Since the next episode is due out so soon, and I just got around to watching it today, I wasn’t going to bother even blogging this one. But I feel compelled now, after reading so many comments on the MAL boards about how “moe” and “cute” C.C. is now, as opposed to her “badass” old self. If nine pages of comments on an online forum can be taken as indicative of general opinion, the new C.C. is widely adored.

I’ve spoken before about my frustration with female characters in various anime series, and I’ll speak of it again and again for as long as I continue watch anime. But this new incarnation of our cold, green-haired Geeser is one of the models that I have the most problems with. She used to be strong, more powerful even than our hero Lulu, and she used to be an essential part of his scheming and planning, hunted by his enemies. Now she’s a simpering, cowering child, stripped of all agency, her disgustingly feeble mewling explained away by some sob-story background about her childhood centuries ago before she got all immortal and capable.

Excuse me while I barf up my insides.

If the former C.C. was like a tiger, caged but barely restrained, the new one is a puppy. And, like a puppy, she can’t take care of herself. She’s adorable in her neediness. She needs a master to latch on to, someone to throw her a few scraps of affection now and then, someone that can kick her when he’s mad but trust that she’ll scamper back to his side a moment later. Literally.

She cowers and hides when Lulu enters a room, cowers and hides when the TV turns on, cowers and hides when spoken to. C.C. has become a model of female submission and servitude - and in turn the poster child for a twisted, backward brand of beauty some people think is “moe.” And thank goodness. One thing Lulu definitely needed more of was people who flinch when he speaks to them and rush to fulfill his every desire.

OK, sure, with the backstory they’ve cooked up for her, it makes sense that she would be so jumpy and so out of her mind with fear. Sort of. One could also argue that an urchin with her background would learn to adapt and survive, would become hardened instead of weak, cunning instead of pathetic. But the Geese team opted not to take that road. Instead, they’ve stripped her of her memories, of her recent history, and re-infantlized her. Instead, she’s been ushered out of Lulu’s ranks and into a cage, sheltered from the world in his private quarters for her own good.

But who’s around to keep her safe from Lulu and his bipolar mood swings? When he’s up, she gets to have pizza. When he’s down, she gets smacked in the face. (But the bitch deserved it! He didn’t want any damn pizza!) Nevermind that Lulu promised to keep her safe from the Big Bag World, she’s no good to anyone except as a punching bag and fulfills that purpose very well. Bonus: she doesn’t forget to thank her abuser for the abuse. I particularly enjoyed her sweet, adoring smile as their roles as reversed and suddenly she’s the one who needs to comfort him. Lulu’s selfishness is nothing new and it’s part of what makes him such a fun, villainous hero, but this episode was rather horrifying. I at least expected an apology. (I’d like to see him try that crap with the old C.C. I’d like to see him cry as she tore off his arm and then lose control of his bowels as she beat him to death with it.)

And what does C.C. want as a reward for her good behavior? Friends. Which, of course, Lulu can’t give to her because he can’t let her leave the room because how is he going to explain that one? The mention of friends and needing someone to rely on reminds him of Susucku, though, so I guess she’s not completely worthless after all. He puts a band-aid on her Wound Of Epic Bleeding and life goes merrily on.

Perhaps worst of all, the series ED seems to suggest that C.C. will somehow be Lulu’s saving - or at least his support when his empire comes crashing down. Blech. Twisting around this spineless characterization into something supposedly heroic or nurturing is just insulting. Can’t she have a softer side with sacrificing all of her strength?

…What? No? Oh. Um. Well then, show us your tits!

Code Geese’s ladies have never really been anything to write home about in terms of substance, but now I’m sad to say that their ranks are thinning at an alarming rate. Who’s left to be the decent female character? Cornelia? Nope. She’s tied up in some crazy BDSM rig. Villetta? Meh. Nunnally? She’s about as disempowered as you could get and not be a vegetable. There’s that one chick in the Black Knights who’s not a total waste, but even she is getting side-tracked now with her crush on Toudou.

I never thought I would sink to this low, but it seems like the best option left is…gag…Kallen. Yes, the hyper-sexed caricature of womanhood has suddenly become the one with the most potential. On the positive side, though, she can kick some serious ass (if her opponent is a nancy-boy that refuses to fight back).

Next week: probably my favorite stupid, grossly over-used anime cliche ever…CROWS! Bring it on, Geese!

Posted on Sunday, August 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 am in Code Geese. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.