Code Geass R2 07, I mustn’t run away!
May 19th, 2008 by Shirukii
GAAAY
Not the greatest of episodes, as it amounted to little more than Lelouch angsting around until he reaffirmed his will to continue fighting as Zero. But damn was it ever nice to see Lulu pulling off one of his plans without Suzaku screwing it up somehow, he even gets a bit of a surprise at the end when Lulu agrees to Nunnally’s terms while hovering in Lacelot’s sights, a moment which could only have been made more awesome if MC Hammer’s You Can’t Touch This started playing the the background.
Following the loss in the battle to retrieve Nunnally, Lulu is bedridden a while, left under the care of Rolo who hears him mumbling his sister’s name in his sleep. The following day Lulu watches as Nunnally arrives safely to Area 11 and prepares for her inauguration under the protection of the Britannian army and Suzaku, which pisses Lulu off, but at least ensures her safety. Meanwhile, the excitement of the upcoming school trip pass by him unnoticed in the background.
At Nunnally’s inauguration she makes the bold announcement that she intends to take up Euphie’s will and once again try establishing the Special Administrative Region of Japan where Elevens will be allowed to call themselves Japanese and live on the same standing as Britannians. This shocks the Britannians for the same reason Euphie’s announcement did back then and the Elevens even more so, taking it as another trap, an invitation to the same massacre of before.
Defeated, Lulu contemplates giving up as Zero, with Nunnally working towards her goals without him by her side, he loses sight of himself. Riding around on a train lost in thought and picking on others with his geass for personal amusement, Lulu has hit rock bottom. Meanwhile, the Order of the Black Knights have gathered at sea awaiting Zero’s orders, with all attempts to contact him coming up blank.
The next day at Ashford, the buses prepare to leave for the school trip with Lulu nowhere to be found. Kallen eventually tracks him down to the ghettos of old Japan, where Lulu first lead the resistance against the Britannian army and became Zero, where it all started. Yet here she finds him with a shot of refrain, which those of you with better memories will remember was responsible for tearing the life of Kallen’s mother apart, and for those of us with crappy memories will have had to have wiki’d for a refresher.
Kallen wrestles it away from Lulu and gives him a lecture essentially telling him to dust himself off and try again, willing to do anything if he so orders it. Lulu leans in on Kallen and asks if she’d be willing to comfort him as a woman, but at the last minute she snaps out of it and slaps him, telling him to return to the flawless mastermind she knows and admires. Rolo follows up with some reverse psychology and pseudo yaoi to drive the message home.
Elsewhere, Nunnally gets a call from Emperor Charles inquiring about her reasoning for establishing the Special Administrative Region of Japan, and surprise surprise, it’s to return the favor of Lelouch watching over her all this time by doing something that would make him proud. Meanwhile, the Black Knights are in trouble as Suzaku has found their hideout ship and warns that they’ll be attacked if they don’t lay down their arms for an inspection.
While they’re getting pelleted by artillery fire and depth charges, Lulu finally pulls himself together when he heads back to Ashform to find that the entire student counsel passed up on the trip because Lulu wasn’t there, opting to fire off fireworks in hopes that he’d come back instead. After nostalgia bombing about happiness being there even when its presence can’t be directly seen, Lulu regains his will to fight, this time not only for Nunnally, but for the sake of everyone’s happiness.
He gets to the battle just in time to save his comrades, taking advantage of the terrain by releasing an underground methane geyser which causes the pressurized gas to capsize the entire naval fleet, leaving only Suzaku, Anya and Gino remaining. Zero deals with them by greeting them head on, stopping them before they fire to announce that he plans to submit to Nunnally’s proposed Special Administrative Region and that firing at him would be against their lord’s cause.
Thoughts
Protagonist losing sight of his will to fight and overall purpose in life, angstily brooding over his uselessness while riding a train to nowhere?! OH LAWD IS DAT SUM EVANGELION REFERENCE ANIMU?
Yea, ok, so the parallel isn’t THAT strong, but I was still kinda hoping Lulu would bust out the “I mustn’t run away! I mustn’t run away!”, many lulz would have been had. It’s surprising to see him like this, as even in past defeats, he’s never let it get him down and was always thinking of the next step. However, when your raison d’etre turns around and betrays your expectations by contenting herself with the enemy you swore to defeat for her sake, it can leave you confused as to what to do next.
I found it weird how Lulu geassed an entire train compartment so he could have some privacy, while the chances are slim, what happens if he just geassed someone who could have been of great use down the road?! That probably won’t happen, seeing as there was no indication that anyone of importance was there, but still not a very Zero-like move there.
As for his reaffirmation of his will to fight, eh, kinda lame. Power of Friendship bs has never appealed to me as a mode of motivation in the past and even less so this time seeing as Lulu was so fiercely devoted to Nunnally and ONLY Nunnally in the past. But whatever, Code Geass has never been an anime about overly complex character relationships, so sure, whatever works.
However, speaking of character relationships, I did like this scene between Lulu and Kallen. Seeing Lulu holding refrain gave Kallen that extra bit of connection with him than had it been C.C., she’s seen where the road Lulu was heading down leads to and genuinely wanted to bring him back. Not only as Zero, but as Lelouch, emphasized by the fact that she actually calls him by his name now. I was surprised that Lulu made a play at her too, since he has shown zero (lol) interest in women thus far, apart from a few C.C. scenes here and there in the first season. Kallen’s lips were quivering, about to give in, only to back off at the last moment, lame. Not that I expect any definitive couples to form around Lulu or Suzaku anyways, Sunrise needs to keep their fujoshi fans appeased.
Plot wise we’re not given much more direction this episode. Nunnally announced her plan to succeed Euphie’s will, but we knew that from last episode. Lulu agreeing to it was not completely unexpected either, despite the Japanese thinking that it would be just another massacre and the Black Knights thinking it would mean surrender, I doubt Lulu will actually submit to the idea. More than likely he’ll use the ceremony as an opportunity to get Nunnally away from the Britannians and Suzaku.
Loli Japanese princess with Chinese political ties, complete devotion to her “husband” and doesn’t mind the idea of a foursome? FUCK YEAH KAGUYA!
~ Shirukii ~
Post Script: GATTAI! MY MACROSS F SUBS, WHERE ARE THEY?!
23 Responses to “Code Geass R2 07, I mustn’t run away!”
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just a little closer rollo :D
macrosss should have been out yesterday yerh? D:
I think its better that Kallen SLAPPWNED Lelouch, I would’ve thought much less of her character if she kissed him in Emo mode.
Also seems to me that Suzaku is gonna be pissed off; now that Zero’s agreed to the Specially Administrated Massac- I mean, Zone of Nippon, Suzaku can’t really do much about it. (Would probably be better if he just admitted he wanted to kill Zero since he killed Euphie, no complex justice crap, just straight up revenge ;).
Just realised that with the last screenshot in your summary, just paste “NUNNALLY!” across the bottom and Lelouch has lost again ^_^.
My interpretation is that the power of friendship actually gave Lelouch the resolve to give up Zero and the Black Knights.
And lawl at the Britannian that can’t do pushups!?
Kaguya-hime!!! Best part of the episode… In fact, I can’t remember anything else that happened…
Nevermind my first post, I just realized the virtue of watching an episode multiple times.
Any episode with Kaguya-hime in it is always an instant win for me. HIMESAMA!
Wow, I really though Karen was going to letl Lulu kiss her for a moment. Then she slapped him and I was like “Yup, thats Karen lol”
Oh well, I’m a Lulu x C.C. person myself, if he needed to be comforted he should’ve gone to see C.C. (or Kaguya for that matter :o)
Phew. The Shameless Product Placement of this season has finally arrived. The boys over at Pizza Hut had me worried for a minute there, maybe even they thought the show has gone too mainstream.
>>”Loli Japanese princess with Chinese political ties, complete devotion to her “husband” and doesn’t mind the idea of a foursome? FUCK YEAH KAGUYA!”
LOL she is more mature than her appearance. “ALL HAIL LOLI HIME”
About him geass-ing the whole train department… he did the same thing back in season 1, no? back when kallen & co. first met zero.
sadly, ‘foursome’ not likely to happen since Lelouch seems more interested in his sister then other women… (not disocunting rolo at this point, tho)
/Geass
Fetch me a shrubbery!
Yes, My Lord!
Can’t wait to see the next awkward Lelouch and Kallen meeting. Also too bad we didn’t see Nina’s “happiness” in the glass. It probably would have been a table and a 1/1 scale Euphie cutout.
Foursome ?? LOL. It should be fivesome since you forgot to mention Shirley too, Shirukii. I’m all about Lulu x Kallen since in the begining of the series even though I know that will never happen but this episode makes me kinda happy XD. Looking forward to see what will happen in next episode. BTW, Shirukii, what happen to each episode rating thing? Yeah, compare Shinji to Lulu is like comparing a duche-bag to a mind-fucking genius. One of them is so pathetic that all he wants is “when my father will accept me?” and the other one is like “Fuck my father. I’ll kick his ass next time I see him.”
>>> Not that I expect any definitive couples to form …
On that note, how about Cecile X Guilford! Didn’t expect that one.
Also, for the first time in R2, CC mentions the name of her silent partner. I’m really glad I finished watching R1 this weekend or I’d have been mightily confused.
And I want Kaguya to be my wife.
(how come she’s nearly the same height as Karen in that kanjo scene?)
ohyeah. Preview has a shot of the Murder Princess. WTF?
Something is bound to happen to make him flip soon and completely neglect the agreement…
T_____T. Seems like theres a substitute on TT already though ^^.
@ wend’aii: Oh God, there’s enough LuluXSuzaku stuff as is, we don’t need another CG gay pairing.
Macross F subs are out now by both gg and Gattai.
@ Randor: Suzaku wouldn’t do that though, his entire foundation is based on the load of bullshit he spewed about being righteous and changing Britannia from within, even though his actions are often contradictory to his morals.
@ Gravmech: Haha, definitely reinforced his will to continue fighting as Zero, not the opposite =P Wouldn’t be much of a series if he gave up.
@ Deranged: Wow, that’s some pretty heavy Kaguya devotion.
@ albert_2mb: It’s too bad she’s not as loli as she was before, she’s pretty tall now.
@ Redmist: I think Kallen is the best choice because it was Lulu as Zero who brought closure to the issue with her mom and such, so it’s as if she’s returning the favor by digging him out of the rut this time.
@ ItAintEazy: The show is being broadcast in the US, right? R1 that is. Are the Pizza Hut ads kept in?
@ Siva: Yea she is quite mature, but she’ll always be our queen of lolis.
@ Sadlis: …I don’t recall, sorry ;_;
And yea, Lulu doesn’t give a damn about girls, which is sad because he has a pretty good harem going for him.
@ Kabitzin: Haha, oh wow. I still remember watching Nina’s table scene in R1, I was all “Wait, what?!”
@ kenshin514: Oh yea, I forgot about Shirley…meh, lol.
As for the ratings, I stopped because they were generally meaningless. I didn’t have a system to them, they were more or less completely arbitrary.
@ Telliamed: Wha? There’s something between Cecile and Guilford? When was this? I thought Guilford was all “YES YOUR HIGHNESS *fapfapfap*” for Cornelia.
Tall Kaguya is tall ;_;
The shot of Euphie is probably a flashback of some sort.
@ Ruki: Yep, and Gattai has released since. I probably won’t get to doing that entry until tomorrow though.
How come you don’t seem to get the SERIOUS BUSINESS trolls to post in your CG threads but I have to deal with them? I object! Fie upon your house! Everyone is having way too much damn fun here!
I have only read your first review and this one of Code Geass R2, and I can totally agree and relate with you on so many aspects of this anime. I love this anime but it is just too much sometimes. lol. I love the way your views are, reading them are fun and I’m sharing this with my friends (if they ever get past season 1 and its BS!!!)
P.S. Even though I’m a yaoi fan, I hate the fact that CLAMP has always left their characters (especially lead characters) with sexual preference ambiguity; and I want Lelouch to kiss and/or make-out with someone before the series ends (preferrably Kallen or C.C.)
(Good Times!) (^_^)
@Shirukii
oh, well yeah karen is a good choice because of that, but I meant that he tried to kiss her, hes smart enough to know karen would slap him lol
he has kissed C.C. before, so if he wanted some love he should’ve thougt to go to C.C. is all I’m saying
awesome report thank you VERY VERY MUCH
- www.GameGork.com
@KRIsari: Lelouch has kissed 3 times over the course of the series (Shirley, CC twice), though. And I thought CLAMP only had to do the character designs, I don’t think they’re in charge of writing?
To be honest, as awesome as Kallen is, by series end, if anyone, it will most likely be CC who ends up as Lelouch’s main, though I’m sure by that time Kallen will probably admit to her feelings at some point.
Of course, Lelouch here was only looking for a way to feel better, so I don’t think he genuinely likes anybody yet. Maybe as comrades, sure; he trusts Kallen to be the Eleven’s Ace, and for sure owes a lot to CC for granting him Geass; romantically, however, the closest thing he’s shown to loving somebody would be Shirley due to the guilt he has for contributing for the death of her father, the shit Mao put her through, and erasing her memories. Oh, and dead princess, but she sucked anyhow. :p
CC’s feelings have started to develop since Lelouch thanked her and found out her name, we’ll have to wait and see to what extent she’ll express herself more meaningfully, should it come to that. “Surprise kissing” hasn’t really been enough in this series…and worked badly in Shirley’s case.
MOAR drugs plox.
Dead… err, that is MIA girlfriends are no fun.
@RJ: Lulu will have to get over his epic siscon before any other relationship becomes possible. Now, if my theory is correct, CC is related to him as well. So he’d only be exchanging one incest for another.
不好意思，居然转到这来了，
看到你这对每部动漫情节的介绍都很详细，生动有趣，
写得不错！
我非常喜欢CODE GEASS，
我会长期来光临，
不要介意我用中文随便写了点，
继续加油！^o^
Kaguya is every man’s dream waifu. If she enjoys staying in the kitchen, I’d definitely shed some romantic manly tears. ;_;