Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioko Hen

Never before have I seen an OVA that surpassed its original like the Tsuioko Hen did to the Rurouni Kenshin series. Though I was admittedly one of RK's biggest fans, something about it bothered me-- its humor. I don't know, I guess it was a bit too slapstick for my tastes. The manga was a lot like that, too, but the anime went a little overboard (specially when it came to those silly filler episodes... yech) Anyway, when I first heard about the OVA, I thought, 'what the hell', and shelled out some dough for the first two episodes. Little did I know that that would be the most well-spent cash I'd ever spent in my life. From the first thirty seconds to the closing credits, I was glued to my TV set, afraid to even blink.

The OVA was dark, make no mistake about it. The tone was solemn, the action bloody, and Himura Battousai was the scariest mother I'd ever laid eyes on. Could this boy be the eternally-happy, laundry-washing rurouni I'd watched on TV countless times before? It was, but from a totally different--and in my opinion, better-- angle. Himura Battousai was not quite as cheery as Ninja Scroll's Jubei, but neither was he as boring as WeiB Kruez's Aya. He did possess some sort of dry humor that peaked through during one time or another, but most of the time he was stoic and devoid of emotion.

Tomoe, the woman who eventually gives him his second scar, proves a wonderfully complex young woman who proves herself worthy of the Battousai's affections. As the OVA's said so eloquently-- She was the sheathe to calm his raging sword. ^_~ Anyway, I don't want to spoil the videos for you, so I'll end this review by saying that this gem should NOT go unnoticed. Buy it. Watch it. Love it. Revel in the glory of a Kenshin that is neither happy nor a push-over. And remember-- you heard it here first.

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