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R2 DVD Reviews
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Written by maehara
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Sunday, 04 November 2007 17:00 |
 The Kouga clan finally realise that the truce with the Iga is over, although by this stage the Iga already have the upper hand. With Gennosuke still in the Iga compound, will his clansmen be able to get word of the renewed hostilities to him before his “hosts” do away with him..?
5 - The Surprise Attack / Way of the Shinobi
Back at the Kouga compound, news of the renewed hostilities with the Iga clan still hasn't arrived, in no small part thanks to Tenzen's efforts to keep them in the dark - although some members of the clan aren't taking news of Gennosuke's planned marriage to Oboro too well. As they're planning what can be done to put an end to their relationship, the compound comes under attack by the Iga. Meanwhile, at the Iga compound, Akeginu's having to cover up Josuke's disappearance, but Gennosuke's beginning to realise that something's not quite right...
6 - Longing in the Rain / Falling Tears, Tender Emotions
With the Kouga now aware that the Iga are up to something - although still not knowing what or why - Tenzen decides that the Iga's best course of action now is to eliminate Gennosuke immediately. As they return to the Iga compound, they come across Okoi, and on discovering that she's one of the ten on their list of targets, battle is joined. Meanwhile, the Kouga in Manjidani meet to decide what to do next after the Iga's abortive raid. Suspecting correctly that the anti-war pact between the clans has been nullified, they decide it's time to pay a visit to the Iga compound...
7 - The Bloodsucking Seductress / Hell of Human Skin
Okoi's questioning begins - she's promised she'll be given her freedom if she co-operates, but knowing what they Iga are after she's not inclined to be helpful. She's also more than capable of giving her questioner a taste of his own medcine - if you thought Okoi looked sweet and innocent, think again. Do unto others as they would do unto you, goes the saying, and so Okoi tskes action against her would-be killers. Meanwhile, Tenzen finally tells Oboro that the pact between the clans is over...
8 - Cage of Blood / Blood Spray of Heartlesness
While Tenzen explains the new reality to Oboro, Gennosuke waits for the attack that he knows is coming. Oboro, meanwhile, refuses to accept what Tenzen's telling her - even if the pact had been annulled, she reasons, there's still no reason for them to go back to war when a permanent peace is so close at hand. Events are already beginning to run out of hand, though, as Okoi becomes the latest victim of the Iga rampage. Perhaps too late, members of the Kouga clan arrive at the Iga compound and retrieve their roster of targets before finally informing Gennosuke of what's been going on - but rather than fight, he opts to simply return to Manjidani...
I was beginning to wonder how long it would take for Gennosuke and Oboro to realise that their clans were back at war – after all, the hostilities started again right back in episode one, and they’ve remained blissfully unaware ever since. Gennosuke seems to have figured it out by episode 7, while Tenzen finally breaks the news to Oboro around the same time – although even by the end of the disc she still hasn’t accepted that the return to war is a fait accompli. Even if the pact had been annulled, she reasons, there's still no reason for them to go back to war when a permanent peace is so close at hand – but unfortunately for her, she’s in a minority of one amongst her clan, and it doesn’t look likely that she’ll be able to talk her clansmen out of their bloodlust.
In the meantime, the carnage continues. Up until now it’s been the Iga who have had the run of the luck, but with the Kouga having finally recovered their roster of targets, the battle begins to become a little more even. As with the Iga, each of the Kouga warriors has their own unique, mystical ability that sets them apart and makes them a lethal killing machine. I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a huge fan of that style of combat story, so the fighting scenes tend to wash over me a little, but there’s also plenty of scheming and manoeuvring for advantage going on as the two clans try to outwit each other and gain the upper hand again, and that side of events is very enjoyable to watch.
With the truth now being out in the open, the next question to be asked is what are Gennosuke and Oboro going to do next –follow their hearts and at least try to bring the fighting to an end, or follow Ieyasu’s intentions and allow their clans to fight to the death. The series’ tagline – “To the one I love, prepare to die” – is probably a fairly big hint towards the answer, while most of the clansmen on both sides seem quite happy to fight it out, but I’d like to see them try and avoid repeating the mistakes that their grandparents made, and learn the lessons of the past. As characters, they both come across as strong and determined in their own ways (Oboro may seem the quiet, obedient type, but every so often there’s a flash and a coldness in her eyes that says otherwise), and there are some good story possibilities that could be opened up if they tried to take control of the situation.
They’re about the only characters worth watching, though. Sometimes it seems that no sooner is a character introduced than they’re on the receiving end of a nasty death, with Okoi being the case in point on this volume. She’s introduced as a fun-loving girl, shown to be a serious and powerful fighter, then put in a situation that sees her out of the show before you really got the chance to get a feel for her. There’s a potentially large cast in Basilisk, but the war is moving so quickly that, outside of obvious leaders like Tenzen, there’s just no opportunity to get to know any of them, and to me that’s a shame.
This volume of Basilisk is much like the first – plenty of scheming, plenty of impressive fighting, and Gennosuke and Oboro caught in the middle and, now they’re aware of the end of the truce, wondering what to do next. Impressive visuals and plenty of gore make it a treat to watch on one level with the manoeuvring of the two sides keeps the brain ticking over while you watch – it’s good as far as it goes, but I can’t help but think that it would be better if more of the fighters actually meant something to the viewer, and they’re not really developed enough for that to happen. Still, no series is perfect, and despite its flaws Basilisk still manages to be enjoyable to watch. Well worth a look.
Watch the trailer for this release
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