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Is ALL of the written material detrimental to the plot?  No.  Why can't the 
fans at least be treated to an animated sequence of the backstory or even a 
reference to the backstory- the backstory that is necessary or vital to the 
storytelling, as the Misaki sequence required.

I think that it would be entirely realistic to have been given a few sentences,
flashes or other narrative devices which would have explained parts of the 
illogical gaps in the storytelling.  In fact, I believe it could be done 
cheaply, and would have added emotional weight or dramatic resonance to the 
story which 
otherwise smacks with a nonsensical disregard for dramatic conventions.
=============================

I agree.  Heck, even a cheesy "Star Wars" rolling billboard intro could drop a 
few pertinent facts...

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That's not in the least bit fair Jeff- LotR is an integral work which had to be
split up due to its bulk.  Certainly not conceived as a tri-partite work like, 
say, Star Wars.
=============================

So, where's the disclaimer at the beginning of the second and third films that 
the previous episode is required viewing, to explain characters and plot...?

=============================
Let's not get into a LotR debate.  I think Jeff was simply saying that he was 
unhappy that the narrative could not stand up so well without seeing the 
entirity of the work.
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Exactly.  Even K-Sensei felt the need to use flashbacks at the beginning of OVA
3...

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There's an old saying: "You can't please everyone."  
=============================

Don't I know it.

Frankly, none of us is going to convince the others to alter their opinions.  I
like TM!R a lot, I like most of the characters, and most of the scenarios are 
intriguing.  My gripes are centered on the mechanics used to tell the tale.

For instance, "foreshadowing" leaves me cold, like a poorly-written detective 
story, where the protagonist produces details out of thin air that the reader 
will never be exposed to.  And telling your story on the assumption that the 
viewer is going to have to do supplementary reading...sounds too much like a 
homework assignment.  No thanks; I watch these shows to be entertained. 

No one expects a story to solve all of the problems a character is going to 
have, but it should solve the immediate problem that the story revolves 
around.  IMHO, the "counteractor" element (and the corresponding Misaki 
connection) did nothing to resolve the primary issue of OVA 3, i.e., Z-vs-
Tenchi.  

IMHO, a story should be a self-contained block of information, able to stand on
it's own without the need for additional information.  I don't feel that 
condition is being met here, there are too many loose ends.  As TS has stated, 
producing an anime is generally a balancing act of money and time, and 
sacrifices have to be made.  Not being privy to the list of details available 
for keeping/removing, I can't say if K-Sensei did the best job.  I can only 
express *my* opinion based upon what I've seen, which is that the story has 
been too disjointed, and that anyone watching OVA 3 without seeing OVA 1 & 2 is
going to be as lost as my brother was walking into the middle of the LOTR cycle.

But that's just my opinion; you will each have your own.

Jeff

Jeffery (Jeff) Harris
JLHOnami@mchsi.com