Space Pirate Captain Herlock ~ The Endless Odyssey is one of the most consistently well-done series in my recent memory. The premise was appropriately chosen (given the established character base) and well executed - no scene felt out of place. The cast was terrific. The music carried the mood of the series and never got in the way. And the fantastic ending leaves nothing to be desired, which makes the thought of a continuation all the more desireable. In what it set out to do, the series was flawless.

The final volume of Herlock chronicles the completion of Tadashi Daiba's transformation and the final showdown with the evil Noo. And there's not much else to say about it. The purpose of the show was to watch Tadashi become a man, and the end of that activity is the end of the story. The Captain and crew were not without purpose, of course. Herlock is a symbol of what Tadashi should be, and the crew serve to affirm that ideal by exhibity exemplary teamwork.

I'm Earth. Nice to meet you!	So Earth is something for perverted old men to ogle?

The ending is a surprise, but it's also more of the same. The series was not one to lead the viewer on at any point, so there was no monstrous buildup prior to the climax, nor was there any indication that it was about to happen. In a way, the series fools us by being straight with us for most of the run. As for the details, Herlock breaks his composure in the final scene and leaves no man to doubt his character. Technically speaking, it's one of those "whoa" moments.

Since I complained about the lack of interviews in my writeup for the third volume, I should mention that they come out with the big guns in the final volume. The interviews are with Matsumoto himself, and director Taro Rin. Hearing Rin's musings about the production is interesting, as is Matsumoto's description about his little sci-fi universe and its origins. Both are highly recommended. The other extras are plentiful: over 200 pieces of production artwork, CG video clips, trailers, storyboards, and a clean ending sequence for the final episode. I found the spread highly impressive, given Geneon's normally Spartan habits on extras.

This series was my first foray into the Leiji Matsumoto space opera, and to say the least, it has convinced me to seek the rest out. I felt as if I knew all of these characters, even in the first episode, and I get the feeling that this is the character of Matsumoto's works. Combined with the talents of studio MADHOUSE, The Endless Odyssey is a quality work, through and through. Makes me proud to be a space opera fan.

Video Quality: A+
Audio Quality: A+
Presentation: A+
Content: A+
Overall: A+