Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture – Nostalgia Meets a Bumpy Plot

Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture is like a band reunion tour—it sounds amazing on paper, but in execution, well let’s say not every note hits quite right.

The first three episodes making up the first “film”, and the story takes place 5 years after Lelouch of the Re;surrection, being in the film timeline.

As a direct sequel to the original Code Geass series, my excitement was at maximum capacity, especially when the opening song hit. But it seems I have to remind myself to keep my expectations from getting too high.

A Promising Start That Loses Its Way

Let’s talk about that opening song. It feels like a throwback to the days when visual kei rock ruled the scene—dramatic riffs, intense vocals, and the kind of energy that makes you want to stand in front of a mirror and pretend you’re in a rock band.

Miyavi technically is one of the last rockstars in Japan’s visual kei era. The music definitely sets the tone for the rebellion, giving you that “Lelouch is back, baby!” vibe from the get-go.

CLAMP’s character designs are still as iconic as ever. If you love long-limbed, impossibly fashionable characters with the sharpest features in anime, you’re in for a treat. It’s like time didn’t touch them (or their wardrobe).

Plus, the mechas? Those CG designs are now smoother than ever, flying and flipping like ballet dancers on steroids. Visually, this anime does not disappoint.

The early episodes had me hooked. They felt like rediscovering the lost treasure of Code Geass, reviving all the suspense and rebellion themes we loved. It had so much potential, and I was ready to buckle in for another wild ride.

But, around the halfway mark, things got a little, shall we say, “creative” in a confusing way. The plot, which started with so much fire and rebellion, gradually devolved into a mess of strange developments.

Roze Fails to Recapture, A Rollercoaster That Almost Makes It

Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture
TitleCode Geass: Dakkan no Rozé
GenreAction, Drama, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Episodes12
AiredSummer 2024
StudioSunrise

The pacing felt rushed, almost like the writers were trying to cram in as much content as possible without fully fleshing out the narrative. It’s like someone hit the fast-forward button on the story, and I was left struggling to keep up.

Side characters—remember those cool, complex, morally ambiguous ones from the original? Yeah, not so much here. Some of them felt more like background decorations than actual players in the game. And the antagonists? Oof, they lacked the menacing presence that Code Geass villains used to bring.

What was intriguing, however, was the exploration of Neo-Britannia’s brutality towards the native population. The colonization theme is very relevant today, touching on the complexities of labeling resistance group as terrorists and how the world often just watches from the sidelines. It had so much potential to be this biting social commentary, but unfortunately, like much of the plot, it wasn’t given the attention it deserved. It was like they dropped this golden idea and forgot to pick it up again.

Overall, Roze of the Recapture feels like a rollercoaster that starts strong but derails before it hits the loop-de-loop. The visual kei-esque soundtrack, fluid mecha action, and remnants of the original Code Geass charm might make it worth a watch, but prepare for a ride that leaves you thinking, “What could have been?”

If you’re in it purely for nostalgia and awesome robot fights, you’ll be fine, but if you’re expecting the deep, twisty plotlines of the original, brace yourself for a few bumps.