#Zero Requiem

[nolvini]

make me an offer I cannot refuse

[monorays]

[crimsonmoon777]

• Zero Requiem •

I have so so so many feelings about this show

Like it has remained one of my favorite since watching it, I'd try and talk about how I feel about this show but I don't think I can put it into words LOL

[exulzae]

Pre-zero requiem. A plea for—

Pose by hireath_21 on twit.

[shutupandmakemepizzaroll]

excerpt from the poem “the five stages of grief” by linda pastan

[suzalulusource]

illustration by Ogasawara Tomofumi

[rolorules]

By Xuan Lin (Sorin?).

[ikathz]

Exit stage left.

Still cannot stop thinking about how much they parallel and foil each other RRRAAAAGHHH

to a great genshin 4th anniversary and zero requiem day!!

[dreaming-through-lines]

28.09.2018

[yukimi-gogo]

#ゼロレクイエム

#ゼロレクイエム2023

#ZeroRequiem

[froggos-are-superior]

Suzaku killing Lelouch in Zero Requiem has the same vibes as Junghyeok killing Dokja in the demon king arc

[nolvini]

you believe me like a god / I betray you like a man

[monorays]

The Accolade 07.20.24

[alicent-vi-britannia]

The philosophies of the Zero Requiem

"I’ve seen it over and over. The people who struggle against sadness, those who seek the future. How they all carry on wishing for happiness. Human nature is why I chose Geass and to wear a mask."

Schneizel and Lelouch's conversation in episode 24 of R2 is one of the most important passages in Code Geass because it reflects the precious evolution of Lelouch, as well as expresses the ideals and meaning of the Zero Requiem: the power of the will, the nature human and the future.

Lelouch rejects both the Ragnarök Connection and The Damocles not only because imposing peace is an evil act by transgressing the will of humanity, but because Charles and Schneizel intended to impose an eternal peace and an eternal peace implies the stagnation of the world and, as Lelouch explains, a life without change is nothing more than an accumulation of experiences. C.C. is the best example of this.

The Zero Requiem precisely embraces that ideal of Lelouch and ensures the progress of humanity, in what way? To begin with, Lelouch realized that the world had fallen into a state where fighting each other was the immediate response to disputes. If you revisit the final episode and pay attention, you will notice that in the first half of the episode all the characters explain why they are fighting and, by extension, why there is still war in the world. As long as there is a reason to fight, people will inevitably clash. That's why Lelouch takes that reason away from them by becoming a greater evil than the one before him.

He manages to unite the nations of the world against a common enemy, demilitarizes them by allying under the flag of the UFN and immediately unleashes a war so fierce that it would wear down the entire world in every aspect. In this way, global politics would be reset and humanity would decide of its own will to change. That nuance is truly significant as it implies that the Zero Requiem doesn0t technically bring peace, rather, it establishes all the conditions for peace to be the best option. Therefore, peace in Zero Requiem is a choice of humanity (and not the will that someone else wants to impose).

Despite everything, there is a strong possibility that after the Zero Requiem was completed, the UFN disintegrated and all nations returned to fighting against each other. In fact, Lelouch is aware that the Zero Requiem itself is no guarantee of absolute peace and it is certain that another war will occur in the distant future. Hence Schneizel says that "the future may be worse than the present." However, just as there are people who will start war for their interests, there will be people who will defend peace and, even if Lelouch dies, the people who will stay behind him (Suzaku, Kallen, Nunnally, etc.), just as those who come after them will preserve the peace he helped bring, because, in Lelouch's words, "people will continue to seek happiness."

Something I had never noticed until I recently revisited episode 24 of R2 is that when Lelouch states: "I’ve seen it over and over. The people who struggle against sadness, those who seek the future. How they all carry on wishing for happiness. Human nature is why I chose Geass and to wear a mask" we have a quick succession of multiple flashbacks in which we see certain key moments and various characters. They all acted according to their will and sought happiness in their own way, even if it led them to an unfortunate destiny (as in the cases of Mao, Euphemia, Rolo and Shirley) or a happy destiny (as in the cases of Tianzi, Xingke and Milly). Each and every one of these characters taught Lelouch the value of the power of will and that it is in human nature to pursue happiness. I find it surprising since even minor characters like Mao and Kallen's mother shaped this ideology of Lelouch. But it makes sense if you carefully study the motivations behind the actions of these characters in their brief, although shocking, passage through the work. These characters in one way or another are connected to the main themes of this series: will and the future.

The Zero Requiem is based on Lelouch's philosophy that all people need a future and the future in Code Geass is translated as "purpose." However, the future takes on a special connotation, especially in this conversation with Schneizel, since it also means "hope." That is, hope that even if things are not good today, they can change for the better later. Zero himself is the perfect example. He embodies both Lelouch's purpose to make the world a better place and the hope that the world can be better one day. In the end, Zero establishes himself as a symbol of this hope and gives meaning to the fight. The murder of the Demon Emperor at the hands of Zero represents that "we must never stop fighting for a better tomorrow, even if the present is gloomy."

The message that Code Geass conveys is that "it is preferable to have a temporary peace than an eternal peace since it is a real peace, honoring human will and nature."

The world is condemned to fall into conflict again and again, but sooner or later it will find a way out as it will never stop changing. This is how humanity moves forward and that is Lelouch's wish. For all this, the Zero Requiem is a love letter to humanity.

PS: Well, this is another post about the Zero Requiem. It hasn't been long since I last talked about the famous Zero Requiem. You must be tired of this topic by now. I'm too. Much more than you, in fact. Writing these long analyzes exhausts me mentally, although it may not seem like it. Honestly, today I just wanted to talk to you about the flashbacks. Hence the image that heads this publication is a collage with most of the flashbacks that the conversation presents. But I didn't think you could understand how these characters contributed to Lelouch's narrative arc and how the learning he gained from them became the backbone of the Zero Requiem, if I didn't explain to you what the ideals of the Zero Requiem were.

Also, I wanted to redeem myself for a post I made months ago. There I tried to explain to you what the ideological confrontation was between Lelouch, Schneizel and Charles based on the color symbology of the final montage with the close-ups that they give us of these characters from the fifth opening (I will leave the link here, in case you would like to read it). At the time, I thought it turned out well. Nevertheless, now, looking back on it, I think I didn't explain Lelouch's part well and since I made some notes on the conversation between Lelouch and Schneizel when I revisited the episode, I decided to re-explain just focusing on Lelouch and this conversation (so if you noticed I recycled words and sentences from that post, that's why).

I may also talk again in the future about the similarities of Schneizel's and Charles's plans since I think that old post I mentioned wasn't clear either, although I'll do so in the distant future. I fear I'm repeating myself. I hate having things repeated to me and me repeating things to others, however, it is necessary on certain occasions. Don't worry.

I think I'll soon upload an old review I posted on my Facebook page comparing Lelouch, Suzaku, and Kallen to their Knightmares. I had fun writing it and I think it's a good analysis. Well, maybe I'm rushing. Lately I'm hating everything I've written in the past that once made me feel proud and satisfied. Maybe it will happen to me with this post I just made. It's nonsense. I'm too hard on myself. I know. But I can't help it and my rational side doesn't console me. Lelouch's tragic flaw may be pride, mine are procrastination, insecurity, overthinking and lack of will. I'm no good as an anime heroine. How sad! I have failed all anime protagonists who are armed with a strong will. Forgive me, Lelouch. I don't deserve you :'(

Well, enough of hating me for a few seconds. Thanks for your likes, guys. It makes me happy, even if it's just for a few moments.

[iinziivii]

Happy zero requiem 🫠

I am once again sobbing uncontrollably

[shutupandmakemepizzaroll]

09/28/2018