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This 13-part broadcast series (1997) was the final incarnation of the popular comedy-adventure, with the familiar characters getting into new trouble. When self-styled ruler of the universe Arjah sends the cast from pastoral El Hazard to a gritty industrial world, he inadvertently sets the stage for unsuccessful romantic pursuits, broad comedy, over-the-top villainy, and slapstick action, all of which follow the patterns set in previous installments. Nanami and Qawoor chase the pleasant but terminally unaware Makoto. Jinnai pursues Arjah, who promises to make him master of the universe. Gilda, the captain of the Emperor of Creteria's guard, seizes power while Makoto discovers that the transdimensional reactor that powers Creteria has a dangerous energy leak. Arjah, Jinnai, and Gilda discover their ambitions coincide: they try to force Makoto, water priestess Qawoor, and fire priestess Shayla-Shayla to open the Spring of Life. Makoto realizes this strange portal is the control mechanism of the super-weapon, the Eye of God, and that his mysterious crystal is its lock. He seals the Spring with the aid of the priestesses, ending its threat to Cretaria. After so many El Hazard adventures, the filmmakers obviously ran out of ideas. Much of The Alternative World feels like a rerun, and a number of key plot points are left unresolved--notably who and what Arjah is. The story really ends with episode 12: "Night of Captivation" offers little more than slapstick comedy. (Unrated: suitable for ages 13 and older: violence, mild profanity, nudity, alcohol use, sexual situations) --Charles Solomon
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