Recap: The Day A Demon Awakened

Hello again. Now it's time to talk about an anime I've wanted to do recaps of the whole

time I started this blog. An anime that simply takes all the good done by its predecessor and

completely flushes it down the toilet. A series that has caused some of the biggest arguments

in its own fandom and out of it. That series is Code Geass R2.

I have no problem with the original Code Geass. I found it to be a powerful look at

the effects of war and racism; and a great analysis of the argument of idealism vs. cynicism.

The ending to it was highly ambiguous, and I liked it for that. I felt a second season was

unnecessary, denying its existence when I was told about it. When I did choose to view it,

I ended up regretting it.

It is a hotly-debated subject about the quality of this anime. Many saw it as a disappointment, others regard it as highly as the first season. Anime News Network even

gave it an 8.96 out of 10, making it objectively better than Elfen Lied at 8.26. I will put

in my stance on this: Code Geass R2 is not a very good anime. It is a veritable affront to

the original series, and series creator Goro Takenuchi takes all the goodwill he set up in

that series and smashes it to pieces.

That is why I have declared this month to be Code Geass R2 Month, where I will do

nothing but recaps of Code Geass R2 all this month; deconstructing its flaws and explaining

why it doesn't work. I will start with the very first episode, “The Day A Demon Awakened.”

Spoiler Warning: This month's recaps contain plot events for both seasons of Code Geass. If you do not wish to know what happens, please turn away now. Otherwise, scroll

down to continue.

We open on a brief review of the events of the first season, telling of how the Britannian

Empire conquered Japan and foiled their resistance to reclaim it; exiling them to derelict

settlements making up a place called “Area 11”. They were thereby branded as “Elevens” for

their treachery. The second rebellion by Zero and his group, the Black Knights, was also

revealed to have been foiled. This is going to be a long 25 episodes.

Are you ready for some football?

We pan over some din of the students of Ashford Academy talking about Zero. One

of them brings up how the Black Knights may have failed, but it's too early for despair. Of

course it's too early for despair. That part comes when we see what they're doing to this series.

Enter Lelouch, who is walking down the halls of the school, where he is confronted

by a teacher about his absences. Don't worry, I have a rant prepared for what they're doing

to his character.

This results in a chase scene between Lelouch and the teacher, and he manages to pass

Milly; and he still has enough time to get a piece of bread from her before ducking into a pantry.

The teacher confronts Lelouch, saying that he is non-athletic as ever. Bullshit. He just

outran you into a pantry. Now, let's break out the wine and the gorgonzola! No, instead, he uses

some colored gas to escape where a motorcycle is waiting.

We then get our theme song. Once again, this is the first time listening to it. Since I

will be making a lot of comparisons to the first season; I will tell you what I thought of the

other theme songs first. The first Code Geass theme song was a jazzy tune that I did not enjoy.

The second one was a punk rock theme with a great lyrical hook and four-chord guitar riff.

This theme song is a bubbly J-pop theme that jars horribly with the subject matter of the show.

On top of that it was written by Orange Range, whose theme song for the first season of Bleach

was every bit as inappropriate. As we'll discover, the theme song is the least of this show's problems.

We then get our title card, with red and gold text on a gunmetal grey background.

It is OK for this, but it's just another letdown for this series.

Brace yourselves, because it's all downhill from here.

We see Lelouch and his brother Rolo riding through the city on a motorcycle, sharing

the bread Milly gave him. Two young men, sharing a long, floppy piece of bread. I'd make

a joke, but I'm not sure what I'd accomplish with it.

Regarding Rolo: I just found him to be bland. This is in the face of all the criticism

against him. I did not find him to be awful. It always baffled me how people got angry about

Rolo, but never said anything about Lloyd or Rivalz; who are arguably worse characters.

At least, that's what I think.

While they continue to ride along, we get some exposition about how Zero and the

Black Knights lost and how the Emperor Charles is continuing his reign; making things even

harder in Britannia. We also get some talk about how Lelouch isn't sure what he's going to do

when he graduates; or how he's going to handle adulthood, for that matter.

Yeah, I think maybe I'll take a year off, cruise around Area 11,
get a pizza, pick up some women, I dunno. What do you think,
heterosexual life partner?

Their conversation is overlaid with images of the captured Black Knights and Area 11

construction workers being chastised by their Britannian superiors. You know, something I

admired about the original Code Geass was the subtlety it conveyed in its social commentary.

As you will find, subtlety is something that goes out the window this season.

As the two enter a building's elevator, we get a CGI wireframe of the building. Try

not to think how the money spent on this CGI could have gone to curing cancer, or diabetes,

or HIV/AIDS. We cut back to Lelouch, who talks about the difficulties in his life. Yes. It's

so hard to be a male, white, affluent citizen in a world where people in slums live off what I

throw away!

It turns out the building they were going into was a casino. See what I meant about a lack of subtlety? Goro Takenuchi actually sunk to pulling the rich folk gambling card.

I'm not sure what Goro Takenuchi was trying to get across,
but I'd rather not think about it.

There's even a scene where a couple Elevens fight in a mixed martial arts match for

the amusement of the rich. You know, if this series was more subtle, delivering the

commentary in this manner could work. Instead, it just comes off as preaching to the choir.

Are you fighters ready for some football?

If this was meant as social commentary, it falls completely flat. Now, Kallen enters,

and we see just what will happen to her.

Here is the moment I lost all faith in humanity.

Kallen, who was one of the strongest characters in the first season, has been very

effectively demeaned here, and I don't like it. She was one of the bravest fighters I've

seen in an anime, and now she's been reduced to wearing a Playboy bunny costume to

be auctioned off to rich folk for dates.

Get used to shots like these, you'll be seeing them a lot.

At that moment, a rather homely-looking rich man grabs Kallen by the hair and starts

talking down to her. In this country, a guy who looks like that trying to do that would get a

swift kick in the nuts.

You see what I meant with those shots?

This man's actions are reprehensible. Simply reprehensible. As if that's not enough,

there are even more Playboy bunnies to be auctioned off for dates. Lelouch declares this

will not stand. This aggression will not stand.

Do you feel in charge?

He challenges the rich man to a game of chess. A game of chess. There's something

very familiar about this...

We cut to another outdoor shot, and we see yet another advertisement for Pizza Hut

on the side of the building. Pizza Hut supports the rebellion! Only the Empire goes to Domino's!

We also get a brief look at the prison where the Black Knights are staying. I'm just

going on record to say that it's some setup they have there. There aren't even any toilets in

these cells. What happens if they have to use the bathroom?

Back at the casino, the rich man has lost the chess game. It kind of looks like he's

making an “IMPOSSIBRU!” face because of this. Surprise surprise! The rich man is also

a gangster.

He says that he'll lose face if this rumor spreads. Lose face if this rumor spreads?

You've got an entire casino full of witnesses! You better start coughing up, fancypants!

No, instead, he's going to cover up his loss by smearing Lelouch and killing everyone

in the room. What kind of gangster is this? He'd rather smear a student and murder an entire

room of witnesses than simply get out his checkbook and pay people to keep quiet?

At that moment, a group invades the casino; giving Lelouch and Kallen a chance to

escape. Kallen also manages to fight off and get away from the gangster.

In Soviet Russia, ass kicks you!

We also see more Knightmare frames coming into the casino and wrecking up the

place.  

Are you mechas ready for- you know what, that joke's played out.

As we enter the second half of the episode, we get to see the first member of the

Chinese Federation. These are by far the most stereotypical depictions of a world nation

I've seen in an anime. Hell, it's often seen as one of the key factors cited for when China

banned the series.

At least when Hetalia did this, it was played for laughs; so it was more understandable.

Here, we are truly expected to believe a Chinese person would actually look and act this way.

He looks like he came from a 1950s propaganda poster.

He also has a bodyguard that looks like he came from a Wuxia film. In any other anime,

he'd be good; but he's completely out of place in a Code Geass work.

Back at the casino, Kallen is now struggling to keep her footing. Well, good job. I've

never seen such a deliberate attempt to build up a character's fighting prowess, then completely

jettison it in the next scene.

We get another CGI wireframe shot. Again, this money could have been spent on

something better. On top of that, we also get a very disenchanting battle scene. What happened

to you, Sunrise?

Here it comes, folks. One of the reasons why I can't stand this anime. Lelouch is not

acting like himself, which will be a common feeling throughout this show.

In the middle of the action, we cut back to Ashford students Shirley, Milly, and Rivalz

gardening. One problem I have is whenever a show goes from an action scene to a calm one

like this. It is spectacularly jarring in this situation especially.

We cut back to the casino. Here is one of the reasons Code Geass R2 fails as a second

season. It turns Lelouch, a cunning strategist and warrior from the first season into a whiny,

simpering wreck; going against pre-established characterization entirely. This is something

that will continue throughout the whole season.

Seriously, Lelouch goes through the better part of this episode's third act hyperventilating and doubting himself, something that was never present in the first season.

At that moment, CC appears to Lelouch to remind him of his mission. Thank you.

Try to talk some sense into him. He's been acting like a stroppy child all day.

As if to drive the point home, CC gets shot. Again, this is all very familiar, and you'll

find out why in a moment.

This is gonna ruin my whole day.

Just then, an entire battalion of troops arrive to take Lelouch and CC in. The baron

who was leading the mission had apparently read Lelouch's diary to gauge where he was going

to be that day. They read his diary to draw him out? What kind of shithole planet is this?

I'm just transparently evil. I like what I do. Is that a crime?

So, it's the same situation as the very first episode; except instead of knowing what he

has to do, he's acting like a cow that got caught on the railroad tracks!

CC has survived her wounds, and she restores Lelouch's powers. Here we go again.

He then gives the exact same command with his Geass as the first episode-”die.”

When Britannia is in ashes, then you will have my permission to die.

Meanwhile, in a secret bunker, a man is briefing several members of an elite group

of soldiers that will be known as the Knights of Round on their mission. We see the last one

is Suzaku, and the episode ends.

“The Day A Demon Awakened” is a fitting sign of what's to come in Code Geass R2.

While Sunrise and Clamp invested more money for glamorous action scenes in the second half,

the character motivations have been completely screwed up from the first season. The writing

quality has taken a significant dive, to the degree that the series is like a dumbed-down rehash

of the first season from the get-go. I have seen every episode of this season, so I can vouch for

it not being up to snuff. The first season still holds up, and the whole series at least did well

enough to get various manga spinoffs. One I'm reading right now is “Nightmare of Nunally,”

which I recommend checking out. Another one I might get into is “Suzaku's Counterattack”.

Both are available in online scans and in books from Bandai Entertainment. One I'm looking

forward to is “Oz the Reflection,” which tells a new story that takes influence from L. Frank

Baum's Oz books. There are no scans yet, but I'm still looking. Don't go away, because

Code Geass R2 month will continue; and I will be lording that 8.96 out of 10 over Anime

News Network.