Review of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Do you feel like nobody loves you and the universe is out to ruin your life? Are you too smart for your own good? Then Code Geass is the anime for you. Code Geass is very visually appealing, and the alternate universe setting is intriguing. Unfortunately these are squandered by melodramatic writing and obnoxious characters. The chief offender is Lelouch, the protagonist himself, who is one of those holier-than-thou genius characters with beautiful eyes and a tragic backstory. C.C., the geas-giver, is a prime example of women as plot devices; and Nunnally, Lelouch's poor little blind sister, is like a throwback to the uselessly delicate girlsof Victorian literature. Even Kallen, supposedly a strong female character, is the frequent subject of the male gaze, and furthermore cannot help herself from falling in love with Lelouch, who is a heartless cardboard cutout whose one redeeming feature is his fashion sense.

This is a show where nothing good ever really happens. I watched half the season and felt that anything this show was trying to make me feel was not worth feeling. Lelouch is not a lead deserving of my sympathies or attention - all of his choices are milked for utmost drama possible, not substance. Code Geass is like a hamfisted JV mecha version of Death Note.