Betterman - Inhuman Nature (Vol. 4)
Apparently aware that the plot of this 1999 broadcast series has degenerated  into a hopeless muddle, the filmmakers devote most of "Shadow" to flashbacks  and long explanations of what's been going on. But at the end of the episode,  they shoot themselves in the foot by adding more characters and further  complications. Lamia/Betterman fights Bodaiju, a monklike character who  recalls Ancient inRonin Warriors. Bodaiju insists Algernon and the  chaotic goings-on in Japan must be due to Kankei and urges Lamia to obey  Pakila; Lamia replies he's acting "to protect our hope." Presumably the  significance of the argument will be revealed in later episodes. "Revelation"  and "Dream" consist largely of nightmares within dreams within other dreams,  until no one can tell what's actually going on and the cast has to be rescued  by the mysterious Yakusugi. Unfortunately, he doesn't make house calls. (Rated  13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, alcohol use)--Charles Solomon