yotaruvegeta's Full Review: Elfen Lied - Vol. 2: Vector Two
Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie''s plot.
WARNING: I do not do a total rehash of what happened in previous volumes. That is not the way I write reviews. What I do is hope that whoever is reading this has already experienced the previous volume(s) or has read my previous reviews. If you don't like it, that's unfortunate for you. Look elsewhere for a "better" review. Everyone else, please enjoy!
Volume 2 of Elfen Lied starts off filling in the gaps of Mayus life. Mayu, the homeless girl who met Kohta, Yuku and Nyu last volume, has a sad background. Ill skip over the more shocking details, but its safe to say that Mayu ran away from home for a very good reason. The visuals are disturbing, but what happened to Mayu in a place where she should have felt protected is a very sad fact of life.
Mayu had run away yet again from a home, but this time she was in a place where she was loved and respected. Kohta and Yuka find Mayu and decide to have her as a member of their family and even send her to school. Everything is great now, so what could go wrong? Well, there is Lucy/Nyu.
Kohta and Yuka are college students, so they decide to take Nyu to one of their classes. Why, seeing as how Nyu has only learned a couple words makes no sense. The problem arises when Kohta and yukus professor shows up. Their professor is none other than Kakuzawa, the man at the end of volume 1 who wanted Lucy for himself, for an unnamed reason. Professor Kakuzawa cancels class once he sees Lucy and he claims that this girl is not Nyu; she is Lucy, and he is a member of Lucys family. Kohta and Yuka decide to leave Lucy/Nyu with Kakuzawa. Big mistake.
There is a theme brewing with this volume, and its creepy bad touch. The difference between Mayus past experience and Nyus experience with Prof. Kakuzawa is that Nyu can switch personalities and become Lucy, a being who cares little about who she kills. This scene between Lucy/Nyu and Kakuzawa has me wondering if Lucy/Nyu can flip personalities at will, or if it is activated by life or death situations. It hasnt been explained yet.
In episode 2, Kohta goes out alone to speak with Professor Kakuzawa. Kohta and Yuka thought better about just giving Nyu over to some man they barely know, so Kohtas going to look for answers. Maybe they should have thought it over before a girl with a totally defenseless personality was left with some stranger. Meanwhile, at the facility that Lucy was held in at the beginning of the series, Chief Kurama reveals more about his own shady past. Kurama is the glasses wearing man who stood fearless against Lucy in the beginning of volume 1. Now, I think it might be that he has a death wish. At the same time Kuramas boss, who is also the father of Professor Kakogawa, learns of his son and Lucys meeting.
Back to Kohta and Yuka, whos relationship grows in this episode. Im glad they didnt decide to drag out the will they/wont they drama. Now onto a hospital where the merciless soldier Bandoh is getting his body repaired- in exchange for a castration. Bandoh doesnt really like the idea, to say the least. Hes now out on the streets again, and not under the employ of Kurama anymore. Hes looking for payback now. What he does find is another character from volume 1. New relationships have been formed, and it looks like there is going to be a serious fight to come in volume 3.
This volume was just as phenomenal as the first, albeit slightly more disturbing. This is a mature title, so it pulls no punches whatsoever. This is not something you can watch with family. Definitely not. Im not even sure you want to watch this with a friend, but I insist that you do watch it. This is a gem of an anime. Its decently written, all the characters are interesting and its as heartwarming as it is terrifying and unapologetic.
Extras
Extras include character artwork, clean opening and closing animation, art galleries and previews of other ADV anime. Its a shame that there are no character profiles, though. Id also like to hear some interviews from the Japanese voice actors.
Recommended:
Yes
Viewing Format: DVD Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age
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