* ''Anime/CodeGeass R2'' has quite a few points.
** The Chinese Federation agree to marry off their empress to a Britannian prince, so that Britannia would have some control over the Federation and thus have the grounds to attack Zero. Lelouch tries to stop this wedding, but so does Xing-Ke, who organizes a coup.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Since Lelouch has the same goal as Xing-Ke (to stop the wedding), for him to ally with Xing-Ke or at the very least just let Xing-Ke do as much damage as he possibly can. If he succeeds, great for Lelouch. If he fails, a lot of damage would still be done and Lelouch can always just swoop in and proceed with his plan to hold the empress hostage.\\
'''Instead:''' Lelouch decides to hold the empress hostage '''WHILE''' Xing-Ke is enacting his coup. This not only turns Xing-Ke against him, but it literally gives the Chinese Federation grounds to attack Zero... ''which is exactly why he wanted to stop the wedding in the first place.'' Had he just let Xing-Ke do the dirty work, everything would have worked out for him.
** When the empress is kidnapped by Zero, the High Eunuchs need someone to stop Zero.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' For them to get Britannia involved and send the Knights of the Round. They literally do this later on anyway, so nothing's really stopping them.\\
'''Instead:''' They decide to recruit Xing-Ke, knowing he'd have the incentive to stop Zero, by promising to give him a powerful Knightmare and pardoning all his crimes. This is ignoring the issue that Xing-Ke is steadfastly against the High Eunuchs so he could very well just turn on the Eunuchs and fuck them up (this doesn't happen but the risk was there).
** This is a crucial stage in the Eunuchs' battle against Zero. They have Xing-Ke on their side as well as the Knights of the Round.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' For them to dispose of Xing-Ke after the fight. Since, well, he's a criminal who hates the Eunuchs.\\
'''Instead:''' They choose the worst time ever and turn against Xing-Ke ''during'' the fight, when he's a very powerful pilot with a great mech. Consequently, Zero recruits Xing-Ke and screws over the Eunuchs because of this.
** Shortly before the second battle of Tokyo, Suzaku gets between Lelouch and his goal of rescuing Nunnally. \\
'''You'd Expect:''' Lelouch to remember that he once put a "Live" Geass on Suzaku and order Kallen to merely disable the Lancelot rather than destroy it.\\
'''Instead:''' After Suzaku refuses to submit, he orders Kallen to kill Suzaku, which she was just about to do anyway. Thanks to the "Live" command, Suzaku takes the quickest way to survival and [[spoiler: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kOUZLaxzjE nukes the Tokyo settlement, supposedly killing Nunnally]].]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It Anti-Hero.]]
** Earlier, Suzaku had promised to Lelouch to keep Nunnally safe from that battle as long as the latter kept his vow to bring world peace. Furthermore, Suzaku should have also backed Lelouch and the Black Knights in battle, since their victory would result in the liberation of Japan with the least amount of casualties. However, Schneizel and Kanon pull a trap on Lelouch and frame Suzaku for setting him up. So...\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Suzaku to prove his loyalty to Lelouch and Japan by standing by and helping to protect Nunnally. \\
'''Instead:''' Our [[LeeroyJenkins "hero" dives into the battle]], thus placing the liberation of Japan and team Lelouch's attempt to reach Nunally in serious jeopardy. And then, he deploys himself with the FLEIJA bomb in tow, which he has the gall to carry into battle, rather than playing defense on behalf of Lelouch, Nunally and Japan. Then Kallen comes in and absolutely destroys Luciano, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that her new Knightmare just decided the entire battle. Against the recommendations of everyone, he decides to pick a fight with her. He then spends the next two minutes using ''the same ineffective attack'' over and over like it will suddenly work better. He is being yelled at to retreat and ignores it. Kallen literally doesn't even fight back. Of course, when he's put on the ropes when Kallen gets serious, Suzaku decides [[DeathSeeker to stay and die]], which is even dumber than Lelouch's order to kill him because Suzaku ''knows'' exactly what kind of insane and out-of-character stunts the command can make him pull off when it's triggered. Worse still, he outright rationalizes firing it ''as the only way he'll survive''. And that's exactly what happens: he [[spoiler: nukes the Tokyo settlement. This results in the death of millions, including, seemingly at first, the one he swore to Lelouch to protect, which does not better Lelouch's opinion of him.]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice job, dumbass:]] [[MemeticMutation Achievement Unlocked: 35 Million Casualties.]]
** Jeremiah is about to test his new Geass Canceller...\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Him to look at his surroundings, just in case someone is nearby.\\
'''Instead:''' [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom He doesn't.]] Resulting in him [[spoiler:accidentally cancelling Shirley's MindRape Geass caused by Lelouch, ultimately resulting in Shirley's murder by Rolo and ''all of the below happening'']].\\
'''Thankfully:''' The CompilationMovie retconned this, as Jeremiah ''actually checks his surroundings'' and warns Shirley to stay out of trouble for her own safety, indirectly saving her life in the process.
** Even earlier than that, Shirley, just after Lelouch had risked his life to save her from falling off the edge of a building, [[spoiler: is found dead in a puddle of blood in a smoking building just minutes later. Her death is ruled as suicide, but even so...]]\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Suzaku to absolve Lelouch of [[spoiler:causing Shirley's death, taking the earlier heroic near-sacrifice, and a lack of opportunity for a Geassing into account.]] \\
'''Instead:''' Suzaku blames Lelouch for [[spoiler:Shirley's death]], and never realizes, or certainly not before it was too late, that Lelouch [[spoiler:didn't Geass Shirley into suicide, which makes no sense to begin with.]] Accusive ass. Thank you for causing us God knows how much trouble. Really, [[spoiler:it was Rolo, working on his own buggy, although thoughtless, agenda, who killed Shirley.]]
** And then, The Black Knights are led by ''another'' Britannian prince and Ohgi's Britannian agent of a girlfriend to believe that Lelouch Geassed them into loyalty. Because of this, [[spoiler: the Black Knights revolt, using Kallen to draw him out for a public execution. Lelouch just laughs at the Black Knights' gullibility--not that the Black Knights are wrong, but as if they are right, in order to let Kallen go free--which prompts the [=BKs=] to try to kill him. [[BigDamnHeroes Rolo busts in with the Shinkiro to save him.]]]] \\
'''You'd Expect:''' The [=BKs=] to realize that Lelouch does have his morals and give him a fair trial for his actions. After all, for instance, even if he did Geass them, their attempt at mutiny would prove his Geass wasn't inviolable. In addition, that he did ''not'' use Kallen as a human shield would usually be considered strange, if the [=BKs=] weren't willing to kill her so they he couldn't. At the very least, they could have engineered events so that Kallen would go free. However, VideoGame/{{Super Robot Wars Z}}2: Saisei-Hen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbMxufJKDqo goes with this option on the ZEXIS route.]] \\
'''Instead:''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vrhIyYrJ4k They don't, and instead chase him and Rolo down, resulting in Rolo's death and the Knights leaving Lelouch for dead]]. All of this is for an under the table deal to liberate Japan, giving the middle finger to the entire UFN in the process. Congratulations. [[spoiler:You have just pushed our ByronicHero to [[DespairEventHorizon his ultimate breaking point]], and now have a seemingly despotic Emperor Lelouch for it.]] \\
'''However:''' Similar to VideoGame/{{Super Robot Wars Z}}2: Saisei-Hen above, the third CompilationMovie [[AuthorsSavingThrow also attempts to fix this]]. The Black Knights actually attempt a more fair trial where they hear him out first, but much to their objection, it's interrupted by Schneizel's men preparing to chase him down anyway. Not even the act Lelouch tries to put on seems to stop them from begging him to just tell the truth.
** On the same subject, Ohgi's Britannian agent of a secret girlfriend, Villetta, is among those to testify against Lelouch. \\
'''You'd Expect:''' Ohgi to get a slap on the wrist at the very least for secretly harboring a Britannian agent, since that was one of the charges raised against Lelouch. After all, Villetta caused, among other things, [[spoiler: [[TookALevelInDumbass Ohgi to let his guard down]] during the Black Rebellion, leading to further destabilization within the ranks of the Black Knights watching over Ashford (which also arguably resulted in V. V. being able to sneak in and abduct Nunnally, causing Lelouch in turn to take a costly detour from the Rebellion), and him to accept a death threat from her, leading to an assassination attempt.]]\\
'''Instead:''' This is overlooked too easily, and [[spoiler: Villetta even joins the Black Knights. The two even get [[HappilyMarried married]] [[HappilyEverAfter ever after]], with Ohgi becoming Prime Minister, making them both [[KarmaHoudini Karma Houdinis.]]]]
** Remember that potential moment mentioned above? Well, now it warrants mention given the thought. [[spoiler:The Black Knights had been told about Geass, and it being a form of hypnotism, which especially has the stereotype of working more effectively on weak-minded people. They think they have been Geassed, which shows signs of still being effective for extended periods of time.]] \\
'''You'd Expect:''' [[spoiler:[=BKs=]: Wait a minute, Zero AKA Lelouch vi Britannia. How can we be able to try to mutiny against you when you had a princess who appointed a Japanese man as her personal knight through all that prejudice massacre Japanese people. Something is off.]] \\
'''Instead:''' [[spoiler:[=BKs=]: [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight Die, monster! You don't belong in this world!]] [[KangarooCourt Open fire and kill the girl we used as bait under premise of being Geassed for questioning us, boys!]]]] \\
'''Result:''' The moment 2 entries above, its own results and all. Though VideoGame/{{Super Robot Wars Z}}2: Saisei-Hen [[https://youtu.be/rxsjdsUJ0A8 adds this]]: \\
(After [[spoiler: Zero Requiem]]) [[spoiler:[=BKs=]: Okay, maybe we did misjudge you back there, so we all decided to save your life. Wanna become our leader again?]] \\
'''Alternatively:''' (In the third CompilationMovie) [[spoiler: [=BKs=]: Hey, what the hell, Schneizel's men?! We can't open fire yet, we still need answers! [[TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong …What do you mean you're gonna shoot him anyway?]]]]
** Then there's Rolo's [[spoiler:BigDamnHeroes moment: He is right there in a ''Knightmare'' and has a Geass power capable of stopping the senses of anybody in range, however temporary. He is quite okay with overusing his Geass to save Lelouch, whose life is threatened because of everybody else in the room except for Kallen, but cares too little for anybody else to not think twice of killing them, demonstrated not just by the fact that he ''[[WhatMeasureIsAMook kills random pilots]]'' in the following scenes but that his assassin history and instincts in any other case would compel him to kill at the slightest provocation, as has been [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded earlier on a few times]] by other characters.]] \\
'''You'd Expect:''' [[spoiler:Rolo to use the Knightmare and his Geass power to wipe those people (the [=BKs=]) off the face of the Earth already.]] \\
'''Instead:''' [[spoiler:Rolo just bolts for the exit. With Schneizel and Kanon being allowed to live, they get to report Lelouch escaping; this leads to making sure Rolo ''has'' to lose his life to ensure Lelouch's safety. And with them and the Black Knights still alive, Lelouch has to fight through them later on.]] All in the name of [[spoiler:Lelouch fighting against the world]] just like [[spoiler:Shirley]] said. Or maybe he could let Lelouch into the cockpit (which he did do well before dying), then escape into the water, of which few Knightmares possess the ability.
** The OSI is sent to spy on Lelouch, someone whose memories were wiped and is not a threat whatsoever, in order to be able to catch C.C. Unbeknownst to anyone outside the OSI or Black Knights, Lelouch manages to manipulate most of the OSI over to his side, so naturally nothing concerning Lelouch's memories having returned has been reported.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' For V.V to just stay put and wait. This is their best chance to get C.C, after all.\\
'''Instead:''' V.V decides to send an assassin, Jeremiah, to kill Lelouch. True, Jeremiah did end up defecting to Lelouch, but that's not the problem here (V.V had no way of predicting that). The issue is that V.V wanted Lelouch dead even though he is very effective bait for C.C and his memories being wiped means he's not an issue for Britannia. Even if he does get his memories back, that would be the perfect opportunity to get C.C. Of course, Lelouch did end up regaining his memories, but V.V had no way of knowing that.
** Lelouch and Suzaku join forces for the first time and take over the Britannian Empire, but they know that Schneizel still has his Damocles and that he plans to use it nuke the world into submission, and that they need to stop it at any cost. So Lelouch contacts the only other super power on earth, the "UFN", which is controlled by people he helped put in power, and who's army he helped build and used to command, and invites their leaders for a peace conference, which they agree to.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Lelouch to try and rebuild his alliance with his former followers by providing them proof that he did not use Geass on them (he can easily do that, since ItOnlyWorksOnce), tell them the truth about who he is and why he fights and unite together against Schneizel and the Damocles which threatens them all. That way, Schneizel would be facing all the armies of the entire world. At the very least, he could have made a secret pact then went as per canon, until someone like Xingke could meet with Schneizel and assassinate him.\\
'''Instead:''' Lelouch uses the peace conference as bait to lure the UFN leaders into a trap and then take them all hostage, he then sends his army in and conquers the whole of Japan, thus insuring that he has to fight the Black Knights ''and'' Schneizel at the same time.
** Which leads to the next one. Lelouch and Suzaku actually had at least a good month before Schneizel got Damocles up in the air, [=FLEIJAs=] and all.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Them to hunt him down, and/or put him under close watch to keep him from putting his big KillSat into action unmitigated. One FLEIJA was bad enough. Plus, he already had the Avalon in the first season. Why give the opportunity to do worse?\\
'''Instead:''' He just waits around for Schneizel to emerge on his own, with even worse than predicted results. Hello, ContractualGenreBlindness.
** Schneizel himself gets one. Since Lelouch isn't doing anything to stop him, he's able to launch Damocles uncontested.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Schneizel go straight to his "nuke the world" plan. After all, Lelouch can't stop him.\\
'''Instead:''' He nukes Pendragon, sets up an alliance with the UFN when he is going to betray them, and decides to get into a final showdown with Lelouch that he never needed to engage in. Result: he loses when he was practically holding all the cards.
** Nunnally has the ability to tell lies by holding a person's palm. She did this to Suzaku and [[ObstructiveBureaucrat Alicia]] in R2.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Her to do the same with Schneizel, her brother who she hasn't seen in years. She sees her own blood brother, Lelouch, as a person who has lied to her, so why should Schneizel, let alone anyone, period, be an exception?\\
'''Instead:''' She takes Schneizel's [[HalfTruth words]] at face value, which results in her turning against Lelouch, and agreeing with Schneizel's nuking of Pendragon, because she has been falsely informed about the city being evacuated.
** And even R1 is not immune, and even has a moment ''in the second episode'', from ''Lelouch himself'' no less: Lelouch has just Geassed Villetta for her Knightmare. Not five minutes ago he had Geassed a bunch of Britannian soldiers to kill themselves. He could kill her a few different ways and be done with it. At few if any points in ''the entire series'' does Lelouch care for WhatMeasureIsAMook, and he even kills ''named soldiers''.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Lelouch to kill her. One less piece of Britannian scum to deal with, not to mention covering up how he got the Knightmare.\\
'''Instead:''' He just ignores her and leaves. Villetta ends up being a factor in much of his troubles later on.
** And speaking of Villetta... so, Lelouch wakes up and realises, with [[TheChessmaster his typical genius]] barring [[IdiotBall situations like this]], that two people have seen him unmasked, thus uncovering his true identity, and that one has shot the other.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That Lelouch would immediately search the area for the shot party, on the basis that they're unlikely to have gotten far with a gunshot wound, just in case they're still alive. Which, as it happens, they are.\\
'''Instead:''' Lelouch just goes home, devoting all his time and effort towards finding the shooter rather than the shootee (despite the fact that the shooter almost certainly has some sympathy or affection for him, having protected his identity and not revealed it yet), letting the badly wounded but still very much alive Villetta be discovered by Ohgi instead. Admittedly she has LaserGuidedAmnesia when she first recovers, but nevertheless...\\
'''Result:''' This event ultimately sets in motion a chain of events that not only help to doom the First Black Rebellion by causing chaos in the Black Knights' headquarters, aiding V.V. in his abduction of Nunnally, but later on led to the Black Knights ''betraying Zero and driving him over the DespairEventHorizon''. Yeah.
** After he was [[spoiler:forced to kill Euphemia to end her suffering and Suzaku witnesses her death and blames Zero and eventually tracks him down and exposes his identity to Kallen and himself. He asks Lelouch why he killed Euphy.]]\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Lelouch to go ahead and explain everything and tell him that he never meant to Geass Euphy and that she fought off the order and tell how he tried to stop her many times, but failed and that he killed her to end her suffering. Also, he should at least tell them that Euphy knew his identity from the start and tell them what she gave up to help him with and confess that he wanted to help her and that it was only a joke he told her that caused this entire mess. Honesty just might save his ass here and he needs Suzaku's help to save Nunnally. \\
'''Instead:''' He taunts an already crazy Suzaku about Euphy and tells him to forget about it. This results in Suzaku shooting Lelouch and having the Emperor MindRape him.\\
'''You'd Also Expect:''' Since Kallen is there, he keep on her good side by refuting Suzaku's accusations.\\
'''Instead:''' He acts like a dick to ''his most loyal follower'' because of [[PoorCommunicationKills his inability to apologize]] connected to his aversion to making what he perceives as excuses, thus making sure she makes basically no effort to help him.
** After finding out that the mysterious Lancelot pilot is Suzaku, Zero decides to do something about it since he's been a thorn to his plans so many times. Zero has Rakshata set a trap to disable the Lancelot on Kamine Island.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Zero orders the Black Knights to take Suzaku prisoner or better yet, kill him on the spot. Then, take the Lancelot and retreat before the Britannian army can arrive with reinforcements.\\
'''Instead:''' Zero come closes to Suzaku without any bodyguards and leave him unrestrained. Zero engage in yet another pointless debate with a stubborned Suzaku to persuade him to join his side, despite the latter has already made clear in the past he would never betray Britannia. This waste precious time and Zero gets grappled by Suzaku. Schneizel makes his entry in a freaking airship and blow them up with hadron cannons.
** Lelouch and Suzaku are trapped by the Gefjun Disturber and Schneizel is about to blow them both up. Suzaku is refusing to move because of his stubborn self-sacrificial attitude.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' For the Black Knights to shoot the Gefjun Disturber in order to allow Zero to escape.\\
'''Instead:''' They don't do this (even though it takes a few people at most to destroy the Gefjun Disturbers, so it wouldn't compromise their manpower too much) and attempt to shoot the missiles instead.
** [[spoiler:Shirley regains her lost memories and after a major freakout, she's relieved that Lelouch isn't out to kill her.]] Unfortunately, a terrorist (Jeremiah) is sighted on the scene and she fears for Lelouch's safety. Suzaku specifically orders the police to protect her.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Shirley to wait inside the police car and confront Lelouch later when it's safer. After all, Lelouch is the world's most feared terrorist and he should be capable of taking care of himself, right?\\
'''Instead:''' Shirley ignores [[PoliceAreUseless the police's safety who can't catch up with her]]. [[spoiler:She finds a gun and spills the beans to Rolo about Lelouch being Zero. Since Lelouch never had a brother, Shirley should have been suspicious of him. Rolo kills her since she knows too much.]]\\
'''However:''' In the second CompilationMovie, [[spoiler: Jeremiah himself appears in front of her the moment she regains her memories and warns her not to get involved any further for her own safety. This results in all of this being avoided and ends up saving her life this time.]]