As the battles get more intense and personal and as more lands become involved, Byston Well begins to show more of its true colors in its leaders.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Going into another batch of episodes of this series, this show continues to just impress me as well as providing a great amount of entertainment. One of the best aspects of the show is that I have absolutely no idea where this ride is really going to go and I’m not trying to guess at it either, rather just letting it flow.
The battle in Byston Well continues strongly as we pick up with friends and foes alike this time. On Drake Luft’s side of the battle, he’s brought in more people from Upper Earth as we’d seen previously after the loss of Todd in battle. The three new people are all fairly eager to fight and to get into what they view as a game. They get tested on the new Doro’s a bit for familiarity, but mostly early on we get to see them watching from transports as Luft’s massive army continues to grow and move across the landscape.
On Neal’s side of the map, the group is figuring out some of their new equipment, such as Marvel handling the new Bozon while Show continues to master his aura powers with his Dunbine. Working with King Foizon, Neal and the others determine that Luft is likely set to go after Elf Castle, a very fortified castle and kingdom where the King there is one that may be difficult to deal with. As we see King Elf, he’s of the mind that Luft would never attack him due to the lovely gifts (including a popular gaming table) that Luft had given him previously.
King Elf is truly one of the most foolish people to rise to power in Byston Well so far, and is a shining example of everything that’s wrong with inherited titles and power. Disregarding all the advice of his ministers, he feels safe in his castle and with the array of Battler’s and other aura powered devices he’s purchased over the years. When Neal tries to work through couriers on the favor of King Foizon to try and foster a dialogue with King Elf, the situation turns dire as Luft uses that opportunity to attack.
The battles continue to be rather engaging here, with the mix of ranged combat and close hand to hand combat with the Battlers and the new craft that are brought into play. On Luft’s side, the battle is getting more heated and personal for Bern as he has suffered some embarrassing moments due to Show and Neal lately. He’s begun to lose control of his temper and made some reckless moves. But none of this compares to Garalia, who in her new battler, finds the increased rush in power to be intoxicating and causing her to become even more wild and dangerous.
With Show, however, he seems to be reaching some almost transcendent mode with the Dunbine. Watching him in battle as he pushes himself now, the craft is moving so fast at times it appears to be disappearing and then shifting back into space in a different location. His growing skill and apparent aura manipulation only infuriates both Bern and Garalia more, though she takes it more personally and makes it her mission to eliminate him completely so she can regain some favor with both Bern and Luft.
One of the surprising aspects of these episodes is that through a series of events during a pitched battle between Show and Garalia, the two of them end up opening up the aura road and find themselves in Japan. I hadn’t expected a return to Japan until the end of the series, if even then. This story arc begins on this volume and looks to conclude in the next, but it’s a fascinating little side trip. Show ends up appearing outside his house only to find that his parents don’t believe that he’s really him (or seem to recognize him at all at first). Garalia’s arrival on Upper Earth leads her to recklessly open fire on almost everything, causing mass destruction and hysteria.
And like any real anime series, Shinjuku gets the crap blown out of it once again.
There’s some really interesting moments during this Earth stint, with Show and Chum ending up in the hands of the military and learning some of what makes them tick as well as how they react to being on Upper Earth. Garalia has some good moments as well once she gets down and out of her mecha for a bit and ends up interacting with the locals as only she can. If anything, it’s interesting to see how she deals with being on the other side of the aura road and how her feelings may change over it and the future use of the silkies.
In Summary:
There’s simply something about Tomino and Dunbine that have me fascinated here. I love the openly over the top performances that characters give at times when they’re excited. The varying designs for the battlers look like they’ve laid the groundwork for many series that follow. The plot itself continues to be fun and engaging with the continually growing cast list of rulers and their servants. And with the simple knowledge that anyone can die at any time, it makes the battles all the more exciting. Dunbine continues to be one of the best of the classic anime shows.
Grade: B+
Streamed By: Daisuki
