OK so when I saw the preview for Question I was mixing it up with the OTHER episode with crossdressing shennanigans that, as we're getting back into serious mode now, I guess is in Next? This one I totally forgot about, and... I have pretty mixed feelings. I'm actually pretty fine with the whole Gourry in drag thing. They need disguises, he's kinda got the build for it, and the guy who's hitting on him the whole episode upon realizing he's a guy is still into it, and when we're doing this trope, that's definitely my favorite variation on it. But then we've got the drag dragon and like... aside from how I can make an English language pun here I'm not even sure what the gag is even supposed to be with this. It's just... random non-sequiteur homophobia darkening an otherwise enjoyable series. That's 90s comedy for ya. Shame. And ultimately of course I also just really don't like this episode because Gourry is just like, totally out of character? Look at him all keeping a cover story straight, being aware that he's being taken advantage of, knowing the geography of the reason, and having ideas that aren't basic fighter stuff.
Also random blink and you'll miss it cameo, but I'm pretty sure Naga walks by in the foreground when they first get to town? Hair's the wrong color, but the outfit's pretty unmistakeable, and if I have the timeline right, the OAVs hadn't been made yet so we've just got book illustrations which typically don't have the same palettes as anime adaptations. Pretty sure she gets at least a walk-on every season but they're real easy to miss.
Anyway with Return we're easing back into Relatively Serious Drama Mode, and, yeah, was just starting to get burnt out on the really wacky stuff. I swear by the pacing. We also firmly establish that Gourry's wherewithall was a single episode abberation. Totally forgetting stuff that happened on camera just a few episodes back and his own childhood friend/love interest. Classic Gourry. Thankfully. Plus, hey, Sylphiel's here! The character who exists sometimes but is never missed when she's not around which is most of the time. She's really too straight for her own good (in the not comedic sense, but I mean I could do with less dude-pining too I guess). You can tell she's a dedicated white mage because she wears a tie. We get some nice chimera exposition, and I do like the reveal that Vrumugun did, in fact, die all those times, there's just spares. And hey! Zel's back! Full core party finally! And we also have the actual villain of season 1, Copy Rezo. Which... on the one hand feels kinda lame, but it IS actually a very D&D thing to do, and he's called "Copy Rezo" which is just fun to hear people say repeatedly. Also what'shername who's even more forgettable than Rodimus.