[Note: There are minor changes compared to the original Code Geass, so the changes are intentional and not mistakes.]
Yuuya had excitedly returned from the office. Normally, people would hate Mondays since it's the day after Sunday, and he used to think the same. But for this month, he had started looking forward to Mondays because Code Geass was premiering, and the story kept getting more interesting.
As he started episode 7, Lelouch had gone against Cornelia, who provoked him by using civilian hostages. He went there but lost because his resistance forces were made up of civilians who weren't following his orders, and he was captured. Then, C.C. showed up to save him. Yuuya was watching the last 12 minutes on the edge of his seat. He couldn't guess where the plot was heading. First, he thought Lelouch might win, then that he might escape since he was the main character. The setup and staging were so tense that nothing felt predictable. When the episode ended, with Lelouch escaping with C.C. and declaring he would create an army to defeat the Britannian Empire, Yuuya let out a long breath.
Finishing the episode, Yuuya said excitedly, "The way they constructed this episode, showing character flow and all that, in just under 22 minutes... the pacing is on another level. The storytelling is so tight that you don't feel any scene is unnecessary for the plot."
Then he played episode 8.
The student council girls were heading to Lake Kawaguchi by train when the scene shifted. Lelouch invited Kallen's group to his new base, which was essentially a luxury caravan he had obtained from some royals. As they checked it out, one of them said, "Hey, it's even got a TV." When he turned it on, the news was playing:
"I'm here in front of the Lake Kawaguchi Convention Center Hotel. The hotel-jackers have identified themselves as the Japan Liberation Front. Members of the Sakuradite Allocation Meeting, along with several tourists and hotel employees, have been taken hostage. This footage, recorded by the perpetrators, clearly shows Chairman James, as well as some students, among those held inside."
The photo showed that one of the student council members was there.
Yuuya muttered, "So the Sakuradite is the reason Britannia conquered Japan... but what is it used for?"
The next scene answered that question. Sakuradite is an essential superconductor and a vital resource that affects world security. Japan controlled 70% of it, which determined how much each nation would get. It was a key factor in the global power balance between Britannia and other countries.
Yuuya said thoughtfully, "So it's that important to security. Other than the Knightmare Frames, there isn't anything else that would require this kind of advanced material. Or maybe they haven't shown it yet, but I think it's essential for the Knightmare Frames."
Then, the terrorist group revealed themselves as the Japan Liberation Front, the biggest anti-Britannian force in Japan.
Frustrated, Yuuya says, "So what can they even do? If Britannia compromises, how can they hold up their end of the bargain? They're negotiating with their enemy, not their own people."
The next scene implied that they acted out in response to Zero's recent rise. His actions had been making headlines, and it's possible their pride was wounded. Compared to the recent resistance groups, they hadn't achieved much, and Zero had completely overshadowed them. Maybe this was their way of reclaiming attention.
Yuuya said, "How has this guy even survived this long? If he had that much pride, he would've died when the Britannian Empire first attacked. Maybe he's got some kind of connection keeping him alive, but the way he's acting now? It's reckless, especially given his position."
The scene shifted to Cornelia's group discussing strategies to rescue the hostages. The building was surrounded by water, and the terrorists had weapons that neutralized attacks from the air or bridges. The only route left was an underground tunnel used for transporting supplies, which could also send in Knightmare Frames. They tried that, but the Japan Liberation Front had predicted it and set up an Electro-Magnetic Shrapnel Cannon, foiling the plan.
As Lelouch watched the news, he was conflicted. He wanted to save them, but his new organization wasn't ready yet.
"Still, we can't just do nothing either," he muttered. He kept thinking. Why was Cornelia hesitating?
Yuuya frowned. "Why...?"
Then the scene turned again.
The terrorists threw one of the hostages out of the building, threatening to kill one every thirty minutes if demands weren't met. While Cornelia and her forces debated, Lelouch appeared wearing his Zero mask, standing on top of a caravan. As he approached the bridge, Cornelia's army stopped and confronted him.
Cornelia said, "Well, well, we meet again, Zero. Are you a member of the Japan Liberation Front? Or perhaps you intend to help us? Regardless, our concerns take priority over yours at the moment. And so, for the death of my half-brother Clovis, I shall take my revenge right here."
Lelouch replied, "Cornelia, which would you choose, Clovis who is dead, or Euphemia who is alive?"
Cornelia hesitated. Seeing that, Lelouch realized, My suspicions are confirmed. You've always doted on little Euphemia—that's why you haven't taken action.
Yuuya said, "Okay, he's smart. In earlier episodes, it felt like he was playing chess with all the information, but here, I and Lelouch both had the same knowledge, yet he deduced more from it. It's a major turn compared to earlier episodes. Before, they just told us he was smart. Now they're showing it. I like this. This is the best way to establish that a character is intelligent."
Now he was excited, wondering how Lelouch would pull this off. Would he capture Euphemia or set them free? And if so, how would he escape unharmed from all this chaos?
Cornelia let Zero pass through to the building, and she continued her own plan. Since Zero would distract them, she gave permission to use the Lancelot to bypass the cannon inside the tunnel. Inside, the terrorists were about to pick the next victim when Euphemia stood up, revealing her identity. In the same building, the leader of the Japanese Liberation Front and Zero confronted each other, and Lelouch gave the order for them to kill themselves, just as Euphemia arrived in the room escorted by the terrorists.
As Lelouch and Euphemia talked about their half-brother Clovis, whom Zero had killed, Lelouch said, "I killed him because he was a child of the Britannian Empire. That reminds me, you are also one of his children," as he pointed his gun toward her.
The scene cut to Suzaku, who successfully bypassed the cannon and destroyed the base of the building. Now there were ten minutes left before it would collapse. As they prepared to rescue the hostages, Zero blew up part of the building. In the rubble, a hidden docking space opened up, and a boat departed from there, carrying all the hostages.
At the docks, the lights illuminated the ship where Kallen and the others were wearing black uniforms. Lelouch gave a powerful speech, declaring that they had saved all the hostages and introducing themselves as the Knights of Justice, who would bring justice to both Elevens and Britannians alike. He revealed why he had killed Viceroy Clovis. The rescued hostages were now on their ship, surrounded by Cornelia's forces, meaning that if she attacked, he could take hostages again.
Lelouch declared,
"Those of you with power, fear us. Those of you without it, rally behind us. We, the Black Knights, shall be the ones who stand in judgment of this world."
As the episode ended, Yuuya thought, "Man, that line, 'Knights of Justice,' sounds cheesy, but it works here. If someone else said it, I'd probably cringe, but coming from Lelouch, it doesn't feel cheesy at all. Wait a minute... am I starting to feel that fanboy syndrome I've never felt before? Is this how people feel when they fanboy over a character?"
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)