Code Geass R2 Episode 13 Review

Well, Code Geass R2 episode 13 certainly didn’t turn out the way anyone thought it would. Nice wrap up for that little scene though. Clean and efficient. Sad, let’s not forget sad. Need to get flowers for the funeral.

Orange-kun was a bodyguard for Marianne, Lelouch’s mother, and has now proceeded to swear loyalty to his new master. Another twist no one saw coming. Interesting how the Black Order just so happens to have the train system rigged with an anti-Sakuradite system.

I’m torn between making asshat comments that I think most fans of Shirley would not appreciate, and being decently morose over the whole affair. Suffice to say I found her death somewhat ironic.

First of all, let us make a point perfectly clear: Shirley Fenette was a fictional character in a fictional universe that never really existed and getting all worked up over it just seems silly to me. At best she was a side character whose existence to the development of the primary plot was unessential. Doubtless the events in Code Geass R2 13 will have some impact on the character of Lelouch, but it still doesn’t change the fact that she wasn’t necessary for the progression of the Order of the Black Knights.

Second of all, there are a relatively large percentage of Code Geass fans who want to see Lelouch dig it with either C.C. or Kallen and maybe even the Kaguya princess. Guess what? The competition just dropped by one.

Here is why I found her death ironic.

After a total of 39 episodes over one and a half seasons of Code Geass, they finally kill off a second character who isn’t even that vital to the progression of the series, but a side character that viewers were emotionally invested in. The first one was, of course, Euphemia. All the other characters that have died thus far are flunkies. Shirley just happens to be a flunky that the audience, especially girls, adore. No one saw Euphemia’s death coming either. They just seem kind of arbitrary.

I do feel some loss at her lack of presence. Lelouch has some feelings for her, whether they be romantic or filial is irrelevant.

The real question at the end of Code Geass R2 13 is whether Rollo was the one who did Shirley in. By all appearances that is what is implied, but as is so often the case with animes, appearances are deliberately misleading.

Shirley’s death isn’t really a plot twist, IMO. It would have been if she had joined the Order of the Black Knights or joined against Zero/Lelouch, but that never happened. Shirley succeeds in declaring her undying love for Lelouch and urges Suzaku to forgive him. Fat chance of that, I think. At the very least Code Geass R2 13 was a total gut twister. Until next time.