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Argentosoma Volume 4: Outside Sanity (DVD)

The 4^th disc of Argentosoma keeps the tension under a rolling simmer. Every revelation serves to increase the tension amongst the FUNERAL staff, not to mention increase the tension on Ryu’s already heavy heart.

Episode 15: Chaos and Confusion

With the extensive damage sustained to the FUNERAL base during the last alien attack, everyone is working to repair the base. All but one of the SARGs are severely damaged and have been sent offsite for repairs, and to make matters worse, Frank is asleep recovering from his injuries. In the interim, Ryu continues to struggle with the thought that every mission success with Frank means another lost opportunity for his revenge.

External repairs to Frank’s body have been completed, but Frank has not been revived. An independent group is going to work on reviving Frank at an unknown research facility – and Ryu is providing cover for the transport in the only remaining SARG.  During transport, they come under attack by an unknown SARG unit. Ryu barely survives the attack. Upon landing at the unknown facility, Ryu discovers that the research team is reusing the research facility where Frank was created (and coincidentally where he lost Maki).

Episode 16: Confusion and Answers

Being at the research facility has made things more difficult for Ryu, as the memories of his time with Maki keep resurfacing; so much so that he even snapped at Hattie for being too flighty and not acting her age. The group in charge of Frank’s revival are a trio of scientists that intend to revive him by using the templates of 

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four alien heads that were recovered. During the revival program, the four alien heads activate themselves while Frank remains comatose, and they begin destroying the research facility. While all people evacuate the building, Hattie refuses to leave Frank behind and so Ryu is forced to use his knowledge to revive Frank in order to save Hattie. With Frank’s awakening and destruction of the alien heads, two new discoveries were made about Frank: 1.) He can now communicate verbally with everyone through Sue’s radio (only Sue and Michael know about this fact). 2.) When Frank first interfaced with the facilities computer system, he referred to himself as Maki (only Hattie saw this happen before the monitor exploded).

Episode 17: Answers and the Past

Ryu’s cover comes under pressure with the arrival of the latest alien. The latest version of invader is holding orbit above Earth and so the only units that are able to engage it are the Atmospheric Fighter group stationed in Alaska (that Ryu was supposedly a member of before transferring to FUNERAL). To make matters worse, one of those fighters becomes severely damaged and is repaired at the FUNERAL base… but the pilot Rick was a close friend of Taketo (Ryu’s real name). Although Ryu tries to keep his distance from Rick, to avoid his old friend from recognizing him and blowing his cover, Rick seeks him out because he believes Taketo to be dead during the experiment that created Frank. His friend also increases the pain in Ryu’s heart by revealing some secrets to him (such as his betrayal of his friend so that he could try to court Maki) believing that telling Ryu could allay his soul.

After the operation against the latest invader, the pilot staff is shown that Frank is sentient by having Hattie speak to him while they listen to his response on Sue’s radio. As one would imagine, the shock only increases the stress on Ryu.

Episode 18: The Past and Crimes

In the start of the episode, Guenevere’s SARG is contaminated by an alien’s punch; while the team was returning to base, her SARG broke free from formation and headed towards the Pilgrimage Point. While trying to get Guenevere free of the runaway unit, her SARG attacks Dan and Sue, knocking them out of commission. Because of the imminent threat of reaching the Pilgrimage Point, UN fighters armed with nuclear warheads are dispatched to prevent the rogue SARG from getting there.

With 2 SARGs down, Ryu is launched to join in the pursuit and to try to get Guenevere to bail (which has been unsuccessful with the alien contamination of her SARG). Once Ryu engages the rogue SARG, it transforms into a traditional alien which means that the SARG units were actually constructed from the remains of dead alien invaders (which has the obvious side effect of bothering the hell out of all of the pilots). Despite his best efforts, Ryu is unable to stop the rogue SARG and even has his fighter destroyed during the fight. Fortunately, Harriet and Frank intervene and destroy the head of the alien, which saves Guenevere’s life.

Argentosoma is one of my favorite anime series right now because of the expert story telling which is managing to keep me guessing on where the story will move to. With the excellent blending of action and drama, this series is a must have for any serious otaku.

- Tazman

(November 2, 2003)

“It's like I've always said, when life gives you lemons, you take those lemons and blow them to hell with your laser cannons.”

- Brak (The Brak Show)

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