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ローゼンメイデン 
This is a pretty good continuation from the previous episode although I have to admit that I'm a bit keen to move on from the strategic battle/surprise twist of the week and into the meat of the story, which explains everything behind Marianne's death, C.C's background, her contract with Lelouch, and why the Emperor wants to kill Gods. I am just afraid that another season will end and we still don't get the answer to these storylines, which I think requires at least 10 or more episodes to be thoroughly addressed. Plus, I'm sure there will be some major battle episodes between Britannia and the United States of Japan/EU sometime in the future. Not to mention a possible battle between Lelouch against Suzaku. I'm not sure if the writers can wrap everything up with the remaining 16 episodes unless they start to conclude some subplots starting from the next episode. Unless, of course, there is a plan to continue this series down to a 3rd season.
Episode 10
Just as the marriage of convenience between the Chinese Federation and Britannia was about to take place and threatens the United States of Japan, Zero comes to save the day by abducting the Chinese Federation's Empress, Tianzi. Zero claims that Li can't possibly give Tianzi the freedom that she desires and as soon as he says this, Zangetsu, which is manned by Toudou drops into the area and face off with the incoming Lancelot. Much to Suzaku's shock, Zangetsu now has the same system as Guren, allowing it to dodge Lancelot's bullet. Toudou then positions himself in front of the forbidden palace, ensuring that Suzaku can't shoot him. When Suzaku is distracted by the presence of other Black Knight's frames, Toudou attacks Lancelot and destroy its floater. Zero then orders Toudou to back off for now since Suzaku can't follow them anymore.
Meanwhile inside the truck that carries the Black Knights, Kaguya tries to cheer up Tianzi by telling her that they'll be out of the forbidden palace soon. In the driver seat, C.C is driving while Tamaki is reading the map. Much to Tamaki's surprise, C.C seems to remember the street. Inside the meeting, room, Lelouch tells Tianzi of his plan to ally United States of Japan with other nations. Conversation goes south when Kaguya asks Tianzi if Li is her fiancee. Tianzi blushes and tells Kaguya that Li just promised her to take her outside. This causes Kaguya to squeal that Li must be Tianzi's destined person. Oh yeah, CLAMP has their claws over the script. Halfway through the journey, the group is ambushed by a broken bridge but as it turns out, Zero also has his own plan and instead surrounds the upcoming Chinese armies with his new frames. Within minutes, all of the Chinese armies are wiped out so the Eunuchs let Li free if he can bring back Tianzi.
The Eunuchs also promises to lend Li their new weapon, which turns out to be a new Knightmare Frame, Shen Hu. The Black Knights are shocked when they see the new frame and even more so when they find out that the pilot is Li. Karen immediately goes out in her Guren to stop the new frame but Li manages to avoid her attacks easily. Laksharta realizes that her team assembled that particular frame themselves but they set the specs a bit too high and as a result, no pilot was able to use it. Laksharta surmises that the frame must have been stolen from India. As for weaknesses, she can only point out that it's a frame that's not meant to have a pilot in it. To complicate matters, Guren suddenly runs out of fuel and the Chinese Federation are coming to attack again. Because of this, Li manages to capture Guren and Kallen in it. Lelouch is horrified to see this and contacts Kallen, asking her not to do anything stupid because they'll try to save her.
Diethard, however, suggests that they retreat because Kallen is just one soldier. He thinks they should preserve their power and join up with the Indian army. He thinks what Zero has said to Kallen was enough. Anything more will be seen as favoritism. He thinks sacrifice sometimes is necessary to achieve ambitions. Meanwhile, despite her captivity, Kallen finds some solace in what Lelouch told her earlier. Much to everyone's surprise, Zero orders the troop to go after Kallen, claiming that the Indian Army might have betrayed them. This is met with thanks by some members of the group such as Ougi, Minami, and suprisingly, C.C. Because of this, the Black Knight begins assault on the Chinese Federation. Their plan is to deplete Shen Hu's energy and pin down Li. Unfortunately for Zero, Li decides to flow water into the area, causing the Black Knight's frames to be trapped in a mud. Realising that he's overwhelmed, Zero decides to retreat for now.
Zero orders his troops to unleash their most powerful attack, effectively wiping out most of the Chinese Federation's armies, allowing his troops to retreat to the specified secret location, Tiandi 88's moseleum. This is a place where previous Tianzis were venerated. This place is good because the only place to get in is from the front and they can just attack the incoming enemies with hardron cannon. At the same time, Li and his troops are surrounded by the Eunuch's armies. Apparently the Eunuchs have no intentions on forgiving Li for his transgression and now they have backups from Britannian, they feel that they don't need Li and his comrades. Meanwhile, Zero orders Diethard to make preparations for 'the plan'. Diethard is surprised to hear this but Zero assures him there's no better place. The episode ends with Milly making a phone call to Ashford and the guy who answers her phone call is none other than Lelouch!!
Highlights
* C.C remembering the streets in China. I assume this is a reference to her time with Mao. I'd like to see more of her back story but it doesn't seem like I'll be seeing this anytime soon.
* C.C's Cheese-kun collection. I'm pretty sure those are the results of her buying Pizza for the rest of the Black Knights. I guess whether they like Pizza or not, they have no choice but to eat some.
* Kallen looking jealous when she sees Zero talking intimately with C.C.
* Zero ignoring his usual calm demeanor and assures Kallen that they'll try their best to save her. That was a surprise to everyone including C.C since they thought he'll scold her. More on this on the impression.
* C.C's horror when she heard Diethard's plan to abandon Kallen. I think despite her competitiveness with Kallen, C.C has come to appreciate her interaction with Kallen.
* Anya's surprise when someone tells her about Lelouch. Are we meant to think that she has some relations to him?
* Lelouch is in Ashford. How is this possible when Zero is in the battlefield in China?
Impression
I hope I'm not proven wrong about this but I finally understands how Zero works or what's in it for him. He's the kind of person who cares a lot about his friends but don't hesitate to be cruel to those who betray him. This is why he went out of his way to save Kallen because unlike Li, he knows that Kallen is loyal to him. Because of this, he repays her loyalty by not selling out on her when the push comes to shove. This clearly surprised everyone because they think Zero is all about result and not about interpersonal relationship. Little do they know that everything that he's done so far has been driven by interpersonal relationship (his desire to protect Nunnally, his regret over messing up his friends' life at Ashford, his anger at his father's treatment/Suzaku's betrayal, etc). Sometimes it's hard to see this because he's so Machiavellian and doesn't hesitate to push people that he knows will betray him (Li is included in this equation by him).
Another good character development was given to C.C, who looks horrified when she thought they'll leave Kallen behind. This is unusual from the usually icy-cold C.C. I think she finally gets attached to Kallen as a comrade despite their minor rivalry over Zero. Therefore, I think her relieved face after she heard that Zero will try to save her was a development on her part. At any rate, this is probably one of those occasions where Zero's emotional response will earn him loyalty from several people like Ougi, Minami, etc since they now see that Zero is not just going to abandon his comrades in time of need. On the other hand, his decision is probably seen as some members like Diethard as weak-willed and cost them several of their armies. But then again, without Kallen and Guren, I don't think the Black Knight has that much chance of fighting against the other frames. Zero should have pointed this one as well to Diethard.
Moving along, Kaguya matchmaking Li with Tianzi weirded me out a little bit. If this had been other character, I'd question their judgment but I remember that Kaguya is still a kid herself. It's kind of understandable for her and Tianzi to have infatuation for older guys. It's when the older guy reciprocates or takes advantage of the situation that we start having problem. I don't really like the new Knightmare frame. I think it's the ugliest design we've got so far and besides, it's kind of ridiculous how every single character in the series can pilot a frame. I mean not even everyone can drive a car properly without proper training and here we have characters jumping to control a giant robot without any kind of difficulty. Apart from these two, however, the rest were pretty okay especially when the end shows another Lelouch at Ashford. I have no idea if he's an impersonator or a clone.
Preview
Next week: Has Lelouch clone himself? Is it just a projection?
Oh my God, there is so much Cheese kun merch xDDDD. I'm just watching it, The preview seems interesting.
If Sunrise wanted me to buy Pizza Hut, then congratulations, their in-show ads is working. I am now eating stuffed-crust meateater Pizza. All I need is how to keep eating this stuff like C.C and not getting fat in the process.
I wonder if Rolo could have disguised himself as Lelouch? But then... isn't Rolo shorter than Lelouch? I'm really interested in knowing how he managed to get a double @_@
And... does anyone else think that Tamaki should just be shot and eliminated? At least tied up and gagged for the rest of the series. I find him most vexing to listen to =_=
I am starting to get a little worried about number of episodes remaining and the amount of plot secrets left uncovered. I was just thinking after episode 09, what if this will just all lead to a season 3? Hopefully the series gets all questions answered by the end of the season.
I am also wondering if the series will end this season. I just don't think it's possible with so many open plots all over the place. First, they need to solve this little problem with Li and get away from CF. Then they have eto work with India or EU or other countries. Then we have a big battle between Lulu's side and Britannia. Hmm, what else? Oh yeah, there's also Orange-kun, Nina, etc that needs to be considered. By the time all of these finished, we're already around episode 20. Can they really wrap C.C's story in 6 episodes?
Isn't Rolo sitting at the table, when Lelouch II picks up the phone? that means he cannot be the doppelganger Lelouch.
My guess is that they somehow got Sayoko, who is noticeably absent from the events in China, to dress up as Lelouch somehow, as she is probably most familiar with the people at Ashford Academy.
One of the more interesting aspects of this episode to me was the fact that Ms. Cameraphone Knight of the Rounds had a picture of Lelouch as a kid. She must have been taking photos at a very young age, although I don't get the impression that she really knew Lelouch. But I bet she spent time around royal circles as a kid and saw him.
RE: CC and Kallen. I was a bit surprised at CC's reaction to be honest, because I really think she's not concerned about Kallen (as a rival or otherwise). My impression is that CC was more concerned about what it meant for Lelouch that he took that course of action. She has plans for him, and perhaps if he had become the type of person to leave an ally behind, it would be bad for those plans.
@Hisaya
It's not Rollo, he was in the room with Shirley and Rivalz. At a guess, I suspect that Lelouch found someone who could body double him with a little work, and Geassed him into service.
I'm thinking there's going to be some time lapse we didn't see and Lulu will just fly back to Japan quickly while leaving fake Zero behind to continue to plan. After all, Zero is easy to fake, but with no mask, student Lulu is harder, and that sort of time passing in background (could be only a couple hours) is common.
On another note, I found it interesting that you took C.C's expression of concern after Diethard's speech as concern for Kallen. Similar to walviss I think, I actually considered it to be the opposite, concern about Lulu's concern for Kallen, i.e. she was worried he was going to compromise his mission for her sake. Not that I infer any personal concern for his (romantic?) interest; rather, that whatever her purpose in having recruited Lulu in the first place would be thwarted if he screws over the Black Knights in order to help Kallen.
Hmm Anya has a picture of young Lelouch, I wonder what will happen, is Sunrise + Clamp going to try and add another girl to the list of girls who have a crush on Lelouch?
I so didn't even notice Rolo at the table the first time watching it ^_^; So he was there~
I also can't figure out how Lelouch managed to be in two places at once. I think it might have something to do with Rolo's Geass, though.
It was quite a suspenseful moment when I saw the picture of C.C. and Lelouch together on Anya's phone. At first, I was afraid Suzaku would find out about Lelouch recovering his memories, but then I realized that Suzaku doesn't even know what C.C. looks like. Whoops.
I hope they can wrap everything up in this season. Waiting for a 3rd season just might kill me.
@teiglin
I think your theory is a pretty feasible one and that there has been a time lapse that we didn't see in episode 10 that will probably be explained next episode. I think more than finding a double, clone, etc., the time lapse theory makes most sense to me at the moment.
Either events have been settled and the news in Japan isn't tell everything right away, or Lelouch found someone else (probably C.C.) to dress up as him as he goes back. I don't think Lelouch would just leave the battlefield without resolving some things first... but who knows ^_^;
@Miyako
Suzaku doesn't know what C.C. looks like? I thought he did... after all, he was there in the first episode of season one when she woke up, and also in season one, he ran into her during the start of Euphemia's Special Administrative Region. Or maybe I'm remembering it wrong... huh. oAo
Time lapse does make more sense than anything else. I don't recall that this show has gone into cloning or anything high-tech like that (although since they have frames, cloning shouldn't be that far behind?). Plus Ashford is pretty much under his control now so I doubt he'll have much problem there.
But I wish they didn't do this story again. They've done it before and they have other stories to concentrate. Now the writers have to deal with this new twist in the story and that will take another chunk of next week's episode.
It doesn't look like we're going away from the whole Chinese Federation issue next week. I don't expect a new arc until episode 12-13 since that's usually when the series reach halfway point, isn't it?
It has been confirmed that Lulu II is Sayoko in disguise.
"It has been confirmed that Lulu II is Sayoko in disguise."
WHAAAT? I need source stat. Well, I guess if one sees her on a glance, she does look a bit like Lulu ^^;;
"WHAAAT? I need source stat. Well, I guess if one sees her on a glance, she does look a bit like Lulu ^^;;"
While I don't really know how she’s doing it (disguise and make up?), the source is some jap magazine (I don’t remember exactly which one, newtype comes to mind) with info and previews given by sunrise in order to excite us fans. From that same source came images and some info on the first princess (Odysseus’s sister) and another little girl who is supposedly the fifth, along with much more material (images of young Marianne and Charles where amazing, although they where just sketches).
Personally I’m not surprised by this, it would give a reason (besides mere trust and sympathy) for why Lulu showed his identity as Zero to Sayoko (on the end of “a million miracles”) and of course, she’s the perfect person for the job. Lulu knows she can be trusted, she’s diligent, she’s smart enough to play the role (while I forgot where I saw it, her admission tests to the BKs where quite something) and, obviously, knows him and his daily school routines quite well. And, that’s not to mention how she also knows a lot about the whole student council interactions and campus life (remember she originally was the personal maid of Milly).
Btw, sorry if some of that doesn't make much sense, english isn’t my first language ^^u
On the note of Anya's picture, if one also took a look at the sketches of young Marianne, you will see that they are basically the same except in expression. Can't help but to get a Rei Ayanami vibe...
Garten: I thought CC met Mao in Australia, according to Season 1. Or was it that they were living there only after they met?
Anyone notice how the producers of this anime lashed out at China? 1: CF is suffering from widespread corruption and poverty. 2: India and Burma (especially burma with the military junta which is in real life supported by china) wants independence from the CF.
I laughed at the 'No sex please, we're Brits' rollover. I thought that old stereotype hade died away.
I'm curious why Anya has a picture of Lulu, but then again I'm probably reading too much into it anyway.
Garten: I thought CC met Mao in Australia, according to Season 1. Or was it that they were living there only after they met?
Hmm, I'm pretty sure they met in China (I remember they were wearing Chinese robes/dress in the flashback). It's just that Mao wants to take C.C to Australia, IIRC. Maybe I'm wrong but that's what I remember.
This show is so boring these days. I long for the time when the writers didn't stretch out the plot. I think the producers know they have a cash cow and intend on squeezing it to the last. Just tell us already about the Emperor and his plan.
"Hmm, I'm pretty sure they met in China (I remember they were wearing Chinese robes/dress in the flashback). It's just that Mao wants to take C.C to Australia, IIRC. Maybe I'm wrong but that's what I remember."
Indeed, Mao was chinese and they met in China (this is clearly seen on the flashback of their time togheter) and since in this world, Australia would be the some kind of fourth power, as somehow it has remained free from the other three (and it was never colonized by the brits to begin with), settling there away from the rest of the world does make sense, considering where’re talking about Mao here.
But also, according to rumors, there's another reason as to why C.C. remembers the place,
"This show is so boring these days. I long for the time when the writers didn't stretch out the plot. I think the producers know they have a cash cow and intend on squeezing it to the last. Just tell us already about the Emperor and his plan."
Wait, so all the two episodes battles against Cornelia that always ended as some sort of draw wasn’t stretching the plot?
*amazed*
Personally, I don't really see the difference from that and what we have here. In fact, this whole season is pretty much a revamp of the last one with new places and characters, but a lot of it, while with new development for the characters, is surprisingly similar to R1. Which is not really a bad thing IMO.
the clon theory seems a little crazy to me, idk i find the one about Rollo's geass more plausible, to me it seems like that lelouch at ashford academy is the same lelouch we all know...umm but yah zomg i want me kallen back!! X-D lol and gotta love cheese kun stickers oh and did you guys notice that next episode will have a new opening and ending, by flow and ali project correspondingly..yay!!
I reckon the Shenhu isn't bad as far as Knightmares go. Decent body but average paint job and a stupid mask >.>
I am Japanese.
It is not good and forgive English, please.
An image here always makes it use.
Then, there is asking.
Could you put a little more a lot of images of four Saken with Todo?
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