mercedes.wyman - 2014-07-04 03:42:35

I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to say right now. For goodness's sake, it's just so goddamn amazing I don't even know how I should wield it into words without diminishing its quality. I'm crying now. Crying because it's unparalleled and amazing, crying because it's so perfect and tragic.
 
I don't even know which I liked better - R1 or R2? I can't choose. But then again, maybe it's because the two are linked. You cannot separate them into two entities and choose something you think is better. One cannot work out without the other. But in my opinion, the latter has much more plot twists. Talk about surprise.

The mix was well-done - the transition from the seemingly mundane life to Zero's mask, the connection with different people, the heavier plans, the war, the betrayals...everything. Every formula was just right and nicely done. If there was one thing that started to annoy me here in Code Geass R2, it was the way Lelouch kept twisting his character, making him appear a much viler person than he really was, just to save other people. Why couldn't he just tell the truth and make the others understand? Why did he always have to wear his mask? In that manner, he seemed similar to the usual male protagonists, so I found it rather annoying. But then again, the way this installment ended, it turned out to be the correct thing to do. So that whole thing was just a guise for what is to come.

So, let's talk about the ending first, shall we?

Well, shit. So that was the Zero Requiem. I know exactly what requiem means, and yet, it hasn't crossed my mind that it actually pertained to Lelouch being killed. First of all, I was shocked at the news of Suzaku's death. I believed it at first. After all, is it even possible he could be immortal because of a command? Second, the arrival of Zero at that last scene was totally unprecedented I was as stunned as everyone else. And then, everything started to make sense. And it was so perfect, so amazing, I couldn't stop crying.

For me, the perfect word to describe the second season is personal. Majority of it had to deal with Lelouch/ Zero and his relationships with people. And how he made use of them - with Shirley, Rolo, Lord Jeremiah, Sayako, Nunally, Suzaku, Kallen...every one. It was utterly painful to watch them, in my opinion. How could two best friends have plausibly become the worst enemies? And why should it be that Nunally had to be a bait, a pawn, had to be involved with all this, when she was the reason Lelouch did everything? At that moment, it seemed that the world was crumbling. His reason was turning against him? How painful could that get?

Two powerful symbols that I love: 1) chess, and 2) the mask. Chess of course symbolized the whole battle against Britannia, and it could also mean the conflict between the two knights, black and white, Lelouch and Suzaku. And of course, there's the mask. Very powerful. Up to the very end, our dear guy kept up with his mask and played the bad guy just so he could protect everyone. Just so he could give everyone a future. And up to the very end, he played his chess. And he never lost.

I've always loved tragic stories. When I come across something that ends up happily, I can't help wondering if it could have been better had the ending been more depressing. But now that it actually came true, well, it leaves me empty. Yeah, it depresses the hell out of me. But it's so right. And that's probably what made everything better. Who doesn't love a tragic hero?

I love the fact that his name is cleared to the people he loved. That was good enough. And that he remained friends with Suzaku. And that, despite everything, there was still the possibility of him being alive. It took me a while to realize what that final scene meant, and how terribly important it actually was. Once more, the power of knowing but not knowing enough comes into play. The enjoyment comes from anticipation. No one could possibly know if he really was alive or not. The ending isn't absolute - and we, the audience, have the power to conclude it the way we want to. Based on our interpretations. But then again, what would have made me happier - him being dead or not? If he lives on, wouldn't it be more painful for him? But damn, I don't want him dead. And everything makes more sense if he's alive - the way Nunally got some memories touching him, the title itself (Code Geass), and the way C.C. was so happy. She was crying then because he had to endure immortality, like him. But no matter what, she liked to be with him. And she need not deny herself of that happiness.

But hell. I still don't want an official announcement. The fact that he's dead makes absolute sense too. And that very idea is what's making Code Geass so influential. It's what's giving the anime its greatness. And in a way, Lelouch still committed a lot of things because of his power. His death could be a great atonement for his atrocities.

If Lelouch turned out to be alive, I'm certain Code Geass will lose its amazing-ness. So for the sake of the anime we love so much, let's leave it at that. And as I've mentioned, it will only be a torment for Lelouch to live on forever and not see Nunally and everyone else.

Shit. Speculations. The goosebumps on my skin. This almost makes me feel like I'm reading one hell of a great literature. Yes, in a way, this anime is a piece of literature that everyone should watch.

josefina.roberts - 2014-06-22 13:38:48

Really an amazing anime!!! Really raccomanded for who enjoyed Death Note :)

ray51 - 2014-01-31 09:52:44

"Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2", the sequel to the first "Code Geass", is a very fun series that can make you think twice, or even more times about what will happen next and what is going on.

It suffers from the same problems as the first series, but here, it's even more so.

After Lelouch meets up with Suzaku at the final episode cliffhanger of R1, we are treated to a "1 Year Later" event, where the events of that year are explained over time. You'll be surprised at how well they explain it, even though most of the explanations are made up, they're still explanations.

The rest of R2 is a series of twists and turns. It keeps getting more and more ridiculous until it literally breaks its back, and you're just expecting a twist every 10 minutes or so.

Up to a certain point in this series, the reality of this world becomes a mess, and the show becomes more of a mediator for the writers philosophies, let alone an attack on government and politics, rather than a driven series that is realistically well controlled with its politics and drama.

That doesn't stop the fun though, but the huge twists are almost too ridiculous to take seriously, especially near the end.

I must give it to the writers though, the execution of the plot is like something I have not seen before or after the creation of this series, there are times where you think the show could have ended, but they managed to create something more from that event, and so on, and so on, and so on... It's almost too much.

If you haven't seen Goro Taniguchi's Gun X Sword in 2005, there are similarities to key elements of Code Geass that are similar to Gun X Sword, especially when comparing the Emperor of Britannia, Charles zi Britannia and "The Claw".

The art is what you would expect, like the first season, except on a bigger scale.

The music is once again very well done, the seiyuu are still excellent, and the SFX fit.

:Semi Spoiler:

This series plays with the idea that the world is created and run with lies, truth is a false hope that cannot be obtained. Everyone wears a persona, a mask.

It is the basis of this series, you will see every leader lying to each other and their comrades to continue their reign of power, and their drive for "World Peace" which up to a certain point, it is obvious that this is also a lie.

You even see it in the first season, just not up to this scale.

I must mention, the last episode is much more powerful than I expected, this series, may be chaotic, but the last episode did impress me.

---

I actually had more fun watching this series than the first one, no matter how clustered the world of Code Geass became.

They're selling a product, I think they did a great job as business goes.

If you've seen the first season, there is no reason to skip the second one.

Have fun, and watch with an open mind.

I believe the last episode of Code Geass R2 made the whole series worth it.

hazel.metz - 2013-09-16 01:14:36

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 - Review

(Warning, this review contains spoilers about Code Geass R1)

Oh Code Geass, a series that never seems to disappoint me, it's one hell of a ride, and if you liked first season, you'll most likely love this one. I don't have much to say about it because most of what I can say is more easily summed up into one sentence: "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 is awesome." And although it has more flaws than it's first season, it's jaw-dropping, mind-blowing, spine-shattering, mouth-watering, bass-dropping, plot-twisting story, far outweigh it's flaws.

Story: 9/10
The story takes place about a year after the war between Japan and Britannia, not much has changed actually, besides the fact that most mechas now can fly. Now our scrawny, smart-ass protagonist, oh, I mean our one and only lord Lelouch is still looking for the murderer of his mother and is still trying to make a utopia for his sister, Nunnally, while continuing to rebel against Britannia at the same time. The story is amazing with lots of epic moments and plot-twists and an ending so unpredictably epic, you would need to go to a hospital and get a new brain 'cause YOUR MIND HAS JUST BEEN BLOWN. But the story does have it's flaws, such as when it tried to explain the concept of god or Geass. When the story tries to explain us the concept of Geass with Lelouch and Charles near the last couple episodes, (those who already watched R2 know what I'm talking about) it didn't really make sense and my reaction was: "wait...What? Is that even possible?" Also what I kinda didn't like was that some of smart strategies that Lelouch used were replaced with who ever has better technology, is stronger, and the battles sometimes comes down to whoever's mecha is more upgraded and has stronger lasers, wins the fights, I mean there were times when even one mecha could wipe out thousands of other mechas, and it seemed a bit overpowered. But Code Geass still has some amazing tactics and I could honestly overlook the overpowered mechas.

Art/Animation: 8/10
The art style of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 didn't change and it's animation was great and consistent just like it's first season, so there's not much to say about it besides that the art and animation is great.

Sound: 9/10
The soundtrack remained the same, which was amazing, and all the openings and endings were great to listen to, unlike the first season how the second opening was just plain awful, and I already described it in my previous review so I'm not going to say it again.

Characters: 9/10
There were a couple of new characters added to the series and most of the new characters are really good. For example, Rolo or Li Xingke, despite Rolo being somewhat of an annoying character, he is one of the best characters and has so much character development, it's more than the amount of times Naruto can say: "Believe it!" (well he stopped saying that, but you get my point) Also Li Xingke is one of the more memorable characters in Code Geass, he is a great character alone and his resolve to protect whoever is dear to him only makes him that much better. Now on to the main characters. Lelouch was a great characters, showed so much emotion in his character, a lot more than the first season, and it's really great to see him develop so much. And because he was such a great character with so much emotion, it's more than the amount of times Mao got shot and lived. The only problem I actually had with the characters were that some characters died, but somehow managed to survive for no apparent reason. It felt like Dragonball Z how Krillin always die but comes back to life. Or it felt like Mao, remember when Lelouch ordered like 20 police offices to Shoot Mao in the first season? Yeah, Mao got shot like 50 times and somehow lived, I mean he should of bled to death, but we had to listen to his logic and how he said: "Lelouch, you ordered the officers to shoot me, but you didn't order them to kill me!" -_- And it becomes more apparent in R2, but other than some characters coming back to life, the characters were fantastic.

Enjoyment: 10/10
Code Geass has been a big roller coaster to me, from it's ups and downs, I still enjoyed most of it. Every episode was great to watch and got me even more hyped. Even the filler episodes were pretty funny, I enjoyed every bit of Code Geass R2, (especially Kallen's fan-service) and would love to see a third season. And if there is going to be a third season, I'll get an extra spare brain, so I'm ready to get my mind blown.

Overall, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 is a great sequel to the first season and those who liked the first season, will most likely love this one. So if you haven't watched Code Geass yet, I suggest you watch it immediately, before Mao comes back to life again. I'm ohhenry2 and I give Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, an amazing 9/10

marcella30 - 2013-09-10 18:41:39

Code Geass R2 has provoked conflicting reactions among the fan base, just like the original series did. Viewers still loved or hated it outright, even as many others laughed, and once again it's not hard to see why.

I think R2 was a disappointment but not without redeeming qualities. It is an enjoyable sequel that could have used more foresight and additional planning. Maybe a little less ambition, a smaller cast of characters or better pacing would have been very welcome improvements. In the end, I appreciated Code Geass as a whole in spite of its flaws. Not the best show out there, but then again it doesn't need to be.

Story:

After having to go through strangely familiar territory, Code Geass R2 finally reaches a grander scale. What began as a local rebellion ends up having larger repercussions, both directly and indirectly. And that is just the big picture. The protagonist, Lelouch, continues to keep everything together here. What remains at the core of Code Geass and its themes is his development as a character. But it is, admittedly, the kind of development that tends to take him in a far more destructive than constructive direction and this can be hard to watch, let alone swallow. Nevertheless, I believe the main plot was brought to a rather fitting, if not absolutely satisfying, conclusion as far as those terms are concerned. Unfortunately, this central focus on Lelouch was a little too dominant in the long run, at the expense of other elements.

We are taken through many more twists and turns this time around, which is both good and bad. From the exciting to the absolutely ridiculous, from the dramatic to the cheap, most are at least amusing. Yet there are clear pacing problems, especially towards the second half of R2, and that did affect the overall flow. I never felt really lost, but certain events were dealt with too quickly, including one climatic confrontation in particular. In retrospect, several early episodes were ultimately unnecessary and wasted valuable screen time that later developments could have used. As things stand, the show is rather messy and certain ideas received uneven amounts of attention.

The writing and direction are competent, at heart, but evidently suffer from trying to do too much, too quickly and thus may have shot themselves in the foot more than once. The first half of the series has increased fanservice, which can be occasionally distracting. Some mysteries were resolved but, unfortunately, a few unanswered questions of varying importance were also left behind and this can be annoying if not actually crippling. The show's mecha action is acceptable but lost some of its appeal due to accelerated technological progression. It's still not as much of a factor here as it would be in other series though, from my point of view, since it isn't really meant to be the main focus.

Finally, the last story arc seemed out of place at first and its very existence remains quite controversial in light of other possibilities. The ending itself, on the other hand, benefits from markedly increased attention to detail by the production staff and packs a strong emotional and thematic punch, even if the epilogue that followed it was probably too short. The final episode of Code Geass R2 gives the viewer the ability to make up his or her own mind, which is a double-edged sword. I can say the resolution worked for me, but there are different opinions.

Animation:

Production values are still well above the average. The animation was generally alright and, in specific places, even great. Some background frames did lack quality, but not to a bothersome extent unless you know where to look. Even then, it must be pointed out that some of the worst sequences were reanimated or redrawn in time for the DVD release. The original character designs by CLAMP continue to be fairly effective and the mechanical side of things was also quite competent overall.

Sound:

Code Geass R2 had good music and, for the most part, it was used well within the show itself. Some pieces are bombastic, no doubt, as one would probably expect from a tale so intrinsically linked to having a flair for the dramatic. Several tracks from the first season make a comeback here, but there is plenty of new material. The insert songs, in particular, were very nice even if a little more elusive. The opening and ending themes are a little less memorable but certainly not bad. With one exception, maybe, as opinions may easily vary here.

Character:

Lelouch is what drives Code Geass and he was still fairly successful in this regard as long as you can tolerate the story's overall direction, but he wouldn't be nearly as interesting without the ongoing dynamic between him and Suzaku, who once again played the most important supporting role. Kallen and C.C. got some attention and closure in their own right when they were given enough screen time, even if certain expectations were not met. Overall, these four characters received some development, though not without problems here and there. I suppose Rolo, Shirley and Nunnally also had their moments too, all things considered, but just barely.

That sounds fine, so what lowered the score then? An old issue which wasn't helped by rushed pacing: the huge cast was often misused and certain plot threads were left unresolved. Too many minor characters were introduced without giving them enough weight to stand on. Many of them didn't require much attention in the first place -I can see that the story works regardless- but others did seem to demand either more screen time or more convincing motivations. The show's antagonists, some more than others, were noticeably lacking. In the end, the picture is definitely mixed here and I can't help but feel that a lot more could have been done with a smaller number of characters.

Enjoyment:

Code Geass R2 was an entertaining show, in many different ways, and I do not regret watching it. From the serious to the absurd, from cliffhanger to cliffhanger, the series succeeded in making me anticipate almost every upcoming episode. There are specific events which can't be taken seriously, at all, and the staff must surely be aware of this. But there are also some genuinely effective moments in the mix, depending on what the viewer is willing to put up with, and while the series can be rightfully accused of being emotionally manipulative it isn't nearly as senseless as it appears to be on the surface.

In short, R2 benefits from simply being fun to watch, even though it is very true that there were problematic issues along the way. Many of the show's flaws could have been avoided with a tighter narrative, more explanations and a far more reasonable pace. As a sequel, Code Geass R2 feels appropriate yet also disappointing. Not everyone will be happy with the end result and I have my own complaints, but Code Geass, as a whole, was a worthwhile experience.

mayer.esteban - 2013-09-05 21:29:28

Simply the best anime I've ever seen !

Holds your attention every minute of the episode. Has no ready formulas , history will change and evolve , without which every episode is the same as before .

With a surprise ending . Struck me and left much nostalgia.

kelsie.jones - 2013-08-04 18:58:05

Warning: this review contains spoilers from code geass r1 and r2 since there's no way i will talk about r2 without taking into consideration r1.

Code Geass, an anime beloved by millions that touches difficult themes such has identity depravation, necessary evil, and the adjustment of an overtaken society. I do have to say that the execution was brilliant!

Code Geass has done what an anime hasn't done to me in a long time, make me think. I spoke about really intriguing themes and the similiarities of this to the adjustment of slaves in the world are a lit, since elevens were too considered scum by the society. With a promising setting of an empire that has overtaken Japan and deprived it of its freedoms and names Code Geass delivered. Lelouch Lamperouge our main protagonist with a mystirious power called Geass, which gives him the power to make toher people do anything he says, embarks on a mission to free Japan and make a better place to live for his sister Nunnaly masking himself as Zero.

Now i don't want to talk about the whole story but let me tell you that in terms of storytelling this anime is very well done with intelligent battles but also plot twists and a loot of character development, showing mostly with Lelouch and Susaku (his best friend), showcasing that their actions and problems they had to face made them more and more bitter and cold in the inside, having them eventually become enemies.

But, of course, i have to talk about that ENDING. It was the best ending I've seen in anime, period. First it made the last "arc" have a reason to exist because until the middle of the last episode I did not understand why we should see that last battle, and then BAM! Zero Requiem! It was so emotionally powerful, connected all the loose ends and gave the main character redemption. The only thing I feel sorry about is that all his friends Rivals, the Prez, and even the black knights never got to see the true lelouch in the end :(

Great anime, with its up and downs (such as the battles in r2) but overall an excellent must watch anime!

dereck65 - 2013-07-20 17:48:05

I believe the anime is very unique and clever. Its also heart wrenching and mind blowing. A must watch.

cecilia60 - 2013-05-30 23:39:54

First of all, I would like to mention that this will serve as my review of both Code Geass R1 and R2. I decided to review the whole series as a whole instead of the seasons separately and my scores are based on considering both seasons. The best way to introduce Code Geass is simply to call it Death Note with mechs (though not literally). You can clearly see that Code Geass is one of the most recommended anime for Death Note fans and visa-versa. Code Geass has all the intelligence, well craft plans and strategies shown in Death Note, but applied to a military formula.Story: 9Let’s get the negatives out of the way.. My complaints on the story are largely based on fillers like the infamous cat episode. Don’t bother watching the fillers because they really kill the mood of the anime and aren’t even slightly funny. There is also a significant amount of fanservice during these episodes (and sometimes even in the main episodes) that distracts from full immersion but it’s not too excessive that the anime because a “high school of the dead with mechs” anime. In the end, I did not find that these issues detract from how good the story really is.When a Code Geass episode is not a pointless filler and following the main story, it’s simply awesome The world is well crafted and possibly inspired by George Orwell’s 1984, but in a future setting. Lelouch Lamperouge is an exiled prince of the Holy Brittanian Empire that vows revenge against the emperor and creates an insurgent organization known as the Black Knights whose goal is to destroy the Empire. He does this with the help of Geass, a power that lets him control people completely. The story is very interesting to watch as Lelouch dismantles the empire on battle at a time and grows a strong reputation in Japan (area 11). The tension in this show can only matched by Death Notea’s as the viewer sees Lelouch’s plans unravel. The story has excellent build up, despite the fact that the first episode was a bit too fast paced and the anime struggles to easy the viewer into the world. However, once you’ve been sucked in it’ll be hard for you to escape the magic :DThe Art and Animation: 9My major complaint with the art is the character design. At first they looked like stretched pieces of spaghetti to me, but I got used to it quickly enough. In the end, the art and animation are superb. The environments are beautiful and there is clear attention to detail, the mechs look great, the animations are smooth and precise, etc. Basically, all the things you expect from a very well animated anime will be present here. It should not disappoint.Sound: 8Soundtrack is awesome and played well. I didn’t like most of the opening themes after the intial one and hated all the ending themes. However, I will still give it an 8 due to the fact that the soundtrack within the anime (outside of OPs/ED) are fantastic and the voice acting is great in both the sub and the dub. Furthermore, all the sound effects sound as expected and I did not kill immersion.Characters: 8Lelouche is easily the best character in this show. All the other characters are interesting, but some are downright annoying. I deeply hated Suzaku’s idiotic view of the world and his hypocrisy sickened me. Nina was also extremely annoying so thank god she didn’t get too much screen time. The student council members are sometimes annoying and sometimes great depending on the episode. I would rank them as below average slice of life characters. Well, that basically sums up all the “meh” or poor characters in this show. The rest are fantastic and trust me, there are a TON of fantastic characters in this show.Enjoyment: 9The fillers sometimes ruined the experience, but I would consider Code Geass as one of the most entertaining anime’s I have ever seen. Its main story is exciting with an excellent protagonist; it has a cool setting, awesome mecha action and finally, some of the best tension and suspense in anime. If there is one thing Code Geass can do, it’s entertain an audience. Overall: 9+ excellent story+ cool and well developed setting+ Excellent protagonist and mostly great supporting characters+ some of the best tension and suspense in anime+ Awesome soundtrack-- Fillers-- Fan service-- Some bad and annoying characters

mclaughlin.eladio - 2013-03-15 10:51:59

Note this covers the first season also although it does not reveal many spoilers. Before you go on reading on thinking, "Ehh, this guy is a just a fanboy, he gave an anime 10/10, he probably rates everything like that." Well actually this season of this anime is the only anime I have ever ranked 10/10. Also out of the numerous other animes I have only ranked around six or so others 9/10. So please read my review and see if you find it insightful at the very least.

My favorite anime by far would have to be Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. When looked at on paper this show does not seem as if it would shine bright at all, yet once you start watching you are engrossed and quickly go episode after episode having to find out what Lelouch does next. There are a few moments in the anime that are those “could never happen” moments but all animes have them and this one does a great job of covering any moment up by quickly moving on and keeping your attention to the plot.

Every anime has a great hero, but Lelouch is the classic tragedy hero made into a villain…only with a twist ending that nobody could have seen coming until the last few episodes. With this ending the rewatch value of Code Geass is phenomenal as you catch onto things that the first time through you missed. The metaphorical chess game played by the dark king Lelouch against the white king Lancelot, Suzaku Kururugi, is one which I enjoyed and never before have I seen such two perfect foils for each other. As you watch the anime progress you see yourself siding with one or the other or maybe even both and making their choices along side them as their characterization takes place.

This anime combines action along with an amazing plot that seems to actually have a purpose rather than to just go on to see how long it can last. The writers had an ending in mind and they headed straight for it in the second season. I could write much more on the subject but I do not wish to ruin it for any who have not seen it. I have around 40 animes under my belt, including Cowboy Bebop, Full Metal Alchemist, and Death Note and yet this one has stood out from among the rest, even those legendary works of arts. I often feel people do not give it enough credit for one reason or another, whether its Zero’s childish flare for the dramatics (which is explained by Zero being his alter ego in which his fantasies come to life) or their inability/unwillingness to watch an anime that requires one to think along with the characters for the maximum benefit (I often see this with hardcore Bleach fans who do not understand the difference between an entertaining anime and a real though-provoking anime). Either way I hope as many people at least give the first season a chance before making judgments.

For those who have any questions about moments that seem too good to be true just take a minute to sit back and think about it or look up explanations. I have not found any part of this anime that was not able to be explained (abet a lot of times subtly) somewhere previous in the anime or in the end of it. I'll just give a few examples of this so you know what I mean...

SPOILERS:

1. Suzaku was given the order not to die by Lelouch's Geass and that is why it is now impossible for him to die, hence the ending where Emperor Lelouch told him his burden will be to bear the title Zero forever.

2. There is a difference between Code and Geass. Many people can have Geasses yet only two individuals as far as we saw were able to have a code at any one point. Charles had Geass powerful enough to take his brother's code, hence why he became immortal but was unable to have his Geass anymore.

3. Just a clarification. Charles wanted to get rid of everybody's foremost 'masks' and thus everybody would be exactly the same and united, without change. Schneizel wanted a world ruled by fear, making it stagnant and unchanging; thus he also was scared of the future. Only Lelouch dared to bring the people together (although under lies) by their own will and allowed them to go into the future.