Ayato has learnt that the world he once knew was a caged reality known to those outside as Tokyo Jupiter. Now adjusting to the life outside, Ayato must use his unique ability to pilot the mysterious mecha RahXephon to defend his newfound friends and family from the attacks of the Mu and their Dolem.

The first three episodes on this disc deal with exactly that - a series of Dolem appearances force Ayato to rethink his reluctance to pilot the RahXephon and take responsibility.

If the previous volume did not, the first episode of this volume will surely spark memories of Evangelion. A Dolem that once wreaked havoc in Sydney has returned with its unique and strangely unsettling ability to sink objects in to the ground as if it were quicksand. There's no shadow or bizarre black & white sphere, but to all intent and purpose this is the same plot device as was used in that certain episode of Evangelion; the RahXephon even awakes in a frenzied rage, destroying its attacker with an ease not afforded by its junior pilot.

While it is true that there are several

similarities to Hideki Anno's magnum opus it is also true that there are many, more significant differences. Although strangely (and disappointingly) absent from this volume, the previous five episodes introduced us to the badguys of the piece that are seemingly behind the controls of the Dolem, the Mu. Evangelion's Angels, on the other hand, remain an enigmatic force for the majority of the series, little more than a catalyst for the character driven plot. Contrary, RahXephon's inclusion of fighter aeroplanes, recognisable military regalia and two distinct opposing forces builds the impression of a more familiar war scenario.

That's not to imply that RahXephon is about war and war alone; there are many complementary and as of yet unexplained facets to this complex series. Any suggestions on my behalf about the origin of the RahXephon, the Mu, Tokyo Jupiter or the even the poetically spoken Quon would be nothing but conjecture.

Speaking of which, Quon is an interesting character. In spite of her insistence that she is as clueless as her comrades she often speaks in riddles that appear to predict the future. She is a unique character

both in personality and appearance that could (depending on her involvement in the remainder of the series) become the figurehead of RahXephon. Although they may not be quite as unique as Quon, the remainder of the cast don't just make up the numbers; they all complement each other, creating a intricate web of relationships that has yet to fully reveal itself. I was disappointed to discover that less is shown of Ayato's home life during this volume - an area which gave Evangelion much of its impetus (then again, if it avoids more comparisons with that series perhaps it is for the best).

As the first few episodes concentrate on Dolem encounters it is disappointing to still see the RahXephon so overpowered, even facing menacing looking opponents such as the behemoth Forzando in the second episode - what could have been an epic struggle between two beautifully designed robots is regrettably little more than a special effects show. If this was due to budget limitations or a directorial decision, I don't know, but the action does beguile the fantastic designs of the mechs. The Dolems are

undoubtedly the star of the show with their bizarre, slightly disturbing designs that are reminiscent of those seen in the Yoshihisa Tagami manga/anime Grey.

The first volume of RahXephon moved at a lightning pace, each episode pushing the convoluted story further and further with new plot twists, locations and characters appearing at a rate of knots. Something had to give, and it is true that the first three episodes on this DVD slow the pace down to walking speed. We learn a little about some minor characters along the way, but we have to wait until the fourth and final episode (of this volume, of course) for the plot to return to the fore - and when it finally does it seems that we get more questions than answers. I guess we'll have to wait for the next episode before we get any answers.

Although RahXephon hasn't quite lived up to its early promise there is still plenty of time left to get things back on track. Besides, RahXephon has gone from excellent to merely very good. Not exactly the most hurtful of downfalls.