Customer Reviews

The Slayers Try DVD Collection

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you love Slayers, then you have to buy this boxset.

The Slayers is arguable the best series of any kind (anime or other) out there, ever. It's versitile, funny, deep, and downrigth enjoyable, with a loveable cast and FABULOUS humor.

Slayers Try, the third season, has it's ups and downs. Personally, I believe that the Slayers reached it's peak with Slayers NEXT, so expecting something better from TRY will just dissapoint you. Slayers TRY has much less of a re-view value than NEXT, and a less interesting cast. Although the villans, Jillias, Gravos, Valgaav, and Dark Star Dugradigo were well developed, the cst of heroes suffered. The elimination of Martina, Sylphiel, and most importantly Zangulus was not compinsated for with the addition of the anoying and useless Filia. She has moments of humor, but I got sick of her by the end of the series. Xellos plays a weaker, less humorous role in TRY, and harldly even uses his catch line.. "sore wa himetsu desu," which was a HUGE dissapointment. Also, there was no romantic angle to it, so some versitility was lost.

Not to say that TRY isn't an excellent use of ones cash, it's Slayers for crying out loud, how much better can you get? The animation is about on par with NEXT, maybe a little less colorful, and the effects and spells were great, the slapstick is priceless, and it's got Lina Inverse. You can't ask for much more than a series with Lina Inverse!

So, to sum it all up, it's great, it's fabulous, but it's not phenominal.

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Slayers. This series is just so endearing that you instantly fall in love with the characters which helps cover any problems with the plot. Series one was kind of a disappointment to me in places (although it was still brilliant in others) while Slayers Next (season two) was sheer bliss and represented what was to me the pinnacle of Slayers; great character interaction, sharp dialogue and an excellent plot.

Slayers Try is the third season of Slayers and although it's a lot different then Slayers Next, it is still brilliant and in some ways is superior to the series that preceded it.

The humor isn't nearly as present here as it was before, and Slayers Try takes on a much darker tone then the previous outings. Sure the humor is still here but it isn't as in your face, which is both a strength and a weakness. Clearly it was a gamble to change the focus of the series but I think the creators made a good decision when they realized they couldn't possibly make a repeat of Next while maintaining any form of originality.

Try introduces a few new characters, some of which are memorable, some of which are not. I really like Valgaav as well as Jillas on the bad guy side; especially since they were given a fully fleshed out history and the motivations for their behavior made a lot of sense. Also of note is Fillia who makes an excellent foil for Xellos, although she often ends up just being humiliated instead of getting the better of him.

Nothing much has changed for the core characters; the romance angle has been dropped somewhat (which is a little disappointing since it's obvious that the series creators injected a lot of chemistry between the couples up till now) but we still have the occasional bit thrown in for good measure.

It is hard to describe much else without ruining the plot of Slayers Try, but suffice to say that it reminded me a lot of Lodoss War with the characters of Slayers thrown in. A lot more serious, but it is a credit to the characters that they are flexible enough for us to take them seriously during times of tension and laugh at them during times of craziness. Great work, although some die hard Slayers fans might be turned off by the de-emphasis on humor.

The Slayers Try brings us once again into the realm and world dominated by the fiery-tempered Lina Inverse and her coterie. Continuing the epic, we find ourselves engaged in yet another desparate struggle to save the world. It sounds cliché. The characters have already been well-developed in the first two series, their traits ironed out from comically flamboyant and exaggerated to more manageable levels. Lina has already saved the world twice--first from the Dark Lord Shabranigdo, then in the climax of Next from the vile mechanations of Hellmaster Phibrizzo. That climax certainly left little room for further expansion.

Try enters the stage knowing how it seems an overdone battle between good and evil--of the great flairs of Slayers has always been the self-deprecating commentary--but Try is not about a battle between good and evil; it is a battle between hope and despair. The creators seem to have attempted to blur the lines between good and evil--and they succeeded. What we find are not immaculate heroes squaring off against debased villains, as was the case before, when it was readily apparent that Gaav and Phibrizzo were well rooted in the side of evil. Instead we find characters that are flawed, fallen, but not inherently good or evil. We find a struggle in Almayce and his Overworld companions over the risks of destroying one world to save another; we find the Golden Dragons that serve the Fire Dragon King acting for what they believe is good, but willing to accomplish that goal through horrible means. Finally we have Valgaav, who is drowning in despair and hatred and yet still possesses a compassion that, while twisted, is still admirable.

What we see in Try is not the forces of good confronting the tides of evil, but people--be they dragon, human, monster, or god--each with their own often conflicting agendas, struggling to save the world they live in the best way they know how.

And yet, Try still preserves the natural Slayers flair, the comedy and slapstick, the evergoing quest for more food. I challenge any Slayers fan to examine this series in the light of the others, to trace the maturation of the characters from the onset of the first series to the conclusion of Try, to find the depth that yet exists in a story that is not inherently complex yet carries a beauty all its own.

Ah, beautiful sorcererous, a big dumb merc, must be another slayers season! I've said this before, and I'll say it again, Slayers is awsome! There is comedy, drama, romance, and even a little bit of tradgedy. This time, Lina Inverse is back, and with a vengence! Those who have watched Slayers NEXT will see the return of most of the old characters. Those who have not seen Slayers NEXT, should not be reading this, as it contains spoilers. In fact, if you don't watch NEXT, you very well might end up scratching your head in confusion. This is pretty much a continuation of the last season as it is a new season in its own right. Normally, this would get very tiresome very fast. This is Slayers, however. Not normally.
Slayers TRY is either loved or hated by viewers, though I'm not quite sure why. Out of the entire season, there was perhaps one or two that I thought were dull and entirely useless. The comedy is reused, but it is done so in a way to poke fun at itself, and isn't so reused that it gets old.

Old Characters: Lina, Gourry, Amelia, Zelgadis, Xellos, King Phil
New Characters: Valgaav, Filia, Supreme Elder, and the Gods, Jillas

Pros:
+ Hilarious
+ Has a good blend of old and new humour
+ AWESOME animation. The battles were fantastic.
+ Good character interaction. All of the diologue was in character, and meaningfull.
+ Good Plot.
+ Music was good

Cons:
-- Some of the slapstic gets old, but rarely.

I think this series of the Slayers is amazing. It mainly has to do with Lina and co. going to the outer world to explore it. There they run into these bad guys who they find out want Gourry's sword of light. There are apparently 5 of them and they have some sort of power. (You'll have to watch to find out) There are some hilarious episodes including the one where they are coupled together. With some serious ones like the first few episodes. All together it is the best anime I've ever seen, and I do watch many! BUY IT! You won't get a deal anywhere better than here! Trust me

If you enjoyed Slayers...and you enjoyed Next...then you MUST have Try. As always it starts off a little slow but thankfully the comedy kicks in. Not all of the episodes are long drawn story based, you get a few back and forth that just make you sit back and enjoy. Also a special feature at the end which lets you meet the cast. The only thing I had noticed is if you didn't watch all of the previous installments it may be a little bit confusing. All in all I found this very enjoyable and at the end you're left with satisfaction that is' finally over.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Slayers Try comes out, reuniting you once more with all your favorite characters and giving you a few new ones.
Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis, Amelia, and Xellos are all here, set to explore the lands across the ocean. Joining them is the beautiful and enigmatic Filia.
A whole new slew of deadly enemies show their faces. Opposing forces battle for possession of Gourry's Sword of Light, with Lina and crew caught in the middle.
The most compelling segment of the Slayers mythos, it is also the darkest.
But that's not to say that this series is missing the playful banter that made Slayers so popular to begin with. With hijinx, mayhem, a spoof of the sentai (Power Ranger) shows in Japan, and even a blatant parody of Neon Genesis Evangelion, making use of the fact that two of the voice cast from that show (Japanese dub only) are on the cast of Slayers.
The only drawback is that this is it. The series can't be topped. I'm already limited to having to give this five stars. There's no way they can top it.

Ok, I will try to make this short and sweet. If you already shelled out the cash to get the first 2 DVD collections ( slayers & Slayers Next) you have to get this one to see how to series turns out. Try is a very enjoyable series. Although not as good as NEXT, and not as fresh as the original, it is still crammed full of what makes Slayers such a fantastic series.

Just go buy it, its better than 99% of whats out there.

Ok, so the 3rd season of Slayers is a little lame, but I found it to be as funny as Slayers Next. Slayers Try finishes off the Slayers series which was very funny from the start. Who would have thought this series would last 3 season and spawn several movies and a special or two. Slayers Try brings an end to a series that could have gone another season or 2. Linna and Gorury are back so is that rougish Xellos and the rest of the gang for one last season. Here we are caught in the middle of another monster trying to take over the world. Xellos role is less but I really thought it should have been in less in Next. His tag line is "That a secret" is missing from this season. This tag line was Xellos's only saving grace. This season could stand without him all together. Not going really tell you everything but keep an eye on the sword of light. That's it for now kiddies. If you like Slayers you will like Try. IF you haven't seen Next Try will be very confusing to you. Hey the movies are great as well. Naga keeps Lina on her toes in the movies just like Gourry keeps Lina on her toes in the series.

Yup, they're back -- hot-tempered sorceress Lina, sword-swinging dunce Gourry, stone-skinned chimera Zelgadis, and justice-obsessed princess Amelia.

And while it's not quite the brilliant ride that the previous seasons were, the third season "Slayers Try" is still a solid piece of work, filled with ancient feuds, otherworldly weapons, revenge, a tea-drinking dragon, and a devastating threat from another universe.

With the Monster race's barrier removed from the places we know, the gang reunites at a harbor where a coalition of kings -- led by Prince Phil -- are sending off an expedition into the Outer World. Lina and Gourry are there to meet Filia, a strange young woman who claims to have a mission for them. Then a Golden Dragon attacks, and Lina inadvertantly devastates the fleet and the harbor with her Dragonslave.

Set adrift on an abandoned ship, Lina and her pals end up floating to the Outer World, where they encounter Filia (who is the Golden Dragon) once again. Eventually Filia reveals why she has done all this -- a prophecy foretelling a terrible disaster that may destroy the world, which only Lina's sister (or, if she's not available, Lina) can stop. Unfortunately the gang also have a new enemy -- the vengeance-maddened Monster Valgaav, and a mysterious shadowy creature who wants Gourry's Sword of Light.

But after some nasty obstacles, Lina discovers the true intent of Valgaav's new master -- to destroy the Dark Lord Darkstar (yeah, silly name), using five weapons including the Sword of Light. When a clash with Valgaav goes horribly wrong, Lina and her friends end up scattered across the continent, with only a short time to stop the insane Dark Lord from invading their world. And finding the last of the weapons to kill Darkstar will take them deep into the bloody past of the Golden Dragons...

"Slayers Try" doesn't quite acquire the spectacular heights of the previous two seasons, just because the Big Bad Threat To The Universe is a bit cheesier. But otherwise it's a solid adventure for Lina and her little gang, with two overarcing storylines -- the first half is all about finding out Valgaav's plot and the reason his master wants the Sword of Light, while the second is about dealing with the horror that is trying to come into the Linaverse.

In the meantime, it has a complex and twisting storyline, full of odd quests for luminous weapons and some Romeo-and-Juliet sidetrips. But this season also has a heavy dose of tragedy, mostly centering on the bloody genocide of the extinct Ancient Dragons, and the horror Filia feels when she finds out what happened. Their trip takes them through sun-baked villages, magic libraries, ancient snow-covered citadels, a mountain that looks like a pile of something nasty, a pair of eternally warring cities, and a series of islands with very strange inhabitants.

And of course, there's humor. Lots of it. Aside from Xellos and Filia bickering like pros ("Ohhhh, I meant DRAGON, not person"), it has the usual bizarre scenarios and hilarious dialogue ("BIRD! ROAST CHICKEN!" a starving Lina shrieks as she tries to pluck a seagull). And in the middle of the season, we get a string of episodes that are pure hilarity -- haunted jars, a forbidden romance between a man and a fish, and Amelia and Gourry temporary becoming "Warriors of Justice" alongside some decayed old heroes in silly costumes.

The absolute highlight? A surreal Lewis-Carroll-style episode in which a befuddled Lina stumbles through a strange world of fiestas, hostile penguins ("Don't interrupt our funeral!"), marionettes and a smarmy talking pig.

The "Slayers" characters feel like a foursome of old, comfortable shoes -- Lina is short-tempered and inclined to Dragonslave whenever possible, but turns out to be deadly afraid of her sister (to the point of constructing a pyramid to hide inside). Gourry is a lovable clunkhead, but Amelia and Zelgaids have both loosened up a little -- he's mellowed and more friendly, and while Amelia still poses and talks about Justice, she's also willing to poke a little fun at it (the whole "warriors of Justice" episode).

And Xellos provides plenty of fun when he's bickering with Filia, even as he reminds us that he's an amoral Monster who wouldn't have a qualm about betraying Lina and Co. Filia herself is a likable character -- an anxiety-ridden priestess with a love of tea parties and antique jars, and a deep hatred of Monsters. But her character becomes much deeper when she discovers the terrible past actions of the Golden Dragons.

"Slayers Try" is a solid third season for the Slayers gang, with a slam-bang Threat To The Universe and plenty of outrageous comic relief. Not quite the brilliance of seasons past, but still excellent.