From episode one to twenty-one, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion maintained high popularity, but it still fell short of becoming a phenomenal anime.
Everything changed with the broadcast of episodes twenty-two and twenty-three.
Euphie's death was so utterly unexpected that it left many viewers stunned.
For two consecutive weeks, the animation's discussion exploded online, with heated debates erupting across the internet:
"Even though she was called a 'vase governor,' I always had a good impression of Euphemia. She was so kind, and despite knowing Lelouch's identity, she kept his secret and secretly searched for a way to save both him and Nunnally. I never imagined she would meet such an end."
"It's so unfair, really. Euphemia didn't have to die at all."
"My whole family is shocked. Euphemia's proposal to establish the Neon Special District brought Lelouch into such a crisis. I'd already thought of several ways he could handle it, but I never expected things to unfold like this."
"While the Geass was bound to spiral out of control—there were plenty of hints beforehand—it still happened too suddenly, too tragically."
"After watching these two episodes, I'm utterly heartbroken. Euphemia cared so much about Lelouch and Nunnally, and she genuinely wanted to create an Administrative Special Zone that would offer refuge to the Japanese. But due to a cruel twist of fate, she became the villain, cursed by countless people. It's too much to bear."
"Shirley having her memories erased earlier was a little painful, but it's nothing compared to Euphemia's story. And it's all the kind, innocent girls who get hurt! Damn it!"
"I can't accept this! Old Thief Lin! Give me back Euphemia!"
In truth, Euphemia was a character who, while reasonably popular, was far from a fan favorite. She paled in comparison to female characters like Karen and C.C., who had much more screen time and played crucial roles in assisting Lelouch.
However, Euphemia's death caused her popularity to skyrocket, leading many to curse Lin Zhiyan, the writer who killed her off, as "Old Thief Lin."
Of course, the main reason was that Euphemia's death was so unexpected, tragic, and deeply impactful. Had she died in any other way, it would have been far more palatable and wouldn't have sparked such widespread debate.
The discussion wasn't limited to the plot; many also accused the animation studio of deceptive marketing:
"Here's a joke: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is the most satisfying anime of this century."
"I already felt something was wrong when Shirley's memories were erased. But because the next few episodes were so exhilarating, I dismissed it as a fluke. Now I see the whole story was a tragedy all along. The studio really was pulling a deceptive marketing stunt."
"The pacing in the earlier episodes was perfect. Except for Shirley's part, it was all incredibly satisfying to watch. But now that I think about it, something felt off. Take Third Prince Clovis, for example. He slaughtered civilians the moment he appeared, making him seem like a total villain. It was so satisfying to see the Male Lead kill him, but later we learn he wasn't even Lelouch's real enemy."
"They kept calling it a 'satisfying action series,' and the early episodes were indeed thrilling and action-packed. Ugh, they totally tricked us into watching just to kill us off! How dare they!"
"I started watching Code Geass because they advertised it as a 'satisfying action series.' After Euphemia's scene, I almost threw up."
"I nearly ascended to heaven right then and there. Let's hope heaven doesn't have false advertising."
"Only two episodes left. I just hope we get a good ending at least. Don't let this 'satisfying action series' turn into a 'heartbreaking tragedy' after all."
The anime's plot exploded with twists and turns, and the official "deceptive" marketing sparked heated discussions, directly driving up the popularity and buzz surrounding Code Geass.
The 23rd episode achieved record-high ratings, while sales of the first three DVD volumes surged significantly, with the first volume alone surpassing 40,000 cumulative sales.
Merchandise related to the anime also sold like hotcakes.
Even media outlets that hadn't covered Code Geass or Lin Zhiyan in years suddenly turned their attention back to the creator and the anime.
Articles related to the anime became ubiquitous in relevant publications, such as:
"Geass Out of Control: Lelouch Kills Euphemia Himself—What Will Be the Anime's Final Outcome?" "Code Geass: It Might Be a Power Fantasy, But It's Definitely Not a Comedy!" "Deceptive Marketing Sparks Controversy? See How Code Geass' Voice Actors and Officials Respond." "Could Code Geass Get a Second Season?" "Only Two Episodes Left—What Twists Await?" "Lin Zhiyan Exclusive Interview! He Explains His Thoughts on Euphemia's Death." * "Discussing the Necessity of Euphemia's Death."
There's a saying that "dead men are sometimes more useful than the living." In Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, the animation takes this to heart: "Sometimes killing a person is more useful than letting them live."
In the animation, Euphemia's death, though a forced and heartbreaking moment for Lelouch, actually served his grand revenge scheme far better.
Looking at the overall narrative, her death significantly propelled the main plot, thrusting the first season into its climax.
Her actions sparked widespread riots, strengthening the Black Knights and allowing them to absorb the six major families of the Kyoto Group in one fell swoop. This set the stage for the story's ultimate climax: the Great Tokyo Battle.
The Black Knights, led by Lelouch, engaged in a decisive battle against the Imperial forces.
Beyond the animation itself, Euphemia's death ignited fervent discussions among viewers, continuously boosting the show's popularity. The result was that Code Geass finally transcended its status as a popular animation to become a phenomenal phenomenon.
From every angle, it was undeniably useful.
Of course, even if Euphemia's death served a purpose, one couldn't put it quite like that.
During a media interview, when asked about Euphemia's death, Lin Zhiyan put on a heartbroken expression:
"I personally loved Euphemia as a character. But the characters in my stories aren't my puppets. Once the initial setup is complete and I start writing, they take on a life of their own. In such cases, I can't control how the story unfolds.
I'm just a faithful recorder. Her death deeply wounded me, and I was devastated. But I couldn't arbitrarily change her ending; otherwise, the entire story would collapse.
Don't let my current composure fool you. When I was writing the scripts for those two episodes, I was heartbroken for weeks and couldn't sleep properly for weeks on end.
Regardless, her death has meaning. Please look forward to the final two episodes."
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