This isn't the real world. It's the Ryvius. This is the most recurrent theme in Infinite Ryvius, heading up to and including Volume 4 - as the children on board the ship are forced bit by bit to give up on anything they've ever known as real or normal. In this volatile environment where rules are rewritten at an alarming rate, the resilience of the children continues to be an amazement. The fourth volume is where Infinite Ryvius really gets interesting. The main characters each start to show their true colors, and politics are threatening the stability of the ship and crew. What hasn't changed at this point is the sympathy to be had for all of the Ryvius' inhabitants. Each person has done what they must to handle the terrific stress, and the circumstances haven't allowed for any real breathers yet.

Unfortunately, there is no vacation in sight for the young space travelers in Volume 4. They are forced to counter increasingly sophisticated attacks on their prize vessel, and supplies become an issue. The true unrest is inside the ship, however. A certain shady character catches Blue saying something he shouldn't, and Mutiny #2 occurs. The effects of this change are disastrous for Kouji, who hates changes of any kind. As with any shift of this magnitude, there are characters elevated to advantageous positions aboard the ship, and others thrust to the bottom of the barrel.

Heigar plays the chaos card in this round.	Kozue's relationship starts to cause her some problems elsewhere.

Another notable change in this volume is the increasing animosity of the unprivileged crew members toward the privileged. This makes way for random acts of violence, causing the ship to resemble an inner city neighborhood at times. (Incidentally, the background music further supports this view.) The series' connection with urban life works well to convey the everyday difficulties that the characters face, and it continues to be a staple of the show. Good stuff.

Even into the fourth volume of the show, Bandai manages to pump the discs full of extras. The chibi goodness of the Ryvius Illusion minis has become a necessary treat, and a new installment comes with Volume 4. Also included on the disc is the latest variation of the opening sequence (sans credits), as well as a commercial for the OP/ED maxi-single, a commercial for a character songs album, a commercial for Mika Arisaka's full-length album containing Dis (the OP), an artwork gallery, and more delightful audio dramas compelling us to purchase the VHS and DVD versions of this volume. (Hey Bandai! Where's the VHS?) The packaging features a picture of Blue holding his weapon that looks like a child's toy. All in all, a well-done product.

Ryvius just keeps commanding attention, and the rewards for watching increase with each new volume released. This is the kind of show that seasoned viewers search for again and again - typically with a long wait between successes. If you've followed the series up to this point, I am confident that you will find Volume 4 worth the price of admission.

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