"Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" comes to a satisfying conclusion in Volume 4.
Originating as a series of novels by Shouji Gatou, "Full Metal Panic!" was first animated in 2000, then followed by a related series called "Fumoffu!" in 2003. It told the story of Mithril, a secret mercenary and espionage organization that operates above the law and outside of established governments. The focus was on a young Mithril soldier named Sousuke Sagara who was sent to guard high school girl, Chidori Kaname. Even though he is very young, Sousuke grew up in a war-torn country and is more familiar with fighting and military operations than with day-to-day school life. This makes him an excellent body guard, but an awful high school student. Although it is an action series, the moments of humor in "Full Metal Panic!" always revolve around Sousuke's inept attempts at blending in at school. His serious, literal, mind and ingrained fighting reflexes create a lot of hilarious situations. "Full Metal Panic!" is an excellent combination of action, drama, and comedy, while "Fumoffu" is more like a series of side-stories that focus only on the humorous aspects of the original show's plot scenario. Fumoffu" is not required viewing for "Full Metal Panic!" fans in terms of following the overall story, but it is a fun, amusing diversion.
2005's "The Second Raid", is a direct sequel to the original show, and takes place only a couple of months after that one ends. It is not absolutely necessary to watch the first "Full Metal Panic!" before watching "The Second Raid", but it makes it a much more rewarding experience to see how the characters have grown since the beginning.
In "Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" Volume 3, Sousuke did the unthinkable: he abandoned a mission in progress. While the initial act of abandoning a mission is very un-Sousuke-like, his behavior afterwards returns very much to character. Emotionally torn and confused by what he wants to do with his life, Sousuke wanders the streets of Hong Kong in a daze. Temptations lurk in the dangerous city, and he is almost lured into a precarious situation. However, his upright and strict character prevent him from succumbing. It takes an impossible ghost from Sousuke´s past to shake him out of his stupor and bring his fighting spirit back in a horrible and deadly way.
"Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" is very Sousuke-focused, and these last three episodes of the series revolve around him even more closely than before. The episodes are seamless, the events of each episode leading right into the next, so it is like watching a movie. Even though there is the plot involving the appearance of the rival group, Amalgam, and the dangerous backdrop of a divided China on the brink of war, the heart of this series is really the emotional development of Sagara Sousuke, and his struggle to strike a satisfying balance between life as a mercenary and life as a student. His speech towards the end of the series makes it quite clear which path he chooses.
Chidori gets precious little screen time in this volume, but when she does appear, it is at exactly the right time, and she does exactly the right thing. She is Sousuke´s emotional center, and is the one person who can really put him in his place and make him see reality. While this disc is a very intense emotional exploration for Sousuke, Chidori brings with her a much-needed dose of humor.
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid - OPS4" contains the last 3 episodes of this 13 episode series. Things come full circle, and most of the major conflicts are resolved. Decisions are made, compromises reached. We do learn more about what Amalgam is, and more about their agenda. I am very satisfied with the ending, but I still hope there will be more. There are certainly many story threads that could be explored further, and there are a few questions left unanswered.
Originating as a series of novels by Shouji Gatou, "Full Metal Panic!" was first animated in 2000, then followed by a related series called "Fumoffu!" in 2003. It told the story of Mithril, a secret mercenary and espionage organization that operates above the law and outside of established governments. The focus was on a young Mithril soldier named Sousuke Sagara who was sent to guard high school girl, Chidori Kaname. Even though he is very young, Sousuke grew up in a war-torn country and is more familiar with fighting and military operations than with day-to-day school life. This makes him an excellent body guard, but an awful high school student. Although it is an action series, the moments of humor in "Full Metal Panic!" always revolve around Sousuke's inept attempts at blending in at school. His serious, literal, mind and ingrained fighting reflexes create a lot of hilarious situations. "Full Metal Panic!" is an excellent combination of action, drama, and comedy, while "Fumoffu" is more like a series of side-stories that focus only on the humorous aspects of the original show's plot scenario. Fumoffu" is not required viewing for "Full Metal Panic!" fans in terms of following the overall story, but it is a fun, amusing diversion.
2005's "The Second Raid", is a direct sequel to the original show, and takes place only a couple of months after that one ends. It is not absolutely necessary to watch the first "Full Metal Panic!" before watching "The Second Raid", but it makes it a much more rewarding experience to see how the characters have grown since the beginning.
In "Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" Volume 3, Sousuke did the unthinkable: he abandoned a mission in progress. While the initial act of abandoning a mission is very un-Sousuke-like, his behavior afterwards returns very much to character. Emotionally torn and confused by what he wants to do with his life, Sousuke wanders the streets of Hong Kong in a daze. Temptations lurk in the dangerous city, and he is almost lured into a precarious situation. However, his upright and strict character prevent him from succumbing. It takes an impossible ghost from Sousuke´s past to shake him out of his stupor and bring his fighting spirit back in a horrible and deadly way.
"Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" is very Sousuke-focused, and these last three episodes of the series revolve around him even more closely than before. The episodes are seamless, the events of each episode leading right into the next, so it is like watching a movie. Even though there is the plot involving the appearance of the rival group, Amalgam, and the dangerous backdrop of a divided China on the brink of war, the heart of this series is really the emotional development of Sagara Sousuke, and his struggle to strike a satisfying balance between life as a mercenary and life as a student. His speech towards the end of the series makes it quite clear which path he chooses.
Chidori gets precious little screen time in this volume, but when she does appear, it is at exactly the right time, and she does exactly the right thing. She is Sousuke´s emotional center, and is the one person who can really put him in his place and make him see reality. While this disc is a very intense emotional exploration for Sousuke, Chidori brings with her a much-needed dose of humor.
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid - OPS4" contains the last 3 episodes of this 13 episode series. Things come full circle, and most of the major conflicts are resolved. Decisions are made, compromises reached. We do learn more about what Amalgam is, and more about their agenda. I am very satisfied with the ending, but I still hope there will be more. There are certainly many story threads that could be explored further, and there are a few questions left unanswered.
"Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" comes to a satisfying conclusion in Volume 4.
Originating as a series of novels by Shouji Gatou, "Full Metal Panic!" was first animated in 2000, then followed by a related series called "Fumoffu!" in 2003. It told the story of Mithril, a secret mercenary and espionage organization that operates above the law and outside of established governments. The focus was on a young Mithril soldier named Sousuke Sagara who was sent to guard high school girl, Chidori Kaname. Even though he is very young, Sousuke grew up in a war-torn country and is more familiar with fighting and military operations than with day-to-day school life. This makes him an excellent body guard, but an awful high school student. Although it is an action series, the moments of humor in "Full Metal Panic!" always revolve around Sousuke's inept attempts at blending in at school. His serious, literal, mind and ingrained fighting reflexes create a lot of hilarious situations. "Full Metal Panic!" is an excellent combination of action, drama, and comedy, while "Fumoffu" is more like a series of side-stories that focus only on the humorous aspects of the original show's plot scenario. Fumoffu" is not required viewing for "Full Metal Panic!" fans in terms of following the overall story, but it is a fun, amusing diversion.
2005's "The Second Raid", is a direct sequel to the original show, and takes place only a couple of months after that one ends. It is not absolutely necessary to watch the first "Full Metal Panic!" before watching "The Second Raid", but it makes it a much more rewarding experience to see how the characters have grown since the beginning.
In "Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" Volume 3, Sousuke did the unthinkable: he abandoned a mission in progress. While the initial act of abandoning a mission is very un-Sousuke-like, his behavior afterwards returns very much to character. Emotionally torn and confused by what he wants to do with his life, Sousuke wanders the streets of Hong Kong in a daze. Temptations lurk in the dangerous city, and he is almost lured into a precarious situation. However, his upright and strict character prevent him from succumbing. It takes an impossible ghost from Sousuke´s past to shake him out of his stupor and bring his fighting spirit back in a horrible and deadly way.
"Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" is very Sousuke-focused, and these last three episodes of the series revolve around him even more closely than before. The episodes are seamless, the events of each episode leading right into the next, so it is like watching a movie. Even though there is the plot involving the appearance of the rival group, Amalgam, and the dangerous backdrop of a divided China on the brink of war, the heart of this series is really the emotional development of Sagara Sousuke, and his struggle to strike a satisfying balance between life as a mercenary and life as a student. His speech towards the end of the series makes it quite clear which path he chooses.
Chidori gets precious little screen time in this volume, but when she does appear, it is at exactly the right time, and she does exactly the right thing. She is Sousuke´s emotional center, and is the one person who can really put him in his place and make him see reality. While this disc is a very intense emotional exploration for Sousuke, Chidori brings with her a much-needed dose of humor.
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid - OPS4" contains the last 3 episodes of this 13 episode series. Things come full circle, and most of the major conflicts are resolved. Decisions are made, compromises reached. We do learn more about what Amalgam is, and more about their agenda. I am very satisfied with the ending, but I still hope there will be more. There are certainly many story threads that could be explored further, and there are a few questions left unanswered.
Originating as a series of novels by Shouji Gatou, "Full Metal Panic!" was first animated in 2000, then followed by a related series called "Fumoffu!" in 2003. It told the story of Mithril, a secret mercenary and espionage organization that operates above the law and outside of established governments. The focus was on a young Mithril soldier named Sousuke Sagara who was sent to guard high school girl, Chidori Kaname. Even though he is very young, Sousuke grew up in a war-torn country and is more familiar with fighting and military operations than with day-to-day school life. This makes him an excellent body guard, but an awful high school student. Although it is an action series, the moments of humor in "Full Metal Panic!" always revolve around Sousuke's inept attempts at blending in at school. His serious, literal, mind and ingrained fighting reflexes create a lot of hilarious situations. "Full Metal Panic!" is an excellent combination of action, drama, and comedy, while "Fumoffu" is more like a series of side-stories that focus only on the humorous aspects of the original show's plot scenario. Fumoffu" is not required viewing for "Full Metal Panic!" fans in terms of following the overall story, but it is a fun, amusing diversion.
2005's "The Second Raid", is a direct sequel to the original show, and takes place only a couple of months after that one ends. It is not absolutely necessary to watch the first "Full Metal Panic!" before watching "The Second Raid", but it makes it a much more rewarding experience to see how the characters have grown since the beginning.
In "Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" Volume 3, Sousuke did the unthinkable: he abandoned a mission in progress. While the initial act of abandoning a mission is very un-Sousuke-like, his behavior afterwards returns very much to character. Emotionally torn and confused by what he wants to do with his life, Sousuke wanders the streets of Hong Kong in a daze. Temptations lurk in the dangerous city, and he is almost lured into a precarious situation. However, his upright and strict character prevent him from succumbing. It takes an impossible ghost from Sousuke´s past to shake him out of his stupor and bring his fighting spirit back in a horrible and deadly way.
"Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid" is very Sousuke-focused, and these last three episodes of the series revolve around him even more closely than before. The episodes are seamless, the events of each episode leading right into the next, so it is like watching a movie. Even though there is the plot involving the appearance of the rival group, Amalgam, and the dangerous backdrop of a divided China on the brink of war, the heart of this series is really the emotional development of Sagara Sousuke, and his struggle to strike a satisfying balance between life as a mercenary and life as a student. His speech towards the end of the series makes it quite clear which path he chooses.
Chidori gets precious little screen time in this volume, but when she does appear, it is at exactly the right time, and she does exactly the right thing. She is Sousuke´s emotional center, and is the one person who can really put him in his place and make him see reality. While this disc is a very intense emotional exploration for Sousuke, Chidori brings with her a much-needed dose of humor.
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid - OPS4" contains the last 3 episodes of this 13 episode series. Things come full circle, and most of the major conflicts are resolved. Decisions are made, compromises reached. We do learn more about what Amalgam is, and more about their agenda. I am very satisfied with the ending, but I still hope there will be more. There are certainly many story threads that could be explored further, and there are a few questions left unanswered.
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