By [ad_1]
One of the most popular anime series of the early 2000s, Code Geass revolves around protagonist Lelouch vi Britannia and his determination to destroy the oppressive empire built by his father, Charles. It’s not an easy task but not only is Lelouch given the Geass of Absolute Obedience by his witch accomplice C.C., but he’s also a genius.
He may not be the best Knightmare pilot, but his strategies and charisma turn his alter-ego Zero into a man of miracles, a true hero of the people. Time and again, he hoodwinks his opponents. He is so popular that he was eventually brought back in the sequel movie, Lelouch of the Re;surrection. But there have been times when Lelouch’s decisions blow up in his face, sometimes with devastating circumstances.
10 Genius Decision: Using Ohgi’s Terrorist Group Against Clovis’s Britannian Troops Is A Win On Two Counts
Lelouch’s decisions are often influenced by whatever is useful to him at a given point in time. During the incident in Shinjuku, Lelouch sees himself in danger because of the massacre his brother Clovis has unleashed, but also realizes that it’s an opportunity.
Using the Britannians’ own weapons against them as well as his new Geass abilities, Lelouch forces Clovis’ hand. With the terrorist group following his commands, he takes out Clovis’ units one by one. At the end, Lelouch has both saved Ohgi’s group and sneaked behind enemy lines to confront his brother.
9 Backfires Badly: Killing His Brother Clovis Leads To Devastating Consequences
While confronting his brother to stop the massacre is a good idea, killing him is most definitely not. Angered by his mother’s death, Lelouch uses his Geass on Clovis to learn the truth about the assassination. Clovis doesn’t have much information, but Lelouch decides to kill him anyway, believing he can’t change the world without getting his hands dirty.
Clovis’ death brings backlash in the presence of his far more dangerous sister, Cornelia, as well as the unexpected challenge of Euphemia. If Lelouch had chosen to use Clovis as a puppet governor instead, things would have been far easier for him.
8 Genius Decision: He Defeats Mao’s Geass By Predicting His Thoughts And Manipulating His Own
A calculating mind like Lelouch’s is a bad match for someone like the Geass user Mao who can read minds. Even so, on two different occasions, Lelouch manages to use Mao’s Geass against him. During the confrontation at the amusement park, he anticipates Mao’s words and distracts him from the approaching Geassed policemen.
When the wounded Mao returns and kidnaps Nunnally, Lelouch Geasses himself, using his own thoughts as a smokescreen for his actual plan. He relies on his friend Suzaku Kururugi to save his sister, and it works brilliantly, although it doesn’t go so well for Suzaku. Pushed into a corner, Mao reads Suzaku’s mind and learns Suzaku killed his own father, leading Suzaku to have a breakdown.
7 Backfires Badly: He Tries To Use Suzaku’s Patricide Against Him
Despite his genius, Lelouch has many times shown that his understanding of human emotions is lacking. The best example is his attempt to manipulate Suzaku by using his patricide against him. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t work, and it simply makes Suzaku attempt to kill them both on orders from Britannia.
This forces Lelouch to cast the “Live on!” Geass on Suzaku, an order that will later turn out to be lethal for many. It’s also a betrayal of his and Suzaku’s friendship. After what Suzaku had just gone through at Mao’s hands, Lelouch really should have known better than to turn on his friend this way.
6 Good Decision: He Collapses The Tokyo Settlement During The Black Rebellion
The First Black Rebellion is a turning point in the anime in more ways than one. Lelouch accidentally Geasses his sister Euphemia into committing a massacre. While distraught by the event, he uses it to start a rebellion. Taking advantage of the way Tokyo is built, he collapses the entire settlement, completely shocking the Britannian forces led by his sister Cornelia. Lelouch’s laugh as the city collapses around him remains haunting to this day.
5 Backfires Badly: He Changes His Mind About Using His Geass On Euphemia
Determined to not let his sister Euphemia’s Special Administrative Zone plan get in his way, Lelouch asks her to see him in private. He wishes to use his Geass on her to make her shoot him, and in this way, become the face of a popular uprising. He changes his mind at the last moment, but accidentally Geasses his sister into massacring the Japanese instead.
He’s later forced to kill her, and her death is what seals his fate. It makes him spiral into an abyss of self-hatred while also earning Suzaku’s eternal enmity. If Lelouch had either gone through with his original plan or simply used a more benign Geass on Euphemia, she would have been safe and the Special Administrative Zone massacre would have never happened.
4 Genius Decision: He Frees The Japanese Using Legal Loopholes And Unexpected Strategies
The return of Zero in Season 2 of the anime shocks many characters. Some doubt the masked figure is even the original leader of the Black Knights. Lelouch eliminates all their doubts when he frees his captive subordinates about to be executed with the same strategy used during the Black Rebellion.
In one notable instance, he destroys the Britannian navy using a tank of methane hydrate located underwater. Later, he makes a secret deal to exile himself, only to have one million Japanese wear the Zero suit exiling everyone with him in the process. Suzaku keeps another massacre from happening, and a million Japanese are freed from Britannia. Many of the strategies used in this period truly prove he is a genius.
3 Backfires Badly: He Never Explains Anything To His Subordinates
One of Lelouch’s major flaws in the anime is that he doesn’t quite take into account other people’s opinions. He shares very little information about himself and his decision-making process. This doesn’t keep the Black Knights from following him at first, but it does sow the seeds of distrust.
It is one if not the only factor that leads to the betrayal of the Black Knights. Between Schneizel’s manipulations and Ohgi’s decision to trust Viletta, the group turns against their leader. Lelouch only survives the encounter because of the sacrifice of his fake brother, Rolo.
2 Genius Decision: He Allies Himself With Suzaku And Becomes Britannia’s Emperor
If there’s anything that the anime shows time and again, it’s that Lelouch and Suzaku can do anything together. It takes the duo far too long to set aside their differences, and it is only after Lelouch’s confrontation with his manipulative parents and the disastrous FLEIJA explosion in Tokyo that they decide to team up. To the surprise of no one, Emperor Lelouch and Knight of Zero Suzaku are an unbeatable team and foil Schneizel’s plans, even when things seem most dire.
1 Backfires Badly: He Commits To A Mutual Suicide Pact With Suzaku Through The Zero Requiem
Code Geass‘ ending is universally known as one of the best moments in anime history. It is the culmination of the Zero Requiem plan, Lelouch’s decision to gather all the world’s hate onto himself and strike it down using the blade of his best friend, Suzaku. According to Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection, the plan works. The world does turn toward more peaceful pursuits, focusing on diplomatic compromise instead of war.
But the peace Lelouch buys with his life only lasts a year. It’s unsurprising, and even outside movie canon, it’s easy to note that the concept of the Requiem is politically naive. It is more meant to be a mutual suicide pact, a way for both Suzaku and Lelouch to atone for their crimes. It’s a beautiful, poetic ending, and it does serve its purpose, but in the long run, it might have been better if Lelouch had kept the throne and made change happen in a different way.
About The Author
[ad_2]
