</delurk>

Well, after a year, we have the entire 1st TV series translated in
our hands. After having to sit through a lot of the chaff to get
to the gems (the sixth tape was so completely chaff that it was
only there to give the feeling that a lot of time passed between
the initial flight from Earth), I can say that this tape was worth
the wait.

Some general commentary:

- Anyone who has at least the VHS subtitle (which I do), has any-
  body noticed the 'rewind problem' yet? Basically, when I rewind
  the tape, as I get close to the beginning of the tape a hideous
  squealing sound began to come from the VCR (I have tried rewin-
  ding on at least 2 different VCRs and a dedicated rewinder, all
  with the same effect). However upon playing back the affected
  section (which I believe is the first few minutes of the tape)
  there appears to be no damage.

  I returned the first such tape to my local Suncoast and got a
  new copy. However, the new copy also has the 'rewind problem'.
  I've got two options: dub off a copy and save the original for
  when the copy goes out; or hope the original doesn't break.
  Any suggestions?

- I love the misspelling on the Ryo-ohki collectible card. I kid
  you not: it says 'Ryo-okhi'. How did they let this one slip by??
  :P

- The poster was nice, but did we really need *more* details on the
  ending cinemas? It was nice that we finally got the 'Ryouko-and-
  Aeka-fight-over-singing-Up-Walk-in-Galaxy' ending theme though.

- Were they using a dubtitle script? Many of the subtitles looked
  completely wrong (ie "Tenchiiiiiiiii!" and Aeka saying "Tenchi,
  you did it!" when she simply says "Tenchi-sama!" out loud).

The next part of this post is episode reviews and contains
(skip to *END SPOILERS* in the remote ;) case you haven't seen
the 8th tape)

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

S

- Episode 23: No Need for Karma

  Youshou once again proves himself to be a character with the most
  interesting background in every series (haven't seen Shin Tenchi
  yet though).

  I know, it's TV Mihoshi, but even *she* should know better than to
  pound on her chest to dislodge the carrot. I'm sure an advanced
  sulture would have the Heimlich Maneuver or something similar...

  Kagato's English VA still beats his Japanese VA any day.

  The Tenchi-ken sounds suspiciously like a lightsaber when active.

  I found the re-use of footage from within the same episode amusing
  (when Kagato spawns the Jurai war paint and sends the wall of
  flames towards his target)

- Episode 24: No Need for Ryouko

  Wow. This episode was a trip. 

  Most of the episode was great, with only these few comments
  needed:

  It *hurt* to see Ryouko get electrocuted like that.

  I'm still not clear on how the wound opened up on Ryouko's side
  in the first place. I know it was hurting earlier, but in the
  previous episode she really didn't take a side impact, and I didn't
  see any of those defense needles pierce Ryouko directly.

  My final comment on this episode: even though I had accidentally
  spoiled myself about it months before, I still shivered when I
  saw the blood run down Ryouko's arm. Very effective especially
  with the timing of the music (which I feel like I've heard before
  outside of anime -- anyone know if this is true?).

- Episode 25: No Need for a Showdown

  Jeez, you'd think Jurai would hire Nagi and the like to defend
  their planet. She wiped out too much of the fleet!

  They could have wrapped up the Azaka/Tetta and Kamidake/Tessei
  duels much quicker. I would have liked to see a prolonged sword-
  fight between Tenchi and Kagato myself...

  Washuu's virus was very amusing. :) The way she laughed in 
  polygon form was priceless.

  The standard cliche of 'captive breaks free in extreme distress'
  reared its head here, but at least we got to see Aeka do some-
  thing (ala OAV6).

  Twice they ripped off the end of the Tenchi/Kagato swordfight in
  OAV6. Pity the wrong person got disintegrated. ;)

  Yes, this is the TV series, and I know how stressful the situation
  was for Aeka, but she didn't need to cry as much as she did. (Some-
  one pound me with a dimensional mallet now if you think I'm being
  too insensitive. ;)

- Episode 26: No Need for a Conclusion

  Pity we didn't see Azaka or Kamidake in TMiL in either form -- 
  I'm sure the dual roles would have been a lot of fun for them.

  Was that the Dimensional Cannon that Washuu was working on?

  Since Nagi doesn't seem to be near Earth I doubt she'll ever
  find Ryouko again. <g>

  The ending was perfect in the TV context - Tenchi strives to be
  normal, but with the taste of adventure he wants it back, and
  gets his wish when Ryouko returns. (Of course Pioneer sort of
  blew it by releasing TMiL first and practically guaranteeing the
  ending would return the status quo to normal but... I digress.)
  It is a testament to the power of love that Ryouko cheated death
  despite her grevious wound.

*END SPOILERS*

So the saga ends. And though there was a lot of chaff, this final
tape made it all come together. 

Now when they release Shin Tenchi here, I'm hoping that they
follow the 2-4-> pattern they're using now for The Wanderers.

Now anxiously awaiting MnE (and hopefully a 3rd OAV series -- if
I get bored enough I might subject upon you all my ideas for OAV
Episode 14... >:)

Navaash Frohike

  (BTW, when my Ryo-ohki doll I ordered for comes, and if it doesn't
  have the Ryouko card I put in a request for (bought the first
  volume when it came out, no card, had to have been a manufacturing
  error), I'll be putting out a request to buy someone's Ryouko card)