In the Eye of the Storm…

It’s been about, what, six months since Code Geass first started airing. It’s been hell of a rollercoaster ride for viewers, and now as we sit in the eye of the storm basking in the temporary peace and serenity while waiting for the impending other half to hit us (with preferably the same ferociousness as the first half), I can’t help but look back at Code Geass and wonder why it has been so entertaining.

To be completely honest, when I first heard about Code Geass I thought it would just be another one of those generic giant robot shows that would go down as just another generic giant robot show in my giant robot show perishables (wait a minute, what the hell did I just say?). Worst even, I was afraid it would go on to “borrow” from the Gundam series and turn into another Gundam Seed Destiny (ugh, makes me shudder just thinking about how terrible that show is). Having these thoughts in my mind, I approached C.G. with a certain degree of caution. I didn’t want myself to get suckered into watching yet another one of those spectacular mecha failures, though in retrospect I must admit the utter crappiness of GSD did give me quite a few chuckles at times. While the first episodes of C.G. were far from spectacular, they sent a clear message. “This ain’t just another Gundam ripoff!” was what they said. I felt genuinely relieved from the bottom of my heart.

PLOT
The superficial plot of Code Geass is common enough. Angry prince of huge empire (in this case a rather modern one) is disowned by tyrant father-king then exiled to foreign lands that, coincidentally, is owned by said empire. Young prince with loli sister lives in obscurity until one day he is granted special powers (in this case similar to mind control) by mysterious individual, and from there he executes his plans for revenge. Think you’ve seen something similar? That’s probably because you indeed have. The whole father versus son dynamic is present in many works of literature, not limited to television and movies. A pretty well-known one would be the tale of Oedipus, where the son is abandoned but miraculously defies his fate and come back to jack up his old man and marries his own mother just for good measure. Freud apparently really liked this and used it to illustrate some of his rather bizarre psychoanalytical theories. Anno Hideki also used this in Evangelion, albeit to a much lesser degree. Simply by itself, it’s not the most interesting and original plot one would use to rack in tons of fans. That’s where the whole giant robot aspect comes into play. Japan loves giant robots. Period. Actually, one could say Japan loves anything even remotely robotic and big. Just take a look at Power Rangers, Ultraman, and, of course, Gundams. And I mean, who wouldn’t want to sit in the cockpit of a giant robot while crushing everything he could underfoot? The Knightmare Frames certainly give Code Geass the extra kick it needed to spice up the otherwise ordinary story, and in the process spark interest in potential fans. Sure, the mecha designs aren’t completely original, but that doesn’t matter. The real meat of the show isn’t the mechs or the fights, but rather it’s the underlying theme and character dynamic that make Code Geass such a delight to dissect.

THEME
All right, so what is Code Geass about other than the fact that it’s a story of revenge and bloodshed? The short and sweet answer would be: identity. But of course I can’t just leave it at that because that would be both boring and perhaps confusing to some. One major concept that’s apparent throughout Code Geass is the quest in search of identity. The conquest of Japan leaves its people with nothing. No flag, no nationality, nowhere to live, and ultimately no sense of belonging. In other words, they have lost their collective identity. But the sense of a lack of identity isn’t limited to the Japanese; it’s a problem that plagues all humankind regardless of ethnicity, race, and status. Many of the Britannian characters illustrate this with brilliant effectiveness. The power of Geass itself is another manifestation of the concept. In fact, it creates a very interesting dynamic with regards to Lelouch. The power of Geass is essential in his quest for identity, but in the process he must destroy the identity of others in order to attain his ultimate goal. This isn’t an easy theme to work with in many ways, and many shows before have tried and failed. But C.G. does it well, and all while under the facade of a giant robot anime (a little like Evangelion, wouldn’t you say :D).
Perhaps unintentionally, C.G. also became a commentary on human nature under the influence of desperation caused by a loss of identity. Largely characterized by the Elevens with their single-minded gullibility, the effects of desperation on the public is a powerful one. The wish to cling to any hope that would lead to the revival of identity and the end of suppression drives the Elevens to follow Zero, who promises them the exact thing they desire. The situation is not unlike the Chinese Civil War of the mid 1900’s. People were rallied by one single force to face and overthrow the suppression of the time. Of course, what came after the successful coup is an entirely different matter. The point is for any revolution to succeed, the support of the public is crucial. The exploitation of basic human emotions is a necessity.

CHARACTERS
Lelouch
Lelouch isn’t your standard shounen mecha protagonist by a long shot. In fact, he fits more as an antihero considering his moral ambiguity and ruthlessness. A little reminiscent of Light Yagami of Death Note, except more practical and realistic, and far less creepy. An outstanding actor he is, as we witness through his interactions with various individuals.

Lelouch vs Suzaku
The whole “you’re my friend but also my enemy” cliche has been worked and reworked to death by countless anime series. Some utilize it efficiently enough to create interesting dynamics for the story, while others fail miserably. Geass prompts to be somewhere in the middle by crafting the relationship between Lelouch and Suzaku. To Lelouch, Suzaku is his best buddy and worst enemy. For quite a while he couldn’t decide what to do after discovering Suzaku’s role in the military. It was only after the unavoidable death of Euphemia Lelouch could throw away what was left of their teetering friendship (for Lelouch, at least). He might not have wanted to kill Euphemia, but in the end it all worked out for him. From benefactor to friend then to sworn enemy, this isn’t the most originial dynamic you’ll find, but neither is it downright awful.

Friends today, foes tomorrow… Kinda depressing, huh…

Lelouch vs C.C.
C.C. remains an enigma throughout the 23 episodes aired so far. Other than her love for Lelouch and Pizzahut pizza, there isn’t much we can deduce form her behavior. With her cold and distant attitude, she seems more than willing to take jabs at Lelouch’s dilemmas whenever she gets the chance. Yet at the same time she also appears to be the one who cares for Lelouch the most. On the flip side, it is only with C.C. Lelouch is willing to spill his guts. There are no other character that Lelouch seems to put so much trust in. I keep getting this motherly vibe from C.C., and maybe that’s where the whole Marianne thing comes in. Some say it’s only because they are in cahoots with each other, but I say no simple cohort would do what C.C. did for Lelouch in episode 23.

A picture is worth a thousand words, ladies and gentlemen…

Lelouch vs Nunnally
Behold, for Nunnally isn’t just some loli fodder for show! In fact, Nunnally seems to be C.C.’s counterpoint in the series. While C.C. leads Lelouch to bloodshed and destruction, Nunnally occasionally pulls him back to a state of tranquility, reminding him of his humanity. One could also say she was his raison d’etre, for without her it would be doubtful that Lelouch would have lived for as long as he has.

Don’t be fooled, this ain’t just your everyday loli…

Lelouch vs Shirley vs Euphemia
Women who fall in love with Lelouch (or whom he has once loved) all seem to suffer misfortune. Both Shirley and Euphemia are women he cares for on some level, but he cannot accept either of them even if he wanted to. This goes with C.C.’s statement: “The power of Geass will isolate you from others… In the end, all you will have by your side is me.” (rather like the case with Mao, couldn’t you say?) But with Shirley slowly regaining her memories, something is bound to happen…

Hugs and handshakes… In the end, they surmount to nothing…

Lelouch vs Kallen
Why does Kallen seem so infatuated with Zero, anyway? Simple. Because they both have to hold up a false facade in front of others for the sake of hiding their true identity. In this case, similars attract. Both are suffering from identity confusion. Perhaps Kallen clings to Zero in hopes that she will find some answers for herself.

Rawr!! Kallen henshin! (what the hell is that anyway? tombstone monster?)

Suzaku vs Euphemia vs Zero
Two halves of a whole is the best way to describe this couple. They complimented each other’s emptiness by acknowledging each other’s positions in their hearts. Ultimately, what came out of this match was potential hope for both Japan and Britannia. Unfortunately, Euphemia never became the Lacus clone many thought she would become. Instead, all she became was “the tragic princess that died”, and not “the tragic princess that almost died but managed to make use of herself”. She had to die, though, when one thinks about it. She had to die for the sake of the showdown between Suzaku and Zero. C.C. most certainly would not die, nor was there a chance in hell that Suzaku would murder Shirley or Nunnally. So that only leaves poor Euphemia to offer up to the altar. Besides, it worked to have Lelouch/Zero shoot her since she is symbolically the only ceasefire agreement between Zero and Britannia. There were no other alternatives. A sacrifice for the sake of moving the story along and setting up the grand finale.

too bad for euphieXsuzaku fans… now their dream will never come true

There are many other characters to write about. Perhaps too many. I think I’ll leave at it this, however, since I’m running out of accessible vocabulary XD. Anyhow, Code Geass has been a pleasant surprise for me on many levels. I’m looking forward to the two final episodes that’ll air in the summer. Expect another entry after the conclusion of the series. In the meantime, I’m off to dinner.