As the curtain opens for Red Garden, Volume 6, the four girls finally find some equilibrium in their shattered lives. One at a time, we watch Clare, Rose, Rachel and Kate come to the belated realization that they have never truly been alone. Armed with the knowledge that their existence meant *something* to *someone,* they head off for what they know will be a final battle.

The battle is itself, inconsequential. The two sides that needlessly fought, now needlessly die at each others’ hands. While Edgar loses everything he thought he had, Lise is returned to the four, and together they all face their final rest…in peace.

Is it some years later, or in an alternate universe that we find the same four reborn into a future city that is completely different and exactly the same. Metempsychosis brings them into contact with people they have known well in their former lives – but there is no recognition of that acquaintance. They’ve lived so long, they’ve had to be seventeen so many times, that they have completely changed personalities, in the same way people change clothes. As the Dead Girls, they terrorize and titillate the city. For money, for thrills, for something to give their life meaning, they fight once again. And again. And again.

At the end of the disk we are left with one of two things – a vague sense of unease and loss, or a vague sense of “gawd, that was awesome’ and the Dead Girls’ theme song stuck in our head for a week. ^_^

This was a disk well worth waiting for and my sincere thanks to Funimation for caving to our fan whines and releasing it on it’s own. It was so very, very worth your time and effort for our enjoyment!

The Yuri in this series is, as it always has been, Paula. Unlike the Paula of the manga, this Paula is supportive and empathetic, loyal and in the end, honorable. Kate receives Paula’s emotions with thanks and a sense of appreciation rather than rejection. It is a one-sided love, but it is a real love that is accepted without question. For this one thing alone, I would adore this series. But the series is far more than just this one thing.

Red Garden is a series I go back to, from time to time, just to enjoy spending time with characters that, despite their outrageous situation, come off as completely real and approachable. And that, in the end, is why I watch anime.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 4
Service – 1

Overall – 8

Sadly, the cover copy wasn’t nearly as amusing this time as with previous volumes. “A suspenseful thriller with a keen sense of style.” I assume that’s a reference to clothing. They are teenage girls, after all.

Today my deep and abiding thanks goes to Eric P., one of my first Okazu superheroes, and a person whose support of Yuricon and Okazu goes way beyond mere financial. I want to take this opportunity to just say, thank you Eric, for everything. I absolutely can never thank you enough. (And I’m really only thanking you profusely because I know it will annoy you, ^_^) So, hey, thanks for sticking with this series and sponsoring today’s review!