Code Geass R2, Episode 8- The Million Miracle

Even the dog gets a mask

Oh man, so much lulz in this episode, I loved it. Despite the hilarious but awesome plan, there was a distinct lack of Kallen and C.C. this episode, and for that I weep. I know they had to introduce new characters and spend more time on those that have had little time before, but it still makes me sad. Regardless, a definite watch for giggles and laughs.

Dissent among the ranks! Not altogether unjustified considering that Zero seemingly told them to surrender, and the fact that Todo is not an idiot and knows Zero doesn’t really care that much about the Japanese. However, once again it was kind of a red herring as we know that at episode eight Lelouch isn’t just going to toss the Black Knights to the side. I expect that to happen in like episode 23…

Best…icebreaker…ever…I love you Kaguya-sama. Nay, there are no words that can fully express the adorableness that is Kaguya. And wow, she is surprisingly tall when placed next to Zero like that. She really isn’t that much shorter than he is considering her age.

This episode serves as a more proper introduction of ミス・ローマイヤー (no official Romanization quite yet that I’ve found, Miss Romaya, Rohmeier, Romeyer all make a close enough sound). She’s your general stiff and stereotypical Brittanian bureaucrat who holds a strong distaste for all Numbers. This even includes Suzaku, who’s a much higher ranking Knight than she is, and she says some fairly nasty things to him closer to the end of the episode. Hopefully she gets killed off sometime soon, but I doubt it since she has her own character page on the official site. It was really obvious she has the same seiyuu as Villetta, and it was kind of surprising that two supporting characters have the same voice. I mean, I know a lot of the minor characters or random background Japanese are duplicates, but this is a bit different I think.

Well here’s a definite answer to a question many of us have had since episode one, whether Suzaku’s geass is still in effect. Turns out it is, and I’m sure they reminded us about it for a reason. The obvious answer is that in the end Suzaku is going to be forced to kill Lelouch because of it, but I hope not because that would be some really forced irony.

I thought the guy was gonna have an orgasm right there on the phone. “Oh my gawd, Zero just told me I’m a genius, I’m in ecstasy aaaaaahhhhhh.” Very funny.

This scene setup Rolo’s real motivation here, it seems now less based on becoming Lelouch’s brother forever and instead protecting the school life he’s come to love here at Ashford. Both realize that if identities are compromised the Academy is going to be done for and neither Rolo nor Lelouch want that to happen. Seemingly Lelouch is no longer concerned with screwing Rolo over in the end because the scenes last episode showed that he wanted to preserve that happy life as well. I think I prefer that better then waiting around for Rolo to betray him in a rage.

Another round of additional characters and their development, as we get a bit more details as to what the crazed Nina was up to and what happened to her a year ago. Schneisel is one charming and devious guy, he is ruthless but puts on a wonderful façade that keeps everyone loving him. He is definitely a worthy opponent for Lelouch if he ever gets around to returning to Area 11, which is a possibility now that the EU stuff is over with. He also has a really effeminate looking assistant named Canon, oi.

Anya’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty, that’s for sure. Suzaku is pretty hesitant to pull the trigger like that, a significant foreshadowing of his decision to let the Japanese go at the end of the episode. I’m sure it wasn’t supposed to invoke laughter, but when Anya asked Suzaku if he was a masochist I couldn’t help myself. The Japanese certainly hate the Knight of the Genocide Princess, but apparently he can’t help himself.

Uh sorry lady but I see nothing wrong with that outfit and I’m sure all the Cecile-nee fanboys were screaming in excitement here. The people at Surise sure are brilliant, they make sure to have a bit of fanservice for one of the hot ladies of CG in almost every episode. Pandering at it’s finest, and I love it. And Lloyd sure looks pimp sitting like that, as if to say “yeah, that’s my fine ass assistant, we spend long nights together if you know what I mean.”

Obvious plan is obvious, but still hilarious to watch them all bite on it for now. They have such a low opinion of Zero that they don’t realize what he is really capable of. Some of them are suspicious, like Guilford later on, and they were sort of right. But they shouldn’t be limiting themselves to two decision points like that. I suppose that’s why Zero usually wins~

The three ladies on the left may look familiar to you if you pay really close attention to the OP and official site. I believe they are the three new Black Knights set to be more important characters this season. One would assume we’ll hear more from them when the Black Knights get to China.

Yet another new character that has been hinted at/shown in the OP to receive some speaking lines. One assumes she is Li’s assistant and supporter, as she refers to him with -sama at the end of this name. And the whole coughing up blood thing was certainly surprising, I guess he has a reason to move fast and reform China the way he wants it. This kind of disproves one of my previous theories that he wants to use the Empress to lead China himself.

I love emo facial contortions/looks of surprise, especially those from Suzaku after he gets boned by Lelouch again. The whole scene that is reflected in the shot I used at the top reminded by a lot of the end of the OP where Zero stands in front of the Black Knight army.

The plan itself was so hilarious, I couldn’t keep myself from laughing out loud at the ridiculousness of it all. Despite it being ridiculous, it was supremely AWESOME as well, because it was expected yet totally different. No geass tricks or earthquake plates were used like in the past, this was truly a brain plan to seriously screw with the Brittanians. And it was a really smart move too, because he gets to sit in China with his million man army and build them up. He was desperately short on big hardware like Knightmares and other equipment, this gives him a perfect chance to regroup and rearm.

Kaguya is adorable even in her purple Zero outfit. Don’t you just want to pick her up and hug her? I know I do. Everyone else in their Zero costumes were pretty funny, I was sadly disappointed they didn’t let Kallen or C.C. say much of anything in this scene though. Hopefully they get more screen time next episode.

And this was the crux of it all, Lelouch does not want to have to engage in a long-standing guerilla fight against Nunally. And he knew that since Suzaku was in charge he wouldn’t order them to be shot, and to let them go. However, once again I did laugh at the fact they are transporting a million people on some sort of ice ship commanded by Sayoko. I mean that is just hilarious, like the plan itself. But it’s filled with AWESOME, so everything is great.

I think she qualifies as the most important meido in the world, which is even funnier because she’s always wearing the meido outfit. Even when atop a huge floating iceberg ship thing, she’s in meido wear. The huge part of this scene was that Lelouch revealed his identity to her, something that was foreshadowed in last week’s episode preview when Lelouch hinted at revealing his identity to someone if that person could save Nunally. Because Nunally is close to Sayoko that may be something Lelouch can use in the future to rescue her or infiltrate the Brittanians at least.

Next stop in Code Geass, China gets a move on and starts stirring shit up for the Brittanians. We don’t know exactly what the plan is or how much they are working together, but seeing as how all of the Chinese characters have gained a lot of screen time (Li, his assistant, eunuchs, the Empress) China should play a major role in the future. And that’s a good thing, because I think it expands the CG world beyond Japan, which was something season one found itself limited to. I prefer a show that goes for new territory and expands, and Lelouch taking his fight worldwide looks like something we can look forward to.

Next Episode:
Nothing! Next week’s scheduled episode nine broadcast has been delayed for a week for unexplained reasons. There’s going to be some sort of special on Akiba airing, but maybe they will find a way to get in one of those .5 recap episodes at sometime, who knows. Some have speculated that it’s because the episode will feature China prominently and that the producers wanted to avoid that in consideration of the recent earthquake. If that’s true it’s kind of lame, the Japanese are way too sensitive to these types of things. Yes it’s a tragedy, but I don’t think it has anything to do with an anime unless Lelouch plans to set off an earthquake in China like last season at Narita.