Has anyone else seen the OVAs?

[Dark Ryu]

You don't have to accept it if you don't want to. Just write a fanfic about a different ending. I tend to do that a lot since I'm a villain fan and they...usually end up dying. But I loved Trust and Betrayal. When I bought the Director's Cut, I watched it I think about 4 times over with different people. I was just delighted that Shishio-sama made a small appearance at the end of it!!!

[The Narrator]

Ah, Seisouhen (aka Reflection)...
STUPID BLOODY OAV WHICH MADE CRY BECAUSE KENSHIN AND KAORU DIED BECAUSE OF SOME STUPID BLOODY SICKNESS THAT KENSHIN CONTRACTED ON SOME STUPID BLOODY QUEST FOR REDEMPTION THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO GO ON BECAUSE KAORU ACCEPTED THE STUPID BLOODY IDIOT FOR WHO AND WHAT HE WAS!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!
*sniffle* I cried so hard at the ending - I was actually kind of expecting it though. All the really good stories leave you sobbing or laughing your head off - like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "Shrek 2." It was kind of a cultural thing too, I suppose - out of all the asian movies I have seen, maybe one ended happily, and that was Akira Kurosawa's "Sanjuro," which was a parody of all of his samurai movies up to that point. So yeah, THAT was funny...
As for Kenji, I really just wanted to thwack him. I mean, for goodness sakes, his mother was DYING, his father was off who-knows-where, and he up and says, "I hate my parents" and leaves Kaoru alone! *takes a mallet to Kenji*
As for Kenshin...*shakes head* Here's how I would have written Seisouhen:
Kenshin (to Kaoru): I am going off on a completely ridiculous and unecessary quest in search of self-redemption that will leave you alone and doubtless embitter our young son for the rest of his life.

Kaoru: Of course dear, i understand. Let me just kiss you goodbye...

*they kiss...*

Handcuffs: Click!

Kenshin: Oro?

Kaoru: *tanuki ears pop out* OHOHOHOHO! Saitou let me borrow his handcuffs. If you think you're going somewhere for Kami-sama knows how long without me looking after you, you've got another thing coming, darling!

Kenshin: Oroooooo.... *think* Well, now that we've got the handcuffs...



Salute!
The Narrator

Yeah for futons!

[deathroseaiko]

i agree, i hated the OVAs.

[trekkiexb5]

THe OVAs were very good, too good, due to the reactions in this thread. I cried (actually bawled) my head out and cuddled with my husband. I will never watch them again. THe futon scene was awesome, their kid was adorable, but Megumi and others had warned him if he kept going like he was, he was going to die young. He was like wht, forty when he died? Kaoru was ten years younger. It is an ending, which many anime doesn't give you. Like someone else said, you can make up your own if you like. I perfer that.

I am curious, though, what kind of disease causes the leisions and sickness like that? It may not be a STD but something else. Is there any medical opinion on this?

[Just a Fan]

Okay i have never seen the Reflection OVA but I basically know what happens and i just have to ask what the hell happened? How did the story go from Kenshin finally finds a home with Kaoru and the others to Kenshin leaves his wife and son for ten freakin years to get redemtion? I thought that was the point of the series; he went through all kinds of trials and fights to prove that he had changed and now he can settle down with Kaoru and do some good AT HOME not in China.

And am i to understand that murdering people is wrong but leaving your wife (who you know is sick) and son (who is just a kid) is perfectly fine to ?find yourself.? Kaoru should have smacked him upside the head and said ?Kenshin you?re my husband and Kenji?s father that?s who you are, now go make dinner.?

And what was their son?s problem, I understand why he would hate his dad for leaving, but what did his mother ever do to him. I haven't even watched the OVA and I?m already depressed and pissed off. The entire OVA sounds like one big let?s make Kaoru's life complete crap. I refuse to acknowledge that this OVA even exists until the time I can buy the rights and fix the ending.

[Carebear]

[quote=" Kaoru should have smacked him upside the head and said ?Kenshin you?re my husband and Kenji?s father that?s who you are, now go make dinner.? [/quote]

LOL, maybe that would have worked better. "Quit being ridiculous Kenshin, now go make dinner." haha.

Anyways, I haven't seen any of the OAVs either. I actually wouldn't mind seeing "Trust" or "Betrayal" b/c they cover Kenshin's past. Even though it's not a very bright and colorful past, it still made Kenshin who he was in the manga and anime. But, "Reflection" I'd rather not.

I am of the firm belief that Kenshin and Kaoru should have died of OLD age and Kenji was supposed to at least like his parents.

What I know of "Reflection" comes from reading fanfiction and comments made about it from fans in forums like this one. And, so far nothing has convinced me that it would be worth watching. I don't want to bawl while watching Kenshin die in Kaoru's arms. I prefer to remember them as they were in the anime and at the end of the manga. Happy.

Another thing that turns me off from this angsty conclusion is that RK's original creator did not take part in its production. It was done by someone else (don't know his name) who decided to give the series an ending past the manga. While it was a noble effort, I can't help feeling that it probably wasn't what the original creator had in mind for Kenshin, Kaoru and Kenji.

Kenshin is supposed to be there for his wife and son. He was a pretty damn good role model for Yahiko, why does he have to get this "self-redemption" idea after he's married with a child? And, Kaoru. While she may mellow out (meaning less quick to temper) and mature with age. I don't see her mellowing out THAT much.

The creators of "Reflection" might as well have made the parting scene somewhere along these lines.

Kenshin: Kaoru, I'm leaving to find myself. I don't know when I'll return. Please tell me you understand.

Kaoru: Sure, Kenshin take all the time you need. I'll wait for you no matter how long it takes. Take ten years if you need to heck why not make it 20, and I'll wait on the docks everyday for your return. That way we can both neglect our son.

I mean come on.

While Kenshin may NEVER get over his past as an assassin, that doesn't mean he has to go wandering for another ten years and catch some disease along the way.

It's no wonder Kenji hated his father for leaving and resented his mother for always waiting around on him. I would too if I grew up in that kind of atmosphere. It's my understanding that Kenji was never even fully told why his father decided to leave. Was he ever told about Kenshin's past as Battousai? (I'm asking b/c I don't know) It all makes for one very confused and upset young man.

What makes it even more depressing for me is that I know how great of parents Kaoru and Kenshin could have been to Kenji. Both had big hearts and were constantly doing things for others. Kaoru took in both Yahiko and Kenshin, she let Sano get his fill of food, and she'd treat all three of them with the money she earned working at other dojos. And, Kenshin was always looking after everyone around him in addition to all the cooking and laundry he did. He was a very good cook too, which a plus for any man. At least I think so.

So, to make a long explanation short, "Reflection" doesn't appeal to me, so I avoid it. I don't think I'll ever watch it.

Well, that's my two cents worth.