When Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture was first announced, fans found themselves divided in a dilemma about whether or not a continuation after Lelouch’s era was a good thing. Many found themselves eager to watch the new series while others dreaded its release. There is something about a good series that can get easily ruined if sequels and spin-offs keep getting released.
Naruto suffered from exactly this and is still constantly criticized for it. That is not to say the first episode was a hit and a miss. There was a lot in the episode that could capture an audience’s attention, both old and new. However, it suffered from relying a lot on the older elements of Code Geass to let it stand out on its own.
Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Brings in the New with the Old
Since Melting Snow is only the first episode of the series, it would only be right to give it the benefit of the doubt. They have some time to set up the story and improve elements that would otherwise fall short in many ways. The episode starts off with a pair of twins running away only to get separated by a lethal blast intended to turn them into ‘souvenirs.’ The scene then switches into a monologue explaining the aftermath following the end of Lelouch’s reign.
It could have been assumed that the series would take an approach towards the growth of the Japanese people after being colonized by the Holy Britannian Empire for so long. The aftereffects of such an incident are diverse on their own. However, that is not what happens. The moment they have a breath of freedom in their grasp, the Britannian Empire returns, this time, under the pretenses of the Neo-Britannia. The Situmpe Wall acts as a prison dome with the new place being called Area 11 and Japanese people being reduced to Elevens.
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So it would seem that an approach that looked towards postcolonial problems was also kept to the side, bringing it all back to the oppressive rule of the Neo-Britannians. The introduction of the two lead characters, Ash and Rozé brings a change of pace with their nonchalance but also the overwhelming shadow of predictability.
Nothing to Anticipate
Gran and Greede Kirkwayne are introduced as two brothers from the Neo-Britannians who take pleasure in abusing and killing the Japanese people. They were seen killing the citizens they derogatorily called Elevens. By using them as target practice and killing them for fun. While the elder brother was shown to be wiser of the two, his menacing mind was no lesser than his younger brother’s. Rozé’s geass is most lazily hinted at during a scene at the gas station where a Neo-Britannian is thrashing his Japanese employee.
Ash and Rozé jump in to save the day with almost a good cop-bad cop scenario playing. The titular character leads the man inside for a ‘peaceful talk’ and he returns moments later almost worshipping the employee he was harassing only a while ago.
There is nothing left to the imagination since the events that occurred become so obvious. The same happens a lot unfortunately throughout the episode. Once Seven Shining Stars’ resistance is introduced, things become more obvious than naught. They hint at a duo of Nameless Mercenaries which but obviously is Ash and Rozé.
There is Still Potential
The second half of the episode sees the pair targeting the Kirkwayne brothers after being hired to assassinate them by a member of the resistance, Black Cat, where she also talks about the brothers being Einberg and connected to Lord Norland. They easily Ash and Rozé easily infiltrate the place with the pair dividing and conquering. Ash takes on Gran while Rozé goes to face Greede. Unfortunately, the entire sequence feels lacking. Everything that happens, from their win to Rozé’s display of her own wit seems to be predictable in every way.
He challenges Greede to a game of holographic chess, except that the pawns are the Knightmares. To no one’s surprise, Rozé wins and then most casually takes the blond wig off, revealing himself to actually be Sakuya Sumeragi, who was said to be imprisoned in Abashiri. The most contrasting difference was her Geass which, although similar to Lelouch’s, helped control Greede through the ear after hand movements rather than eye contact. She gives him a hollow choice, commanding Greede to either kill himself or save a hundred times the Japanese people he has killed. Once again, predictability strikes as he points the gun to himself.
The true goals of the Seven Shining Stars are revealed by the end of the episode with them wanting to save their comrades from the Abashiri prison. Rozé finds a common cause, considering her ‘best friend’ Sakura is also imprisoned there. All in all, the episode was lacking in many ways. That is not to say it did not have its shining moments. Especially with Ash and Rozé’s habit of picking up stray animals and rescuing them. However, there is a lot that still needs to improve in order for Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture to stand on its own.
Rating: 4/10
Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture is available to watch on Hulu.
