The basics of the story set in motion last time, Gantkutsuou: Count of Monte Cristo: Chapter 2, continues where it left off in Act 5) Do You Love Your Finance, Act 6) Her Melancholy, Act 7) The Secret Flower Garden, and Act 8) A Night in Boulogne. The biggest criticisms I've heard about the story revolve around the deliberate pacing of the story and the way the characters seem to grow so slowly. This is to be expected given the material but a close look at the details will show fans how much subtext actually matters to the story. The Count still comes to Albert's rescue as needed but his heroic stature is tempered by the manner in which he seems oblivious to the plight of the wealthy young man's social status. In short, Albert is going through life, doing as he is told and acting as he is expected to act, something that obviously irritates the Count. Why it would matter to such a wealthy, powerful man is one of the more important questions but the way he guides Albert to question the very foundation of his life is more intriguing.

As Albert is made to confront the treacherous nature of his social peers and the hypocrisy of modern life where marriage is supposed to be for love but is merely an act of negotiation between the wealthy and powerful to consolidate what amounts to corporate mergers in the mutual best interests of the partners. This sets the naïve young man on a journey of self loathing and even a duel against the man he has grown to admire, a self made soldier that is still limited by status but far more honorable than any if Albert's circle. Needless to say, the outcome of the duel is a given but leads Albert to understand more and more about his lot in life, while the schemes of the Count become all the more clear to him (or so he thinks). This leads Albert to question the very core of his beliefs, starting with his parents and their flaws, and leading him to realize that he's been living a lie. While not quite stated yet, the Count's plans slowly start to unveil before the cast as he works his spell over them, with the viewer getting to see ahead just enough to make me want to see the next volume far sooner than the release date. As such, this time I rated the show as Recommended but I can see why so many people have jumped on the bandwagon of the series, even with a mere fraction of the episodes available on DVD. If you like the classics redone in the most stylish of manners, you'll like this one even more than I did.

Picture: Gantkutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo was presented in widescreen anamorphic color with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, as originally made by Gonzo out of Japan. If you've seen the front DVD cover; you'll have the slightest idea of how it was made in terms of style but even then you won't understand until you've watched an episode. Unlike any other anime series I've seen to date, the combination of CGI and visual effects manages to show off a richness that is more artistic than I tend to like but it works due to the nature of the story. Every time I went back to revisit it, I saw something else onscreen but describing it sure won't be easy. Take, for example, the suits that Albert and the Count wear. It was like they were cut from the same CGI mold and they moved in unison as though the material were on a separate layer. In general, you'll simply have to see it to understand it but the DVD mastering was up to par and handled it nicely; making this a very distinctive looking show.

Sound: The audio was presented with the usual choices of a 2.0 original Japanese track or a newly made English dub, both in Dolby Digital with optional English subtitles. For what it's worth, both tracks had something unique to offer and those who typically blow off either version of the audio; I strongly suggest you listen to both. With so much visually going on, listening to the dub gives you a chance to see the richness offered without reading the subtitles yet the "feel" of the original track had something too. There was some separation between the channels and the dynamic range was good but this is definitely one case where a 5.1 track would've really suited the material nicely. The music tended to be haunting, the audio effects were fitting, and the vocals all seemed in place with neither track being especially better than the other though.

Extras: The extras included a bit over 6 minutes worth of discussion by the Japanese vocal actors providing some background about the show. While I would've liked to see and hear more from them in the form of interviews, behind the scenes, and how they prepared for their roles in the show, this extra was a pretty cool addition in a time when most anime series offer little in the way of extras. There were also some trailers and a double sided DVD cover but they were of little consequence to me compared to the initial extra discussed.

Final Thoughts: Gantkutsuou: Count of Monte Cristo: Chapter 2 will not appeal to those of you that need instantaneous gratification as anime series tend to provide. No, much like the novel the show came from, the best enjoyment will come from those who take the time to peel back the layers and examine it closely. In a sense, this makes it a thinking man's anime show but also points out the strength of the replay value for those willing to take some time with it. There was still some decent action, lots of mystery and political intrigue, and even the subtleties missing in most anime series but the method in which the story was told managed to grab my attention too (while too stylish for me to completely enjoy, I thought the method of animation to be strikingly different from just about anything on the market so fans looking for the bizarre will be happy too). In all then, give this one a shot but watch Gantkutsuou: Count of Monte Cristo: Chapter 1 first so that you're not lost on the details as this is definitely a cut apart from the usual shows most of us are used to watching.

If you enjoy anime, take a look at some of the recommendations by DVD Talk's twisted cast of reviewers in their Best Of Anime 2003, Best Of Anime 2004, and Best of Anime 2005 articles or their regular column Anime Talk.