Review of Slayers Try

One of the problems with multi series shows, be they anime, live action movie, or TV serial, is that every now and then the creators begin to run out of ideas, regardless of how much promise there was in the first and second series. Shows like Star Wars, Terminator, Prison Break, Heros, Zero no Tsukaima, Dragonball, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, School Rumble, and more besides, have all suffered from this lack of creative drive at one time or another. However, the reverse is also true, and there are a number of shows that actually get better as more series are added, Aria and Nodame Cantabilebeing great examples of this.

Another good example is Slayers Try.

Unlike the previous iterations in the Slayers franchise, Try is not actually based on a novel by Kanzaka Hajime, however the author did write the basic outline for the series. This meant that there was far more room for the creativity of other writers to come to the fore, and it's actually surprising how well Try follows on from the first two series. However, given that many of the production staff are the same as in the previous two outings, and that director Watanabe Takashi is once again at the helm, it should be no surprise that the writers would have a "passing familiarity" with the content.

The story is set several months after Next. The magical barrier that kept the lands isolated has been destroyed, and various kingdoms have decided to send a group of emmisaries to explore and re-establish relationships with the outside world. Unfortunately, Lina and the gang are taking a break in the port city from which the expedition is leaving...

One thing that really stands out about the plot for Slayers Try is the degree to which it progresses throughout the show. While the series manages to retain much of its irrevent humour (albeit in a punchier form), the story is far more focused than in previous outings, and fans of the series may find themselves surprised by the difference.

One unfortunate side effect of this "change" though (although I consider it more of an evolution), is that certain viewers, especially those who are diehard fans of the original two series, consider Try to be the inferior addition to the franchise, partly because it's not based on an existing novel, but also because of the increase in plot focus.

Whatever the case may be, personally I consider Try to be at least as good as the original series and Next. The plot is well paced and flowing for much of the series, and the increased focus on telling the story only serves to make the humour more precious.

The main aspects that fans of the series will find appealing is the fact that in terms of sound and visuals, Try is without any shadow of a doubt, part of the Slayers franchise. Everything from the character design and animation, to the seiyuu and music are, by and large, the same as in previous outings, and this pays off in a big way in many areas of the show. The animators are far more capable and composed than either of the previous two series, while the voice actors are more self assured than before. The fact that even the same production staff have been used on many aspects of Try gives it an extra dimension that neither the original series nor Next had, and this is because at almost every level of production there is a good deal of experience with the Slayers franchise - and it shows.

In terms of characters, Try is a more than worthy addition to the franchise. After all, the gang's all here, and this time they have a whole world to play with. Lina and Gourry are just as funny as before, even with the noticeable reduction in jokes involving food and/or eating, Zelgadis is just as moody as ever, and Amelia is still heroically gung ho. Try, however, is unlike either of the previous two series in that the characters are more solid, however this is partly due to the more focused plot. That said, while there is a degree of development for most of the characters, the majority of growth occurs on the part of only one character.

Filia ul Copt is, in many respects, a parody of the stereotypical Dungeons & Dragons "Gold Dragon", however she is also the character with the most development in Try. Her background, together with the history of her race, make for a solid platform upon which to develop a character, however this seems to be the biggest area of debate, as many viewers feel that Try should have focused on developing the relationship between Lina and Gourry.

Personally, I don't mind her at all, and I can't really understand what all the fuss is about. Filia's personality works well with the other characters, and the fact that she is oft times portrayed as a parody of the D&D Golden Dragon means that she fits in nicely with the ethos of Slayers.

In terms of its content, Slayers Try is very different to either of the first two series and, in all honesty, the show seems to have "borrowed" some of the best aspects of both. Being a fan of the franchise, I found that I enjoyed Try just as much as I did either of the first two seasons. However, the more focused plot may be disconcerting to purists, however much of the humour is retained throughout the show, and this is the area where the Slayers franchise normally excels.

Granted there will be those who simply don't like Try for one reason or another, and while I can understand the perspective voiced by many nay-sayers, it should be remembered that, like any series, unless there is an effort made to develop the franchise it will simply stagnate. The bigger crime, at least for me, would be to let down the original series and Next by simply re-using the same formula over and over again - such things become tiresome after a while. Granted there is a degree of that in the third series, however Try is also very different to its predecessors because of its tighter story and focused plot.

Try is most definitely a great addition to the Slayers franchise, and while there are those who don't like the series, there are just as many who do. If you're a fan of Slayers but haven't seen Try, then you should definitely mark it as one to watch. The show has all of the appeal of the first two series, yet is unique enough in its own right as well.

That said, newcomers to the franchise are advised to watch the first two series before watching Try, as there are numerous references to previous events and characters.

On the whole, Slayers Try is one of those shows that you should really make your own judgement on. While there is a certain "business as usual" feel to the series, there are plenty of new characters, places and occurences for Lina and the gang to mess with/blow up/steal from, and it's great to see them given a much bigger "playground" this time around.