OVA
Description
Diethard Ried is a native of the Holy Britannian Empire who serves as a television producer for a news station in Area 11, the region formerly known as Japan. Possessing a non-conformist personality, he grows deeply dissatisfied with the state-controlled media of Britannia and harbors an inner desire for chaos and dramatic upheaval. His worldview is shaped by the belief that all information is inherently subjective, with every news story or report being filtered through the creator’s own perspective and intent. A tall figure, he is noted to be 203 centimeters in height.
His motivations change entirely upon witnessing the emergence of the masked revolutionary Zero. Captivated by Zero’s charisma and the methods of creating "miracles," Diethard seeks to join the fledgling resistance group, the Black Knights. To prove his worth, he provides critical intelligence on Britannian military operations, including details of an offensive against the Japan Liberation Front and a plan to capture one of its leaders. His skills in information handling and strategy earn the trust of Zero, who appoints him as the head of all intelligence, propaganda, espionage, and diplomatic affairs for the Black Knights. Despite being a Britannian in a predominantly Japanese organization, his abilities allow him to overcome initial suspicion and secure a leadership role.
Within the Black Knights, Diethard is defined by a pragmatic and coldly rational approach. He believes a true leader must make decisions without sentiment or ethical hesitation, a principle that brings him into conflict with Zero’s personal loyalties. For instance, he advocates for eliminating Suzaku Kururugi as an obstacle, a move Zero refuses due to their personal history. His dedication is not to the cause of liberation or to any individual member, but to the narrative of Zero. He is determined to document the rise of this godlike figure, viewing the rebellion as the most compelling story he could ever capture. He is perceptive enough to suspect the nature of Zero’s supernatural Geass power, yet he chooses not to reveal this to the other Black Knights, keeping them in the dark to preserve the legend.
Diethard's loyalty is conditional on Zero remaining the compelling protagonist of a revolution. When Zero’s identity is publicly exposed as Lelouch vi Britannia and the Black Knights turn against him, Diethard ultimately defects. He chooses to align himself with Prince Schneizel el Britannia, finding the prince's grand strategies and the global scale of his plans to be a more interesting spectacle than what he perceives as the end of Zero’s story. In the final conflict, after Lelouch uses his Geass to defeat Schneizel, Diethard, in a rage, attempts to shoot Lelouch. He is stopped when he is shot by the controlled Schneizel. In his dying moments, Diethard makes a final request for Lelouch to use his Geass upon him, an obsessive desire to be eternally bound to the most powerful story. Lelouch refuses, declaring Diethard unworthy of such a command.
His motivations change entirely upon witnessing the emergence of the masked revolutionary Zero. Captivated by Zero’s charisma and the methods of creating "miracles," Diethard seeks to join the fledgling resistance group, the Black Knights. To prove his worth, he provides critical intelligence on Britannian military operations, including details of an offensive against the Japan Liberation Front and a plan to capture one of its leaders. His skills in information handling and strategy earn the trust of Zero, who appoints him as the head of all intelligence, propaganda, espionage, and diplomatic affairs for the Black Knights. Despite being a Britannian in a predominantly Japanese organization, his abilities allow him to overcome initial suspicion and secure a leadership role.
Within the Black Knights, Diethard is defined by a pragmatic and coldly rational approach. He believes a true leader must make decisions without sentiment or ethical hesitation, a principle that brings him into conflict with Zero’s personal loyalties. For instance, he advocates for eliminating Suzaku Kururugi as an obstacle, a move Zero refuses due to their personal history. His dedication is not to the cause of liberation or to any individual member, but to the narrative of Zero. He is determined to document the rise of this godlike figure, viewing the rebellion as the most compelling story he could ever capture. He is perceptive enough to suspect the nature of Zero’s supernatural Geass power, yet he chooses not to reveal this to the other Black Knights, keeping them in the dark to preserve the legend.
Diethard's loyalty is conditional on Zero remaining the compelling protagonist of a revolution. When Zero’s identity is publicly exposed as Lelouch vi Britannia and the Black Knights turn against him, Diethard ultimately defects. He chooses to align himself with Prince Schneizel el Britannia, finding the prince's grand strategies and the global scale of his plans to be a more interesting spectacle than what he perceives as the end of Zero’s story. In the final conflict, after Lelouch uses his Geass to defeat Schneizel, Diethard, in a rage, attempts to shoot Lelouch. He is stopped when he is shot by the controlled Schneizel. In his dying moments, Diethard makes a final request for Lelouch to use his Geass upon him, an obsessive desire to be eternally bound to the most powerful story. Lelouch refuses, declaring Diethard unworthy of such a command.