...a great fantasy adventure series.
"Slayers NEXT" is back! This hilarious and fun comedy adventure series was originally released as a box set back in 2000 by Central Park Media. It also came with a hefty price tag. Now the series has been reissued by FUNimation at a much more reasonable price, making this excellent series accessible to more fans.
In the 1990's, the Slayers franchise was one of the hottest around. Based on some original novels by Hajime Kanzaka, it eventually covered 3 TV series, 5 movies, and 2 OVA (direct-to-video) series. "Slayers Next" is the second TV series, and I consider it to be the best. Even though it is the second series, seeing the first one is not a requirement to appreciate the characters and the humor. In fact, this series was my original introduction to the Slayers world, and I found that the humor is so broad and the characters are so likable, that it is easy to join right in and follow the fun without the heavy weight of back-story.
Set in a fantasy world where magic exists, "Slayers NEXT" chronicles the exploits of a feisty young magic user named Lina Inverse and her muscle-bound partner Gourry. Lina is energetic, powerful, always hungry, and has a fondness for money and treasure. Gourry is strong, devoted to Lina, and shares her love of food. Their relationship is one of bickering friends. Lina is the obvious leader, but Gourry's muscle is a useful backup when some brawn is needed. They have a talent for finding trouble and causing extensive collateral damage wherever they go. In "Slayers NEXT," Lina and Gourry travel the land working as mercenaries and searching for a magical artifact known as the Claire Bible.
They are joined in their quest by some old friends- Amelia, an outspoken princess who fights for justice, and Zelgadis, a surly, anti-social, stone man searching for a way to return his human form. The Claire Bible may be just the thing he needs. While Amelia and Zelgadis were introduced in the first series, it doesn't take long to get a good grasp of their personalities and how they fit into the group. Each member of Lina's troupe has a role to play in the hunt for the Claire Bible, and even though their personalities are all so different, they really work well as a team.
Some new characters also join the main cast in "Slayers NEXT." The most notable is Xelloss, a mysterious mage who is searching for the Claire Bible for his own reasons. Is he a friend? A rival? Or something more sinister? "It's a Secret!" is all he will say. Also causing trouble for Lina and friends is Martina, a sorceress with questionable skills and questionable allegiances. While Xelloss supplies a lot of mystery to the series and is useful at arriving at just the right moment to push the plot forward, Martina is a great source of comic relief. Well, more comic relief, as Lina and Gourry are wellsprings of comedy already.
"Slayers NEXT" is a great fantasy adventure series. The magic spells are spectacular, and the comedy, while very slapstick and sometimes repetitive in nature, is good-spirited and fun. There is an even distribution of serious or plot-driven episodes, and pure comedy filler episodes. This season is especially entertaining because it really explores the depth of Lina and Gourry's relationship. Sure, they are partners, and there is non-stop wacky magical mayhem going on all the time, but underneath it all are some really great moments that reveal that a little more than a working relationship may be possible. Someday. If either of them can figure out how to express themselves properly.
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