Review for Romeo X Juliet: Volume 2 (Review)
Friday, 12th March 2010, 17:49

Page 1 Page 2

Sound
You have a choice between DD 2.0 Japanese, and DD 5.1 English along with optional translated subtitles and a signs only track. I first opted for the Japanese track, and as usual found it to be more than acceptable. Admittedly the stereo is a disappointment; for a show this extravagant there really ought to be a surround track worthy of the name. Especially when you consider the music. The themes are a suitable moving ballad opener, and something more rocky for the end credits, but the incidental music is stupendous, given the full orchestra, and really feeling like a proper Hollywood picture of yesteryear, full of rousing themes and gentle melodies. There's more than a bit of action as well that really could be elaborated on.

However, this is one of those rare anime where the English dub actually sounds better than the original Japanese, at least to my ears. I was interested to see which way they would go with this, and thankfully they've avoided the temptation to go for the full Shakespearean dialogue. There are hints of it in the more formal dialect of the nobles, and you will find more than a few Shakespearean quotes as well. More importantly, other than a few incidental characters, the cast really excel, as if they realise that they have to up their games to live up to something really special. On more than one occasion I noticed characters that actually felt performed better in English, the playwright Willy is a case in point. In the Japanese version he's a rather camp and effeminate stereotype, but in the English dub he develops a wicked way with the language, and a delightfully sardonic attitude. Maybe it's just that Shakespeare is best served in English…

Extras
You have a nice, easily navigable menu and your usual jacket picture, but for some bizarre reason, the episode titles differ from menu to actual programme, and even from programme caption to subtitle translation (although I think Nativity instead of Naivety is just a bad typo). Otherwise this disc is extras free.

Conclusion
I opined in the review for the first volume that Romeo X Juliet would shape up to be one of the anime series of the year, and this second volume does nothing to refute that. Although I must admit that the accelerator does come off that breakneck pace of the opening six episodes, and this volume does slow down a bit, especially towards the second half of the disc. It's necessary though, to offer some much needed character moments, and give us a pause to reflect on what has come before, although Romeo X Juliet doesn't resort to something as crude as a recap episode.

This disc is really split into three sections, and I must note that for the first half of the series packaged as the Romeo collection, the focus at this point is much more on Juliet. We begin with Juliet coming face to face with more of Montague's brutality, especially when she winds up rescuing Neo Verona's ex-mayor, who Montague is trying to have assassinated. We also meet the mysterious Tybalt at this point, a dark knight on his own mission of vengeance against the Montagues, who's been watching Juliet's progress with cynical world-weariness. He's ready to test her when she declares her determination to depose Montague and restore her family name. It's just the thing that her retainers have been waiting for, and they rally to her call, but she herself is more half-hearted about it. It's as if her identity as a Capulet is warring with her developing feelings for Romeo, and her throwing herself into the battle is a reflection of her own inner turmoil.

Such motives inevitably lead to disaster, although the disaster that occurs isn't directly her fault. Her retainers' over-eagerness is probably to blame, their enthusiasm at seeing their princess leading from the front probably blinds them to obvious treacheries, and so it is that the rebellion is betrayed before it can even get started. Juliet of course blames herself, and takes the defeat badly. Running away together with Romeo is almost a rescue from her dire circumstances. It's here that the pace of the disc slows down, and so it should. Finally the star-crossed lovers are free to be together, to escape, to find a new life, to forget all their cares and worries. It's important to take the time to develop the relationship, and you certainly won't begrudge the time devoted to the couple drifting lazily downstream, in a boat made for lying together gazing dreamily into one another's eyes. Besides, there's always a nervous edge to their adventure, nobles unprotected, venturing into the real world, fleeing from their pasts, their families, their obligations. As you would expect, there's no happily ever after for them, as brutal reality soon catches up.

While the focus of these episodes is more on Juliet, there's plenty of Romeo as well. His story is less prominent mostly because of his position. He doesn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders as Juliet does. Pampered son of the prince, he can afford to be single minded in his pursuit of Juliet, and really his tale develops more slowly. Best friend Benvolio gone, he now has the Prince's man Mercutio trying to insinuate himself into his life as a replacement friend. He's fairly cold and honest to his betrothed Hermione when he tells her he loves another, but surely he's saving up trouble for later on down the line with her, as she remains hopelessly devoted to him. He tries standing up to his father when it comes to the pursuit of the Capulets, but against the forceful personality of the prince, he doesn't stand a chance. Again, it's really only in the final third of the disc that we begin to see some of Romeo's potential strengths as a character, as he has to break free of the apron strings binding him to the nobility.

My one complaint in the previous volume was the under-development of the Prince, Leontes Montague. This volume begins to remedy that, offering some insight into the sort of man who would slaughter a family just for power. The fact that Romeo's mother, Lady Portia must have been in love with him at some point is a sign that his personality wasn't always thus. The more hints that are dropped about Escalus, the tree at the heart of Neo Verona, the more dimension it adds to Montague, indicating that there is much more motivation to his actions than simple maliciousness. One or two moments of reflection from him during this volume also add to that enigma, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this aspect of the story pans out.

The first half of Romeo X Juliet has been a corker. It may be an unusual anime twist on a classic story, but that classic storytelling still shines through despite the fantasy veneer. It's simple, elegant, and enthralling, and this volume, like the first, is highly recommended. I hope that the high standards carry through to the second half.

Previous Page