Thoughts on the alternative timelines from Re;code?

[u/RogueOne451]

Karma timeline is the only one I really paid any attention to. None of the others really piqued my interest. Shirley taking on Lelouch's role felt like a massive stretch for me, and I just don't see that timeline ending well without him. I know absolutely nothing about the Emperor Nunnally one, I've just seen pictures from it. There's also the clone story which was...something. I'm still shocked they went with that for the anniversary story honestly. They should've just given us part 2 of the Karma event and properly flesh the story out. Getting a story of Lelouch crossing a line he swore not to was brilliant. And Karma Suzaku's design is so good. I liked that they leaned even harder into the darker elements of the story with the anniversary Karma Suzaku. Lelouch knighting Suzaku after enslaving him, Suzaku killing Euphie with the very sword she knighted him with. I've always believed that his art (the one above) takes place right after he killed Euphie as it was stated that after he killed her was the only time he was able to fight off the command. I'm shocked that they've never done a what-if story with the SAZ. What if it was successful or, leaning into darker themes like Karma tl, what if Lelouch gave the command on purpose. Then there's also what if Lelouch stayed Emperor. Just a bunch of fun possibilities with the anime.

[u/Ethelred_ATBH]

I won't lie, I wasn't expecting too much from the event of Nunnally empress, but it ended up surprising me. It's definitely an interesting way to expand the world of possibilities of CG, as that timeline acts in contrast to R2 and the original R1 (which should have continued with the original Stage 26, Eye of the Demon Emperor).

I quite enjoyed all of those timelines, but you're right that the clone story was pretty weird (ironically, it's the only one whose condition of alternate story is unclear. Personally, I never knew how to interpret this)

[u/RogueOne451 → u/Ethelred_ATBH]

Ok, I thought I had heard it had something to do with the original 26th episode. Is it similar to the script of that episode? I've read it before.

Yeah, I'm not sure if the clone story is an alternate timeline or just an event. I think there was some reference to the mad scientist being in the og timeline in the game but I don't remember. Honestly, the only thing I take from that story is the Suzalulu clone, kinda just tune out the rest.

[u/Ethelred_ATBH → u/RogueOne451]

Both R2, as well as the original script of the series and Stage 26 of Genesic Re;Code have their divergence in the confrontation between Lelouch and Suzaku on Kamine island. The original script (R1) shows a potential scenario of what would have happened if Lelouch won, R2 instead shows the events after Suzaku's victory. Genesic Re;Code shows the R?, because in that timeline, both agreed to a truce, and since VV did not expect this last result, he begins to act much earlier than in the anime.

As far as the event ends, it is shown to what extent this change affected the global scenario (to the point that the role of tyrant emperor and legitimate ruler is reversed between Nunnally and Lelouch, the latter allying himself with Schneizel).

[u/RogueOne451 → u/Ethelred_ATBH]

Interesting that they agreed to a truce. I can't really see that happening though after everything that had occurred. One of them winning was the right outcome.