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 6: Endgame

By John Huxley
20th May 04

It's chaos aboard the Nadesico with mutiny, reunion, death, war, Gekiganger, love and plenty of corny jokes as Martian Successor Nadesico enters its triumphant sixth and final volume.

As if the Nadesico weren't full to the brim with an unfeasibly large amount of characters, the first episode on this disc introduces us to yet another member of the never-ending cast. She's the sister of a character we're already familiar with, although for some reason she holds a grudge against the crew of the Nadesico and unwisely attempts to infiltrate their ranks and bring them down from the inside (with plenty of sneaking). The plan backfires when she becomes unwittingly attached to the friendly and welcoming crew who treat her with utmost kindness and respect - something which she begrudgingly returns. This is a fantastic episode, ably displaying everything that makes Martian Successor Nadesico so great (you know...comedy, action, drama...that sort of thing). There's even a good amount of important plot developments to be taking note of, especially towards the end of the episode which sees our beloved crew disbanded for reasons I'm not at liberty to divulge.

Returning to their regular civilian occupations, this neat little development gives us a rare opportunity to spy on the crew's home lives, including Megumi's return to voice acting (the anime she works on is little more than twisted propaganda for the war effort), Uribatake reunited with his neglected family and distraught wife and Yurkia's imprudent stint as a waitress, serving Akito's wonderful home cooking. Fortunately for the estranged ex-crew of the Nadesico, child genius Ruri never gave up hope of a return to the ship they once called home, hatching a plan that just might see Yurika, Akito, Megumi and everyone else reinstated as crew members once again - even if they have to take the Nadesico by force. Yet another brilliant episode that helps pave the way for the final chapter of the story with a heartwarming tale of reunion and friendship in the face of adversity.

This momentum is carried over to the last three episodes, which see a whole host of twists, turns and roundabouts weave their way to the inevitable yet totally unexpected conclusion. It's all a wee bit too sensitive to discuss in any detail, but you can rest assured that everything you're expecting of Martian Successor Nadesico is present and correct - death, romance, action, excitement, humour and, of course, Gekiganger (there's even a Gekiganger festival to enjoy!). The conclusion gives us a pleasing resolution to many of the show's more puzzling aspects, including Akito's love triangle, the Jovian war and boson jumping. However, as Ruri so acutely points out during her closing monologue, the ending really asks more questions than it answers, leaving us wanting more. There is a Nadesico movie that takes place a few years after the series finishes and goes some way to providing a more satisfying epilogue, which, excellent though it is, doesn't really answer all those niggling questions.

Perhaps I was left slightly disappointed by Nadesico's finale simply because I never wanted it to end. It is all too easy to become totally engrossed in the world of Akito, Ruri and Gekiganger and all too difficult to tear yourself away. It's no surprise that Nadesico remains a favourite amongst Japanese audiences despite having long since finished - it's undeniable charms will have you spellbound for years to come, its characters, catch phrases and terminology imprinted on your mind forevermore. A unique and totally gratifying experience that everyone should try.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English and Japanese audio, English Subtitles

Notes: There's really not a lot to discuss here. All of the previous five Nadesico discs have been a disappointment and this is no exception. Such a great series really deserved a better package.

-- John Huxley 20th May 04

Martian Successor Nadesico Images