Code Geass R2 Episode 9 Review

After a week’s break, we’re back with Code Geass R2 Episode 9. Bailing from Japan proper, Lelouch and his gang of one million exiles run away to some island in the middle of nowhere. Zero is finally faced with the second prince Schneizel, who is his apparent equal in brains and strategy, and something of a superior in looks.

We finally get a look at Odysseus, the first prince, who is an apparent fop, and the eldest out of that problematic bunch. I don’t really know what Schneizel is doing walking around with Bat Shit Crazy Nina, but I’m guessing she’ll threaten to blow something up for him in the near future. Bat Shit Crazy Nina is still bat shit crazy.

Milly and Lloyd’s engagement is still on, and you can definitely see Milly trying to make an effort.

Odysseus and Tianzi, the young inexperienced empress of China, are scheduled for a marriage which Schneizel orchestrated. Xingke faces some internal dilemma cuz he might be a closet pedoperv, whatever—he crashes the wedding in a desperate effort to save the empress only to find that Zero managed to beat him there.

The highlight of Code Geass R2 episode 9 was the chess match between Zero and Schneizel. I actually enjoyed this episode because for the first time this season, it finally pits Zero against someone who was and is likely to remain a prolonged antagonist. As implied in the episode, Schneizel may be getting one up on Zero soon because Lelouch—in his pride—can’t stand to stomach Schneizel’s domination.

I’m seriously beginning to wonder if the span of Code Geass R2 will be able to end the series satisfactorily. I realize we still have somewhere between 15 to 17 episodes to go, but as it is, things are so fucked up that untangling it all could take a while. Lelouch still has to find who killed mommy; Zero presumably has to beat Schneizel, Suzaku and the other two Knight of the Round flunkies; he also presumably has to topple Britannia, Charles the emperor, and V.V.; don’t forget Cornelia, Orange-kun, Nina, and whoever else I might be forgetting. They also have to explain the witches and what that is all about. The list goes on.

That reminds me. Why the hell do they keep bringing back Jeremiah Gottwald? It has seriously gotten old, seeing him resurrected, more powerful (supposedly) time and time again.

C.C.’s lack of screen time is also starting to get annoying. So far, she’s only gotten a line or two every episode.

Personally, I’m torn between wanting to see a job well done on the story and having them extend into a season 3 if they have to, or just having them finish the damn thing with Code Geass R2. Code Geass R2 episode 9’s was entertaining, if only to see Zero and Schneizel play a game of chess. I think Zero may be overmatched in this one.