Review of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

As someone who tends to be shallow when it comes to impressions, my first glance at Code Geass so many years ago, was, as I'm ashamed to admit, unfounded. An artstyle that didn't attract me, Mechas heavily being involved and an incredibly large cast of characters all led me to postpone watching this masterpiece. The magnum opus of studio Sunrise, and in my humble opinion one of the defining anime that revolves around a story that is so well-paced, intertwined with the character cast and captivating, that it deserves to be praised as much as it is. The first season of this incredible story starts outfairly fast, and action and the core concepts of this show are introduced to us viewers within the first episode. Once the stakes are set and the driving force behind the MC is discovered, the plot slowly starts to take form. Careful not to introduce us viewers to too many concepts and characters at once, the pacing picks up ever so slowly, but once you're in the thick of things, there is almost no putting down the experience. There are very few shows that manage to lay out such a grand stage of events, and still never feeling rushed or inadequate, as it never lacks the bravado to back up the events that get more intense as the show progresses.

Craving for more, the viewer is instigated to start thinking about the events of the show, about morality and how much sacrifice is compared to the greater good. Is evil necessary to defeat evil, and how much of a right is necessary for a wrong to be perceived as the correct path?

The concept of the show in general almost involves us viewers personally, considering the 'power' that is wielded by our MC is more than imaginable within our own lives. It's use, and the consequences thereof all seem possible, and the show is not afraid to pull punches when it needs to. It knows when to move from heartfelt and gut-wrenching plotlines to a more light-hearted relaxed scene without any of them feeling forced or unnecessary. Even episodes that are commonly reduced to simple filler for most shows have care and attention intertwined within them. Character progression and the careful cat-and-mouse games that revolve around our MC are apparent, and are especially noticeable in the less intense scenes.

Backed up by those final few episodes, where the story reaches a point of such tension, such emotion, all to end the season in such a crescendo, a point of no return, shows how all of the events can come together and deliver, truly deliver. A moment of perfect tension, with only one way forward, the next season. To this day, I have not experienced a stronger cliffhanger that urges the viewer to watch the next installment of a show.

This is all backed up by such an excellent soundtrack that is both captivating and emotional when it needs to be. It all comes together in a way that's indescribable without spoiling the plotline that must be experienced firsthand.

Are there problems with the show? Sure, the artstyle might seem dated, the story suffers from a very apparent power-loop and sometimes you wonder why character X did not simply do Y instead of Z, but does that detract in any way from the excellence that this show portrays? In my opinion, the flaws are barely worth mentioning compared to the enjoyment one can derive from watching this show. It might put you off, as it did me, at first glance. But it's but a shadow, an illusion. If you cared enough to read about the show in the first place, you are most likely going to enjoy it once you do decide to give it a chance.

A tale worth watching, worth experiencing, and definitely worth your time. I bid you all farewell, and I hope you consider my words carefully. Chances are, if you came this far into the review, you have already decided, and I hope your decision is well-founded.

Stay tuned for my next review, I'll be sure to cover the second season as well, as it's no less deserving of my thoughts, and I can't wait to put them into words.

Thank you for your time, dear valued reader, and hopefully you enjoyed my written experiences concerning "Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch".