One of the most popular anime of the early 2000s, Code Geass revolves around Lelouch vi Britannia’s journey to topple the tyrannical empire of his father, Charles. It is memorable for its numerous shocking twists and the genius strategies pulled off by its charismatic protagonist, but its true message revolves around the power of the human heart.
This theme is emphasized by the supernatural ability Geass, given to Lelouch by the immortal witch C.C, but this power comes in many different forms. More than giant robots or magical superpowers, it is the relationships in Code Geass that influence the future of the world.
10 Cornelia’s Bond To Her Sister Elevates Her Character
Lelouch’s older half-sister, Cornelia li Britannia, is one of the antagonists in the first season of Code Geass. Bigoted and cruel, she kills countless people in the service of her father. Her strength and skill on the battlefield definitely make her admirable, but in the end, what elevates her character above that of a classical villain is her bond to her sister, Euphemia.
Cornelia and Euphemia are very close, with Cornelia being very protective of the younger princess. When Euphy is killed by Lelouch, Cornelia receives such a shock she becomes unresponsive. It is the desire to avenge Euphy and clear her name that later motivates Cornelia, to the point of leaving all her previous loyalties behind.
9 Jeremiah Gottwald Is Defined By His Loyalty To The Vi Britannias
Originally appearing as one of the Black Knights’ worst enemies, Jeremiah Gottwald loses his position in the Britannian army after he is placed under a Geass by Lelouch. Now called ‘Orange,’ he is eventually defeated by Kallen and experimented on by the Geass Order.
But the anger Jeremiah feels toward Zero completely vanishes once he learns the true identity of the masked vigilante. Having once been a guard for the vi Britannias, Jeremiah is fiercely loyal to Lelouch’s family. When he returns in Season 2 of Code Geass, he becomes one of Lelouch’s staunchest allies and is one of the few characters who remain by his side to the very end.
8 Suzaku’s Connection To Arthur Is One Of The Most Endearing Bonds In Code Geass
There’s no bond quite like the one between master and pet and Code Geass manages to illustrate that, too. While on a walk with Euphemia, deuteragonist Suzaku Kururugi finds a wounded cat. The animal later pursues him at his school and almost reveals Lelouch’s true identity as Zero upon finding his mask.
Suzaku later takes the cat in, choosing to name his new pet Arthur despite the fact that the cat is female. Arthur constantly bites Suzaku, a source of much amusement throughout Code Geass. But the feline obviously cares deeply about her owner and in a particularly heartbreaking moment, she is shown at Suzaku’s empty grave during the Zero Requiem.
7 Suzaku & Euphemia’s Romantic Relationship Is Meaningful, If Short-Lived
Despite being surrounded by hatred, Euphy wishes to give the Japanese some kind of shelter in the form of the SAZ. She and Suzaku Kururugi have a deep bond, one that relies on their shared ideals of peace and togetherness. Their romantic connection is somewhat shrouded by the inequality between their individual social statuses, but Euphy doesn’t let that stop her.
Euphy knights Suzaku despite significant censure from everyone around her. When Lelouch accidentally uses his Geass on Euphy to massacre all the Japanese, Euphy’s feelings for Suzaku appear to be so strong that she can’t target him too. Sadly, the wound she receives from Lelouch is lethal and she dies in Suzaku’s arms.
6 Shirley’s Love For Lelouch Leads To Her Death
As Lelouch’s school friend, Shirley Fenette is unprepared for the moment when she learns her crush is the terrorist responsible for her father’s death. Even so, she ends up protecting Lelouch from Viletta Nu. Even when attacked by the Geass user Mao, she cannot go through with killing Lelouch.
Shirley’s mind is erased twice, but her love for Lelouch always persists. When she recovers her memories, she is perceived as a danger to Lelouch by Rolo Haliburton and is lethally stabbed. She dies in Lelouch’s arms, telling him that if she were ever reborn, she would fall in love with him again.
5 Rolo & Lelouch’s Fraternal Bond Is Truer Than It Originally Seems
An assassin sent by the Geass Order to keep an eye on Lelouch, Rolo doesn’t have any kind of experience with affection until he pretends to be Lelouch’s sibling in Nunnally’s stead. Lelouch uses this to emotionally manipulate him. This turns out to be devastating for Shirley, but in a twisted way, it saves Lelouch’s life.
Even after Lelouch admits to having used Rolo, the young assassin is still the one who saves Lelouch from the Black Knights. He sacrifices his own life in the process, his own Geass putting too much strain on him. Their fraternal bond is truer than it seems and even Lelouch acknowledges it in the end.
4 Kallen’s Loyalty To Zero Transforms Into A Genuine Love For Lelouch
Lelouch’s relationship with the Black Knights may not have been great, but there are exceptions to every rule. Kallen Kozuki, Lelouch’s Red Ace and the pilot of the Guren, is Zero’s most loyal knight. She is profoundly disappointed when she learns his true identity, but later becomes closer to Lelouch as a person, instead of Zero.
Kallen even attempts to defend Lelouch when the Black Knights betray him. Lelouch pushes her away in a deliberate attempt to keep her safe. She later accepts the necessity of taking him down for the good of the world, but even then — and even after he is killed — she doesn’t truly stop loving him.
3 Lelouch’s Love For His Sister Nunnally Anchors His Humanity
One of the most endearing things about Lelouch is his close bond with his sister, Nunnally. Nunnally is his reason for living. It is in part because of her that he wishes to overthrow Britannia, though his own desire for revenge gets in the way. He often prioritizes her and many of his plans go wrong because of that. But at the same time, his love for her anchors his conscience and his humanity.
Lelouch’s overprotectiveness means that he doesn’t always give Nunnally enough credit, which isn’t ideal. By the end, he understands that he can’t give her special treatment, though, tragically, they are separated through Lelouch’s final attempt to fulfill her dream. He dies in her arms, her heartbreaking sobs going unheard by the crowd celebrating the fall of the Demon Emperor.
2 Lelouch & C.C. Build A Bond That Overcomes C.C.’s Secrets
Code Geass wouldn’t exist without the witch C.C. and her contract with Lelouch. Seeking respite from her unwanted immortality, she offers him his Geass and becomes his accomplice. Their relationship is complex and full of secrets. C.C. is always aware of the secret behind Marianne vi Britannia’s death, but never shares it with Lelouch, all because she is intent on using him to free herself.
That just makes the ending of C.C’s tale more remarkable. C.C. chooses Lelouch over her chance to be free of immortality. Even when Lelouch proceeds with his Zero Requiem plan, she remains by his side, acknowledging that he has given her back the ability to live instead of just accumulating experiences. Their romantic bond finally reaches its conclusion in Lelouch of the Re;Surrection when she goes to great lengths to bring him back to life.
1 The Relationship Between Suzaku & Lelouch Affects The Whole Series
No matter how important other relationships may be, the determining factor for the entirety of Code Geass is the relationship between Lelouch and Suzaku. Suzaku’s decision to kill his father is in part motivated by the desire to protect Lelouch and Nunnally. Similarly, when believing Suzaku dead, Lelouch shoots his brother Clovis. The realization that his friend is the pilot of the Lancelot nearly breaks Lelouch’s resolve and it is only his love for Nunnally that makes him persevere.
Lelouch and Suzaku’s friendship turns into a bitter enmity after Euphy’s death, with the grief-stricken Suzaku arresting Lelouch and handing him over to his father in exchange for a position on the Knight of Rounds. And yet, despite all the resentment between them, it is still Suzaku who Lelouch turns to later, to protect Nunnally, and still Suzaku who is the key of his Zero Requiem plan. The two can do anything together if they set their mind to it, which makes their inability to cooperate sooner even more tragic.
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