Recap: Imprisoned in the Academy

Hello again, and welcome back to Code Geass R2 month. When we last left the series,

we found out that the ambiguous ending of the first season was retconned in favor of a

moronic plot device about giving the Emperor a Geass; or anyone a Geass, for that matter.

We witnessed some incredibly clunky battle scenes despite a rise in animation quality. We

discovered a double standard of putting female pilots in risqué positions but offering no such

treatment to the male pilots. To top it all off, we found out that Zero is going to create a United

States of Japan for oppressed Elevens. Now, we move on to episode 3 of this insipid saga;

“Imprisoned in the Academy.”

We open on the information about the first season and this season so far once again

being repeated. We know this already. Do they think we have ADD?

We then get the same inappropriate theme song. You know, I'm running out of things

to say about how much it doesn't fit. Here's a song that's a bit more appropriate.

We then get our same old, dull title card. Easy, Steven, there's just one more recap after

this.

We cut to the Chinese Federation branch in Area 11 (note: I kept referring to Area 11

as Britannia in my earlier recaps, when it is actually a TERRITORY of Britannia. My

apologies for the confusion.). Zero still intends to expand the United States of Japan.

Outside, Rolo is about to use his Geass on Li Xingke, part of the Chinese Federation's

elite guard when his cell phone rings. Pay attention, it's going to get real stupid, real fast.

On the other end, Lelouch is playing basketball under the supervision of Viletta, who

is a teacher now. Didn't you always want that for her character?

Rolo asks what's going on. That's a question a lot of people who watched this anime

asked. I also notice that everybody's preferred style of cell phone is a mid-1990s flip phone;

yet this anime is not only set in the near future, but an alternate reality as well.

The Britannian army covers up Carares' death as an injury, and places Guilford in charge

of handling the incarcerated Black Knights as well as the unit of combating the reunited ones.

I'm not sure how a person survives a transport exploding and a building falling on him; but

this is the same show that had Jeremiah survive a robot exploding. We'll get to that, it's a long

story.

As if that's not enough, Zero takes off his mask to reveal it's her mask. It's CC, disguised

as Zero, using a prerecorded speech to take the trail off Lelouch. I told you it would get stupid.

I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!

Kallen is surprised at CC's decision, and CC labels her tactics as a magic show. It's

only getting more stupid by the moment.

We cut to Lelouch, Milly, Rivalz, and Shirley cooking for a birthday party. I will admit,

this cooking scene is actually kind of funny.

Milly remarks that men are usually useless in the kitchen. First, take a moment to consider that someone actually got paid to write that. Second, that's bullshit. Ever hear of

Wolfgang Puck? Fuddrucker? Bob Evans? Boyardee?

Shirley then gets herself covered in cake batter. Rivalz asks if she wants a towel.

No, but you laid on a slab would be nice.

OK, this Home Ec bit was funny at first, but now it's dragging on too far. It's been

going on for a minute and a half!

Lelouch remarks how they don't remember anything from last year, and determines

that the Emperor manipulated the entire student council's memory. You know, this plot device

was outlandish at first, now I'm certain that it fits the criteria of Voodoo Shark that I brought

up in the last recap.

On top of that, the Empire even set up a command center with paid informants in

the school. I am personally wondering what was going through the collective minds of

Goro Takenuchi, Sunrise, and Clamp when they were making this season.

There is a total of 48 informants after Zero. I think Rivalz is one of them, since he

does not act like a normal teenager at all. Yet, they don't believe Lelouch is behind what

happened in the previous episode. Just what compelled Anime News Network to give this

an 8.96 out of 10, objectively better than Full Metal Alchemist at 8.7?

The government has set up surveillance cameras all over the school, in case Lelouch

tries to use his Geass or do anything else. Merlin's beard. You know, this whole thing is

the reason we can't wear hats or hoods in school.

Anyway, the people in this group of informants are looking for CC. Does Britannia

not have provisions for Secret Witness or Amber Alert? They just go straight to Big Brother

tactics?

Lelouch realizes none of them remember Nunnally, and he just goes right back to

moping and whining. You're trying way too hard for this, Jun Fukuyama.

He also questions the Emperor using a child as leverage. Eh, teenager is kind of on

the fence on whether you'd consider her a child. She clearly held a position of power when

she was in the series, despite her blindness and paralysis.

Lelouch finishes his inner monologue with some exposition recapping the events of the

first season, and a remark that he'll have to try harder to fool people. Kid, the last time you

tried to fool people, you ended up with a cat stealing your helmet and a dead Britannian prince.

We cut to another battle scene. There really wasn't enough action in the last two episodes? They had to just shove a battle with jaunty camera work and fast edits into the episode?

Looks like Matt Tracker finally lost it.

Yet it just keeps going on. Yes! We get it, Bandai! Your robots are awesome! Please

contribute something of substance!

MA-MA-MA-MASK! MASK! IS THE MIGHTY POWER THAT CAN SAVE THE DAY!
MA-MA-MA-MASK! MASK! NO ONE KNOWS WHAT LIES BEHIND THE MASQUERADE!

We even get a scene where Prince Schniezel is overseeing the battle and remarking

at Suzaku's military promotion. The Britannian army also apparently hates Italians. Oh,

Schniezel, you and your blind hubris. Everyone knows Italy always has to be bailed out by

Japan and Germany.

Meanwhile, back at the academy, Lelouch is looking at some old photographs of his

classmates, which have been edited to reflect the Emperor's use of his Geass.

Now this is just insulting. Even if I were gay, would I settle for Lloyd?

At that moment, Rolo comes in to talk about Lelouch's absences, blaming them on

his involvement with the student council. He states that Milly likes her events too much.

Yes, she does like her events too much. She once declared a school holiday to make Bavarian

Cream Donuts. If Lelouch is missing classes, it's her fault.

The subject then changes to the Babel Tower incident from the previous two episodes.

This can only end well. Lelouch then notices the locket in Rolo's hand, and remembers that

October 25 is Nunnally's birthday. Glad you could tell us this vital information for our

everyday lives.

I still don't find Rolo that bad. He's actually kind of cute, and I'm not a fan of bishonen.

We then cut back to the underground command center, which is juxtaposed with

the school's sewer system. Where does Ashford Academy get funding for such an enormous

sewer setup? Just to have the Ninja Turtles' lair down there with the school's waste?

At that moment, an informant comes in on Rolo and Viletta. Rolo determines he can't

know he has a Geass. Rolo's Geass can stop time, and he uses it to kill the informant. Good

job. I know Lelouch used his Geass to kill people, but he wasn't this careless with it! Though

he will be.

We cut to the Chinese Federation building, and we find out it's been three days since

the United States of Japan were formed. Every time that Chinese Federation guy opens his

mouth, my ears bleed.

After a bit of inner monologue, Kallen comes out from the shower in nothing but a

towel. Damn it, Kallen is not just an object! She's a warrior! Stop objectifying her!

Guilford intends to give the captured Black Knights death by firing squad at 3PM

tomorrow. Somehow, I think people will just tune in to Wheel of Fortune instead. Also,

can someone please tell Kallen to put some clothes on? That towel is just barely keeping

this blog work safe for my advertisers!

This whole thing is so dumb that Lelouch is facepalming at it. Still, it needs work.

Captain Picard? Show them how it's done.

At that moment, Shirley comes in. Oh, Shirley. We'll get to you. She states they need

to get something for the birthday party. She suggests getting a type of alcohol. Alcohol?

You're what, 17? You're too young to buy liquor by Japanese age limits! (Note: As of

this writing, the drinking age in Japan is 20.)

As the two leave the school, Rivalz listens in to their plans, and decides to get Milly

and Rolo to follow them. I knew it. I knew it! Rivalz IS a plant! I knew no normal teenager

would act that way!

Oh yeah, Lelouch can't turn off his Geass anymore. I know, it's stupid. CC gave him

a special contact lens to cover it up. How did CC know his prescription? What kind of cleaning

fluid and eye drops does he use?

So, they arrive at the mall, and it's time for the obligatory consumerism montage.

After the gratuitous Pizza Hut product placement, their first stop is a winery. They're

really going to go through with this? Here, they'd card them till they're 43.

We also see Rivalz, Milly, and Rolo on their tail. How much is the government paying

them to stalk Lelouch? Is there really that much money in being a snitch?

Mitt Romney's election committee resorted to some pretty
undesirable tactics late in his campaign.

It's also revealed there are informants all over the mall. Just how many people does

the Emperor have on his payroll to spy on this one kid? Does he have fear of an Oedipus

situation?

Now Lelouch and Shirley are looking at cell phones. Maybe this song could help

ease the pain of this episode.  

Maybe it's because I consider being 20 like being a kid again, but I just had to

post that song. Good, we only have 5 minutes left.

Lelouch decides to Geass the phone clerk. “You will give me unlimited minutes,

text messages, and data!” Shirley is oblivious to this, as she is listening to music.

So this is that "dubstep" I've heard so much about.

Shirley then sees an ad for a cable car. There's a PDA incident in front of you, and you're

focused on cable cars?

Oh, that's right. They really had to bring that up? That incident with her in a cable car

in the first season?

I'll! *RAZZ* I'll! *RAZZ* Right in der fuhrer's face!

Seriously, giving the Emperor a Geass just gets dumber with each succeeding episode.

At that moment, Lelouch realizes the president and the others are following them. NO!

You think?

Lelouch and Shirley then head into a clothing store called Alpha 14. It sells overpriced

shirts relating to anime, video games, music, and Western cartoons; as well as some tote bags

and specialty energy drinks.

Lelouch deduces that the dressing room is one of the few places in the shopping

center that does not have surveillance. He then changes into something far more informal,

and phones in a bomb threat. The bomb is made out of a substance called corbomite, which

will level this entire shopping center in moments. There's my Lelouch! Acting like a cunning

strategist again!

To top it all off, Lelouch is even coming out dressed like the Unabomber. By Arceus'

rings, a smoldering tower? A bomb threat in a shopping center? This anime is trolling me.

Suddenly, the alarm sounds. They're trying to steal Chrome Zephyr again! Everyone

panics at how things are going.

I knew we shouldn't have tried to play a battle of the sexes story for laughs!

It turns out the name of the informant following Lelouch was Scorpion. Also, these

workers have very funny hats.

Lelouch declares he is quite pleased with himself and the things he has done today,

and heads back to the academy.

Introduce a little anarchy, upset the established order and everything becomes chaos.
I'm an agent of chaos.

Back at the academy, Lelouch is not pleased with Rolo spying on him and lying about

his life. He holds him at gunpoint, saying that the school that was once a blight on him will

now be a key part of his reign. Rolo will have none of this, and uses his Geass to get the upper

hand.

We take one last look at the Chinese Federation building, which has an explosion at it.

Looks like Norman is having trouble with his fireworks machine again. Xingke is on the attack,

saying that he will destroy the Black Knights here. Sure, Xingke. And I'll become a voice

actor for the new Digimon dub. Some ending that was.

“Imprisoned in the Academy” is right up there with the worst of Code Geass R2.

The Emperor having a Geass is already creating massive plot holes, which will only get

worse as they go along. While I admit that Rolo's Geass seems like an interesting element,

its potential is seriously wasted here. It also feels a need to continue to shoehorn action

scenes into an otherwise more relaxing episode. The humor is still not a fit for the series,

despite one scene that actually worked in that department. We only have one more recap

to get through before Code Geass R2 month ends. Until that time, I need a more festive

song to end this one.