Code Geass R2
“Why don’t you love me? ;_;”

Wow, I don’t know what to say. This episode is like watching two bullet trains collide head on, burst into a huge flaming ball of destruction, and the “survivors crawling out of the wreckage with third-degree burns. Okay, so that was a lousy analogy made in poor taste, especially since none of us has seen that happen before, but my point is that it’s a train wreck. It’s like a roller coaster ride: it’s exciting, it makes you sick, and you don’t mind going on another.

Summary

Rollo admits that he did it in the first minute of the episode, thus putting an end to any conspiracy theories about the incident. In an alternate universe, Lelouch would’ve been an Oscar-winning actor instead of a supervillain with an outrageous fashion sense. I wonder if Hollywood exists.

Code Geass R2
“Good job Rollo. Good job…”

Instead of taking responsibility and reflect on his past actions which led up to this tragic moment, Lelouch blames everything on the existence of Geass. He discards his previous plans and, with the help of Jeremiah, launches an all-out attack on the Temple in a bid to erase all traces of Geass. Except, of course, his own.

Code Geass R2
The state of modern animation: untextured 3DSM primitives

Apparently the Temple is full of women, old people and little children, so the attack looks more like a massacre than a battle. Despite some initial reservations, the Black Knight pilots carry out their orders anyway, because, you know, those children may just be terrorists in disguise! This is how the Holocaust happened, folks. (See: the Milgram experiment.)

Code Geass R2
Attaching the gun to the arm: makes more sense than giant handheld rifles

The researchers working at the Temple look quite happy to see C.C. again, right up to the point when they get blown up. From what I gather, C.C. used to be their boss and the BFF of Marianne, Lelouch’s mother, but those of you who scour the Internet for spoilers and rumours probably already know that. Judging by V.V.’s words, it seems like Marianne was quite involved with this whole Geass business, so her assassination was probably related.

Code Geass R2
C.C. back when she was young(er)

So anyway a fight breaks out between Lelouch and V.V., with Cornelia joining the fray on Lelouch’s side, which is certainly somewhat ironic considering that everything she is doing is supposed to help her avenge Euphie’s death, and Lelouch is at least partially, if not mostly, to be blamed for it.

Code Geass R2
They didn’t want to pay for another mecha design

Meanwhile, Suzaku believes that Lelouch is responsible for Shirley’s death and decides that it is the last straw: he’s going to rape Kallen and force her to confess under the influence of Refrain. Okay, so only half of that is true. Poor Kallen in any case. :(

Code Geass R2
Wait… Isn’t it too early for the climax?

The episode ends with a bit of a sci-fi “Luke, I am your father!” moment.

Thoughts

My brain blew up during this episode.

Code Geass R2
Kallen with her hair down <3

I want to say that it’s an awesome episode, but that’s not exactly true. It certainly is thrilling, but I am somewhat disturbed by the whole thing, especially since I don’t know which character I should empathize with now. Lelouch has clearly jumped the shark and gone bonkers due to the events in episode 13, Suzaku is still a self-righteous bastard, and Kallen is currently incapacitated and will soon undergo intense brainwashing.

I guess that leaves C.C. relatively untouched. Speaking of which, C.C. used to live in the Temple, right? Does Pizza Hut make deliveries to secret military underground research facilities?

Code Geass R2
“Hi, is this Pizza Hut? Please make a delivery to the United States of Japan.”

And considering that we’re only 14 episodes into the season, the story feels oddly close to end game, which by mecha-anime logic means that some kind of force-balancing reset must take place soon. My guess is that Lelouch will get his memories wiped again and a brainwashed Kallen will be sent undercover to capture C.C. by seducing Lelouch and using him as bait. It makes no sense but it will be awesome.

Screencaps

Code Geass R2
Guess who?

Code Geass R2
Greek/Roman ruins are everywhere in America

Code Geass R2
“Don’t worry Rollo, it won’t hurt…much”

Code Geass R2
Get a hair cut you hippie

Code Geass R2
Just so you know she’s gone for good

Code Geass R2
Surprise sex

Code Geass R2
This week’s Naruto

Code Geass R2
The Temple is seriously badly-lit for a research facility

Code Geass R2
No longer an important character

Code Geass R2
What the hell is that suit?

Code Geass R2
Why are the two of them eating apples in a hotel room with a double bed?

Code Geass R2
Why is she so cool?

Code Geass R2
Geass suffers from severe inflation

Code Geass R2
Lelouch’s mother O_O

Code Geass R2
How convenient

Code Geass R2
All CG girls should do away with weird hairdos and go straight

Code Geass R2
The cockpit is blown off but somehow the rest of it still works

Hmmm, maybe I’ll start rooting for Cornelia instead.

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