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ローゼンメイデン 
I knew that I'll come back to a huge amount of back episodes to cover but I really didn't expect that it'll be this hard to start writing again. Oh well, I'll just have to pick things up slowly, starting with this episode. First thing first, Newtype Japan has just published top 10 ranking of Code Geass R2 favorite characters and it's listed in this order: Lelouch/Zero, C.C, Kururugi Suzaku, Kallen, Li Xing Ke, Rollo, Gino, Villetta, Guilford, and Orange-kun. If it were up to me, I'd put C.C as number one purely because she's the one with the best character design and background story. She even looks better with her R2 black dress in comparison to her first season insane asylum contraption. But the best thing about her is the mystery represented by her character. She reminds me of other mysterious CLAMP characters like Yuuko in xxxHOLiC, Arashi and Hinoto-hime in X, and Suu in Clover. I just hope that when C.C's story is eventually revealed, it won't be disappointing.
Episode 9
In the aftermath of the exile, the Japanese were granted a small area in Penglai island. The Japanese are surprised to know that the Chinese Federation approved this. Inside the control room, Lelouch reveals to Kallen his plan to take over Luo Yang. The conversation got cut short when the two have a close encounter where Kallen basically falls on top of Lelouch. When Kallen asks him why he comes back, Lelouch tells her that he'd like her to come back with him to Ashford when all of these are over. Their close encounter, however, is interrupted when C.C bitches about not having Tabasco to go with her pizza. That gets interrupted too when Kaguya informs everyone that there's a marriage of convenience between the little Empress of China, Tianzi, with the first Prince of Britannia, Odysseus aka Pedo. Everyone is horrified to hear this because as Tamaki puts it, it's like the Black Knight is the wedding gift from Chinese Federation to Britannia. Zero thinks this was orchestrated by none other than that evil Schneizel, who's now seen being greeted by a bunch of Eunuchs. Another person who's not happy about the upcoming marriage of Tianzi to Pedo is Li, who probably wants the princess for himself.
Meanwhile, the poor kid, Tianzi, is creep out by the fact that there's this man who wants to marry her but he's old enough to be her father. Suzaku, who's also at the party wonders if the Empress is okay with this. Just like Suzaku, however, he's okay with the marriage when Cecil reminds him that this is a way towards peace. Among others in attendance are Milly, who's in a revealing outfit as Lloyd's fiancee. There's also Nina, who still looks crazy as she accompanies Schneizel. Meanwhile, Li and his merry-men/women are planning an attack on the wedding. Li remembers how Tianzi at one point saved his life so he promised to her that one day he'll take her out of the forbidden city. The party becomes even more lifely when Zero is crashing in with the help of Kaguya, who's invited to the party. On the balcony, Milly tells Nina to share with her if she's in trouble but Nina accuses Milly of looking down at her instead. Psycho. Back inside the party, Zero challenges Schneizel to a game of chess. He wants Schneizel to give Suzaku to him if he wins and if he loses, he'll open his mask. By doing this, Zero is hoping that he can take Suzaku out so that he can geass everyone inside the party.
Halfway through the chess game, Schneizel decides to checkmate Zero's king, even though Zero can easily defeats his King using the pawn. Lelouch thinks taking the offer signifies his submission to Schneizel's plan so instead he moves his king behind the pawn. This, however, allows Schneizel to make fun of Zero, by saying that he now understands what kind of person Zero really is (a coward who's hiding behind his pawn). Zero is livid but before he can do or say anything, the game is interrupted by craaazy Nina, who wants to turn Zero into mince meat. She's promptly stopped by Suzaku and Kallen. Nina is unhappy about this and calls them Eleven. In the end, Schneizel decides to end the chess game and tells Zero not to come to tomorrow's wedding. Tianzi realizes that although she'll be out of the forbidden city tomorrow, she might not be able to come back since she'll go away as Britannia's hostage. The next day, however, the wedding is interrupted when Li crashed in. He's promptly accused by the others of wanting to make the Empress his. Eww. Much to his surprise, Tianzi remembers him. Unfortunately, before he can reach her, Zero appears next to Tianzi and points a gun against her head.
Highlights
* Tamaki pointing out that the Eunuchs don't have it down there. Oh, really? I guess he's checked them out? Otherwise, how does one make sure? Yeah, yeah, there's that story about Eunuchs getting their wee-wee cut so they can't do the nasty with the courtesans. But seriously, who checks that these guys don't have 'it' anymore? I mean what's stopping someone from faking it?
* Kallen is on top of Lulu but C.C can't care less. Her first priority? Where's her tabasco sauce. After everything is said and done, C.C's one true love is that artery-clogging delicious triangle known as Pizza. Extra LOLs for Kallen and Lulu pretending like they care about C.C not getting her tabasco sauce.
* CLAMP clearly have their claws all over this property. A little girl marrying that a guy old enough to be her father? Political tactics aside, it's hard to believe that the guy can keep a straight face throughout that wedding.
* Tamaki's foot-in-mouth statement being corrected by everyone else. You have to love Kaguya's "that's a nice way to put it" and C.C's sarcastic "you're full of useless talents" comments to Tamaki.
* Kanon is an aide to Schneizel, publicly and privately, just to remind us again that CLAMP has their claws all over this property.
* Nina is still crazy and have her "better-than-thou" attitude. Her reaction towards Milly was uncalled for. Can we kill her ASAP, please?
* Kaguya's family name is Sumeragi. Is this CLAMP's way of saying that she's related to that famous Sumeragi family from Tokyo Babylon and X? Is she a relative of Subaru Sumeragi?
* Gino saying that Kallen is his type. He's not fooling anyone not after his tendency to dry-hump Suzaku everytime he sees the later.
* How is it that Nina going crazy is a tragedy created by Zero? Was it Zero's fault that she was dry-humping a table when she was hot for Euphemia? She was already a nutcase long before Euphemia got killed. I think if Euphemia wasn't killed, Nina would have gone nuts from thinking that an "Eleven" like Suzaku can be Euphemia's boyfriend.
* It's unbelievable to think that scenarios like the one between Odysseus and Tian Zi have happened repeatedly a long time ago when arranged marriage is still the trick of the trade between countries.
* Orange-kun's 3rd phase. I'd be more excited if he didn't fail the first and second time. I mean, third time's the charm and all that but I just don't see him being the final enemy that Lelouch needs to fight.
Impression
I don't really understand why Zero didn't just defeat Scheneizel in that chess game when Scheneizel presented the opportunity. I understand that it's like taking an offer from an enemy, which is kind of insulting. But then again, hiding behind your subordinates to preserve your pride is not exactly a flattering movement either. I think Schneizel knew that Zero has too much pride to accept any kind of reconciliation offer from his enemy (thus, his refusal to work with Euphemia until it was all too late) and exploited this in the chess game. In other note, I have no idea how kidnapping Tianzi is a good plan for the Japanese. I know that the Chinese were planning to give Black Knights to Britannians but I thought Li would make sure that does not happen. But after this latest betrayal, Li would not be hesitant to hand over the Black Knights to Britannia if opportunity strikes. Although considering that Li is too fixated on his little princess, maybe he'll do whatever it takes to save her from Zero. This means he'd be blackmailed and exploitated by Zero.
Moving on, I can't help but wonder if we're meant to sympathize with Nina or see her as a nutcase. In my case, I tend to see her as the later. I think she has this weird idea about Euphemia liking her, magnifying that emotion to the n-th degree, then made herself upset when things didn't go her way. The thing is, she didn't even know Euphemia that much, so her obsessive adoration of the ex-princess seems creepy. Plus, the way she treats her friends was very appalling. Well, at least her characterization is consistent. Another person who's been given consistent characterization is Suzaku. I was actually surprised when he didn't refute what Cecil said about how the marriage will bring peace. On a second thought, I realized that this was perfectly in character for Suzaku. Here's a man who's willing to do anything for a peace that he fails to see that sometimes those non-violent ways to solve confrontation is as bad as the violent ones. Having said that, this kind of arrangement had been done ages ago between countries. I certainly don't envy the person who had to make such decision but should one sacrifices the happiness of one little girl for the sake of a false peace between countries?
Poll: Who are your top 10 Code Geass characters?
When I finished this episode I was like, "Lelouch! You are supposed to impress me with your intelligence, not your evilness!!!" And then next episode Xing Ke will get back at him by holding Kallen hostage and all is lost. Quite disappointing.
And for some reason, I'm quite bored with the I-fell-and-we-almost-kissed-unintentionally plot. I knew it right at the second I saw Kallen started to lose her balance.
BTW, my favourite top 10 in order: Lelouch-->Kallen-->C.C.-->Milly-->Ougi-->Laksharta-->Rollo-->Cornelia-->Euphie-->Llyod
And thanks for posting up the summary. I have been waiting. I really like your gag in every picture you know :)
Lelouch dissappointed me at the end of this. :(
But atm...
Lulu-->Xingke-->Kaguya-->C.C.-->Lloyd-->Gino-->Kallen-->Tamaki-->Cecil-->Guilford
GG (the fansubbing group I get my episodes from) released this statement about the chess game:
"TL Note: Schneizel just made an illegal move in chess, so it doesn't make sense that he could say checkmate, he might possibly say check but the use of the term here is wrong. The only way this could be a legal move is if this were blitz chess, also known as "Fast Chess". However, in this scene, it is never declared they are playing "Fast Chess", and neither of the players are using clocks to time their turns in the game. (Source: /a/)
g, which would have made him similar to his father, or to call Schneizel out on making an illegal move, which would have made Zero look dumb since "lol rules of war". What Zero chose to do was keep his pride and run away from a free victory. Furthermore, by placing his King behind a pawn instead of any other open tile, Zero symbolically shows cowardice."
It seems a little incomplete, but you get the picture.
My top 10 are as follows:
Lelouch/Zero > Suzaku > Rollo > Lloyd > Laksharta > Tian Zi > Anya > Schneizel > Gino > C.C.
C.C.'s cool and all, but she's boring me. And I actually really like Anya more than it appears, but I want more background story! She's such an uneventful character; I want to see her more in action. She's only 14! For being a Knight of Rounds, that's amazing!! I want to know more about her.
But that ending is the only way out of this situation for the Black Knights. Taking the Empress hostage is the only chance of gaining control over Luo Yang, and thereby, use all that land's power against Britannia.
If they didn't stop the marriage by checkmating the Chinese Federation, the Black Knights would've been sold to Britannia in no time.
My top ten:
C.C. > Lelouch/Zero > Euphemia> Suzaku > Xingke > Rolo > Gino > Viletta > Cornelia > Kallen
I'm...so surprised I ranked Suzaku so high. Sure, he annoys me a lot, but he's a good character, and I find him interesting. And I'm sorry Kallen, but you bore me. I like her enough to keep her in my top ten, though.
I liked this episode, but I'm still wondering what Zero's plan really is, so next episode should hopefully clear that up a bit.
Avocado Sushi: You could try being a bit more careful with those spoilers, you know...especially when speculating about them.
Not everyone is up to date with that, or wants to be, yet you mention them quite off-hand.
Euphemia > C.C. > Suzaku > Kaguya > Lelouch > Nunnally > Kallen > Tian Zi > Shirley > Anya.
I was disappointed in Lulu in this one. IMO, sometimes the writers have no idea what kind of character they want Lulu to be. One minute he's nice, another he's evil, calculating, and full of spite.
lt's really hard to do favorite character since most of them are so unlikeable now but: Kaguya > Nunnaly > Anya > Milly > Shirley > the rest.
Lelouch really disappoints this episode :/ I dunno, he sort of seems to get boring after a while. Is that just me? >___> This is my favorite episode though, if not just for all the CF/Xingke focus.
Um. My Top 10...
Xingke > Gino > Suzaku > Euphie > Milly > Viletta > Shirley > Lloyd > Anya > Tian Zi
I think I'd like Kaguya and Nunnally on there, but I'm not really sure where they'd go XD Maybe Nina too, just because she's good to laugh at. XP
I think that zero is trying to make it look like the chinese hate him so that they can attack Brittania at the same time.
my top ten:
Zero, Rollo, Li Xinke, Kallen, Lakshata, Todoh, Villeta, Lloyd, Kaguya, and Emperor Charles (just because he is an evil bastard.)
Also I'm not finding Zero boring, like I said above, his plan could be something even bigger than we see.
Oh god, it was good to see Nina again. > > Nina > Anya > Tianzi > Nunnally > C.C > Euphie > Lakshata > Kaguya > Li Xinke
I don't know if I really have a top ten. Favourite character would be a tie between Lelouch and Suzaku (who I was really happy to see ranked so high in the original list, since the English fandom by and large seems to hate him). Second is Euphemia. Third would be uh...Cornelia, I think. I don't know who would be next.
Least favourite character would be CC, with Kallen as a close second. I just really don't care about these two, they could live or die and I wouldn't bat an eye.
'I don't really understand why Zero didn't just defeat Scheneizel in that chess game when Scheneizel presented the opportunity. I understand that it's like taking an offer from an enemy, which is kind of insulting. But then again, hiding behind your subordinates to preserve your pride is not exactly a flattering movement either.'
Wait, what? Where was this hiding exactly? Lelouch has always been right there in the thick of things, going into battle and putting himself right in the danger zone, not asking anyone to do what he wasn't willing to do with himself. As he puts it 'if the king does not move forward, his subordinates will not follow' so of course Lelouch has his pride, his dignity, and his own sense of honor. It's what prevents him from totally crossing the line and becoming like his father, as Schneizel pointed out. At the same time, I'd wait and see what transpires of the kidnapping of Tianzi yet before you condemn it, we all know Lelouch has managed to pull miracles before so this should make sense sometime down the line so lets be patient shall we?
Oh, and at my top ten, let's see...
Lelouch>C.C>Rolo>Li>Kallen>Ougi>Todoue>Gino>Anya>Suzaku
Wait, what? Where was this hiding exactly?
I was referring to the chess game where Lelouch puts his King behind a Pawn (a subordinate). It's a symbol for a man who hides behind his subordinates. That's exactly what Schneizel thinks of Zero. Now, I can't remember the time when Zero has done this in real-life but that's the scene I was referring to.
Top 10
1. Lakshata
2. Cornelia
3. Anya
4. C.C.
5. V.V.
6. Cecile
7. Schneizel
8. Guilford
9. Xing Ke
10. Euphie
It's kind of upsetting to see the writers turning Schneizel into a manipulator. I thought he's different from the other kids just like Euphemia but I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And yeah, that wedding was creepy and like a big joke. I don't see any adult in these days and age agreeing to it but who knows 20 or 30 years ago. Creep-o.
My favorite Geass characters are:
1. Lulu
2. Suzaku
3. C.C
4. Gino
5. Anya
6. Jeremiah
7. Kaguya
8. Milly
9. Kallen
10. Arthur (what? that cat is a character too)
1. LL
2. CC
3. Schneizel
4. Xing Ke
5. Lloyd
6. Kaguya
...the rest.
I love CC too! followed by Lelouch, Suzaku, Kallen, Xing Ke, Lloyd, Anya then the rest...
Top Ten
0. Lelouch/Zero
1. Nunally
2. C.C.
3. Kaguya
4. Anya
5. Tianzi
6. Kallen
7. Lloyd
8. Rollo
9. Suzaku
As much as I'm liking this new plot, I'm kind of finding it old that Jeremiah keeps coming back. I do like him overall, but he's becoming one of the characters that won't stay dead, and it's getting a little stale. I'm also hoping Gino's comment about Kallen was a one-time only deal. I don't want to see someone like Gino going for Kallen, considering what the writers do with her already.
Odysseus' case of pedophilia really weirds me out though.
As for my top ten: Gino, Suzaku, Lelouch, Arthur, Lloyd, Cornelia, Kaguya, Tian Zi, Villetta, Milly.
Also, your blogs are fun to read. Love the comments you tack onto the pictures too. :3
Lelouch>C.C>Rollo>Nunnally>Kaguya>Schneizel>Kallen>Tianzi>Cecile>Lloyd
I didn't put Suzaku on it. Or Nina, for that matter. I would wish them both painful deaths,
but the show wouldn't be the same without Suzaku and his idiocy, so I'll just curse Nina.
Lelouch better have a plan, because seeing where this is going, he's going to make another enemy out of the chinese federation.Unless he blackmails Xinke, then it might be okay,but ....
Well, one good thing comes out of this: with xingke totally thrashing the banquet, the chinese federation will never make peace with Britannia.
But seriously, who checks that these guys don't have 'it' anymore? I mean what's stopping someone from faking it?
Physiology. Eunuchs are typically castrated when they're still boys, so without the proper hormones, their voices remain high (hence the seiyuu) and they don't grow moustache/beard. Someone can still fake it, but not too easily.
My top 10:
1. Suzaku - sometimes I just want to whack him in the head or headdesk due to his stupidity, but gotta admit he makes Geass interesting every time he and Lelouch foil each other's plan.
2. Milly - at first glance she's your typical spoiled heiress, but put her in warzone and you see her true qualities.
3. Kaguya - found her annoying in season 1, but in R2? politically-savvy ice-breaking cutely-spinning princess? so much love.
4. Euphemia - ;_;
5. Lelouch
6. C.C
7. Guilford
8. Lloyd
9. Schneizel
10. Ougi
As someone who is a chess player, what schniezel did was move his king into a check position (which is an illegal move.) And in Chess the King is the most important piece, so hiding behind any other pieces (pawns, rooks, knights, etc) is a perfectly legal move and not a sign of cowardice or anything.
And we all know Schniezel is a manipulator, in R1 he allowed Euphemia to form the special zone to curb the power of the Black Knights, wikipedia has revealed that he is aiming to take the throne from his father and Charles has allowed him to do as he wishes. And after watching this episode and seeing the way he treats Nina, I wouldn't be surprised if he is only interested in Nina for the atomic weapon she is trying to develop.
Garten, I agree with you, many non-violent ways to solve confrontations are worse then the violent ways, and most of the time won't work as efficiently or effectively as force. For example, look at Burma and what happened to it recently with cyclone Nargis, its already over a month and people are still suffering and all the world does is talk and talk and protest and express their 'outrage' at the junta for preventing aid. Non-violent methods don't work.
Zero is such a siscon. since he cant have her he turned to the lolicon side and decided to steal all the lolies in the world... damn u!!!
"I was referring to the chess game where Lelouch puts his King behind a Pawn (a subordinate). It's a symbol for a man who hides behind his subordinates. That's exactly what Schneizel thinks of Zero. Now, I can't remember the time when Zero has done this in real-life but that's the scene I was referring to."
Boo to Schneizel, and his assessment of Lelouch's character if that was the interpretation :p
Well, things are getting way out of hand. Schneizel made a wise move by arrange a marriage of convenience between his older brother and Tianzi. It's the perfect opportunity to gain advantage over the Black Knights. However, Lelouch is always with flair and refuses to lose. He came up with a plan to take over the Chinese Federation.
Yup, CLAMP had their hands all over this episode. They have the knack of introducing odd couples and weird relationships. But that kind of marriage is common in the noble/royal life.
Top 10 characters:
1 C.C. and Lelouch Lamperouge
2 Karen Kouzuki
3 Milly Ashford
4 Kaguya Sumeragi
5 Nunnally Vi Britannia
6 Scheizel La Britannia
7 Orange-kun
8 Ougi Kaname
9 Rollo Lamperouge
10 Tianzi
Schneizel > Nunnally > Anya > Cornelia > Lelouch > Shirley > Lloyd > The Rest
From this conversation and the hotel incident in Season 1 it seems that Milly somehow "abandoned" Nina sometime during the past and Nina has been carrying a grudge ever since?
Nina's scene was interesting and I want to see where she's going with this, but I hope that Milly and co. wrap up the Ashford plot soon. Romantic/comedy subplots are fine and all, but they have so many other things to do - clear up the politicking, the Geass mystery, background/development for the new characters, the Japanese independence problem, etc., and I would rather they spend time on any one of those than going back to Ashford.
Favorite characters: 1) Gino 2) C.C. 3) Shirley 4) Kallen 5) Lloyd 6) Nunnally 7) Xingke 8) Anya 9) Cecile 10) Guilford
For being the protagonist and rival, it's really hard to simply *like* either Lelouch or Suzaku, because every time they start to grow on me they do something stupid or obnoxious and I want to smack them again. Part of the charm of the series, I suppose. I liked Kallen (and most of the Black Knights) a lot more in the first season before she lost most of her autonomous thought and joined the ranks of the mindless Zero Fanclub.
I really hope that the writers decide already whether they want to make Lelouch a good guy or a bad one. I find it hard to figure out what they want to tell out of the stories. And I hope they lessen this kind of 'shocks' and the subsequent fallout battle that comes after it. Wish they'll just tell what's left of the story. I guess they know it's not going to be enough for 24 episodes if they don't keep inserting fillers into the series.
01. Suzaku
02. Lelouch
03. Euphemia
04. Schneizel
05. Laksharta
06. Xing-ke
07. Chigusa (Villetta)
08. Kallen
09. Arthur
10. Lloyd & Milly
For some reason, I really like the Lloyd & Milly combination ^_^; It's really hard to pick a top ten.
1) Lulu
2) CC
3) Karen
4) Suzaku
5) Euphemia
6) Schneziel
n the rest...
Guys you do realize that in Chess, what you call hiding behind a pawn is a normal move for the king since it is the most important piece, and in fact most chess games never use the king as an attacker piece at all unless almost all the other power pieces have been lost.
Schniezel's interpretation of Zero's move isnt that of cowardice, he is interpreting that Zero would never take an offer from his enemy: would never betray his pride. That's also why he said if it were the Emperor on the other hand, he would've taken the offer. Now that also brings up another point whether Schniezel has somehow deduced the identity of Zero as his younger brother or not. To compare Zero to the Emperor.
I think Zero's movement can be interpreted in several different ways but does it matter? All we need to know is that he's not willing to take an enemy's offer no matter how good it may seem.
Garten said: "* Tamaki pointing out that the Eunuchs don't have it down there... But seriously, who checks that these guys don't have 'it' anymore? I mean what's stopping someone from faking it?"
When your wee-wee is cut when you are still a child, puberty doesn't go the right way, which can be seen in someone without "checking" down there; the eunuchs certainly look kind of androgynous.
About your comment with regards to CLAMP, do they actually put their hands in Code Geass besides when it's about character design?
Garten said: "... his enemy (thus, his refusal to work with Euphemia until it was all too late) and exploited this in..."
I remember Lelouch agreed to cooperate with Euphemia at the last moment, if his geass had not went berserk at that precise moment thing would have been a lot different I think.
10. Nina
9. Ougi
8. Viletta
7. Orange-kun
6. Lelouch
5. Rollo
4. Kallen
3. C.C
2. Cornelia
1. Kaguya
I also like Suzaku, Millay, and Euphemia, but not as much as I look forward to the others.
hmm, i agree with you on C.C. it'd be terribly upsetting if they decide to push it too late and do a quick filler. doubt they'd do that though, because C.C. is way too popular among fans.
i personally cannot stand Kallen or Nina.
my order of likes would go like this:
C.C.
Suzaku
Cornelia
Schneizel
Gilford
Gino
Euphemia
Lelouch
Shirley
Millay
Zero is identity made by Lelouch for Nunally. So i don't put zero in my top ten list because he is just a symbol of rebellion. This anime tells us war is not solution for peace but unity.Just think using a symbol of Zero unite all the rebels in britanian. I think anybody in code geass can be zero by there heart as a human being needed peace. Like Lelouch did to exile all the black knights.
My Top ten is:
1. Lelouch yeah he is the main protagonist of the anime but a caring brother. A student who is fighting the world. The warlock of CC
2.CC who don' t love the immortal witch yoohoo!!!
3. Suzaku the new Zero, a zero who uses martial arts what a badass but lack of strategy Live on!!!
4.Nunally the center of objective of Lelouch
5. Rolo the badass assasin kid and a loving brother damn i felt sorry for what he did
6. Kallen the queen of the black knights
7. Emperor Charles All Hail Britanian!!!
8.V V badass brother of the 98th emperor i like when he holding a gun
9. Orange damn he has a lot of role in both season and the assasin of the order.
10. Schneziel the only one can defeat Lelouch if Schneziel have geass he has all the advantage. What a great adversary but i put him in top ten because he has no dreams.
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