Ai Yori Aoshi - With All My Heart (Vol. 5)

Rating:
Summary: Returning to the family - but which one?
Review: In this last DVD of the series, we get the last four episodes. The episodes are as powerful as the first five, serious and touching, with some humor. First Aoi is ill and the household learns just how hard it is to run the manison. Then Aoi and Kaoru get closer as they visit the grave of Kaoru's mother.
The last two episodes deal with Aoi's family trying to pull the two apart. These last two episodes were powerful, where we meet Aoi's father, yet different than what I pictured the ending would be like. Not a bad ending, just different.
There are extras, including a tiny five minute long, all in Japanese, 25th episode. Also, the inside fold-out promises another series to follow. Called Ai Yori Aoshi "Enishi"(Fate) it should be coming to DVD in early 2004.
A great, surprising, ending to a perfect series.

Rating:
Summary: Get the best aspects of the series, and then some...
Review: The harem aspect of this series has always been a crutch for the most part because the romance between Aoi and Kaoru could hold the story together on its own. Don't get me wrong, the over the top humor is good. But, as these final episodes show, it's the moments that involve this young couple's time together that make the series shine.

It's too hard to give details about this disk without spoiling the story. But be rest assured that many of the themes expressed in the first few episodes in the series are echoed here near the end. But is it the end? Episode 24 winds up including some preperation for a second season. While some conflict is resolved, some things were not allowed to happen. Doubts are left dangling over each character.

On a side note, Aoi's father is the most powerfully developed character I've ever seen. In a matter of seconds his character, disposition, and power is unavoidably revealed. This is another moment when the English dub falls short. Compared to the intensity of the Japanese track, the English voice is that of a teddy bear. More could have been done to assert this character as a dignified and unapologetic man of power.

Rating:
Summary: Get the best aspects of the series, and then some...
Review: The harem aspect of this series has always been a crutch for the most part because the romance between Aoi and Kaoru could hold the story together on its own. Don't get me wrong, the over the top humor is good. But, as these final episodes show, it's the moments that involve this young couple's time together that make the series shine.

It's too hard to give details about this disk without spoiling the story. But be rest assured that many of the themes expressed in the first few episodes in the series are echoed here near the end. But is it the end? Episode 24 winds up including some preperation for a second season. While some conflict is resolved, some things were not allowed to happen. Doubts are left dangling over each character.

On a side note, Aoi's father is the most powerfully developed character I've ever seen. In a matter of seconds his character, disposition, and power is unavoidably revealed. This is another moment when the English dub falls short. Compared to the intensity of the Japanese track, the English voice is that of a teddy bear. More could have been done to assert this character as a dignified and unapologetic man of power.