Spoilers for “Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture” begin here.

“Code Geass” was already a franchise before “Rozé of the Recapture.” In 2017 to 2018, Sunrise put out a film trilogy that retold the story of “Lelouch of the Rebellion” in six hours instead of 20. That meant some story changes, but the biggest was a new epilogue film: 2019’s “Lelouch of the Re;surrection,” which carried on from the films’ alternate timeline. “Rozé,” in turn, follows on from that film.

“Rozé of the Recapture” opens by recapping the results of the original “Code Geass,” where Britannia fell and splintered, most of its old territories joining the new United Federation of Nations. But three years after “Re;”, the narrator tells us, some disgruntled Britannian nobles and soldiers invaded Hokkaido (Japan’s northernmost island), erected an energy barrier around the island, and declared themselves the Neo-Britannian Empire.

So, the defeated evil empire is back but in a diminished state? Sounds a lot like the First Order to me. As for the heroes, Rozé is introduced as a mercenary working beside his older Knightmare pilot brother Ash. Like Lelouch did in the original, they join with some plucky Japanese rebels working against the Britannians.

Then, in a first episode twist, it’s revealed “Rozé” is just a disguise for the Japanese princess Sakuya Sumeragi. Neo-Britannia stole someone precious from the princess and she’s working to recapture them. Sakuya is not only disguised royalty like Lelouch was, she shares his affinity for chess, his quick-thinking puppet master mind, his loyalty-inducing Geass, and even his looks. She is the Rey (Daisy Ridley) to Lelouch’s Luke (Mark Hamill).

Two of the 12 episodes of “Rozé of the Recapture” have been released in the U.S. so far. Characters from the original “Code Geass” haven’t appeared yet, but I think it’s only a matter of time.