guess or inside connections? xP

@ Sandy-kun: Done!

@ zenical: lol, I was kinda thinking the same thing. Sometimes you just shouldn’t overthink things.

@ James: It really was the only correct ending. I think we were all worried for a while there about what they would pull right at the end.

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Saku October 3, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Wish I have an inside connection lol

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Q October 5, 2008 at 7:20 pm

I was kinda worried how Code Geass will end with plot twists after plot twists, but I am fine with that ending. No complaints at all.

While I personally don’t mind about the fate of Lelouch either way, I have a friend who insists to believe that he is alive. Aside from him having the Code, he states that how Nunnally might get that memory shock like how Lelouch got it from C.C. back then. @_@

Qs last blog post..Interrupted

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Albert October 10, 2008 at 12:06 am

Season 2 was on and off in terms of capturing my interest, but I have to say they nailed it with the ending. For those who remembered he touched his dad before and gained eternal life will know that he’s still alive, and for those who don’t remember… too bad, but everybody still knows that lu was a hero in the story. I didn’t really like how there wasn’t much development to the end. He kind of just revealed his true intentions out of nowhere after being so evil, and assumes that the world will be free of evil and hate just because he dies. maybe i missed out on something.
i’m agreeing they should put out an OVA with this too.

Alberts last blog post..34 New Windows 7 Milestone 3 Build 6.1.6801 Screenshots

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Future December 4, 2008 at 8:47 am

I loved the ending :)

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Watch Naruto Episodes December 27, 2008 at 8:41 pm

LOVED THE ENDING OMG!!

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Hui-bin July 2, 2009 at 10:01 pm

No, Lulu is really dead…

A magazine with the death list of C.G. has “Lelouch vi Britannia” on it…Here’s the link: http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3955/000dhwrrjy1.jpg

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Nathalie March 11, 2020 at 8:54 am

Hi!

Lelouch became immortal. I guess that you have seen the new movie (Fukkatsu No Lelouch_ Re;Surrection)
Lelouch is alive. And He choose to be with CC at the end. (At last!!!!!!) she gives him the most wonderful smile.

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