Weiß Kreuz Glühen

Gluhen’s first review, show Weiss Kreuz some love, people! Especially to the previous 25 episodes and OVA. This sequel Gluhen adapts the previous formula and works when you think of it as one long episode/mission spread over the 13 episodes here.

- Art: 6/10 - A marked upgrade from the previous season, with greater animation all round. There are character redesigns due to legal behind the scenes stuff, but it occurs a few years later so makes sense anyway with the updated appearances.

- Sound: 4/10 - Its fine on the grand scheme of things, Weiss Kreuz does has it’s own signature theme and music to enjoy. ...

- Characters: 5/10 - Love all the characters, but the score applies to the fact it focuses on the new ones, when I wanted to see the original members from the start, and have the new ones alongside them. Spending 25 episodes, OVA (also drama CDs and side stories, TV Tropes has the best chronology) with Weiss Kreuz is a very long time. Yes it makes sense to introduce new faces, the studio was likely thinking that it couldn’t do the same things forever, and could use this new season to mix things up, fair enough. But when Omi is in the background, and Ken and Youji appear about half way through the season, I would have preferred the focus on the four main guys we’ve gotten attached to as always. Having said that this is fine if we consider the whole of Gluhen as one extended episode as said above. For instance in the previous season, in one episode when the focus was on one cast member you wouldn’t see someone else for half the time, if that, so it’s fine.
The cast we've come to know and love, and the new people introduced shine best in later episodes when they're all present. Schwarz and the Crashers (from Aya’s backstory, before he joined Weiss) also appear, and everyone and the plot develop to culminate in some of the greatest episodes of the entire series.

- Story: 3/10 - No, didn’t want Omi placed in the background by being Persia, yes I wanted Ken and Youji right from the start, no, wasn’t fond of how after everything they’ve endured they continued to be emotionally drained (though understand this was done to generate drama, and it shows they’re not monsters, they’re bothered by what’s happened because they’re human, good save) but I understand why the creators changed direction. They were fazing them out so they could retire and live safely, but involve new members to keep the Weiss series going. Weiss was always about the four first and foremost, to be with Aya, Ken, Omi and Youji for so long, to have them move on to different lives, and then the story continues as if that’s ok, but it's not, it was always about them. Will have to pretend it ends like before with them together and taking out anything that gets in their way, an alternative and better happy ending. They didn’t need to get out safely, they needed to solve their issues by leaning on each other more, but it’s a drama thing, and a there, they're out safe and alive aren't you happy? So it’s understandable the story took the direction it did.

- Enjoyment: 10/10 - it’s a series that can chuck cat litter at me, I’d like it no matter what, no point in saying what’s good and bad just appreciate what’s been given, you only think that’s for series that impact you so guess this is one of them. And as stated, the final episodes are some of the best of the entire series. Even though it came out a while ago, newcomers can have a fond sense of nostalgia on the entire series, somehow, even if you’re not a part of that time period. Weiss is magic like that, it generates it's own unique feelings. Aside from the final plot points and people themselves, a best part is a reaffirmation of the ultimate trust and bonds the four members have with one another, the heart of the series.

- Overall a good 6/10 - On it’s own, and using this sites ratings system, Gluhen is a ‘fair’ anime. As a sequel to a quite precious series, it’s part of the treasure (if you modify the ending so they remain together, or take a break then come back together and pretend they’re in the discontinued Side B manga sequel to Gluhen, again, together) and so the 10/10 for personal enjoyment matters, especially for the entire series as a whole. It’s good the series got to continue, it was a Seiyuus project, I love it, and brings closure to an overarching threat for the entire series, at which point the team can finally find peace.
(Btw Aya doesn’t die, this series fully embraces the awful grisly ends for like everyone (they’re necessary evil assassins taking out greater evil) and they’ve all overcome worse than a simple knife wound multiple times. It ended with Aya alive, conscious and able to stay upright, no way ever a death scene).