#zero requiem

[nolvini]

make me an offer I cannot refuse

[monorays]

[exulzae]

Pre-zero requiem. A plea for—

Pose by hireath_21 on twit.

[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

[shutupandmakemepizzaroll]

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

[rolorules]

By Xuan Lin (Sorin?).

[suzalulusource]

illustration by Ogasawara Tomofumi

[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!!

[cliothedaydreamer]

⊱ ─ CLIO’S FANART

28.09.2018

[infiniterequiem1743]

“The best way to remove your lies is to make them come true.” Suzaku Kururugi (SPOILERS IF HAVE NOT WATCHED)

This will probably be the last analysis for a while. Love Code Geass, but I don't own it. Please feel free to talk about my perspective on the quote, just keep it constructive.

Suzaku is the biggest roller coaster in the entirety of Code Geass. Personally, I went from hating him for most of the series before finally liking him. It wasn't the character development that I didn't like, as his struggle to find peace within himself was compelling to see. What I disliked the most was how he acknowledged the serious flaws within his ideology and viewpoint but neglected to adapt them to correct himself. At least for Lelocuh, he was willing to acknowledge his flaws and try to make himself better. Suzaku's fortitude in his beliefs is what gives him the highest highs and lowest lows. Despite his beginning forged by the guilt he harbors by killing his father, he ultimately makes up for it in the end by taking the mantle of Zero. (Side note: Knight of Zero outfit goes hard. Still can't put it above Julius Kingsley, but it slaps.)

This quote about truth is interesting coming from the perspective of someone like Suzaku. When coming to understand the paradoxical identity of a character like Suzaku, one must see Suzaku as a human. He suffered through experiences some of us might never come close to. He killed his father, his country was oppressed by an empire that saw them as nothing more than lesser beings, his lover died because of his best friend, and now he has to permanently live behind a mask to keep a world of peace. After analyzing Suzaku for who he is and what he can be, or at least from my own understanding, Suzaku's idea can be considered radical by the standards of today. In today's day and age, we believe that there is a natural truth to things in some shape or form. But from the perspectives of characters like Suzaku who have been exposed to war, bloodshed, magic, and mind-altering powers beyond anything seen by humanity. Just one of these would have anyone begin to question their beliefs and understanding of the world. For Suzaku, he has to lie to himself to continue his righteous march forward.

Think of it like a mental defense. So much has been thrown at him that he needs to change his understanding of the truth to come to terms with what has happened to him. He is subconsciously gaslighting himself to cope with the world around him. It is a striking realization to the viewer that Suzaku's original meaning behind the quote stands out. The quote tells its listeners to not make promises they can't keep, but Suzaku himself is telling a much deeper story. A story of his pain, his sorrow, and his endeavor for something better. A broken White Knight who can't come to grasp his own reality around him. Instead, he begins to twist his truths into a corrupted alteration. If one really thinks about it, that is all the Zero Requiem is. The culmination of Suzaku and Lelouch's suffering into one last reality-warping event. A lie so powerful that the entire world begins to believe it. But instead of Suzaku's warped truth of grappling with his trauma, it is a merciful, white lie that creates its very own world unlike anything the world had ever seen.

The truth is an underrated but prominent theme inside Code Geass, especially with Geass specifically. If this and other analytical posts gain traction, I might go into the numerous applications of what geass is as a symbol in the greater story.

Also, @minzonine, Infinity/10 stained glass. Thanks for the mention and keep up the good work.

[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.

[nolvini]

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

[monorays]

The Accolade 07.20.24

[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

[shutupandmakemepizzaroll]

09/28/2018