ssjakira1's Full Review: Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play - Vol. 2: Trials...
Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
I forget just how I found out about Fushigi Yuugi, but as I have connections, a friend of mine said she would lend me her tapes. How nice of her! Watase Yuu is responsible for this girls’ anime, though I’m not familiar with anything else she’s done the way I am with a few other creators. But if you like you can look her up on the internet and see if there’s anything else you’d be interested in.
If you’re just tuning in, then you’re going to have to rewind back to Volume 1 because this series is one in which you really do need to see from the start. Not unlike what’s going on in the series, it’s like you’re reading a book – and it won’t work if you start up in some middle chapter. Besides, I will mention some things in this review that act as small spoilers for the first volume.
Quick recap – Miaka Yuuki is a 15-year-old schoolgirl (typical) who discovers a mysterious book after following a mysterious bird. She and her friend Yui get sucked into the book – shortly after Yui gets thrown out again, but continues to read the book as Miaka has now become one of the characters. Miaka has since met the handsome money-happy Tamahome, extra beautiful Emperor Hotohori, and the lovely courtesan Nuriko. All three are chosen to be protectors of the Priestess of Suzaku; the Suzaku Seven. But is Miaka up to being the Priestess and saving this strange land of Konan?
All right, well let’s take a look see at the next three episodes that are in this volume. However, since each episode slips right into the next one, the info I give you is going to be pretty basic, seeing as I don’t like dishing out spoilers.
Episode 5: Miaka is sick, Tamahome rejected her, and she’s been attacked numerous times already. Ugh. The Emperor decides that the best thing to do is to take her to Taiitsukun, the one person who might know how to send Miaka back to her world. Meanwhile Nuriko is up to something…
Episode 6: Whenever you want to see the mystical entity/person of your particular world, they never make it easy for you. How rude.
Episode 7: So, they’ve finally made it to Taiitsukun’s place. But because of Taiitsukun, Miaka can’t return right away. But of course, instead of just relaxing and waiting to recover, they’re going to do things the hard (and in my opinion, unnecessary).
…The music still makes me giggle. Hey, it’s old, why shouldn’t it? Haha.
Animation is the same as before, nice, smooth, with unique characters and details. There are some ah, personality traits in the characters that do bug me. Hotohori’s sudden declaration of love to Miaka and Miaka’s sudden declaration of love to Tamahome do seem a little ridiculous. There are times when Miaka drives me nuts because she’s so dorky (Sailor Moon anyone?), and though I still think she’s pretty dumb, I’ll admit that she’s got more nerve and resolve than I do for episode 6. Yeesh. Still, that got drawn out anyway into episode 7, and though I think what Hotohori and Tamahome did in that episode is very chivalrous and admirable, at the same time I sat here thinking, “Yikes, guys. None of you could just wait until she recovered herself? Good gravy…”
And you know, if I got sucked into a book like this, I would not be going home that soon. No way dude. There are times when Miaka and Yui are able to communicate with one another, so I’d just say, “Hey, read to the end of the book, and if I don’t come out at the end, then we’ll start to worry!” But I guess that’s the difference between a 22-year-old and a 15-year-old.
I’m still not to keen on the voices. Sometimes it just seems that some of the voice actors are trying too hard. Miaka’s voice still doesn’t work for me, but it’s not such a big deal that I can’t live with it. I’m starting to think that Hotohori’s voice is familiar, and after Nuriko’s, um… revealed secret, I’m trying to figure out how to take her voice…
A brief warning for all you parents out there – I don’t know what you allow your child to see and not see, so I’ll just point out that there is a tiny bit of swearing, violence/blood, a bit of implied nudity (such as Miaka practically naked and getting walked in on), and a bit of crossdressing (and at another point, mistaken male/female identities). So really, it’s up to you. I’m sure a 15-year-old can handle it (as Miaka is 15 and Tamahome 17), but that’s not up to me.
There are also 52 episodes so I can’t say for sure how serious events will get, though I have my money on some interesting concoctions. Yes, 52 episodes on a total of 16 volumes. Glad I’m borrowing these, because I’m too cheap to shell out that much cash. Besides, I’d get the DVD versions anyway just to get my hands on the subtitled version. I like to compare.
NT
Volume 2:
5. Bewildered Heartbeat
6. Even If I Die...
7. Going Home
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