Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians

Tweekums

These comments assume viewers have seen both earlier 'Ikki Tousen' series and know the main characters and their back story.

'Great Guardians'; the third part of the Ikki Tousen franchise sees the return of Housen Ryofu; an antagonist who had apparently died in the first series. She isn't the woman she once was though; she has lost her memory and after some initial distrust becomes friends with Hakufu Sonsaku and her compatriots. There are also a couple of entirely new characters; Chubo Sonken, who claims to be Sonsaku's younger sister and the mysterious Genpou Saji, a young fighter with magical powers who is the series main antagonist.

Things start off fairly lightly; there are still fights but for the most part characters are getting on better than usual and there are no real threats. These early episodes are more comical in tone. Later on when Genpou Saji plans are put into action the threat level increases dramatically as she uses her powers to possess the various fighters meaning even ones closest friends could be a threat.

It might just be because I've got to know the characters over the previous series but I found this series to be the most enjoyable to date. There is still plenty of fighting and gratuitous clothing damage but somehow it seemed more fun. Genpou Saji proves to be a good villain as she is a sympathetic character rather than an unlikable baddie. The fact that anybody can be possessed means we can't think of anybody as being on the side of the good guys even the good guys themselves! Chubo is a nice addition to the story; the fact that nobody seems to know about her means she too has an air of mystery; she certainly appears nice but only later in the series do we learn whether that is her true character or part of an act. The returning characters are a lot of fun; most notably Hakufu Sonsaku who is as likeably ditzy as ever. As well as the main series there are six new mini-episodes; the fact that they are titled 'Battle Tour Club: Sexy Cosplay♥Dangerous Jobs♥" tells one all one really needs to know; there is little in the way of story but lots of fan service! Overall an enjoyable new 'Ikki Tousen' story.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

score 8/10

Tweekums 30 March 2015

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3210924/