So, TRY. It was always my least favorite of the original three series, though being my least favorite compared to the first two is still not exactly a mark against it. It is a very nicely animated season, it takes the designs from NEXT and refines them and improves animation elsewhere as well. It is still quite funny, and all the new music is aces. Seriously guys. Breeze.
(neither this version nore the other I tried seem to be displaying in the thread? Youtuuuuuuuuuube!)
I still prefer Give a Reason for its more typical JPop style, but goddamn that spanish guitar though. It's a great tune.
However, my memories of TRY overall are mixed, with all that good going for it I remember this season feeling just kind of unnecessary? Probably doesn't help that, as I understand it, this season was created whole cloth for the anime, so it just has this overall sense of filler. With Filia.
Filleria.
But I guess we'll see how it holds up!
ADVENTURE: We join our heroes an undetermined amount of time after NEXT, long enough for most people to notice 'hey, that big magical barrier that always existed is gone now, maybe let's look into that?', and also long enough for the party to split up again. Thankfully, like NEXT, it doesn't take longer than an episode for them to all reunite.
We also get a rather swift introduction to our new 5th party member, Sylphiel! I mean, Sylphilia! I mean Filleria. I mean
Filia.
She's a Mysterious Priest(ess) who wants to hire Lina and friends for somethingorother, but before she can divulge any details Gourry goes and does a hentai, and is summilarily punished like most hentai protags: via being punted into the stratosphere.
I'm sticking with subs, but Crispin Freeman's delivery regarding looking up girls skirts is aces.
Anyway there's more to Filia than meets the eye but before they can get any answers from her they run into Amelia who tries desperately to keep Lina away from official royal business (haha when has that ever worked) and somethingsomething Dragon attack, somethingsomething carnage, somethingsomething DRAGON SLAVE.
Somethingsomething Tsunami.
(Amelia and Zel quickly putting on sunglasses right before the magic nuke is fired is a nice visual gag, as is Zel holding up arrows so Gourry knows which way to spin the wheel)
So after decimating the port city, Lina and co decide to set sail to the new world to
avoid any consequences discover a new adventure! What could possibly go wrong?
BERTH: Oh. Right. The scurvy.
The gang very nearly dies at sea, but stumble upon land right when they need to. They charge into a poor unsuspecting town only to find it besieged by baddies, baddies with names and personalities so we will probably be seeing more of them going forward. They have some crazy new weapons too, like 'gunpowder' and 'explosives', and they also ride around on birds.
Wait, a magic-less land developing a reliance on technology to take its place and everyone rides around on birds? Did the gang travel to Final Fantasy VI?
The battle that follows is pretty good, Gourry's brief time spent as a dried out husk leads to some funny moments, but he's fine again after eating a mouthful of bomb. I guess he can get nourishment from literally anything, even explosions. Meanwhile Zel seems to be getting more comfortable embracing his inherent silliness, but maybe over-reaches a bit when he tries to headbutt a cannonball. Still, nice try Zel, good hustle.
After filling their bellies the gang meet up again with Filleria who eventually fill them in on what's going on after an unnecessary tea party. Lina is quite cheesed to learn she's merely the BACK UP to represent humanity, but quickly falls in line when she is told who the first choice was and when said first choice has some words for her.
I think this is the only time Lina's sister has any actual bearing on the plot. Lina frantically constructing a pyramid and burying herself alive to hide from even the thought of her sister is a heck of an image.
Meanwhile we see a more villainous character skulking about and taking orders from The Big Giant Head. This new guy has it out for Lina for some reason (doesn't everybody?), and his name is apparently Valgaav.
Hm. Valgaav. Valgaav. Valgaaaaaaaaaav. That name.......
Likely doesn't mean anything. Whatevs. Man, where is Xellos anyway?
frantic chopping motions