Plot: What’s it about?
As Meifon has formed the Angel Links team and the wheels have started to turn, the members soon find themselves in some real situation. A pirate ship begins to fire on the Links craft, but the hits don’t cause any damage, which is strange. It seems the captain just wants to tease the Links and continues to fire off some shots, until Meifon calls the other ship’s captain out. The other ship is helmed by a young woman with an unusual look, whose presence leads to a series of humorous, outlandish events. The series soon flashes bits of the past as well, which allows us to see how some of the team members were persuaded to join, as well as more details on Meifon and her rise to the position she now holds. Even more of her past is revealed as she and Leon go on a date, which isn’t too romantic, but does seem to be some chemistry there. The big picture starts to open up with these three episodes, as Meifon’s past begins to become clear and we’re taken further into the incredible missions of…the Angel Links!
The epic saga of the Angel Links continues, with this second installment in Pioneer’s series of DVD releases. I loved the first episodes of this series, so I had high hopes for this second volume, with three complete episodes included. As expected, these episodes add depth to the storyline and characters, since the basic introduction have been covered. We learn why & how some of the members joined the team and also more about Meifon, which is important stuff, since she’s the focus of the series. Some potential connections also start to be made, though how knows how they will unfold as the episodes continue. Although the first episode on this disc is sort of self contained, some good subjects are touched upon, so all is not lost there. The third episode is decent, but doesn’t really connect too much either, but the second episode, that’s another issue. This is the sixth episode in the series and it has a ton of development & background, so some realizations start to roll around, though not too much at this point. If you’re a fan of the series, this one is a lock, but if you’re just looking to find a new series to explore, Angel Links would be a wise choice.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame transfers, as intended. I found the video levels here to be about the same as the other volumes, very good on the whole, but with some minor issues present. The problems are some small instances of edge enhancement and a handful of color slips, but neither issue is a dealbreaker, not even close. The colors are usually vibrant and true, with minimal bleeds and such. The contrast remains stark and never wavers, always deep, rich, and right on the mark. I did see a few more errors here than the first volume, but in truth, the episodes still great and as such, no real complaints.
Audio: How does it sound?
As with the other volumes in this series, these episodes sound good, but as the mixes are stereo, you can’t expect too much. The disc has both Japanese & English language tracks and as usual, the Japanese option proved to be superior. The dialogue is clean and remains crisp throughout, with no inconsistencies to note. The music is terrific in this series, so I am glad it sounds rich and well placed here, without a doubt. The sound effects are solid here, with some nice right & left directional use, but don’t put your expectations too high. This disc also includes optional English subtitles, in case you’ll need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a selection of commercials for the series, as well as a textless end credits sequence.
