Episode 11 – Battle for Narita
Continuing the battle from the previous episode, the Britannian forces are in complete disarray from the Black Knights’ surprise attack. Taking note of the confusion, Lloyd is ecstatic, since this will likely be another chance to test out the Lancelot’s capabilities. Euphemia watches the battle from the Britannian command center. Meanwhile, Kallen kills Kewell, ending his brief period as one of the show’s minor characters. As the Black Knights continue to surround the Britannians, another force arrives at Cornelia’s rear: Todou Kyoushirou and his Four Holy Swords.
Todou and the Four Holy Swords quickly begin their attack on Cornelia’s personal guard. Cornelia retreats and leaves it to Guilford to dispatch the Four Holy Swords. Although Zero and Tamaki are pinned down by the Britannians, Zero sees Todou’s arrival as a chance to turn the tide. As Todou reports in to the Japan Liberation Front, Guilford acknowledges Todou’s skill. That’s right; Todou is so awesome that even someone like Guilford knows it. Darlton is pinned down by the JLF’s counterattack, and Euphemia refuses to order additional troops to move in due to a nearby refugee camp. Lloyd then cheerfully offers the Lancelot’s services, which Euphemia readily accepts as she realizes that Suzaku is the pilot.
Guilford orders Villetta to track Zero, and Guilford realizes that Cornelia is retreating into a trap. Kallen and Cornelia face off in the big battle of the two toughest female Knightmare Frame pilots, and Suzaku moves out in the Lancelot. Zero arrives to gloat and declare checkmate, and Cornelia realizes just how amazing the Guren Mk. II and its Radiant Wave Surger arm really are. Villetta gets knocked out of the fight, and the Four Holy Swords pin Guilford down. Just as Cornelia resigns herself to her fate, refusing to surrender, the Lancelot arrives in predictably flashy fashion.
Lelouch curses to himself, frustrated at the Lancelot’s constant inference in his plans. Kallen faces off against Suzaku while Cornelia tries to break through Zero’s formation. Kallen proves to be a worthy match for Suzaku, but when the ground underneath her collapses, the Radiant Wave Surger is put out of commission. Lelouch acknowledges the reversal of fortunes and orders a withdrawal, and Cornelia tells Suzaku to pursue. While Ougi, Kallen, and Tamaki talk about how they are using the JLF as bait to retreat, Suzaku manages to catch up to Zero and destroy his Knightmare Frame.
Although Suzaku understands that Zero has done some good for the Japanese people, he believes that Zero’s methods are still wrong. This is another reference to the main ideological divide between Lelouch and Suzaku: the old “do the ends justify the means” query. Suddenly, as Suzaku stands poised to capture Zero, C.C. shows up and sends Suzaku through a psychological mind trip involving the origins of Geass and his father, Kururugi Genbu. For some reason, Suzaku is particularly disturbed to see his father, saying that “he didn’t mean to” do something.
C.C. tells Lelouch to flee, but Lelouch tells her that he cannot keep being indebted to her, and, in the process, touches her, getting sucked into his own mind trip. However, his involves C.C. in every scene, showing little glimpses of her terrible past. C.C. begs Lelouch to stop, and Suzaku goes berserk, shooting every which way. C.C. is injured, but Lelouch manages to escape with her. Guilford escapes from the Four Swords, but Cornelia tells him that they must retreat.
Elsewhere, Kallen, Ougi, and Tamaki celebrate their victory while wondering where Zero has gone. The subsequent scene immediately answers that question, showing that Zero is with C.C. in a cave. C.C. is asleep, and Zero has bandaged her wounds, even though they heal instantly. He wants to know just how it is her body works and if she is even human, but she suddenly starts talking in her sleep. She reveals her real name, though the viewers are not blessed with actually hearing it. That is probably the biggest mystery of the show. Guilford briefs Cornelia on everything that happened, including Suzaku’s little berserk episode.
C.C. in cave
Lelouch reveals that he knows C.C.’s name, and C.C. states that she has no need for a human name, since she is not at all human, having no memories of her past. Lelouch then thanks her for saving him twice, and C.C. asks him to say her real name just one more time, with tenderness. I am not really sure if this could be the start of a possible Lelouch/C.C. relationship, but shippers will take this as they will. Lelouch says her name, but C.C. jokingly complains that he did not say it kindly at all. Elsewhere, Bartley’s former scientists bump into Jeremiah, who escaped the destruction of his Knightmare Frame and is now completely raving mad, while fleeing from Narita. Kallen finally finds Lelouch, who has once again donned the mask of Zero, and he cryptically says something about the beauty of snow to C.C.
