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by Karl Theodorson |
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Episode Four: Innocent as a Human
A snuff film featuring Hellsing's deceased captain Gareth prompts an investigation, and when Victoria finds hidden cameras at a mission site, the odd actions of the new captain, Steadler, finger him and an overzealous news reporter as the primary suspects. Disgusted by the Reporter's callousness, Integra allows Arucard to inflict Hellsing's unique brand of justice upon her.
Episode Five: Brotherhood
The Vampiric Valentine Brothers Jan and Luke are looking to expand their turf, and the figure Hellsing is a good place to start. They try to lure some agents into a deathtrap, but luckily, Victoria notices the deception in time. Then, they lead their "soldiers" (ghouls in body armor) in a full-scale assault on Hellsing's HQ just as a secret meeting with the "Round Table" is taking place there.
Episode Six: Dead Zone
Overwhelmed by the undead, Hellsing's soldiers fall quickly, but the senior members won't go so easily. Walter "The Angel of Death" and Victoria, armed with the 30mm Halconnen Cannon, quickly dispatch the Ghoul Hordes and subdue Jan, while Alucard takes on the overconfident Luke, and puts him in his place, for good.
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Episode four presents what appears to be a fairly interesting investigation story, but does so at a ponderous rate. Given a longer series, this story could easily have been a deeply engrossing two or three episode arc, but instead, it zips through the characterization and lays out everything in a Joe Friday-esque "Just the facts, ma'am" kind of way.
Episode five takes entirely too long getting to the point. It would appear that the majority of the episode is spent waiting until Arucard and Victoria get their new weapons, and the Valentine brothers crash their bus into Hellsing HQ. Even the secret meeting of the "Round Table" falls short. One could assume that it would be a meeting of co-conspirators to discuss the ongoing battle against the night, but instead, it amounts to little more than blaming and finger pointing.
Episode six is the (unintended) payoff for watching episodes four & five. As the legion of ghouls march their way through Hellsing HQ, Seras Victoria and Walter, the unassuming butler of the Hellsing family, meet Jan Valentine and his troops head on. The combination of silver monowire and heavy artillery is bound to please any viewer who is fondly remembers Trigun's moments of supreme "Badassitude". Meanwhile, Arucard squares off against Luke Valentine in a fight that at first, appears even, but turns into a thoroughly one-sided bloodbath. Additionally, this episode finally features some well-needed characterization for Arucard. There are still a few too many reused and badly animated scenes in this episode (the beginning of the Luke/Arucard fight is really choppy), but a definite improvement over four and five.
Hellsing 2 brings the viewer three new episodes that total up to two strikes and a homerun, though all with less than stellar animation. Far too many pans, reused scenes and dramatic pauses plague these episodes, which may embitter any viewers with high expectations. On the plus side, the music is still fantastic, though it really only shines in episode six, leaving the soundtrack in four and five sounding at times, inappropriate. The humor that is ever-present in the original manga is painfully lacking, as the series often takes itself too seriously even when it's trying to be funny. In short, if you like Vampires, Gore, or Walter, Hellsing 2 is worth a watch.
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