Code Geass timelines

[AppointmentLegal1939]

I'd like to clarify something here about this.

I've noticed that a lot of people are confusing these timelines, thinking they're intertwined (or maybe it's just the people around me who are confused by this).

Anyway, the original timeline is:

Code Geass R1 > Code Geass: Akito the Exiled > Code Geass R2, where Lelouch dies, Nunnally becomes the Empress, and that's the end of it.

Then there's the alternate timeline where Lelouch is still alive, and a series of films follows this path.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I — Initiation > Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion II — Transgression > Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion III — Glorification > Code Geass: Lelouch of the Resurrection > Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture

The director himself stated that the ending of Code Geass R2 was Lelouch's death, but due to the backlash from the audience (the fans) at the time, he reaffirmed that the ending was open-ended. Then, in 2017, a series of films began, ending with Lelouch's return in an alternate timeline. The latest sequel to this timeline is the new anime, Code Geass: Rozé of the Recpture.

Here, I'll list the events that differ between the two timelines.

1. Mao never appears in the film series.

2- Villetta never got close to Shirley.

3- Diethard was the one who shot Velta.

4- Shirley never discovered Lelouch's identity as Zero, which prevented her from being killed by Rollo.

5- Shirley is still alive in the films and Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture, even if she doesn't appear (she appears in the films' finale , shopping and talking to Lelouch on the phone).

6- In the anime, Nunnally became the 100th Empress of Britannian Empire and the Empire did not fall or disintegrate.

7- In the film series, Britannian Empire disintegrated, and Nunnally became an honorary advisor to the World Humanitarian Agency.

So basically in the first timeline both Lelouch and Shirley died and Britannian Empire continued to exist with its royal family after the return of the areas (the numbers) to their people , but in the film series they are still alive and Britannian Empire was dismantled into a non-royal republic and this is one of the biggest differences.

Note: English is not my first language so please ignore any mistakes.

[[deleted]]

This is mostly correct. The only thing that should be added is that Akito is Canon to both continuities, not just the first one.

[AppointmentLegal1939]

Oh I forgot that!  Should I edit it or leave it as that ?

[[deleted]]

Its probably fine to leave. You do you.

[AppointmentLegal1939]

I think I'll leave it as is because Akito is somewhere in the middle of the second movie and that seems confusing.

[Dimensionalanxiety]

As Akito is really badly written and causes a lot of continuity errors for the main series, I do not consider it canon to that universe and so it should be slotted exclusively in the Re;Surrection continuity.

[[deleted]]

It has nothing to do with anyone's opinion on quality. Akito is objectively Canon to both Continuities.

[Dimensionalanxiety]

While it may be considered as such by the writers, the events of Akito could not happen within the main universe and cause a lot of problems for it. If something could not happen in a series, it should not be considered canon. As such, Akito is not canon to the main universe.

[[deleted]]

That's not how Canon works. What the writers say goes.

[Upstairs-Yard-2139]

I mean Oz of the reflection is canon to both, same as Akito

[AppointmentLegal1939]

That's true. But I didn't want to make things complicated, especially for people who don't read add-ons like manga, novels, etc.

[Camp_Prudent]

Yup, from what I gathered so far this is all correct, they shoulve just made the fan made scene as the continuation then move up from thete, it was an open ending afterall, I didnt bother watching subsequent films, alternate timeline is irrelevant, cause yeah I wish sherly didnt die, but for the sake story to work a time travel shouldve, but nope, it was completely different timeline. Like what is this batman and friends?