Yes, Code Geass is kind of a SEED/DESTINY situation, where the first season is a fun little thing that has only a little headbanging while the second makes you want to pretend to be a rockstar in front of a CMU wall.
- Guilty Crown. Speaking of moderately entertaining shows that play all the tropes, Guilty Crown plays straight into Code Geass' niche. The show is silly in plot and the main is frustrating to watch, but it is pretty, has nice music, and the action scenes range from 'nice' to 'Wow that's pretty awesome". But dear god does the show play to all the 'standard tropes'. It uses the generic plot like a crutch instead of developing characters and is weaker for it.
- Fate/Zero. The show is very different from FSN, and it is better for it. The fact that it follows all the different characters and leaves only their motivations as a mystery makes it entertaining to watch and eschews more standard MYSTERY plot in favor of character building. The only caveat is that it is SLOW character building, since it zips around from perspective to perspective so much. Emiya gets the most screentime, but he is kept enigmatic by displaying his conflicting actions without revealing the real nature that drives those conflicting actions. Also I am totally messing with you since the REAL reason to watch this show is because the action is tons and tons of fun while Iskander deserves to be made king of the world just on account of raw awesome.
- Ben-To. Dear god this show is FUN. It plays its tropes, serves its fanservice, and has a plot that centers around very possibly the stupidest thing you could think of. But who the fuck cares when you spend most of the show either a)laughing or b) cheering. The show centers around high schoolers fighting it out for the honor of grabbing half-off boxed lunches. The show makes no apologies for the silly plot and just runs with it by infusing every interaction and plot point with as much raw energy as possible. Typical anime humor such as accidental pervert scenes normally make my eyes roll in disgust (hi Guilty Crown), but Ben-To manages to pull it off via a cast of surprisingly likable characters and being absolutely over-the-top. The VA's energy really makes the difference, here. Also the fights, while not brilliantly animated, are a joy to watch just for how vicious and crazy awesome they are. But yeah if you like fun there isn't a reason not to watch this show.
