Here we go. Catchin’ up on my posts.

P.S. Starting with this volume would be a bad choice.

Two years ago, Kiyotaka Narumi, famed pianist and esteemed detective disappeared off the face of the earth in search of the Blade Children. Now, the Blade Children have surfaced for Ayumu Narumi – and it seems they want him as well. But for what? And what the heck are the Blade Children?

Episode 10: The race is on and at 2:30 if everything isn’t done just right, someone is going to go boom. Who’s got more smarts and sneaky tricks than the other? Who will bite the dust? You won’t know until the very end.

Episode 11: Finally, the battle of wits is over, at least between Rio and Ayumu, and though no one keeled over like in The Princess Bride (sadly), everyone seems to have learned just a little more about their opponent. Aww, poor Ayumu is so tired…

Episode 12: A dangerous hunter is on the prowl for Blade Children, Eyes reminisces about an old friend, and Hiyono goes Christmas shopping with Ayumu. That last part is probably the most entertaining.

Episode 13: That hunter I mentioned back in episode 12 has finally surfaced. Where will he strike? How will he strike? His target is Eyes (and I called the where and how long before Ayumu – it seemed like an “Um, duh?” sort of thing).

I do admit that I don’t get tired of the antics between Hiyono and Ayumu. They’re so odd together, and yet it seems to work out nicely. Episode 10 was pretty good too, with a lot of twists and turns involved. Ayumu would do something and I would think, “Ooh! Good move!” Those were interesting. Otherwise, I once again started to get a little bored. #13 just seemed pretty obvious. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t thinking all 5-dimensionally like Ayumu, and instead just basics (how to kill someone in public and get away with it, um gee, from a distance? Simple, doy.)

I don’t really have a preference to Japanese or English. I don’t have any major problems with the English version, as everyone does their part and no one sounds too awkward and such. I did finally make a point to see who was who just in case I noticed anyone, but like I figured, I didn’t, though I did make a note for the voice actress of Hiyono, Caitlin Glass. She’s basically my favorite part of this whole series.

Music is still good, though they seem to be using the same pieces without a whole lot of variation. The opening song still may make your eardrums bleed because of the crazy high-pitchedness. I still don’t like the very beginning, but the rest I can handle. I’m not going to rush out and slap it onto my MP3 player though. The ending song is a lot softer and can mellow you out after a tense episode. I’m a fan of Hiyono’s little song though.

The animation is still good; there’s really nothing to complain about other than little things that can throw you off from the mood of the episode you might happen to be in. Mostly sudden attitude changes along with exaggerated facial expressions. But there's not much you can do about it.

I’m getting a little impatient and wish someone would just say what the Blade Children are. Ho hum. #10 is what puts the .5 in the total 3.5 stars. However, it's just not good enough for me to round up like I did last time. Sadly I get the feeling that’s the last of the flash-bang action goodness for a while.

Episodes in Volume 3:
10. Only One Wise Action
11. Goodnight Sweetheart
12. Dry Eyes
13. Overture

NT

Previous Volumes:
Spiral - Volume 1: What Are the Blade Children?
Spiral - Volume 2: Disarming Fate

Future Volumes:
Spiral - Volume 4: Sharpening Wit
Spiral - Volume 5: The Melody of Logic
Spiral - Volume 6: The Notes of Truth

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD