One letter, five characters

[elarielf]

RULES:

1. Leave a comment to this post, specifically saying that you would like a letter.
2. I will give you a letter.
3. Post the names of five fictional characters whose names begin with that letter, and your thoughts on each. The characters can be from books, movies, or TV shows.

shirogiku gave me the letter "L", probably for the second character on

Comments

[bard_linn]

So, out of curiosity....what do you think would have been an appropriate end for Lelouch's story?

Yeah, spoilers for Code Geass

[elarielf]

I don't mind Lelouch dying, I just don't like the way it was portrayed as if he was giving everything up to Suzaku and liberating C.C. (...emotionally, I guess) when really he was abandoning them. According to the philosophy presented throughout R1 and R2.

I would have liked to see him take C.C.'s code after making himself hated and forced to become a hermit, communicating only with Suzaku (who took his place as Zero). This seems more in tune with the idea of living as a sacrifice and an eternal life given in atonement as a service to others.

That seems like what was being set up - Lelouch ending up an unhappy immortal. But I would have appreciated the subversion of his death if it hadn't been shown as a victory and a noble sacrifice. Frankly, if it wouldn't have led to more Suzaku-hate, I would have appreciated Suzaku betraying him at the last minute and the exact same scene (including tearful goodbyes and mask caresses) only without Lelouch in control. That would have been neat.

But at least it wasn't Light's death. :p

Re: Yeah, spoilers for Code Geass

[bard_linn]

This is one of those things that make talking about a series so interesting, because I don't really see the abandoning issue at all. I don't really think the main idea of Geass was that there are worse fates than death. My interpretation of the 'theme' of the series is that people have selfish desires that they pursue even when they will hurt those the love/people around them, with the corollary that they generally wrap them up in fancy packages to make it look like they're doing the 'right' thing. Suzaku, Lelouch, Charles (Marriane and VV) are pretty obvious examples of this, but it even applies to Euphie and Shirley, amongst many others

Re: Yeah, spoilers for Code Geass

[elarielf]

"I don't really think the main idea of Geass was that there are worse fates than death."

It's not a main theme, like racism and relative moralities and power corrupting, but it was there. It's not Lelouch's theme, while the rest of them are, which makes it less obvious, but it's C.C.'s and Suzaku's and even Marianne's (she was practically deified in death, and it's only her coming back to life that condemns her to a place in the narrative as a grey villain). It's secondary, or even tertiary, but it's still presented overtly (C.C.) and subvertly (Suzaku's "live" geass) throughout the series.

I agree that selfish desires masquerading as high-minded ideals is probably the strongest theme in Code Geass, and one that ties in almost every character (...except perhaps C.C. who never bothered pretending to any ideal) and in that regard, Lelouch's sacrifice is a brilliant ending. And that was more than enough for me the first time I watched (...and cried, but don't tell anyone!) But on second and third viewing, I didn't see his death as a "

Re: Yeah, spoilers for Code Geass

[bard_linn]

See, I see C.C.'s lack of interest in life more as a foretelling of what happens when you get everything (not to mention forshadowing. I figured out she was one of those types of immortals - and Suzaku's geass as a perfect example of how powerful Lelouch's geass is, along with an example of how much Lelouch is willing to put his own desires over even his best friend's. (Again, tying into that theme I mentioned.)

(By the way, I am of the opinion that Marianne's fall from Angel to Devil was a way of shattering the very last of Lelouch's illusions from childhood.)

But Suzaku's death wouldn't have been a sacrifice because that's what he wanted. For Lelouch, who wanted to be in charge of things, who wanted power, I very much doubted he wanted to die (...with the exception of right after he thought Nunnally was dead). As far as the living option - he did try to seal himself into the world of C with Charles, which definetly seemed to me like another attempt at repentance. So I wouldn't agree that Lelouch wasn't willing to live to repent

Re: Yeah, spoilers for Code Geass

[elarielf]

"I am of the opinion that Marianne's fall from Angel to Devil was a way of shattering the very last of Lelouch's illusions from childhood."

That and Nunnally's 'betrayal' packed the most emotional punches for me, but I think a lot of that was because I was watching the entire series through Lelouch's eyes the first time around. There are parts in R2 that seem to be based around the idea that Lelouch isn't allowed to have nice things. *cough*Black Knight's betrayal*cough*

"I very much doubted he wanted to die [...] But he needed to die for the plan to work. If he had lived, he would have gotten the world for Nunnally, and gotten to be with her - because you know they would have found a way, Nunnally is sneaky like her brother - not really a penance."

Again, even I can think of several plans where Lelouch gets everything he wants and doesn't have to die, so it wasn't necessary per se. But it was clearly the choice he made - that this was the price he was going to pay for (mis)using his geass and causing so much death and unhappiness

Re: Yeah, spoilers for Code Geass

[bard_linn]

As far as CC goes...I never really cared about her. >.> She bored me as a character, so I don't care if she relapses or not. XD

Honestly, the saddest thing, for me, is Nunnally in the whole situation. I often wonder what Lelouch and Suzaku's plans would have been if they had known she was alive when they started out their whole plan. (I'm betting different.)