Enishi... it is the bond that ties people to one another. Be it through love, friendship, or hatred, we are all tied together by Enishi. Therefore, it's no surprise that a series would focus on these powerful, yet mysterious bonds. For this reason, Ai Yori Aoshi sees the return of Kaoru and Aoi as they try to tackle the trials of life and its bittersweet trials.

Two years have passed since viewers first met Kaoru, Aoi, and the rest of the Ai Yori Aoshi cast. The cast has matured, and characters have begun to move on with their lives. While the characters have grown and changed, the series itself hasn't changed a bit from the endearing show it continues. Kaoru and Aoi are still secret lovers, and Kaoru still has a harem of women vying for his attention. Despite all of the similarities, Enishi still manages to distinct itself from the first series. From this early point, the more annoying characters from the first series seem to have been relegated to more of a "comic relief" stance. Mayu in particular seems to be showing up much less frequently than she did in the first season, which in and of itself is a blessing. Many may see this second series as mere filler for the fans of the first. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. The episodes definitely appear to have a purpose in a growing plot; however, those that enjoyed the darker, more serious moments in the original may be disappointed. The show itself is much lighter in tone and execution, and has not yet delved into the characters' backgrounds as much as the original.

A fairly recent series, Enishi delivers a very rich visual presentation to viewers. The series' vibrant colors translate to DVD well, with no artifacting or grain in the video. The disc shows an absence of any signs of cross-coloration, aliasing or other visual defects, as well. The show itself takes the same high visual standard as the original Ai Yori Aoshi. Gorgeous animation accompanied by the wonderful character designs that made the first series such a joy to watch return to give this season the same brand of personality and charm that kept viewers wanting more of the original.

Aoi and Kaoru are again the main focus of the series.	Apparently, there ISN'T always time for enjou kosai.

People who loved the original series' music will be happy to hear that it hasn't lost a bit in impact in its transition. Enishi begins by hitting viewers with another one-two punch in the form of a new opening song by Yoko Ishida and a new closing theme by the Indigo. Both songs are wonderfully performed, with Ishida's opening having the same melancholy sweetness of Eternal Flower. The Indigo's closing, "I do!," is a more upbeat selection than their closer for the previous series, that serves as an excellent closer to each episode. Enishi's background tunes are an intriguing mix, that combine the best of the old with a bevy of enjoyable new tunes suited for every situation. On the technical end, the disc is on par with the first series. There are no dropouts or distortions on either track, and the overall sound is clear.

A show as elegant as this requires a presentation that fits the rest of the package, naturally. For this, Geneon opted for a dual release. This volume comes in two forms: One version is just the disc, and the second is a limited disc and artbox combination. The limited edition also comes with a miniature figure that, along with the figures with the first pressings of every other volume, fit together to form a full scene. The disc itself comes in a clear keepcase, with a double-sided cover. The first cover features a gorgeous shot of Aoi standing with her arm outstretched as Sakura petals fall gently behind her. The back of this cover holds a full shot of the cast, as well as a series of screens from the series, a short summary, and a brief description of the disc's contents. The second cover places Taeko in focus as she stands with Aoi and Miyabi in a traditional robe and hakama ensemble. The back of this cover is a bit more visual, with a bevy of screens from the disc, as well as an episode list, and a brief description of the disc's features. The insert contains a chapter guide, and folds out to another beautiful image of Aoi in a pose that seems to move beyond cute and closer to erotic. The menu layout deviates from the "stack of photos" menus presented in the first series. Instead, the menus take a more sentimental approach that is styled in the form of a photo album. The main menu serves as the "cover," which opens to different pages for each selection. These "pages" tend to follow the same format, with the selections on the left side, and an image from the series encapsuled in a photo frame on the right. The sole extra on the disc, a 15-minute bonus episode based before the events of Ai Yori Aoshi, is a fun, yet touching look back at the characters.

It is no secret that the original Ai Yori Aoshi was one of my favorite releases of 2003. Therefore, I am pleased to see Enishi following in its predecessor's footsteps. I am eagerly looking forward to the second volume in hopes that it will continue to give viewers that little slice of heaven that everybody seems to seek.

Distributor: Geneon
Creator: Kou Fumizuki/AiAo Project
Released: 2004

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