Samurai X - Betrayal (Rurouni Kenshin)
The peace that reigns over the remote mountain village of Otsu  contrasts sharply with the rapid-fire violence of the previous episodes  (Samurai X: Trust) set in Kyoto. Working as a farmer, growing  crops and savoring the passage of the seasons, Kenshin comes to terms  with the discontent festering in his soul. He regrets the death and  suffering he has caused, and hopes to find a better life--with the  mysterious Tomoe. A conventional story would end on this note of  self-discovery and moral growth. ButSamurai Xunfolds like a Kabuki  tragedy: the desire for revenge remains strong, especially among the  agents of the last Tokugawa Shogun, who are anxious to crush the  nascent rebellion led by the Choshu clan. Kenshin was an important  agent for the Choshu; Tomoe is just a pawn, but the outcome of a game  may hinge on a strategically positioned pawn. Kenshin finally grasps  the lessons his master, Hiko, attempted to teach him: the need for  inner peace and the possibility of defending the weak without resorting  to violence. The exquisitely detailed artwork evokes 19th century  Japan, and director Kazuhiro Furuhashi depicts these understated inner  conflicts as skillfully as the epic sword fights in the first episodes.Samurai Xdemonstrates the power of animation to present stories  of great emotional depth, earning it a rightful place among the top  anime series. Unrated; suitable for ages 18 and up for explicit  violence.--Charles Solomon