Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

[ STAGE 24: The Collapsing Stage ]

[ STAGE 25: Zero ]

[Enjoyment Value: 10/10] (Need I say it again? It was that damn good!)
[First season series review: 98/100]

Yeah, I brought back the EV System just for these last two episodes. Why? If you’ve seen the episodes then the answer should be obvious. These last two episodes go above and beyond epic and while a ton of questions are still left over after the end the storytelling thus far has been excellently crafted. Almost everyone gets their time to appear in the episodes (some more than others) and everyone provides a wonderfully entertaining and intense atmosphere (yes, even Suzaku and Nina). I know a lot of people are pissed off at the cliffhanger ending. However, I see that as a good thing. A very good thing. Just like C.C. and Lelouch’s hot kiss. ^__^

Also, Youko joins me in talking/reviewing these superb episodes. Do treat us both well. ^^;

Damn. Damn. For me, the excitement never fell while watching these episodes. So many things occurred that I hardly know where to start. Well, essentially almost none of the questions brought up in the first season were left unanswered and a ton were added on top of those. The only questions partially answered concern Marianne and C.C.. We learn that Marianne decreased her security at her command and that C.C. is (or was, rather) a witch through the images shown near the end of STAGE 25. Now the questions are this: If Marianne knew she was going to be killed, why did she decrease instead of increase her security? Is she really dead? As for C.C., exactly who is she? And why is she who she is right now (immortal and able to make contracts with others in exchange for Geass)? It kills me to not have a good enough hint to try and guess these with reasonable assurance. Howver, these are both questions (along with the many others) that make me eager for the upcoming sequel.

It kinda sucks that Lelouch’s ways of doing things up to now have been all in vain in regards to killing his siblings. Now that we know Marianne new of her supposed demise he really didn’t have to kill Euphie or Clovis. Rather, he could’ve gone after Cornelia from the start and gotten this information. After this realization though he’ll probably learn to do better/to try other methods of obtaining information that doesn’t involve any more killing of his family. Hopefully, Cornelia isn’t dead since she was a character I favored greatly (along with Euphie). Lelouch is also in a bind now that he’s left the Black Knights on their own to go and rescue Nunnally. All of this makes me wonder if his reason for fighting is still the same as it was from the very beginning or if it has changed in the last few episodes (especially after these two).

The plot twists are crazy as well such as Darlton attacking Cornelia under Geass influence (and subsequently dying) and Villetta shooting Ougi. Let’s not forget Kallen and Suzaku finally finding out Zero’s true identity. I only really cared about Kallen’s reaction which was sort of expected but I hope she didn’t decide to be retarded at the very end and shoot/betray Lelouch. The cliffhanger is really painful yet so filled with suspense. Lelouch, with a sakuradite bomb strapped to his chest, aiming his gun at [the hypocritical bastard] Suzaku who is doing the same thing. I’m pretty sure Lelouch isn’t going to die since he’s the main character (not to mention him dying would set off the bomb and kill both him, Kallen, and Suzaku) and the same goes for Suzaku, unfortunately, because of his “live” command.

Oh, and I can’t forget about the Black Knights being in disarray but I think Toudou will do a decent enough job as leader for now. Nina is practically batshit insane now and her having the detonator for that bomb in her hand is a very freaking dangerous situation. C.C. took out Orange and is now sinking to the bottom of the ocean inside of the Gawain (). Nunnally was kidnapped by V.V. and taken to the place where the Emperor has been shown a few times. All of this is a superb set up for the sequel and successfully manages to make me itch in anticipation for it. It’s been an awesome ride and these last two episodes reinforced my love for CODE GEASS and I’m going to miss looking forward to it weekly like before until this Fall (where hopefully the sequel is a series). There’s a ton of story and questions left to be told and revealed (dammit I want to know C.C.’s real name and whether Marianne is alive) and I’m still hungering for more. So, the wait begins for the continuation of CODE GEASS!

I’ll now hand it over to Youko.

——

The (last?) words from C.C. at the end of the finale were just awe-inspiring and touching. It wasn’t anything like words of wisdom, but just about one simple thing and how one youth did everything in his power just to have it. In this case, it’s happiness. It’s true what she says. Everyone wants to be happy and because of that they’d do whatever it is they can do to gain it. Lelouch’s little desire for his and Nunnally’s peace was the key to his very actions against Britannia and because of that, he had to fight for it. Goes to show you what one can go through to make it happen. Lelouch’s ideals were more than extraordinary and all for something ordinary. Would any human have done the same in his shoes?

Of course, it’s no simple task as we’ve seen throughout the series. He wasn’t just gonna get it. Plenty of obstacles stood in his way, and it could very well have a great effect on him. Lelouch had carried his ideals with him against those that opposed but is it worth sacrificing everything? Sacrificing his subordinates, his best friend even? I can’t really convey its meaning as well as C.C. did, but I can understand what she means. I think it’s only natural that we would only do what we feel is best, but what we decide upon we’d be judged by our actions and we atone for it. Doesn’t that make sense?