The main problem - this isn't Code Geass.
There isn't any of the original cast. The characters in CG were excellent. The dynamics between different characters, and the way Lelouch used the Geass. In CG there is a giant overarching plot - the giant world war happening. We are shown how certain characters react due to that conflict, and it's through them the story (CG anime) is told.
This episode focuses on the overarching story, and we're introduced to characters though that. For example, we're shown a story about a war EU vs Britania, and the 11's fighting as basically slave fighters. Though showing that war we are introduced to different characters. The opposite is true for CG. We're shown the characters, and learn more about the war through them.
When the fight scenes are going on there is some pretty impressive animation, but it's nothing amazing. Mechs fighting each other. Been seen a million times before. A lot of times I have no idea what mech is on what side, or what side is supposed to be the "good" guys, or why I should care who wins. What are the stakes? I don't care about any of the characters yet, I don't care if they die or not.
Several times during the first fight when Akito keeps saying die, they do close-ups of his eyes, and they turn kind of angry red, and you can't help but notice this main character looks almost just like LeLouch. I believe they were using these are tie ins to the original story which many people loved, and perhaps by leaving easter eggs from the original CG it will make people like this spin-off for those reasons alone, just like labeling this as "Code Geass: something-something something".
I wish there was a spoiler tag I could use because the last scene before the EV is worth writing about.
Overall this was mediocre. Nothing super special. If the later episodes turn things around some of these scores may rise, for example if there was brillant forshawdowing I missed, and causes me to re-watch episodes and say "I can't believe I didn't notice that"etc.
Unfortunately, for me at least, with a series like Code Geass which is one of my favorite animes, and people have beenwishing for something like an R3 - after all the wait, and all the hype, this just wasn't what I wanted.
