SLAYERS TRY
It may try, but not hard enough
Review by: Craig "Megumi Hayashibara's bitch" Norris
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Fantasy, comedy
Watched: 1-26, subbed
It’s a known fact that, if you keep making sequels, eventually there’s going to be a letdown. So, despite the lofty standards set by the previous two Slayers series, I was not too surprised to find a noticeable downgrade in overall quality with this, the third installment. While it does show flashes of the same comedy and energy that got me hooked in the first place, it lacks the consistency of Slayers and Slayers Next. In just about every way, Slayers Try can’t live up to its name.
Plot synopsis: With the destruction of Gaav and Fibrizo, the barrier enclosing Lina’s homeland has been lifted, allowing her and her entourage to roam the world freely. However, this new world brings new dangers, as a golden dragon priestess named Filia recruits Lina and company to prevent the five weapons of light from falling into the wrong hands and releasing the destructive demon Darkstar onto the earth. Lina has no choice but to accept, or she will face the wrath of the only being who has ever caused her terror: her own sister!
Artwork: Instead of getting better over the years, the artwork for Slayers has gotten worse. The spells, motions, and even some character designs seem a lot sloppier than they used to. And unfortunately, there’s a lot less to distract us from the unimpressive animation this time around, so it sticks out like a sore thumb. All the main characters are drawn the same as they always have been, but some of the new characters look absolutely horrid, in both concept and execution. Anyone who was unimpressed with the art of Slayers and Slayers Next may wince when they get a load of this series.
Music: This is one aspect of the series that has maintained its quality consistently throughout its run. Chronic overachiever Megumi Hayashibara once again sings the opening and closing numbers, with her usual degree of inhuman success. If nothing else, we can always count on her to pick up the slack left by lackluster production values. The background tracks are appropriate as usual, perfectly accompanying the mood but obediently sliding to the wayside when the characters are being showcased. It is another worthy edition to Slayers soundtracks, and injects a little spice into this otherwise lukewarm production.
Characters: Instead of repeating myself, go check out my reviews for Slayers and Slayers Next to find out what Lina, Gourry, Amelia, Zelgadiss and Xelloss are like; their personalities picked up right where they left off. There are a few new faces, however. Filia is a golden dragon priestess who travels in human form. She has a very honest and gentle personality, and gets flustered very easily, especially when getting into arguments with Xelloss. Interestingly, she is the only individual whom I have seen make Xelloss lose his cool. The main villain, Valgaav, is a black dragon who was mortally wounded in the battle between the dragon and monster races. He was saved by the late Gaav, who infused him with monster energy. Valgaav is a headcase, 
and seems to pursue destruction to alleviate his own inner turmoil. There are many other characters, but to elaborate on them would mean running this review to a needless length. In fact, one of the many failings of Slayers Try is that there are too many characters. Throw in the fact that they almost all have changes of heart and shifting of loyalties at some point, and it becomes very hard to follow who is loyal to who and who is fighting for what. However, the biggest disappointment is in the character that doesn’t show up. At the beginning of the series, it becomes known that Lina has an older sister, and is very afraid of her. So, for 26 episodes, I eagerly awaited the appearance of the lady who makes the powerful Lina Inverse quake at the knees. But, as if to slap every Slayers fan in the face, she doesn’t even show up. After so much buildup, I thought it was a given that we would meet her, even if only for a few minutes. That whole sorry scenario rates highest in my list of shortcomings perpetrated by Slayers Try. Overall the character setup is much more complex than in the previous two series, serving no purpose other than deviating from the successful Slayers formula and cluttering things up.
Plot: Speaking of straying from the formula, this is another part of the series that departed from its normal convention. The first two series didn’t have very complex plots, which allowed for ample enjoyment of the characters and comedy. This plot, however, twists and turns too much for its own good, and takes the focus away from where it should be. It is too complex a plot for a franchise that follows a simplistic formula for success, and as such the series takes on a very labored pace. As Slayers never banked all its success on plot before, I was disappointed at this unsuccessful paradigm shift.
CHICKS!: For such a large cast, I was disappointed at the overall showing of chickness. Lina is still a great match for anyone who does not value social graces, and can keep pace with a greedy, adventurous, power-hungry sorceress. But alas, she is still flat-chested. Not so with Amelia, who is still too overdeveloped for her age for Lina’s liking. Amelia’s state of mind is still noble and simplistic, making her a good match for someone who values loyalty above intelligence. With the total absence of Sylphiel, whom I felt was the most desirable of all the chicks in any Slayers series, the creators attempt to make up for her in the guise of Filia, who incorporates much of the same warmth and selflessness of her replacee. Despite being able to take on a human form, she can’t do much about her tail, which sometimes pokes out from her dress. This can be good or bad, depending on personal taste. However, few can deny her winning personality, and anyone who wouldn’t mind having a dragon for a girlfriend would be quite pleased with her. Outside of those three, however, there are no chicks to be had. Not even for one or two episodes. I know Mars needs women, but damn, leave some for us!
Overall: If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I’d have to say that Slayers Try suffers from a lack of energy. After two highly successful series, the franchise couldn’t keep up with itself, and stumbled along to the finish line. It’s not often I say this, but the large cast and elaborate plot actually hurt this series more than it helped it. The creators should have just stuck with the formula and given us more of what we wanted. Instead, Slayers Try is a very disappointing way to round out a trilogy, and will probably not hold a lot of appeal to anyone but hardcore Slayers fans. Be sure to watch with lowered expectations.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Same lovable characters
+ High quality soundtrack
- Poor animation
- Convoluted plot
- Too many characters
- A bit un-Slayers-like
Rating: 6.5/10
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