This is a tight collection of episodes that picks up on the best-constructed elements of the series and advances them into unknown territory.

Leaving the lead-footed robot combat behinds, "Gasaraki" Vol. 3 reveals a whole new layer to the mystery introduced earlier. Yushiro is not what he first seemed, and the robots may not in fact be the mere product of corporate know-how.

At last the writers provide a reason to care about Yushiro's fate. Where Yushiro goes, the audience will follow.

As the story slows down to focus on the detail, the animation is enhanced as well. From the colorful depiction of Nishida's sword, freed from the rust consuming its blade, to the battle between the Symbol Fakes and the Kugai, the visuals of the story take on a clearly malevolent tone.

The translation is sufficiently smooth for the task at hand, with the possible exception of Misuzu referring to Yushiro as "big brother" instead of just as "brother" or "Yushiro."

While not necessarily Golden Globe material, the acting here does the trick.

For violence and bloodshed.

Packed inside the DVD version of "Gasaraki" volume 3 is a virtually indispensable, though not comprehensive, production guide with notes about some of the characters and identification of some of the technology. Viewing these sections before watching the story actually makes the plot more enjoyable to watch, a process akin to understanding the Techno babble while watching "Star Trek" or knowing the names of the aliens that haunt Mos Eisley Cantina in "Star Wars."

Yushiro's discovery of an ancient Kugai in a storage shed allows the story to advance as a martial arts story, a martial arts story and an intriguing Sci-Fi mystery all rolled into one shiny green pill.

Big Brother is watching this fascinating tale, but when Misuzu calls for Yushiro, he might conclude that she's better seen than heard. Anyone know the Japanese idiom for 'smack upside the head'?

Love it? Hate it? Buy it.