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ローゼンメイデン 
November 10, 2006 | 
33 Comments
Hmm, nothing much happens in this episode but we have some harmless fun thanks to a cat that Euphemia found one episode ago. This episode also shows that the series actually contains quite a lot of characters. Having said that, it remains to be seen if all of them will be utilised effectively. I also notice that Lelouch is a lot less manipulative and more silly in this episode. It's kind of amusing and bizarre at the same time because it's a bit hard to believe that this is the same guy who killed Clovis and effectively framed Jeremiah in front of the public. As as side note, the producer also ramps up the Pizza Hut in-show promo by blatantly showing C.C eating said Pizza. I personally don't really mind this if it means the producer gets more budget to produce better anime. I do wonder what you guys think about this though.
A soldier reports to the Emperor of Britannia that the body of Clovis has arrived. Upon hearing this, the Emperor decides to speed up the plan that he mentioned to Clovis. Inside Ashford college, the students inside Suzaku's class become nervous after the arrival of their new classmate because they think he's a suspect in Clovis' murder. Nina is afraid because Suzaku is an 'Eleven' even though Rival tells her that Suzaku is an 'Honorary Britannian'. Shirley seems to be the only one who's not afraid of Suzaku and entertains the thought of talking to the guy. Suzaku, who's been ignoring all gossips and whispers inside the class decides to follow Lelouch after he sees the other boy sending him signal by tidying up his collar. When the two arrive at the rooftop, Lelouch tells Suzaku that this is the first time after seven years that he used that collar signal again. Suzaku confirms this by saying that the sign refers to "I'll see you in the attic".
Suzaku is glad to know that Lelouch is okay so Lelouch tells him that it was thanks to Suzaku that he's alive. Suzaku considers it a favour for 7 years ago. When Suzaku inquires about C.C, Lelouch claims that he got seperated from her due to the confusion from the battle. The conversation then turns to Lelouch's name, which now has changed to Lelouch Lamperouge since Lelouch considers that his previous self is already dead. In return, Lelouch wonders what happened at the tribunal and why Suzaku is in this school. Suzaku admits that he was surprised to see Lelouch here and that he's in this school because a person, Euphemia, thinks that a 17 years old like him should go to school. Speaking of Euphemia, she is now admiring paintings which were drawn by Clovis. Amongst the many paintings inside the gallery, there is one which depicts, Lelouch, Nanaly and their mother. Euphemia thinks the colors that Clovis used are gentle colors.
In the middle of a desert, a battle is mounting between the Britannian army and a group of rebel who stations themselves on top of a mountain. Unfortunately for the rebel, Cornelia attacks from the air and manages to penetrate their base. Upon finding out that Zero is not with them, Cornelia simply kills all of the rebels inside the base. Back inside his house, Lelouch has a surprise for Nanaly: a visit from Suzaku. Since Suzaku has moved to this school, Lelouch believes that he can now see Nanaly whenever he wants to. Suzaku tells Nanaly that unfortunately his job with the army will make it impossible to come everyday. Nanaly becomes anxious after finding out that Suzaku is still with the army but Suzaku assures her that he won't be in danger since he's been transferred to the Engineering department. Meanwhile, Lelouch is annoyed when he sees C.C standing in the kitchen despite his order that she must remain inside her room.
C.C, on the other hand, questions Lelouch if he thinks it's okay to associate himself with someone from Shinjuku. Much to C.C's surprise, Lelouch tells her that Suzaku is okay since he's a friend. Inside a prison cell, a straight-jacketed Jeremiah is informed by three Generals that he's freed from any suspicions. However, because he let Zero go, he's been demoted three ranks down. Because of this, he only has two choices: either starting over as a pilot or.....cultivating an Orange field. Hmm, Pilot or Orange farmer....what a difficult career choice. At the same time, Suzaku tells Lelouch that they should stay away from each other at school because otherwise people will start wondering why Lelouch befriends an Honorary Britannian. If that happens, there is a likelihood that Lelouch's identity as a Prince will be uncovered. Lelouch becomes angry upon hearing this because Suzaku puts other people before his own well-being like he did back then.
This "back then" startles Suzaku a little bit. Lelouch realises that he almost blew his own cover and immediately shuts his mouth. Suzaku then thanks Lelouch since he never thought that he'll have a chance to talk to Lelouch like this. The next day Suzaku receives cold reception when he comes into the class. Meanwhile, Lelouch receives a phone call from the rebel faction, informing him that the largest rebellion group has been defeated by Cornelia. Lelouch, however, thinks that they can't afford to be impatient. He thinks they should wait for an opportunity and tells the rebel that he'll contact them next. After finishing the phone call, Lelouch looks through the window and is disturbed when he sees Suzaku trying to wash his gym t-shirt which has been vandalised with "GO BACK TO YOUR GHETTO, ELEVEN" note written in red paint. At the same time, Nanaly finds out that Nina has refused to go to school because she's afraid of Suzaku.
Outside the mansion, a Pizza Hut delivery driver comes with a Pizza that C.C ordered. Unknown to them, the cat that Euphemia saved on last week's episode manages to sneak into the house. C.C brings the Pizza into Lelouch's room and notices that the guy has been storing his mask inside a box. Nanaly, who appears to invite her brother to have some tea, is amused when she smells the scent of Pizza. Lelouch immediately claims that he's collecting points from the Pizza company. After Lelouch left, C.C does not realise that the cat has been sniffing inside Lelouch's box. When the box topples, the mask falls onto the cat's head and the cat runs away with it. Meanwhile, Lelouch is in the middle of talking to Nanaly about how Suzaku has been harassed by students at the school. Nanaly urges her brother to help Suzaku since he's Suzaku's friend. Lelouch's concern, however, turns into terror when he notices the cat wearing his Zero mask.
While Lelouch is chasing after the cat, Nanaly informs Millay, Rival, and Nina that a cat has taken an important item belonging to Lelouch. This makes everyone wonders what this 'important item' could be. Nina thinks it's a love letter, Millay assumes that it's embarassing pictures, and Rival suggests that it could be a poem notebook. Millay and Rival suddenly give a gleeful chuckle. Millay promises Nanaly that they'll definitely help Lelouch find this important item. Meanwhile, the cat manages to enter a classroom and is spotted by two students who recognises the mask. Lelouch immediately uses his Geass power to make them forget all about it. Unfortunately, Millay has sent broadcast message that they need everyone's help to find a cat. As a reward, the person who finds the cat will be given a kiss by a member of the student council. This announcement shocks Shirley, sending her falling into the pool.
Karen who hears the announcement starts to panic as well since a bunch of boys intend on finding the cat to get her kiss. She's embarassed because it will be her first kiss with anyone. Meanwhile, other girls are excited at the prospect of kissing Lelouch...except for one girl who wonders if it's okay if she wants to kiss Millay instead. Other students are shocked to hear this and asks the girl not to 'come out' here. At the same time, Karen and Shirley manage to corner the cat but they lose it when Shirley asks Karen if she will use the reward to kiss Lelouch. Lelouch himself is shocked when he finds out that Suzaku has noticed the cat. Their attempt to catch it lead them onto a rooftop. When Lelouch tries to get there, however, he slips but thankfully Suzaku manages to grab his hand. Much to Lelouch's relief, the cat has also gone into the bell tower and drops the mask. After seeing the two working together, Karen wonders if Lelouch and Suzaku are friends. Suzaku tries to deny it but Lelouch admits that they are friends.
Lelouch then asks Millay to allow Suzaku into the student council which Millay approves immediately. Later on, the students gather around to attend Clovis' funeral. The Emperor then appears on the screen to deliver a speech about how people are not equal. Some are quicker, others are beautiful, some have poor parents, and there are those with weak bodies. Everyone differs due to their birth, talent, and upbringing. He believes people can only progress through fight and competition. Therefore, he doesn't see inequality as something bad. On the reverse, it is equality that is bad. Because of this, Britannia will always fight and compete unlike the equal rights EU and China Federation, where wealth is equally distributed. He even claims that Clovis' death is a proof that Britannia will continue to evolve. This nutcracker then ends his speech by encouraging his citizens to compete, takeover and rule, a statement which sends both Suzaku and Lelouch into anger. Inside her room, C.C wonders if the Emperor is Lelouch's enemy.
Impression:
It's no surprise that Cornelia and Clovis turn into twisted individuals. Their own father is a nutcase who thinks inequality is a good thing for his people. I really doubt that he'll be singing the same tune if he was one of those people who were born poor. Speaking of his children, I wonder what Euphemia meant when she said that the colors that Clovis used in his paintings are gentle colors (oooh, reference to the OP song)? Is she implying that behind the dictator lies a soft-hearted person who actually loves to paint? If the writers want to imply this, then they should have built up Clovis' personality prior to his death so this doesn't feel like it comes out of nowhere. Having said that, I do think it's strange that he has a portrait of Lelouch and his family. If he doesn't like them, why would he paint them in the first place? Most painters have attachment to the things that they paint and I assume Clovis feels some kind of attachment to Lelouch and his family.
This episode also brought up issues about bigotry and the fear of others. Sometimes people become a bigot simply because they don't understand or refuse to understand those who are different from them. To make themselves feel better, they often either: make fun of this outsider, ostracised/avoid the person (like what Nina did), or threatened the person with emotional abuse/physical violence (like the two boys who vandalised Suzaku's t-shirt). Not everything in this episode is serious though. In fact, the majority of the story was spent on Millay's attempt on finding out Lelouch's 'secret'. I admit that it was quite amusing to see everyone in the school getting excited to get a kiss from a student council member. That was also the first time I saw Lelouch acting silly. In comparison to Suzaku, it seems Lelouch is not that fit when it comes to physical endurance. He was huffing and puffing as he races through the stairs. Another highlight was seeing C.C stuffing her mouth with Pizza and yet manages to stay as thin as always.
Preview
The show sure moves at a snail pace. I think they could have made this 13 episodes and turn it into something exciting instead of wasting it on filler like this.
As for product placement, I don't think they are appropriate. It is too distracting and takes away from the actual show.
I actually think this is a nice little episode which is needed to pull away from the drama earlier so that when we get back into it, as it seems we will in the next episode it's exciting and fast paced. If it was nothing but excitement and drama constantly then it would soon get dull in my mind.
A good series is one that changes the pace now and then, and you can see that in this series.
I have no problem with the blatant advertising, as long as this is the only one, it's nice to try and find the hints - though it was a bit obvious in this one. And like you said if it gives the company a bigger budget to keep up the quality then I'm fine with it.
This was a fun relaxing ep...as it takes a break from the plot a bit. I guess the acceptance of Suzaku was the main purpose of this episode. Regarding the Pizza Hut sponsorship, I don't really mind if it means no drop in animation. It's not like I hate pizza hut. If you really think about it, there is a lot of high profile seiyuus in this anime, which might be part of the reason why a sponsorship of pizza hut is required. Take a look at this list of well-known seiyuus (Inoue Kikuko, Sakurai Takahiro, Yukana, Ohara Sayaka, Orikasa Fumiko, Chiba Saeko, Wakamoto Norio) with rising popular seiyuss (Koshimizu Ami, Minami Omi, Fukuyama Jun). As long as the sponsor doesn't interfere with the series (as in pizza hut is the key to save the world or something stupid like that :P), I have no problems with it.
The high school comedy part is necessary to give the impression of a vast universe. Despite what happens in the country, students still go to school and do their silly little things.
I like that the writers created a lot of characters. If they're planning to make more than 24 episodes, it's likely that the second series may have nothing to do with Lulu or Suzaku.
Actually, I think this episode is really nice for Lelouch's character development. It shows clearly that he's not an infallible reason machine ala Raito; he also has a side that's capable of very. silly. things, and like, you know, collecting Pizza Hut points. I keep saying that everywhere I go, but that scene did a lot for me in making Lulu a more rounded character. Evil mastermind is nice, but it's nicer to see that evil mastermind as a multifaceted human being. And the confirmation that he sucks at physicals.
And besides, it has the much-needed development of Suzaku the Character and his history with Lulu and Nanaly. Before Ep. 6, we've just seen Suzaku the Concept, but not what makes him tick or what makes him grin. We were told, but that was telling and not seeing. I like his relationship with the Lamperouges, too, though I don't see anything shounen-ai-y in it except S's occasional glittery eyes. They really seems just like good friends long estranged by really, really sucky circumstances.
Fluff like this are usually excused as 'character development', and most of the time they're lame excuses for filler. I think it works here, though. I haven't laughed this much for years.
Though if the next episode continues the trend (Go Zero-kamen!) I swear I'll bang my head on something. Three episodes in a row is kinda too much.
Pizza Hut supports the Rebellion!
I found the 'All Hail Britannia' part amusing - a great little detail that will likely unsettle watchers (I love those things).
As for Pizza Hut, it's a fun game to count all instances of it appearing in an episode. Does the box here count as one or two?
I liked this episode, and I didn't really think it a filler: Suzaku couldn't go from criminal to accepted, and it's a good oveview of the Britannia-side players. Also, the political impact that Clovis' death made in dealt with here.
Question for those more japanese savvy: in the preview, who did Lelouch refer to as 'father' and 'elder sister'? The Emperor and Cornelia perhaps?
"When Lelouch tries to get there, however, he slips over. Thankfully Suzaku manages to grab Lelouch's hand"
...well i think he did it on purpose :)
One of my favorite sub-genre is high school/action drama where the main character is forced to pretend to live a normal life while fighting bad guys, so this episode is right up my alley. I appreciate episodes that show Lelouch's silliness because it makes him human. I was just watching the new episode of Death Note, and I realized that this is exactly the reason why Light annoys me: he is so calculated in both his actions and emotions. So watched Lelouch screw up and show a more human side is what is making him likable for me.
As for Pizza Hut: it's a little silly. Sure everyone likes pizza now, but so far it hasn't taken away from my enjoyment of the show (more like an additional game of 'spot pizza hut'). If Sunrise can keep up a better quality of animation thanks to those icons I am not going to complain.
"Question for those more japanese savvy: in the preview, who did Lelouch refer to as 'father' and 'elder sister'? The Emperor and Cornelia perhaps?"
Yeah, I think he refer to the Emperor and Cornelia. Like father, like daughter? I'll bet now that Yufemia is adopted.
The Pizza thing is okay I guess. But if they start going to a Pizza restaurant and choosing different kind of Pizza, that'll be pushing it.
The constant 'Pizza Hut' appearances are a bit of comedy in itself. Although if they're not careful it'll cross the line from amusing to annoying. But I think most viewers haven't found the 'Pizza Hut' references too obtrusive yet.
-The cat stealing the Zero mask and sending Lelouch into a panic is funny and thoroughly silly.
-Clovis' painting, on the other hand is certainly food for thought.
x_x Sometimes it really is unfair for some people to have metabolism fast enough to keep them slim despite the food they eat. D:
"On the reverse, it is equality that is bad. Because of this, Britannia will always fight and compete unlike the equal rights EU and China Federation, where wealth is equally distributed to lazy people. He even claims that Clovis' death is a proof that Britannia continues to evolve."
I think this speech proves that USA didn't so much got conquered by the Britons as never actually came to be; the only two main systems of government on Earth in Code Geass are Communism and Monarchy. Democracy died before it was even born.
Pizza Hut doesn't annoy me at all. What does annoy me is when they have to distort the signs into something else, like McDonald's "M" into a "W" or Wal-Mart into Mal-Mart or something. The effect, for me at least, it makes the show feel distorted in the wrong way.
Eesh! How can the man be so cold about the death of his own son? Clovis' death as proof of evolution? I'm surprised that Euphemia became a kind-hearted person. Maybe she was raised by a nanny rather than her dad.
To keep up the "spot the resemblance" game between Clamp characters:
Am I the only one who thinks Suzaku is Shaoran and Sakura's lovechild? Come on, green eyes, chestnut hair, overly athletic and heroical, sweetly sweet personality?
He's so obviously Sakura and Shaoran rolled up into one neat package it almost hurts...
Clovis' pictures almost made me cry. Post mortem character developement! Evil, Sunrise! Evil, I say!
Of course, the fact that he drew that really nice portrait of Lulu's family may give new meaning to his death or maybe not, but it's still interesting.
they BETTER NOT make suzaku into another kira yamato. if they do. . .i will bomb the pizza hut headquaters!
Clovis enjoyed art, and his hobby was painting, so I think that was what the painting scene about.
I think the producers threw in the roof top rescue scene just to mirror the opening scene in episode one, where Suzaku makes it up a steep slope in one shot while Lelouch gets stuck halfway and has to have Suzaku pull him up. Lelouch needs to get out more and stop playing chess/mind games...
Though I agree with the fact that Lelouch has to get out more, there's also something wrong with his body. Like he has a weak body since the beginning, since in the 3rd episode I think, when he remembered himself shooting Clovis, he says my body can't keep up, or something.
Though this is a filler, it's fun sometimes to watch, but I hope the hurry with the story!!! ^_^
i even think lelouch will act like that when he chased the cat he's so cute
for suzaku i'm very sad for him he was being bully but i like when lelouch said they were friends
they're two make me like kira and athrun in gundam seed destiny
but i don't think lelouch was a prince it's make me shocked
it's seems next episode will be about lelouch family
*giggle* *giggle* *giggle* Whoa, you did it again Garten dude, the picture comments I mean!
Hee! Hee! Hee!.......That's the wackiest comments i've read since Fate Stay Night ! :lol:
Are they really that funny? I thought they're not as good as my other attempts. Definitely not on the same level as my Fate/Stay Night comments.
hahah but this episode was quite good for a change =p
its the first time i've really noticed the pizza hutt thingie heaheau also that part with nanaly saying 'nyaaa' zOMG S2 hueaheua
(+ that part with lulu screaming huaheuaehu comedy gold ehauheae)
i dont really mind it too, its way better than using bepsi or wackin'tosh =p heuaheuahe
a few things that are bugging me heauehaue CC is a dere character? o_0
ehuaheua it was also funny to see, on the ep preview, we get some boxcutter vibes from karen ehauheuaheua
huehauea and there's more! heauehuaheuae
from the op&ed;preview i'm kinda getting the obvious vibes :
-ED = rozen maiden:well quite obvious(just pointing out)
-OP = eureka 7 vibes ehauehaue, maybe its because we got from the whole opening a lot of similarities o_0 (CC hair color, the overall colors for the whole brain stuff, the mecha AND well, heuaheua the song from FLOW ^^)
-preview bgm: THIS IS bugging me hehehe, for those who didn't watch macross wont really notice this, but it kinda starts the same way, trumpets or whatsoever hueahuea
well, quite a season i must say ^^
oh yeah, almost forgot: hueahuea nice to see those picture comments again garten. fate/sn comments are gold heuaheuauhe
Sorry, overreacted. ^_^; But the "OMG, I didn't know i have a small head!!" somehow had me cracked up.
Anyway, the story is currently going at a comfortable pace. Changing from action to high school comedy, it still maintains an exceptable level of thrill/suspense. (Comedic suspense?) Suspense is also one of the genres in Code Geass. That's what keeping me interested on this series.
By the way, speaking of pizza and 'pizza-guessing-contest', do they advertised pizza hut before, during half-time and after the show?
"I think this speech proves that USA didn't so much got conquered by the Britons as never actually came to be; the only two main systems of government on Earth in Code Geass are Communism and Monarchy. Democracy died before it was even born."
Well given that they mention the EU by name and emphasise its devotion to rights rather than economic equality I'd assume that's the nation they're going to use to represent liberal democracy.
From the three nations mentioned I'd say the ideologies they're going to represent are:
1) Highly capitalistic monarchy (basically the late 19th century British Empire with giant robots as opposed to a more strictly feudal monarchy), with shades-of-America in terms of comparison to current events.
2) Some sort of liberal/social democracy in the form of the EU.
3) The commies, in the form of China (Makes me curious as to where Russia would fit into this, but I'm probabloy expecting to much from the show there).
To Beowulf:
You've obviously never heard of the lawsuits filed by companies who have had their brandnames used in animes/mangas against the publishing company or mangaka, have you? There IS a law in Japan that is stricter on intellectual property protection than what we have here in the USA. Hell, fansubbing is illegal. The fact that we're watching RAWs of animes is in itself illegal. Because of that Intellectual Property law, mangakas and anime producers have to be very careful about what they use to represent modern society. Heck, even referring to an actual person in a work of fiction without the person's consent is illegal. Go look at why Brad Pitt is furious at his friend for publishing pictures of him in an album/magazine. Hell, go look at why people are trying to sue the comedian Cohen for duping them to be on his movie.
Don't gripe about the inconsistencies as if they were entirely the producers' fault.
Back to Code Geass:
I've always felt that Clovis was a passionate person and that his plea to Lelouch wasn't out of desperation to survive. I was of the impression that his plea to Lelouch was really to make Lelouch reconsider against killing a family member. After all, they DID play together back when they were kids before Lelouch's mother was assassinated.
Euphemia isn't a bastard child like Lelouch, she's from the main branch of the family and probably never knew of Lelouch's existence. Cornelia was exceptionally kind to Euphemia and that is proof enough that Euphemia is of the main branch considering that Cornelia was a potential architect in killing Lelouch's mother.
I apologize for detracting from the episode discussion, but I have a question and I don't really know where else to pose it.
Is it just me, or do very few groups actually sub Code Geass? The one group I've found is apparently a bit slow, I cannot even find a subbed episode 05 yet.
>"In comparison to Suzaku, it seems Lelouch is not that fit when it comes to physical endurance. He was huffing and puffing as he races through the stairs."
Well, for Suzaku being in the military, it's not surprising that his physical endurance is better than Lelouch's^^;
-is a ROTC cadet- xD;
@ HekiReki-san
The only group I've heard of that subs Geass is the GG group.
"Is it just me, or do very few groups actually sub Code Geass? The one group I've found is apparently a bit slow, I cannot even find a subbed episode 05 yet."
Yes, GG is the only group currently subbing the show and they have a considerable backlog of different shows to sub (I'm not really counting but I think they're subbing about five different shows at varying speeds). Seems for all the shows popularity there are few groups with the time or resources to sub it.
I found it really funny that Britannia as an empire, would do such a pathetic job at solving the death of one of the royal princes. They exceute anyone who seem to be guilty, and they MAKE up evidence for it. it's like "oh, darn, Clovis died, let's just find a scapegoat, execute him quick, and call it quits." After Suzaku it's Jeremiah, and before that it was that general. Bleh, i feel bad for Clovis, he gets no love :p (no story either, he dies at the second episode, rofl)
anyhow, Pizza ftw :p
I don't mind the Pizza Hut thing. It's seen in other media, so why not anime?
It's also nice to see silly!Lelouch, because I cringe every single time he seems like Light.
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