Wow, that was an amazing episode and ending to the series. I knew what was coming before I watched it and I still cried.
The fight between Suzaku and Kallen was awesome. I liked that Suzaku brought up working from within the system one final time. Though Suzaku has been something of a wishy-washy character through the series, that showed some consistency on his side. And in the end it really was a draw, considering Suzaku used the aftermath to fake his death.
Speaking of Suzaku's faked death, the first thing I saw about the episode today was the screenshot of Suzaku's grave and I about had a heart attack before reading on to see he was still alive Arthur sitting at his grave was such a nice touch, though.
Lelouch's confrontation with Nunnally was awesome, too. The internal struggle he was going through while outwardly appearing cold to her just made such a stark contrast and the effect worked well. It took me a minute to accept that he actually Geassed Nunnally as well. But it was also good that he didn't hesitate when it came to her because it would have ruined his plans. Season 1 he couldn't do it, but he learned his lesson.
I started crying about the point Zero appeared and didn't stop until the episode ended. While Nunnally holding Lelouch's hand as he died was heart-breaking, for me the best scene was when Suzaku stabbed Lelouch. Even though Suzaku had wanted revenge on Lelouch for so long, when he finally got the opportunity, he cried. That was touching to me. And Lelouch telling him that this would be his punishment, too... wow. I also liked how, though Kallen and Todoh recognized Suzaku under the Zero outfit, they weren't going to say anything. It would have ruined everything, after all, and I was glad Kallen could come to that understanding in the end.
And then there was Lelouch's actual "death." That was an amazingly well done scene. I liked that Lelouch's memories trasmitted to her in the end so she could understand his motives and tell him she loved him before he "died."
As for the epilogue, I think it works. Ougi and Villetta is pretty meh, but I can get over that. I never hated the pairing or anything; I was and still am more apathetic than anything. The idea of Villetta being pregnant works for me because her child will be born into the peaceful world that Lelouch and Suzaku sacrificed so much to create. The parents will bear the scars of the past, but the child will experience freedom. And Suzaku is once again Nunnally's "knight" as Lelouch wanted, though he must wear the Zero mask now.
And count me in the group that thinks Lelouch is alive. Reading over some of those links convinced me since there just seems to be too much evidence to suggest that he's living, though the arabiguity works, too.
As an ending, I think this is the best possible for the series and how it has played out. It satisfied me, but I can't help but feel sad because (assuming that was Lelouch on the hay cart in the end) even with Lelouch and Suzaku surviving, they have lost so much. Suzaku faked his own death and is left with only a few people knowing the truth and must forever hide behind the mask of the syrabol he hated and fought against for so long. That he will never be able to be himself again is sad, even though he accepted it. And Lelouch is left with world cursing his name with, again, only a few people understanding the truth (though it obviously couldn't be any other way), knowing that he can never be with Nunnally again, and being forced into hiding. And assuming he is alive, he would be an immortal now, so he has all the time in the world to deal with all of that.
Something else that struck me throughout the episode was the cyclical nature of season 2. Nunnally holding onto Lelouch as he dies while the crowd chants Zero's name is eerily reminiscent of Suzaku holding onto Euphie as she dies while the crowd chants Zero's name in season 1. Not to mention, it was "Zero" who fatally wounded the person in both cases. Then there was, as mentioned earlier, Nunnally interrupting Lelouch's plans; in season 1 he dropped everything for her while in season 2 he knows he can't do that anymore. I had more examples in mind, but they suddenly escape me
Anyway, I'm still processing the whole thing, but I really do think R2 ended up successful. I don't think it was the trainwreck so many have called it; it was no season 1, but the final few episodes really brought up the level from earlier in R2. In general, I'm happy with it.
On the topic of a possible OVA: I have a love-hate relationship with the idea. I love it because I would love nothing more than to see more Geass. But I hate it because I think answering some of the questions the last episode brought up would ruin the power the arabiguous ending had.
The fight between Suzaku and Kallen was awesome. I liked that Suzaku brought up working from within the system one final time. Though Suzaku has been something of a wishy-washy character through the series, that showed some consistency on his side. And in the end it really was a draw, considering Suzaku used the aftermath to fake his death.
Speaking of Suzaku's faked death, the first thing I saw about the episode today was the screenshot of Suzaku's grave and I about had a heart attack before reading on to see he was still alive Arthur sitting at his grave was such a nice touch, though.
Lelouch's confrontation with Nunnally was awesome, too. The internal struggle he was going through while outwardly appearing cold to her just made such a stark contrast and the effect worked well. It took me a minute to accept that he actually Geassed Nunnally as well. But it was also good that he didn't hesitate when it came to her because it would have ruined his plans. Season 1 he couldn't do it, but he learned his lesson.
I started crying about the point Zero appeared and didn't stop until the episode ended. While Nunnally holding Lelouch's hand as he died was heart-breaking, for me the best scene was when Suzaku stabbed Lelouch. Even though Suzaku had wanted revenge on Lelouch for so long, when he finally got the opportunity, he cried. That was touching to me. And Lelouch telling him that this would be his punishment, too... wow. I also liked how, though Kallen and Todoh recognized Suzaku under the Zero outfit, they weren't going to say anything. It would have ruined everything, after all, and I was glad Kallen could come to that understanding in the end.
And then there was Lelouch's actual "death." That was an amazingly well done scene. I liked that Lelouch's memories trasmitted to her in the end so she could understand his motives and tell him she loved him before he "died."
As for the epilogue, I think it works. Ougi and Villetta is pretty meh, but I can get over that. I never hated the pairing or anything; I was and still am more apathetic than anything. The idea of Villetta being pregnant works for me because her child will be born into the peaceful world that Lelouch and Suzaku sacrificed so much to create. The parents will bear the scars of the past, but the child will experience freedom. And Suzaku is once again Nunnally's "knight" as Lelouch wanted, though he must wear the Zero mask now.
And count me in the group that thinks Lelouch is alive. Reading over some of those links convinced me since there just seems to be too much evidence to suggest that he's living, though the arabiguity works, too.
As an ending, I think this is the best possible for the series and how it has played out. It satisfied me, but I can't help but feel sad because (assuming that was Lelouch on the hay cart in the end) even with Lelouch and Suzaku surviving, they have lost so much. Suzaku faked his own death and is left with only a few people knowing the truth and must forever hide behind the mask of the syrabol he hated and fought against for so long. That he will never be able to be himself again is sad, even though he accepted it. And Lelouch is left with world cursing his name with, again, only a few people understanding the truth (though it obviously couldn't be any other way), knowing that he can never be with Nunnally again, and being forced into hiding. And assuming he is alive, he would be an immortal now, so he has all the time in the world to deal with all of that.
Something else that struck me throughout the episode was the cyclical nature of season 2. Nunnally holding onto Lelouch as he dies while the crowd chants Zero's name is eerily reminiscent of Suzaku holding onto Euphie as she dies while the crowd chants Zero's name in season 1. Not to mention, it was "Zero" who fatally wounded the person in both cases. Then there was, as mentioned earlier, Nunnally interrupting Lelouch's plans; in season 1 he dropped everything for her while in season 2 he knows he can't do that anymore. I had more examples in mind, but they suddenly escape me
Anyway, I'm still processing the whole thing, but I really do think R2 ended up successful. I don't think it was the trainwreck so many have called it; it was no season 1, but the final few episodes really brought up the level from earlier in R2. In general, I'm happy with it.
On the topic of a possible OVA: I have a love-hate relationship with the idea. I love it because I would love nothing more than to see more Geass. But I hate it because I think answering some of the questions the last episode brought up would ruin the power the arabiguous ending had.