After realizing something was off in my reviews (I’d put the episodes slightly out of order, that is, on the wrong volumes – whoopsy!) and fixing all of them, we can now move on to the next volume without much trouble. There’s a tip kids; always pay attention.

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 14: RECAP EPISODE! So I guess you could just skip over the first 13 unless you want to know the exact methods and ways crimes were committed and solved.

Episode 15: Ryoko Takamachi, another school student. Another one of the Blade Children. But she doesn’t seem to truly be one of them – so what happens when she and Eyes face off? (yeah, I guessed this one too…)

Episode 16: What’s this? Asazuki has joined Ayumu’s school? What’s the catch? Can he even be trusted? And why the heck is Hiyono eating lunch with Rio? Doesn’t matter, because now we’ve got another hostage situation on our hands. Looks like for once Ayumu has to join forces with the Blade Children.

Episode 17: Ayumu, Asazuki, and Ryoko have to run the gauntlet in an abandoned hotel. Things are getting pretty serious for the Blade Children, and in this episode, they show that they aren’t as smart as Ayumu (Rio might have been, but we’ll never know).

I’m not trying to be cocky when I mention figuring out a few of the solutions. I just saw them coming. You might too, when it comes to #15. I guessed their location in #17 as well. It was the only logical choice. For being so smart, the bad guys seem to leave some dumb loose ends. It’s weird – I’m impressed at one turn, but then really not at another. It all depends on what they do I guess. And even though #14 got boring (having seen everything already), my favorite part was just minutes into the show with Hiyono tickling Ayumu. Actually that’s my favorite part in the whole series so far. Ayumu, laughing and spazzing out? What a treat! Watching Wataya get smacked around by Madoka is pretty funny too.

Things are getting more motivating and Ryoko looks like she’s going to be an interesting character for the simple fact that she made a certain deal with the Blade Children, which I think will be hard to honor considering it seems to be all they do. Not sure I want these people to be saved…

I don’t have a preference to Japanese or English. I don’t have any problems with the English version, so it’s still up in the air as to what you feel like listening to. Whatever floats yer boat.

Though I enjoy the music is still good, there are times when things get a bit old because they are just recycling the same pieces of music for various situations. The mysterious little bells, things like that. Were they strapped for cash? Oh well, it’s not enough to get really annoying, but enough for me to notice it, something I’m not always too fond of. We are, however, getting a bit of drunken carnival music in the last few episodes (if that description makes any sense). The opening song is still the same: still high-pitched, still manageable (depending upon your taste). Still the same ending song, and these days I don’t really bother listening to it. I’m starting to skip over both, actually. Get me to the show – I’ve heard them all already.

Nothing new in the ways of animation. Still pretty basic without a ton of detail like some. But that’s not to say it isn’t good. It’s just not super-fantastic-awesome. But then neither is the series so it all seems to match up pretty well.

Well, I guess I’ll just go with it. I mean, I’m getting to the end so might as well stick with it, even though I know it’s not going to be awesome. Still curious though. Always like to see things for myself.

Episodes in Volume 4:
14. Shimmering Fragrance
15. Like a Swan
16. Moving Targets
17. The Watcher in the Darkness

NT

Previous Volumes:
Spiral - Volume 1: What Are the Blade Children?
Spiral - Volume 2: Disarming Fate
Spiral - Volume 3: Shooting Fallen Stars

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

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD