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Rating: 9.3/10

Impressions:

I hear some distributor group rearranged the OP sequence and slapped COLORS back on…now that’s something I’d like to see, but can’t due to internet restrictions…as always. I still don’t like the OP, and I thought sitting through it again this time might make me change my mind slightly, but it didn’t at all. Sigh. Anyway, this episode is quite surprising with the numerous plot twists (including very hot goth C.C.!), though I think the end of Shirley as an obstacle to Lelouch was done perfectly. It was highly unexpected, though I really feel sad yet somehow relieved when Shirley talks to Lelouch after losing her memory.

While the moment is splendid, I feel it doesn’t have enough basis for a well placed end for Shirley. Lelouch reveals that he had loved the times he and Shirley spent together, yet hardly any of this is shown in the series. If they had included a character development episode where all the characters go out, without advancing the story but giving us the idea that Lelouch might feel this wa about Shirley, it would be a lot more believable. However, now I wonder where Shirley will go now. Obviously, she has to leave school, otherwise it would be a huge problem for Lelouch if he is the only person she doesn’t know.

A lot of stuff happens this episode, and most of them lay out the future of the show in a fairly guessable manner. There’s the obvious situation with Mao, and this will relate heavily to C.C. and Lelouch, as they are all Geass users. However, it may also be a short term thing, as the next episode title suggests. Viletta is probably alive (Sunrise remember), and it just so happens the person she will be rescued by is Ougi, who is doubting Lelouch. Hmm, unexpected pairing anyone? This is one of the reasons Code Geass is great, and that is the shifting of diplomacies like in a real war with lots of little sub factions going against each other. Marvellous!

The number of characters allows for heaps of interesting little sub plots, though hardly any is happening in the mean time. One interesting mini-story that seems top be sticking is Nina and her infatuation with Eupphie. With this, I bet there will be some Nina and Suzaku encounter after Eupphie selects him for her Knight (most likely anyway). And with that, perhaps Lelouch will get involved as well. Maybe the student coucil will all go to see Eupphie somehow and discover the pilot to the Lancelot! Well, like most subplots, they all come together in the end, so Nina’s part must have some influence on the series.

I bet Nina is gonna get severely jealous of Suzaku when she learns his relationship with her. I can already feel the Rena-eyes and Kaede-box-cutter being melded onto Nina and unleashed into the fray as a lone, neutral saboteur, fighting for her own sake and pleasure fufufu. Ok, perhaps not that extreme but I can hope! And speaking of love triangles, when the hell is C.C. gonna meet Karen, and when is Karen gonna find out Zero’s true identity? I hope it’s soon, though the coming episode titles don’t suggest it. There will however be some much needed Nanaly! God she needs an episode to herself, since everything Lelouch is doing IS for her.

Preview:

Next episode – #15
Acclaiming Mao

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