Le Chevalier D'Eon

[athena]

I was just looking at the profile of this series and would be very interested to know if it was any good. Certainly the story of the real Chevalier d'Eon made for some interesting reading.

[Inkwolf]

Well, I've watched the first four episodes, and they were pretty interesting, and visually fairly spectacular. From time to time there's a "whoa, that's Japanese" moment...but a few of the things I originally found hokey turned out to be true, so maybe I'm not the best judge. :p

The villains seem to be tied to the revolutionary sentiment (though the revolution shouldn't happen in the series, we're a king too early. Still, Robespierre is in the credits!) They are murdering people, filling their veins with mercury, and reanimating them. The Psalms figure strongly (is there really a 'psalm of vengeance?') and may be being used as spells, but it's too early to be sure of that.

The good guys are the king's secret police and spies, but there have been strong hints that D'Eon is re-examining the state of France and its privileged classes. And Queen Marie has some awful undead thing she talks to, and I have no idea yet what's up wit that.

All in all, it looks like lots of intrigue, suspense, swordfighting and mystery lies ahead. I bought four recent-release anime DVDs off Ebay for the library where I work, and though Utawarerumono, Best Student Council and Coyote Ragtime Show were all good, this is the only one I watched all the way through at once...and for a non-comedy, that's unusual.

Anyway, on a personal note, I'm dying to see if the death of the Marquis de Chauvelin happens in the series. He's famous for suddenly dropping dead during a card game with Louis XV (sounds like it would fit in the show), and he was the father of the Chauvelin who was written as the villain of The Scarlet Pimpernel...I've enjoyed researching Citizen Chauvelin and his family ever since I saw Ian McKellen play him. :D

[GrafSpee]

I also thought that it looked pretty interesting. However, I was surprised at how expensive the DVDs were on amazon.com. $27 for Vol 1 and $27 or $36 for Vol 2 (when it comes out in a couple of weeks). Even on ebay, Vol 1 is selling for $20 or more (with shipping).

I guess that I'll have to wait to later in the year for used versions to become available in order to be able to get them are more reasonable prices.

[Inkwolf]

That's why most of the anime I get for the library is older stuff off Ebay. :D $27 is normal for a new-release anime. The only reason I got it so cheaply is by hitting it lucky on an Ebay auction...paid $13 plus shipping for it.

(The $36 version of Disc 2 is the one containing the collector box. Again, nine bucks for a cardboard box is about the usual...who'd have thought?)

Of course, you have to beware of illegal cheap imports on Ebay, too...

[Inkwolf]

I've seen Disc 2 now, and must say I'm a little disappointed. It didn't keep up the suspense of the first. D'Eon and his companions have been sent to Russia, and D'Eon has had a couple opportunities of slipping into Lia's dress. There's been a fight or two, but mainly just travel, cross-dressing and rather dull intrigue/espionage. (Though previews for Disc 3 look promising.)

And it's becoming gradually more evident that the creators don't really understand the nature of the royal court of 18th century France any more than they comprehend western religion. Every now and then, someone does or says something so out of whack that it makes me blink. :p The characters are very Japanese and not very French at all.

And it's been revealed that yes, the Royal Psalms are a book of psalms the Bad Guys have stolen out of the Bible, and which give evil occult powers to anyone who can recite them.

EDIT: Oh, and someone called Maximillien has turned up, but if that's supposed to be Robespierre (http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b2robespierre.htm), he's 10-20 years too old, and what the heck is he doing in the Russian royal court?

[MonkeyFunk]

And it's been revealed that yes, the Royal Psalms are a book of psalms the Bad Guys have stolen out of the Bible, and which give evil occult powers to anyone who can recite them.

...well, I get that's the kind of religious representation that Voodoo practitioners have to put up with.

[Inkwolf]

Okay, I've seen Disc 3 and am back to being excited about the series. There was lots of action in this one--sword fights, assassination plots, executions, etc.--and the plot thickened. Robespierre, in spite of his anachronism, makes quite an attractively loathable villain, and there are other interesting characters as well. There were a few death scenes of notable characters, each of which was quite well done.

Of course, it all took place in Russia, and my ignorance of Russian history probably contributed to my bliss. :D Less cross-dressing fun in this one, which is a plus in my book (but if you're watching it for the tranny action, you'd be disappointed)

And of course, it all continues to be a sweet piece of anime eye candy.