Nadia, Secret of Blue Water - Aboard the Nautilus (Vol. 3)

Rating:
Summary: Welcome aboard the Nautilus Episodes!
Review: Although one may feel tempted to stop watching NADIA: THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER after Volume 2, especially since it comes to a rather suitable closure, they'll be missing out on the real adventure that is just beginning. Yes, there's more to this tale than meets the eye. The third volume in the series begins the Nautilus episodes, which are ultimately what make NADIA: THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER not only a pleasant inspiration on Jules Verne's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA but where it's heart lies. There are a total of fourteen episodes which span three-and-a-half volumes, and while they are much slower than the two-volume long opening and the five last episodes, they're certainly leaps and bounds above the filler garbage which plagues the show for about three volumes.

But what also makes the Nautilus episodes worth watching are not only because they're simply engaging and full of surprises, danger, and exploration, but we also get to see the characters and their relationships unfold. It starts out with Jean, Nadia, Marie, and their foes-turned-allies (the ever-funny trio of Grandis, Sanson, and Hanson), having escaped from Gargoyle's island, being taken aboard Captain Nemo's fantastic machine. Although they're at first kept within cabins and denied access around the submarine, everyone nevertheless comes to find a special place of their own on the Nautilus. Jean, in particular, is extremely excited -- after all, what better place is there to learn about technology and wonders beyond his imaginations than the Nautilus? He continues to be extremely outgoing and friendly, and makes friends with all the crew members, including Electra (with, in the English dub, a British accent to "accentuate" her proper, controlled attitude), who treats him like a little brother, and eventually Captain Nemo himself. Nemo (voiced with a mixture of remorse and moodiness by Ev Lunning, Jr.) is more obsessed with his struggle against Gargoyle and has no interest in children or new recruits, but Jean's ever cheerful personality warms his tormented heart and he comes to find a supplementary son in the young lad. Hanson, too, is excited, especially since he, like Jean, is a mechanic who wants to learn more about scientific marvels. He also has an eye for Electra -- even if she doesn't feel the same way about him. Even Grandis changes her initially harsh opinion about the Nautilus when she falls head over heels in love with Captain Nemo! She attempts to catch his eye (unsuccessfully) by cooking a bizarre platter of fish in one episode, then, in another, dons a rather daring (by 1880's standards) bikini. Unfortunately, this also ignites a series of heated catfights with Electra, who is jealous not only of Nadia, but Grandis as well. Their arguments are probably among the funniest moments of the entire show, and it's obvious that Sarah Richardson (Grandis) and Jennifer Stuart (Electra) are having a fun time hamming it up in these scenes.

Not that everybody else is pleased, however. Marie and King both get reduced to having a school session with Electra, which infuriates the former because the latter beats her to solving math problems (another fine moment for Margaret Cassidy and Shawn Sides, whose growls as King are nothing short of funny). Sanson's only concern, aside from looking out for Grandis's welfare, is showing off his new suit (even though all of them look the same). He also has a strong detestation of the rather redundant menu of meals on the Nautilus, as expressed in probably his best line on the volume: "Fish for breakfast! Fish for lunch! More fish for dinner! Every day it's the same thing over and over: grab a plate and eat fish, fish, fish, fish, fish, FISH!!!!!!!!!!! Overall, I... have to say I'm a bit tired of fish." Actually, most of the humor from Sanson's lines are made all the more hilarious by Martin Blacker's over-the-top goofy performance.

Aside from the somewhat slow pace, there are two other minor shortcomings with this volume. First, the last episode, although well told, ends on an unsatisfying cliffhanger which makes one greatly anticipate the next volume (especially if you've just collected this one and have not purchased the remaining seven). Second, (this is a personal gripe), Nadia herself can be annoying at times, particularly when she shows suspicion toward *everybody* on the Nautilus, especially Captain Nemo and occasionally throws temper tantrums for no good reason at Jean, who obviously doesn't deserve them. Fortunately, Nadia is intelligent enough to recognize whenever she's out of line with Jean (after all, she *does* trust him along with Marie and King), and does more than one reconciliatory thing to show that she cares deeply for him. The most moving part of all this is how patient Jean is -- he never gets angry back but instead forgives her instantly because he recognizes that she has her faults and needs to experience true friendship. This, to me, is where NADIA: THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER's central heart really lies -- how Jean's constant kindness slowly teaches Nadia how to be a good person herself.

That said, the third volume in NADIA is among the "must-see" gems of this show, as there's plenty of character development, great artwork, and one great action sequence (Hanson and Sanson struggling to clear the Nautilus out of a deadly mine field set up by Gargoyle) which are too good to miss.

Rating:
Summary: Hmmmm... getting moodier, but still riveting.
Review: I won't go into much detail about the quality of the DVD for this review of the third of the NADIA DVDs (except mention that the video quality is somewhat weaker than that of the first one; there are a few moments when it becomes shaky, but it mostly happens at the beginning), so instead I will focus on the plot content.

Picking up from where Volume 2 left off, Nadia and company, having escaped Gargoyle's island, are brought aboard by the Nautilus, and from here on the relationships between the characters begin to get a little more complicated.

Grandis falls madly in love with Captain Nemo, and desperately wants to impress him, much to the dismay of Sanson and Hanson. And to the jealousy of Electra, Nemo's second-in-command! Sanson and Hanson know all too well that Grandis can get herself into trouble whenever she becomes lovestruck, and Electra, although very controlled on the outside, is rather overprotective of Captain Nemo, even though she is unable to express her emotions for him. (This is for reasons deeper than what we are given here, although it takes a while before the secrets are coughed up.) Nemo, meanwhile, is rather aloof initially, but he, too, is tormented by a deep secret. He is shocked upon discovering that Nadia is on board the ship... for he possesses a Blue Water similar to hers, only larger. Yet he refuses to allow himself to become attached to anyone. It is Jean's enthusiasm, interests, and super-sweet personality that begin to puncture his shell in the same way that it did Nadia's. I'll admit for not caring much about Nemo, but seeing Jean win him over in the same way he makes friends with everyone aboard the Nautilus is one of the most delightful moments of the show. (In fact, it is his optimism that keeps our interests afloat whenever the show begins to get on our nerves.)

Nadia, meanwhile, is dealing with a lot more tangible issues occurring within her. She is frightened of the Nautilus, and is especially suspicious of Captain Nemo. It also becomes a bit of a challenge for her to trust Grandis, Sanson, and Hanson (for understandable reasons; they were, after all, chasing after her Blue Water in the beginning), and begins to become a little more self-centered.

She also starts to get on our nerves a little bit with her impulsive temper tantrums. For example, in one episode, when Electra are informs Jean and Nadia that they are to separate to different cabins (because they aren't "grown-up" enough yet), Nadia yells at Jean, telling him to go away when he accidentally glances at her bosom. (She later on apologizes for that.) She does the same later on when Jean is too busy reading at the dinner table to notice a dress she puts on to impress him (he doesn't know that she is jealous of his friendship with Electra). These mood swings from Nadia begin to make us feel a little bit uneasy about her, although her tantrums do not last entirely throughout the show. (They do, however, get much worse as the story goes on.)

Fans who were spoiled by the action sequences in Volume 2 may be dismayed that there are little in this volume, save for a sequence where the Nautilus falls into Gargoyle's minefield trap, and Sanson, Hanson, and Jean literally dive into action, via the Gratan, to clear the mines before they explode. As exciting as this sequence is, its probably just about as close as you're going to get with action scenes.

There's also plenty to laugh at, from the doings of Grandis, Sanson, Hanson, Marie, and King (especially in Episode 11-there is a hilarious chase sequence involving him.), the rivalry between Grandis and Electra, and the over-the-top performances by the actors portraying them (on both the dub -- which I listened to on my primary viewing session -- and on the subtitled track, which I spot checked).

Oddly, it also includes another sexual situation scene; something in common to the first NADIA DVDs. In the first NADIA DVD, for example, Jean almost glances at Nadia as she takes a shower, only to get whacked on the head by a brush she flings. In Volume 2, Nadia shakes her, uhhhh, bathing-suit top thingy to cool off in a fiery area, and Jean sneaks in close, getting a slap for that. Here, Jean stumbles across Sanson spying on Grandis changing her bikini; when Jean tries to find out what the heck he's looking at, he sees Nadia, partially undressed, much to her shock (and ours, too!). (Several other sequences like this occur throughout the story.)

The DVD ends on a very uneasy note when Nadia runs away from the camp after a dead baby deer is brought back. The problem is not that there is little action and more character development, but because the producers chose to end the DVD with that episode. It leaves one anticipating the next volume and feeling a little bit queasy, wondering what will happen next.

The upbeat moments give this volume some oomph, but its overall less engaging than the first two installments. This is probably because it focuses primarily on character development and less on the plot. Don't let it discourage you, though, because it still has enough to offer.