Martian Successor Nadesico  Highly recommended
Publisher
ADV
Director
Tatsuo Sato
Production
TV Tokyo, XEBEC, Yomiuri Advertising
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
1996
Martian Successor Nadesico Volume 3: Danger Zones
By John Huxley
20th May 04  Episode Summary ARNING: may contain spoilers Episode 9: The Miracle Operation of the Kiss? The Nadesico's first mission for the UEAF finds the crew hunting down an ambassador stranded in the North Pole. Not exactly an ideal mission for the grandiose ship, but orders are orders. Onboard, both Megumi and Yurika vie for Akito's attention. Episode 10: The Dangers of Femininity The enemy has been spotted on a tropical island location...cue skimpy bathing suits all round. When they finally get down to business, Akito finds himself falling head over heels for a girl who can cook up a great dinner, unlike Megumi and Yurika. Will the pair stand for this young filly stealing their Akito's heart with a gourmet spread? And could the swimsuits be any more revealing? Episode 11: Finding Yourself in a Routine Plot When a mission to destroy a Jovian super-weapon goes awry, Akito and the rest of the pilots must carry out the mission on their own. Travelling by foot, this gives plenty of time for Akito and Nagare Akatsuki to discuss the subtleties of Gekiganger III. However, they'll have to put their differences aside on the battle field and work as a team as the Jovians move in to protect their seemingly indestructible weapon. Episode 12: Those Unforgettable Days The Nadesico's computer system encounters some difficulties, causing the poor AI to fire at both the Jovians and the UEAF. Although casualties were kept to a minimum, the UEAF demands that the Nadesico's computer be formatted and the AI installed afresh. The clock is ticking for Akito and Ruri to enter the system and rescue the AI before it gets deleted... Volume Review Do you remember when I said that I liked the episodes not connected to the central plot? Well, get ready, because you've got four of them right here! Four completely inconsequential, irrelevant episodes that see our heroes and heroines battle giant walking sticks, rescue a polar bear, sympathise with AI and don skimpy bathing suits. And you know what? All four episodes are absolutely fantastic pieces of entertainment. The first two episodes are mostly comedy pieces with a little of the love triangle thrown in for variety. We're also introduced to a new one-off character, an eccentric billionaire's daughter who wins Akito's heart with her fabulous cooking (anything must look fabulous after the inedible mess Yurika and Megumi cooked up). Astonishingly, she beats out the entire crew of the Nadesico to win 'nutball of the series' award, which is quite some achievement considering the competition. The third episode gives us a little Aestivalis action and expands on the relationship between Akito and Nagare Akatsuki, the pilot that joined the crew towards the end of the last volume. He doesn't understand Akito's obsession with Gekiganger III, which will strike a chord with many viewers. They've saved the best for last. Those Unforgettable Days is a brilliant episode that involves the Nadesico's computer AI becoming confused and shooting at both the enemy and the UEAF. Although there were no casualties, the UEAF and Nergal become concerned and demand answers, threatening to re-write the AI. None of the crew want to lose their computer, so they set about formulating a plan to rescue it before it's too late. This really is a great episode; on top of some fine comedy we get to see more of Ruri, Akito, Uribatake and Gekiganger, all capped with a heartwarming finale. Aww, bless! If you've not seen Nadesico by now, please do so. I'm afraid my review can't do the series justice. You'll just have to watch it yourself and make up your own mind. You may not enjoy it as much as myself, but I guarantee that you will at the very least find something to like.
R2 DVD Notes
Features: English and Japanese audio, English Subtitles, Character bios, Textless open & close
Notes: If you were expecting a big improvement over the last DVD - sorry to disappoint you. No interactive features, no interviews, no TV spots and not even a hint of concept artwork. I like cool features as much as the next guy, but this really shouldn't effect your buying decision. It's a great series that can outshine any mediocre DVD.
-- John Huxley 20th May 04
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