So here it is! After the frustrating (though predictable - Sunrise meh!) double cliffhanger to the first season, comes the R2 of Code Geass. Personally, I love mecha. But saying that, I am also a hard bugger to please. When Code Geass came out, I didn’t really give it much hope… ‘Another mainstream series with a set of mecha designs where Gundams met Eureka7′… Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised - Anti-hero, Tick - Substantially flawed hero, Tick - Plot twists, Tick - Pizza Hut, Tick.

Summary

The Day the Devil Awakened

We begin with a quick recap of events at the end of the last season, the failure of Zero’s rebellion against the Britannian Empire. We jump to the present day, a year after the events of the rebellion, the Order of the Black Knights have apparently disbanded after being crushed by the empire, with a number of key officers captured or missing - except a small group of remnant Black Knights lead by none other than C.C. Off to Ashford High, where seemingly nothing has changed to this school of hijinks. Villietta - who is now a gym teacher- is seen chasing Lelouch through the school, and with a bit of quickwit and pink coloured gas, Lelouch escapes with a younger accomplice named Rollo who appears to be his brother…

They travel to the Babel Tower, tailed by an unknown group, as Lelouch discusses the demise of the elevens, and the deteat of Zero. The tower shows first hand the result of the rebellion, elevens are seemingly treated poorer than before, two brothers seen fighting to the death with their bare hands. These sights appear to irk Rollo, but Lelouch (again) blames the failed rebellion of this extreme treatment of the elevens.

Meanwhile, It appears Lelouch is being tracked by what appears to be an unknown Britannian squad. Within the tower, Karen makes her first appearance, decked out in a bunny suit and serving Britannian customers. An accidental collision with Lelouch, while attempting to pass on a small electronic chip/tracker/communicator, results in less than favorable reaction from Black-King-san. Lelouch realizes the plight the young half-breed is in, while not appearing to recognize her, and challenges him to a chess duel - which he accepts.

The focus switches to an unknown prison. Tamaki, while being abused by prison guards, retains the hope that Zero will return and reek revenge. Ougi also believes this to be true but Nagisa is less enthusiastic - retorting that that man had abandoned them at the most important time - and an argument ensues, only stopped by Toudou, who also believes that Zero is dead. As expected, Lelouch’s analytical brain and foresight gives him the win, but at a cost. The governor, humiliated by the boy, claims that Lelouch had cheated and has his goons restrain the young Britannian student. Luckily for Lelouch, the Black Knights begin their strike, causing chaos in the tower. Karen uses this chance to escape the Mafia bosses clutches with a swift kick and attempts to lead Lelouche to safety.

There appears to be a meeting between a Chinese Federation amabassador and members of the Britannian higher order, including current General-Governor Cararas and Guliford, where the bodyguard to said ambassador shows his skill with a blade to some Britannian soldiers ordered with confiscating his weapons - Greatly displeasing the governor. This welcome party is interrupted by explosions seen at the Babel tower.

In the confusion, Karen loses her grip on Lelouch, who then follows Rollo to the construction area, not before meeting a knightmare of the Black Knights extending an arm to Lelouch in a friendly manner. Britannian knightmares enter during this point, appearing to be targeting the Britannian students, who are protected by the member of the Black Knights. Karen arrives at a location where she reacquires her Gurren Mk.II and joins the battle.

Lelouch, on the other hand, protects his younger brother from a Britannian gunman, but in the process falls down into the construction area. He finds himself surrounded by bodies of both Elevens’ and Britannians before meeting the same knghtmare which saved him and seemed to recognize him earlier. The pilot who exits the knightmare is none other than C.C., although not recognized by Lelouch. She begins to talk about how Lelouch still has a contract with her, and that he is her accomplice. But as Lelouch moves towards her, she is shot through the chest, and falls into Lelouch’s arms. The assailants introduce themselves as part of the Britannian Special Forces, and thank Lelouch for luring out the witch. C.C. then tells Lelouch to remember that he has ‘the power of the King’ and kisses Lelouch. During this embrace, and the usual returning memory visuals, Lelouch remembers everything, up to the point where he ans Suzaku are standing off at gunpoint on the mysterious island - and how Suzaku had made his choice clear to Lelouch. Having retained his memory and the use of is Geass, Lelouch subsequently orders the Britannian forces to die, which they gleefully accept, killing each other. Lelouch had believed that there was always something wrong during the past year, where his memories were false, but it was not himself which was wrong, but the world itself. Finally, the Gurren Mk.II appears infront of him, asking for Zero’s orders.

We skip to the Emperor’s lair, where Zino, Suzaku, and Anya stand in audience. Suzaku insists that Zero’s head belongs to him and him alone.

Impressions

A nice start. I do like the veja-vu feel to the episode, with Lelouch ‘missing’ something important in his life. Its always hard to determine the quality of a ‘first ep.’ even if this is the start of the second season, but the important thing is that we’ve caught up with most of the characters (although a few are m.i.a. for the moment - Corneliaa~!) It does feel that not only the Chinese are being introduced, but this season may have a much larger focus on the Emperor - i.e. ‘Secret Information Bureau’ (gg translation).

Observations/Predictions?

• There is a feeling that it also might go “DESTINY” on us with the widened cast as the Chronicles of Lelouch and Suzaku moves to the Global stage.
• The appearence of Suzaku may give a more evil vibe. A turn of events when you think Suzaku was the ‘white knight’ compared with Lelouch’s Black King.’
• Funny, we come to a point where there appears to be an undeniable grey-area between what is good and evil. Lelouch appears to want to free japan, good, but his solely so he can use it as a step to destroy Britannia. Even more ironic that the Emperor spreads his seed so that there is greater chance of the appearence of the ’strongest’ successor. The very fact that Lelouch is attempting to overthrow the Emperor is without doubt what he had envisioned, possibly to the extent that the movements of the Empire by him is merely a test of Lelouch’s strengths.
• V.V. does appear to be under the Emperor’s wing, thus is is certinally possible that the Emperor does know the identity of Zero, possibly from near the very beginning. Could this also be the reason he brings Suzaku into his personal guard? - Carares wonders what the Emperor is thinking about, with Zero apparently dead.. but it was on the orders of the Emperor to send out the specials to capture ‘the witch’ which implies that he knew that she would attack then… this and his link to V.V. as well as the ‘geass’ eye in the op? clairvoyance?
• On the Secret Information Bureau - They appear to also believe that Rollo and not Nunally is Lelouch’s sibling.. Whatever happened in the missing must have been on a massive scale - that said, the resemblance of Rollo the Nunally is very strong.

And so there it is.. great, even more questions than answers. Oh well, 24 more episodes to go.. and probably a split ending like last time.. movie? Third season..

Wanma