Search - Inuyasha - Wicked Clutches (Vol. 23) on DVD

SHIPPO MEETS HIS MATCH

Sesho | Pasadena, TX USA | 12/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once again, it's a night of a new moon, and if you've been following this series, then you know that on these nights, Inuyasha becomes a full-blooded human and is highly vulnerable. Unknown to Inuyasha and his pals to this point, their hated enemy Naraku also becomes weak on the same night. Kagura, the wind sorceress who lives under the constant threat of death if she does not serve Naraku, decides to take advantage of the situation. You get the sense that she's not as evil as you'd like to believe. The second episode on this volume is a hilarious spotlight on Shippo. He receives a written challenge from the last surviving relative of the Thunder Brothers. Too proud to ask for help he begins the journey to the place of the duel. With Inuyasha and the others having to literally PUSH him along the way, teeth chattering and knees knocking! The last episode involves Naraku as he creates yet another facet of himself, the "Faceless Man", a creature that even Naraku finds disgusting and vile!

I thought the episode focusing on Shippo was one of the best episodes of the whole series. Takahashi's characters are great and I like the fact that this third season of Inuyasha has chosen to make the secondary characters step up to the fore. In the first two seasons, too often they were relegated to saying "Wow, I wish I could help Inuyasha", and then just watching him fight against terrible demons on his own. I also like the fact of making Kagura a more sympathetic character who instead of being stereotypically evil, is more conflicted and victimized than a true force of her own. Great show that has never let up in quality! The only complaint I have about the Inuyasha dvds are their sorry extras. All you ever get are production sketches and Japanese promos. Nothing else.

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