Movie: I'm a big fan of anime, especially science fiction anime, and was pleased to get a hold of Infinite Ryvius 1 a couple of months ago. The show detailed the events of an act of sabotage in a future setting that forced a group of students in space to fend for themselves. In the second volume, Infinite Ryvius 2, the cast continued their exploits as they fell under attack from outside the Ryvius by unknown enemies, intent on destroying them and in Infinite Ryvius 3, the ruling elite tried to solidify their control but fell far short of their own expectations. In the fourth volume, Infinite Ryvius 4: Change Of Command, the truth comes out, setting in motion a series of riots that sweep Airs Blue and friends out of control and force him into hiding. One of the enemy commanders and his crew are fiendishly trying to hunt down the Ryvius, although their reasoning wasn't exactly clear to me as I watched their section of the show several times, trying to see what I missed. Between the attacks by the enemy ship, the Crimson Dicastia, and the students still upset that the new leadership hasn't stopped using the point method of distributing resources, I was left wondering whether the Ryvius' biggest threat was from within or without. Fans looking for a causal series to enjoy while eating a meal will want to pass this up while those who enjoy arguing about what took place in a series will have lots of food for thought.

The Episodes:
15: Swept Away
16: Deforming Order
17: Free Order
18: Incomprehensible

Okay, I like the show a lot and this particular volume had plenty of interesting concepts to spare but I found myself getting in very deep until I reviewed Infinite Ryvius 3 and watched it yet again. Much of the problem I had/have with the series is the reliance of the techno-babble employed to make the show seem more sophisticated. Most of the time though, the human element and writing overcame these limitations but it wasn't something that a bit tighter editing couldn't have cured before releasing it. I'm going to rate this one as Recommended although hardcore science fiction fans might want to give it a higher rating, depending on what specific tastes they have.

Picture: The picture was presented in 1.33:1 ratio full frame color. There was some grain and a few moments of moiré but otherwise looked pretty good. I think most of the visual matters that weren't "perfect" were intentional this time considering the overall care the show received.

Sound: The audio was presented with a choice of either Japanese or English Dolby Digital with optional English subtitles. There was a good mix here with some very noticeable separation between the channels. Some care was exercised with the audio and I think both languages had something to offer. I liked both versions but give the nod to the English track this time as the story unfolded a bit better without having to read the subtitles.

Extras: The extras were even more plentiful this time with a series of art gallery/audio dramas on top of the latest Ryvius Illusion (a humorous parody of some of the situations and characters of the show), some audio CD commercials, textless opening, and trailers for a few shows. There was also the usual paper insert with minimal sketches and the large plastic thick cover included.

Final Thoughts: The series was fun to watch as the characters showed a bit of depth with some solid writing. The technical qualities of the series are still fairly high, the direction solid, and I can admit to having a soft spot for the show that sometimes outweighs the actual merits of the plot (I've discussed this with several fans of the show) but so much of the long term replay value will depend on the future volumes and how they decide to resolve some of the issues the series has tackled.