Short Synopsis: Rui gets mysteriously transported back to a feudal version of Japan.
Highlights: Nice set-up.
Overall Enjoyment Value: 8/10
Well, so far so good. It’s episode 15 and there’s still no sign of this series getting old. The current arc is also significantly different from anything we’ve seen so far on this series, so this series is definitely heading into the right direction for me. If I recall correctly, the current arc was supposed to be one of the earlier stories in the original novels, but it makes sense to move it more to the back. The characters are now fully fleshed out, and this really is an arc that is meant to develop the characters: Rui for having to solve everything on his own, and Ran for having to worry about Rui, and so getting closer to him.
What striked me was how slow this episode felt, when compared to the previous arcs. It seems to suggest that this will finally be another arc that consists out of three episodes. It’s a nice effect, and it allowed this series to show what it can do with a slow pacing. The exposition was interesting, and this type of story would indeed fit a bit of a slower pacing. After all, otherwise Rui would get reunited with Ran a bit too soon.
It’s a shame that the blood didn’t go through the censors, though. TMS Entertainment showed with Kaze no Shoujo Emily that they’re not afraid of death, but apparently blood is a bit too much. Ah well, at least Yoshihiro Ike got a bit more the chance to show off his magic with some new tracks, and they sound very nice.
