Stage 17, Knight
Euphemia is walking around an art museum, talking with her councilor about the artwork on the walls. She sees a beautiful painting, and says she likes it. However, the councilor says that someone with a quarter Eleven background painted the art piece.
Meanwhile, Ougi gets a visit from Kyoto's organisation, requesting help to rescue Toudou, who had been captured, sacrificing himself for his comrades. Lelouch and the Order accept their request.
Later on, Cornelia is discussing Toudou's execution (which happens to be on that day). Euphemia arrives, and the two discuss the disturbance in Ishikawa (area in Tokyo), as well as giving Euphemia a folder of candidates to choose her Knight.
Suzaku visits Nunnally, and they talk about their past in the Kururugi Shinto shrine, while Nunnally (amazingly) draws. Lelouch is thinking of asking Suzaku to protect Nunnally, hoping that she'll become his 'raison d'etre' ('reason for being', person or purpose you exist for) as well. He's about to ask, when Cecil-san interrupts and asks Suzaku to come with her. Lelouch decides to leave it for later.
At the same time, Shirley prepares for an exhibition (I think...) when she drops her hair decoration between two drawers. As she reaches for it, she sees a crumpled piece of paper.
Euphemia is in the museum being interrogated by the harsh press, asking her political questions (and bitching that she knows nothing about politics) as well as personal questions.
With Kyoto and the Order again, they're preparing for their "Save Toudou" operation. Members of the Order are fiddling around with the Guren, when a woman shouts at them, saying it’s very delicate, and that she's the 'mother' of the Guren. Zero comes in and welcomes her, Rakshata. She presents a gift from Kyoto, and Kallen walks in with her new pilot-outfit, in which apparently her survival rate will increase.
A Britannia man walks in the cell Toudou's in, and tells him his new executioner is non other then Suzaku. A quick scene-change to Lloyd, Cecil and Suzaku, Suzaku is incredibly nervous about executing him. He remembers a scene of his past, where Toudou is training him in kendo. Suddenly, one of the buildings nearby catches fire, and a huge Knightmare battle goes on. Kyoto uses their new 'Gekka', more powerful then the Burai, and they completely dominate the field.
Back with Toudou, it seems that his execution has been changed, and a guard is to take his life. He's about to shoot, when Zero breaks in with Kallen, presumably killing the guard, and asks Toudou to join him. Toudou refuses, saying that the master he served has died. Zero shouts at him, calling him naive, and asking him to continue the dream called "Miracle of Itsukushima", the miracle that Toudou performed years ago.
During all this commotion, Euphemia is asked to put a flower on the 'winning artwork'. She hesitates to put it on the artwork everyone else seems to like, and contemplates putting it on the painting by the quater Eleven, the one she actually likes.
Back on the battlefield, Kyoto's new 'Gekka' overrun the place, and Zero and Kallen escape with Toudou, and give him a new Knightmare. When Lelouch thinks everything is going well, and that he's chosen Nunnally's Knight, Lancelot comes into the picture.
Continuing with Euphemia, she is about to decide the winner of the art contest, when a large number of the audiences' phones ring, they find out that Toudou has escaped. They turn on the huge television in the museum and watch the battle outside, rooting for Lancelot.
Lancelot attacks Zero and the Order, while Lloyd, Cecil, Euphemia and Rakshata look on. Zero has a 'plan' to deal with him, he predicts Lancelot's moves, and the Order ambushes him. Toudou attacks him, and the cockpit roof falls off, to Lelouch's, Toudou's and Kallen's surprises, they see that their opponent is Suzaku. Zero is left shocked, while Kallen tries to get Zero to concentrate.
The audience of Euphemia's art contest are confused and disgusted that the pilot is an Eleven, Darlton (Cornelia's, and today, Euphemia's assistant) orders to turn off the television, but Euphemia insists she wants to see the battle for herself.
Suzaku recklessly charges at the Knightmare Toudou is in, and so Toudou opens his cockpit as well The two converse, debating about their ideals and trying to convince one another to stop. Although they are enemies, Toudou, in the end, encourages Suzaku, saying that he cannot do anything unless he does his best. He closes his cockpit and the two continue their battle. Lelouch is still confused, and doesn't give out orders. Kyoto's members charge, and are taken by surprise by Lancelot's new 'Haken Booster' Lloyd has installed, and all 4 of them take damage. Zero tells them all to stop and to retreat, as they all escape using smoke screens.
In the art exhibition, Euphemia is praising Suzaku in her mind, but all she hears are harsh remarks about him from the rest of the audience. She gathers everyone's attention, and to everyone's surprise, tells the audience and press that her new Knight is Warrant Kururugi Suzaku.
The Order has escaped, and everyone is resting at their base again. Ougi asks Kallen where Zero is, but Kallen replies that he hasn't responded when she called. Her transmitter goes on, and they hear him cackling maniacally in his cockpit.
Rating: 4.5/5
Comment: Lost the 0.5 mark because of not enough Kallen! XD Enjoyable episode, really kept me interested, brought up a qutie a few cliff hangers as well as more character development as we looked into Suzaku's and Toudou's pasts, as well as Zero's intentions. Great episode, a good balance of action and drama! Now just a few of my opinion outbursts, EUPHEMIA YOU'RE AN IDIOT. SUZAKU, YOU'RE EVEN MORE OF AN IDIOT, BE NUNNALLY'S KNIGHT DAMNIT. GIVE US MORE KALLEN FOR GOODNESS SAKE! - Emily
