#magz liveblog

[magz]

Rewatching Code Geass as adult, bc James convince should liveblog

Episode 1 reaction mode:

They already go hard with how imperialism n colonialism dehumanize. N the sorts atrocities happen.

To make message clear, they gonna keep hammer this in, huh.

Gonna be hard word some this tho.

Before - was watch video "we consume fiction wrong" - where main premise that not being able "turn off" brain - make impossible enjoy watch, when "better" analyze afterward

But am just like. Bro, the mecha anime with powers is do this thing right in your face tho.

"The right of kings" being literal symbolic power. That both the brittania empire hold n manufactured (making the power. CC. As experimental weapon.), n Lelouch- an anti-brittania ex-royalty use on side of colonized powers. To force their will onto others.

(Mixed messaging, yet on purpose. Not necessarily good logic but, is trying. Something)

The stripping n changing of names, to take away humanity (japan -> colony 11. Japanese -> elevens.)

Being lie / obscuring things ("am living a lie". Lelouch v brittania -> Lelouch just some guy -> later, his rebellion persona)

Making Brittania a mix of united states, u.k., n europe as a mega-superpower. N making the (u.k. inspired) monarchy, king-focused instead. Marking this series as a fight between major male figures - has already been setup.

The britannia soldier Suzaku from Japan, the anti-britannia rebel Lelouch of Britannia royalty. The whole parallel irony thing already setup.

Though the implications of a rebellion needing a colonizer from a private school, gifted The Right Of Kings (Geass. A word that mean a celtic oath must abide by) - to be able "change anything", is something the series gonna need contend with from now on...

And the alternate magical history being heavily based on U.S. occupation of Japan n E.U., post-WW2, is something am feel complicated about bc inevitably this influence gonna erase irl Japan's role in ww2 (the real life parallel) n they own colonies they had. The current assimilations of indigenous. To instead focus on dualism (twos) with brittania vs colony 11 (japan). Suzaku vs Lelouch. Anime political intrigue with magic n pew pews, that have interesting stuff say but major sacrifices in oversimplification already.

Am only say like. Lil bit of what was think. Cuz rest of thought is tangle words.

The ending theme is so nostalgic rozen maiden.

[magz]

Comtinuing liveblog code geass

Episode 7-8 (edit)

The show try frame (ep 7) thing where that sect of JP resistance group not listen to him, n all dying except him, as them all "being stupid" for not listen to lelouch

But thing is: he not try get allies beyond the like. Maybe 7 people from same resistance group he got in episode 2.

The reason the other sect all died was because they not trust him, n Lelouch was too prideful n confident in his intelligence as if actual political conflict n militia work would be like playing chess.

As soon as 1 thing went different from Lelouch's predictions, resulting in a member's death, they all started not believe him. Because they not *trust* him, they have no reason to. He only won 1 battle before.

N Lelouch had opportunity to make the other sects trust him ! He had time, especially when he was informed the other sects were being killed off by cornelia before ! He was told it was happening n asked for what to do by his group members. He could have done allying with other resistance groups, n his little scheming, n prepared if he cared - but he brush it off. Until a diff related sect was already under siege.

This immaturity in thinking his goal of destroy Britannian legacy n revenge his father will be easy, was reflected in ep3 when he did his first kill with own hands - killing his half-brother. N became nauseous n distressed (rightfully so), but he somehow thought that wouldn't happen n he presumed he was weaker than he thought n brushed it off.

Imo The problem wasn't that he got nauseous or that he was "weaker" - it was that he knows little of actual reality of conflict n oppression n killing. with actual people. Knows little the human side of things. the psychology of death + suffering + distress as actual thing that affects. N not just as plans, n chess.

If not for C.C. saving him with a diversion, he would have died in ep7 when his plan failed. As he not take into account that each battlefield will be different, n that people aren't chess pawns - they have feelings n suspicions.

With that in mind... his win in ep8, in the hostage situation was "genius" in realm of propaganda.

Using princess cornelia's fondness of her little sistern n wanting her safety.

Making one the Japanese Liberation Front commanders kill themself when they not concede to him, n make it seem like JLF knew they were on the wrong in strategy so the other JLF members back down.

Saving the Britannian hostages, when he was also consider killing euphy.

He made situation where he only needed leverage the very basics of emotions but no deaper than that. would not have matter whether Japanese liberation front became ally or not, whether enemies n allies acted certain way, he would have adapted the narrative to it.

All so he and his "knights" can look like saviors of the people for the people, regardless of if they Britannian or Japanese.

Yes, is "genius" propaganda leverage.

But it's bad logic for liberation of colonies to focus on dividing the conflict as "unarmed people" and "people with weapons".

Liberation isn't his main goal anyways. It's revenge against his father, as an exiled royalty.

So it won't matter, suppose.

Anyways - nenenenenenen's crush on euphemy was established in this episode w euphie save her. n nenenenenenen hatred of Japanese has been cemented further thru being made hostage when she is just rich white girl who hates poor people n has never experienced that type trauma before.

Suzaku doing whatever, suppose. He was ready to feel incompetent n cry about being unable to save people with his flawed follow-the-law morals n trust in britannia+justice, but this development was cut short by lelouch (zero) saving them.

Lelouch inadvertently just delaying the inevitable here (suffering) n keeping his rival suzaku going without have to self-examine his own goals/views.

[magz]

Episode 2 part 1:

This is like, media analysis starter basics. Am understand why teens got obsessed, beside the action n mind games.

It puts stuff in your face, sometimes spells some things out, while make other stuff buried 2 inch deep easy to look at.

Suzaku being made into token first Japanese piloter, of a special mecha unit. For publicity sake.

But as have been note: names are important.

Weapon Call "lancelot".

Suzaku has weapon named from Arthurian legends, of figure of courtly love ended tragically.

A knight in shining armor, simplistic tale of romanticize the knights.

A figure that was supposed be seen as good, with his affair being just at the time it was contributed to his lore, until people grew out of their romantacisim of courtly love affairs as chasteness, n outgrew simple idealisms.

A figure torn between the loyalty of his best friend, his lover, and his duty to the kingdom - inevitably resulting in battle of camlann n the death of his king/best friend. Lancelot.

Is not one-to-one same with suzaku, but Code Geass really like irish, welsh, and british famous stuffs. N are use it on purpose, at least up to the obvious.

-

The more am look, was go "oh right, 2000s clamp style. Is clamp. Yes. The doujin circle turned official studio, that love make gay pairings. N tragic setups. Ye make sense."

--

3rd brittania prince pretty bad at strategy - even against small militia w/ actual tools n organize (lelouch), on the opponents already destroyed civil territory

This kind of setup how easy is gonna be defeat him (barring lancelot + suzaku, but that from older prince), but quickly raise the stakes beyond area 11 n reach international level with the superpower itself...

Since 3rd prince, his strategy to bomb n gun n poison unarmed civilians from closed off ghettos, n destroy resurrectionists that are have outdated few weapons. Was just "do overkill special military tech mecha, n kill every ~monkey~".

N that not gonna work as boss.

---

Even tho is been just 2 episodes,

Show is already give taste of how women will be treat like.

Potential love interests to the guys or privileged worried friend (classmate that go "lelouch so smart, wish he kept out of trouble". Which ppl imply is interest from her), a motivation (nannaly - the blind wheelchair user, little sister we've only seen in "have to. For her!" Scenes in lelouch head). Or flashy women with potential, but are ultimately disserviced by circumstance of plot (rebel woman. Is kind of unflattering that in all these 9 years - not one japanese group was able take blows with brittania even militia style, or come up with strategies. Until a colonizer with superpowers comes tell them do stuff without tell identity)

Rewatching Code Geass as adult, bc James convince should liveblog

Episode 1 reaction mode:

They already go hard with how imperialism n colonialism dehumanize. N the sorts atrocities happen.

To make message clear, they gonna keep hammer this in, huh.

Gonna be hard word some this tho.

Before - was watch video "we consume fiction wrong" - where main premise that not being able "turn off" brain - make impossible enjoy watch, when "better" analyze afterward

But am just like. Bro, the mecha anime with powers is do this thing right in your face tho.

"The right of kings" being literal symbolic power. That both the brittania empire hold n manufactured (making the power. CC. As experimental weapon.), n Lelouch- an anti-brittania ex-royalty use on side of colonized powers. To force their will onto others.

(Mixed messaging, yet on purpose. Not necessarily good logic but, is trying. Something)

The stripping n changing of names, to take away humanity (japan -> colony 11. Japanese -> elevens.)

Being lie / obscuring things ("am living a lie". Lelouch v brittania -> Lelouch just some guy -> later, his rebellion persona)

Making Brittania a mix of united states, u.k., n europe as a mega-superpower. N making the (u.k. inspired) monarchy, king-focused instead. Marking this series as a fight between major male figures - has already been setup.

The britannia soldier Suzaku from Japan, the anti-britannia rebel Lelouch of Britannia royalty. The whole parallel irony thing already setup.

Though the implications of a rebellion needing a colonizer from a private school, gifted The Right Of Kings (Geass. A word that mean a celtic oath must abide by) - to be able "change anything", is something the series gonna need contend with from now on...

And the alternate magical history being heavily based on U.S. occupation of Japan n E.U., post-WW2, is something am feel complicated about bc inevitably this influence gonna erase irl Japan's role in ww2 (the real life parallel) n they own colonies they had. The current assimilations of indigenous. To instead focus on dualism (twos) with brittania vs colony 11 (japan). Suzaku vs Lelouch. Anime political intrigue with magic n pew pews, that have interesting stuff say but major sacrifices in oversimplification already.

Am only say like. Lil bit of what was think. Cuz rest of thought is tangle words.

The ending theme is so nostalgic rozen maiden.

[magz]

Rest of Episode 2 - 7 (just highlights am remember)

- third prince literally died a bit after say that. Thought he gonna last at least 2 more ep or something.

- the first clash of lancelot suzaku n zero in ep 2, where they not even recognize each other, but suzaku is like "need fight this guys so lelouch n (CC) can be safe" is decent narrative irony + good taste of lelouch lying about his persona gonna lead to difficult situations

- nunnaly have really cute custom wheelchair, seem appropriate for rich brittanian. Electric wheelchair n back handle bars n custom design, + made with in mind she have full-time (japanese) carer maid. Really remind of carer n maids tend be whatever immigrant or colonized class, for rich folk.

- shower fanservice scene with kellen (?) Is like. Already knew, but tiring. Also the purple woman's military outfit fan service, at least she an adult unlike Kellen, but it just seem kinda wrong. A few tweaks n she coulda looked hot tho... am not that opposed to "sexy" outifts, it just look silly this context.

- the more stuff happen am just think the characters should have been older in college or something, n then bump up maturity of subjects what they let show - since is politics mixed in (they already show enough to be pg-13), but target demographics n highschool setting popular suppose ...

- nenenenene girl racism moments. We needed show casual racism from someone in britannian school group. They so rich n white.

- is v funny when nunnally say pinky promise are Japanese thing. Do brittanians not do pinky promise like irl americans n english people ? There prolly more stuff stray.

- am bad at remember or understand-process these english names.

- the contrast with suzaku n lelouch go even further - Suzaku naively believe he can change Brittania from the inside, but he rightfully care about his colonized people n know that they would be further punished if he escape to make example of. Lelouch rightfully know that war is necessary for this level oppression n corruption of Britannia, but he keep show in diff subtle ways he not care as much about the colonized. Lelouch perspective come from hatred from what *he* experience - his father not protecting his mother, throwing away nunnaly for become disabled, them both being exiled. It not come from a love of the colonized people. He not actively racist, but he passively not understand them.

- examples so far: A japanese guy from revolt group contact lelouch/zero about being afraid they'll be next from princess cornelia killing off diff japanese revolution groups, n he's like -stop it cuz am the one that will contact You- n "they getting too chummy, might cut them off". ::: in the scene where both suzaku n lelouch say what they ideals are n the bad parts of brittania, the part when both are on screen - is suzaku that mention discrimination. Lelouch only mentions stuff he witnessed. ::: when kellen say she half-japanese n she part of revolt group, lelouch is confused why she would even do all that n go so far (in sense of. To him there no reason if she half brittanian too). ::: when calling suzaku a fool (he is but), lelouch ignores the part where suzaku mentions that many japanese could die. ::: whenever the topic of why he hate britannia, he focus of course on the bad stuff that happened to him, his mom, n his sister. But only acknowledges oppression when it actively happening in front him, as something disgusting.

- cat episode silly, but we had many misunderstands show characters priorities. Lelouch losing it when cat take his helmet, v funny. School have cat acquired, official.

- would think suzaku hands change enough that nunnally not recognize them, you know from grow up + 7 years since + change roughness from do soldier work. But she do. Am gonna chalk up to imply how much she idealize n focus on him from time he would carry her everywhere as kids, n such.

- the Japanese Liberation Front being samurai soldiers that kneel n use swords (for certain type impression), n have big japanese flag, is seem too similar to irl japanese (fascist) nationalism so the in-story thing of being colonized non-imperial peoples is. Break immersion. A bit.

Rewatching Code Geass as adult, bc James convince should liveblog

Episode 1 reaction mode:

They already go hard with how imperialism n colonialism dehumanize. N the sorts atrocities happen.

To make message clear, they gonna keep hammer this in, huh.

Gonna be hard word some this tho.

Before - was watch video "we consume fiction wrong" - where main premise that not being able "turn off" brain - make impossible enjoy watch, when "better" analyze afterward

But am just like. Bro, the mecha anime with powers is do this thing right in your face tho.

"The right of kings" being literal symbolic power. That both the brittania empire hold n manufactured (making the power. CC. As experimental weapon.), n Lelouch- an anti-brittania ex-royalty use on side of colonized powers. To force their will onto others.

(Mixed messaging, yet on purpose. Not necessarily good logic but, is trying. Something)

The stripping n changing of names, to take away humanity (japan -> colony 11. Japanese -> elevens.)

Being lie / obscuring things ("am living a lie". Lelouch v brittania -> Lelouch just some guy -> later, his rebellion persona)

Making Brittania a mix of united states, u.k., n europe as a mega-superpower. N making the (u.k. inspired) monarchy, king-focused instead. Marking this series as a fight between major male figures - has already been setup.

The britannia soldier Suzaku from Japan, the anti-britannia rebel Lelouch of Britannia royalty. The whole parallel irony thing already setup.

Though the implications of a rebellion needing a colonizer from a private school, gifted The Right Of Kings (Geass. A word that mean a celtic oath must abide by) - to be able "change anything", is something the series gonna need contend with from now on...

And the alternate magical history being heavily based on U.S. occupation of Japan n E.U., post-WW2, is something am feel complicated about bc inevitably this influence gonna erase irl Japan's role in ww2 (the real life parallel) n they own colonies they had. The current assimilations of indigenous. To instead focus on dualism (twos) with brittania vs colony 11 (japan). Suzaku vs Lelouch. Anime political intrigue with magic n pew pews, that have interesting stuff say but major sacrifices in oversimplification already.

Am only say like. Lil bit of what was think. Cuz rest of thought is tangle words.

The ending theme is so nostalgic rozen maiden.