Rurouni Kenshin Seisouhen (Samurai X: Reflections)
Sadness Part 2

// Synopsis: Kaoru lays dying waiting for Kenshin to return to her once more. During her fevered dreams she reflects on their life together and how she has tried to heal his emotional sorrow.

// Review: This OVA takes place years into the future lives of Kenshin and Kaoru. They have been married and even have a teenage son together. But Kenshin has been called off to war yet again, this time to China. But he is no longer the same spry man he once was. Apparently his fabled Hiten Mitsurugi sword technique over the years resulted in a terminal disease. Kaoru claims her right as his wife to share in his suffering and takes on this illness as well.

/ Rurouni Kenshin Seisouhen or Samurai X Reflections is a long flashback highlighting all of the memorable moments in the Kenshin anime series. Each one is used to chronicle their relationship as it grew and evolved from friendship to love. Kaoru narrates her own memories and she shares her thoughts on his pain and how her greatest hope was to share it with him and thereby lessen his burden. Kenshin has spent the greater part of his life trying to attone for the lives of those he murdered during the revolution, but most of all accidentally slaying his first wife Tomoe. Because he has never been able to forgive himself, he continued to push his body and lend his sword whenever his country called on him. Unfortunately all of his time away in service came at the expense of Kaoru and his embittered son Kenji.

/ This is beautifully done. The animation and music both had top notch production values. It's classic Japanese tragic romantic drama: panoramic shots of falling cherry blossoms, sweeping orchestral movements, long poetic soliloquies that philosophises on love, forgiveness, and suffering and a sad bittersweet ending. The tone was a stark contrast to the campy kid oriented anime.

// Wrap up: If you are a fan of the franchise this is a touching stroll down memory lane. It helps to be familiar with the series and Rurouni Kenshin Reminiscence to fully appreciate this one.

Entertainment rating: 3.5