Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Episode 12 Review

When I first saw the name of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture’s finale, I had Twilight flashbacks. Thankfully, it was not that. Episode 12, Breaking Dawn, is far from perfect. The series has the continuous flow of rushing things in the little time it has to execute a rather gripping story. When it can find the grounds to move ahead, it instead resorts to the only ways again and again.

While the series in itself was okay as a whole, it was the individual episodes that became a big problem. They cannot stand their ground on their own. In the twelve episodes that came out, some digressed into stories that mattered little, others brought about characters that helped no one to grow.

Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture’s Finale Falls Short

Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture finally gave the Kallen cameo fans had so desperately been asking for. The story dives directly in with the Seven Shining Stars and the Black Knights fighting side by side against Norland and Loki. The big problem that I have with this series is just how underwhelming the antagonist really is.

When he was finally defeated, it had no impact on me whatsoever. He just came and went and he felt more of a threat when his mask was on than when it wasn’t. It was disappointing to see his motives be so vague. A villain who wished to destroy the world but couldn’t in the end, the cliche that everyone saw coming.

He is non-threatening with not a spine in him that can make me flinch. My expectations for a good villain aren’t too high, I could do with an average villain as well. However, the thing with Norland is that his fear is felt only by other characters. It wasn’t something he himself exuded.

The music and fights with the Knightmares might be the only reason why there is any sense of thrill in the series. Studio Sunrise did a fantastic job throughout the series and went above and beyond for the action sequences in most cases.

Ash and Rozé Needed More Time

The entire episode as a whole felt rushed. I have said this before and would again, the lower episode count is problematic for a story that needs so much expansion. Either reduce the stories or increase the characters. There was no other way out. The epilogue shown for so many characters simply did not hit because either they felt irrelevant or their stories just weren’t expanded enough.

The fight between Sakuya, Ash, and Norland was wonderful to watch but lacked impact for the antagonist’s end. On the contrary, it introduced another problem I may or may not have seen coming. In many cases, growth isn’t shown without death. While that in itself is a wrong assessment, the series dives into it. Ash, who is by far the most interesting character in the series, succumbs.

Right as Ash and Sakuya started mending things with each other, the entire series jumped leaps and bounds with their character development. Suddenly Ash has no problem with her and even asks her to use the geass on him again. While it is understandable as to why they felt so extreme for each other, the way it was stuffed in the series felt unnatural.

I don’t like seeing my favorite characters die, yet I see it again and again. Ash’s death didn’t catch me off guard but it hurt nonetheless. He had more presence as a protagonist than Sakuya and it was his story that was expanded more than the titular character’s. Even as the protagonistic characters, they needed a lot more time to grow. There just wasn’t enough to make the ending seem conclusive.

The sequence in itself hurt me through and through. Sakuya and Ash’s last words to each other, her cries, and his acceptance; it was all a roller coaster of emotions that could have anyone sobbing. Rest in Peace Ash Phoenix, may you spread your wings from the flames again.

Rating: 7.5/10

Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture is available to watch on Hulu.