[NOTE: This review may contain spoilers from Slayers Revolution. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.]
After Lina and the gang take out Gioconda and Pakota parts ways with his much-altered former friend, Duclis, the cast of Slayers turns their sights on helping Pakota revive his sleeping kingdom of Taforashia. As these things tend to go, a new journey begins in Slayers Evolution-R to find a special jar that supposedly houses the soul of Rezo the Red Priest. (Remember him from several seasons back?) It’s pretty much this guy is forever going to be a recurring theme in the Slayers universe, and, frankly, it’s a tiresome plot ploy. Regardless, without the jar, Pakota won’t be able to regain his body and awaken his people.
Considering it’s a Slayers series, Evolution-R stays fairly on course with the plot with few filler episodes. Most of the distraction comes from the initial first fourth of the show, via a series of running gags relating to a living suit of armor who “thinks” her name is Nama “or something like that.” Long-time Slayers fans who know of Lina’s busty rival from the movies and OVA series will pick up all the hinting of Nama’s true identity right away. Even more hilarious to this effect is the episode solely based around Nama and Amelia (again, another Slayers in-joke). The in-jokes came without missing a beat, and I found myself laughing to the point of tears at points. Although, viewers not familiar with such references may not find these episodes nearly as entertaining. After all that, the series settles down to business and becomes more dramatic all the way to the end.
It may feel like Evolution-R is a bit fast-paced to the final battle with the revived Dark Lord, but it should be kept in mind that it is the direct continuation of Slayers Revolution, which had a much slower pace to it. I don’t recommend watching Evolution-R without having seen Revolution beforehand. The importance of the events in this season/series will be diminished otherwise. This is often the case of narrative-based anime rather than more episodic shows. Regardless, Evolution-R closes out the series story nicely. With any luck, if there are any future Slayers series made, they can stop using Rezo as a plot crutch. All in all, it’s a series with brilliant acting on both shores and excellent opening and ending songs provided by the legendary Megumi Hayashibara. It’s the right mix of comedy and adventure, and good to add to any DVD shelf.