R.O.D. The T.V. Series
Volume 5
(MVM Region 2 PAL DVD)
(2005)
review by Blackgloves

Now that we've reached Volume 5, it's clear to see that "ROD The TV" has become one of the most expansive, most entertaining examples of television anime. With a huge orchestral score and a large cast of interesting characters -- each with intricate back-stories full of secrets that have emerged steadily throughout the series run -- the show has simply got stronger and stronger, transforming itself from a fairly formulaic format in which the three Paper Masters -- Michelle, Maggie and Anita -- and their best friend, the best-selling Novelist, Nenene Sumiregawa, go in search of missing books for a Japanese company called Dokushensha Inc., (becoming embroiled in espionage dramas which invariably require the aid of their magical paper-manipulating skills along the way), to a crazy futuristic tale in which the U.K. (led by the Special Operations Unit [SOU] of the British Library [BL]) is attempting create a new world Empire by reincarnating the mysterious Victorian aristocrat, Mr Gentleman, in a new body -- and subjugating the world through control of the world's bookshops as well!

Trying to explain the bizarre intricacies of the plot is beyond the scope of this short review (and anyway, I'm not sure I understand it all myself!) but the upshot is that this volume leaves our band of heroines in a deeply precarious position. The three Paper Masters' client, Dokushensha, has been destroyed after it was revealed that the Company was behind a plot to recover a series of books for the British Library; volumes lost during the fire that burned down the BL six years previously and which contained the entire knowledge and coded genetic instructions for Mr. Gentleman and his 'reconstitution'. Nenene's mind was needed for recovering the information -- and in saving her from Dokushesha's invasive "brain-drain", the three Paper Masters destroyed the entire organisation! However, with its rival out of the way, The British Library Special Operations Unit begins its plan for World Domination. Nenene becomes reunited with her old friend, Yomoko Redman (the heroine of the original Manga and OVA), but she is a broken woman compared to the person Nenene knew before. It appears that the books' disappearance and the fire at the Library had something to do with Redman (who used to work for the British Library) and she has now become intensely committed to protecting a nervous young woman by the name of Nancy.

Tracked by Mr Joker (head of the SOU), the group hide deep in the City -- protected by the many booksellers who respect and revere the former Agent Yomoko (known as "The Paper" for her advanced powers), but they are eventually flushed out when Joker authorises Martial Law on the streets of Tokyo, and begins burning all of the books in the country! replacing them with those written in the BL's "Perfect Language" system. They escape death, thanks to the intervention of an old friend of Redman's called Drake, and take refuge in her old childhood home, deep in the mountains of the surrounding countryside. Here is where most of the rest of this Volume's episodes take place. The tranquil calm is about to be shattered as secrets are revealed by a number of the characters; Anita's old school friend, Junior (actually an undercover spy for Joker all along) is sent by Joker to recover the last remaining missing book which Redman still has in her possession ("The Book of All Seeing Eyes"); and the first shock comes when Redman reveals that he is Nancy's son! From here, Redman's involvement in the British Library fire, Anita's strange fear of fire, and the true purpose and nature of Junior are revealed as -- unbeknownst to the occupants -- Joker's agent, "The Mirror Man" prepares to launch a devastating attack on our heroines (not so secret) hide-out!

This Volume features four episodes (English and Japanese 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo) with one of them featuring a worthwhile commentary track from anime know-it-all and English dub director, Taliesin Jaffe, who - here - gives us a general overview of, not only the series so-far, but the whole anime genre. Ever wanted to know about why so many anime characters have those big eyes? Taliesin is on hand to give the answer to this and many other questions!

With this Volume, the show truly reaches epic proportions in terms of the ambition of its plot and the depth of emotion conveyed through its characters. Not many shows can combine melodrama and character study with nail-biting suspense and drama like ROD manages to do again and again -- while still retaining an essential lightness of touch. This show has crept up on me gradually and is now a firm favourite!