[ Act 3: The Dawn of Love ~Cruel Mischief~]

Red Whirlwind vs. Romeo?

Oh man, this episode was so good. With Juliet struggling to accept her past and Romeo dealing with a strict father and the responsibilities he imposes on him, character development skyrocketed through most of the episode.

Juliet…oh my goodness. I could see and feel her heart break when she found out that Romeo was the son of Montague. She was already warned not to fall in love with a nobleman but to make matters worse the nobleman she happens to be in love with is none other than the current heir to Neo Verona. I can’t help but think that she’s going to cry her heart out soon and if she does then it surely won’t be the last time.

I was relieved that Romeo and Juliet didn’t fight each other seriously. Thank goodness Romeo had a plan to get them out of the sight of guards because I honestly don’t know what would’ve happened if that staged fight had taken place elsewhere. Also, damn that stupid priest for turning in the doctor just because he helped Juliet aka Red Whirlwind. It proves that even supposed authority figures of the church desperately want to attain a crest for noble status.

One of the strangest parts of the episode though was when Montague, Romeo’s father, traveled down to what seemed to be a massive underground cave containing an equally massive tree. I found it interesting how the tree is named Escalus (Escalus was a character in the original play by the way). I can only wonder right now the writers at GONZO are planning to do with this story element but it seems to be the source of some type of power. Exactly what type of power escapes my thoughts at the moment though.

[ Act 2: Promise ~The Scent of Memories~]

Lady Juliet comes to terms with her past: The House of Capulet.

Did I say how much I absolutely love love this show? The music is absolutely astounding and the animation so captivating. Again the music…the music I can’t stop thinking bout. I need the soundtrack for this series as soon as possible! As for the characters, of course, I love them and enjoy seeing them speak and interact with one another. It goes without saying that my favorite characters are Juliet and Romeo. Why? Juliet is being portrayed as such a strong young woman, a type I usually favor other all others and yet she’s so gentle and naive. She is so pure when it comes to the topic of love and the same goes for Romeo. Romeo, while he cannot defy his father as yet, has a mind of his own and doesn’t want to adopt the ideals of his father but rather wants to be more of a people person. It’s because of those things that I think they’re two of the most interesting characters of the current season. They’re such a cute couple to watch that I almost always smile when they’re together. Are they one of the best couples ever? Yes, I very much think so.

As for the next episode, it’s sad to see that Romeo and Juliet are going to cross swords but technically Romeo doesn’t know that Odin = Juliet anyways so it’s not that saddening. I can’t help but feel that this series is going to continue to capture my heart until the very end and as such this show is continuously battling hard for my number one favorite of the current season at the moment.

Series Information

ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
OP: [Inori ~You Raise Me Up~] by Lena Park
ED: [Cyclone] by 12012
ロミオ × ジュリエット

[Act 1: Two People ~if they do not meet~]

[Enjoyment Value: 9.5/10]

[Opening sequence]

OP: [Inori ~You Raise Me Up~] by Lena Park
Listen to the OP: Mirror 1 | Mirror 2 | Mirror 3

[Summary]

On the floating continent of Neo Verona, a bloody event is taking place under the night sky. Montague kills Capulet and the majority of the Capulet family. Juliet witnesses the murder of her father and together with Cordelia tries to escape and are saved by a group of loyal knights. Fourteen years later, Montague is still looking Juliet. Meanwhile, a girl is being harassed in front of a large crowd by soldiers but is saved by the appearance of a man they recognize as the Red Whirlwind. After saving the girl and beating the soldiers, the mysterious man leaves and grabs a much older Cordelia but run into a dead end bridge.

As it crumbles away under the Red Whirlwind’s feet, Romeo quickly comes to the rescue on his flying horse. Benvolio, his friend, saves Cordelia and they all land safely. The Red Whirlwind attempts to walk away without a word to Romeo but after an exchange between the two the masked man ends up thanking him. After leaving, the masked man reveals himself to be a young boy named Odin. After returning home to a theater with Cordelia they go into a room where Cordelia mentions that Odin will be turning 16 tomorrow and takes off his wig – revealing the truth that Odin the boy is actually a girl – Juliet.

Meanwhile, Romeo is being lectured by his father and is also visited by Hermione. His father wants him to escort her to the Rose Ball that night but when Romeo touches her hand he’s reminded of the Red Whirlwind. Later, he talks to Benvolio about Hermione and admits that she’s pretty but that he doesn’t love her. Romeo then asks his friend what he thinks love is and he answers that it’s when you feel that you can die for and with a special person. Back at the theater, Juliet asks the same question to William and receives a similar answer. One thing leads to another when she encounters the actress Emilia and finds herself at the Rose Ball. At the Rose Ball Juliet has flashbacks of being there and after seeing Montague she runs outside. As she sits near a fountain and is about to smell a flower she picked up, a male voice calls out to her and. Juliet then turns around to see none other than the boy who saved her earlier that day: Romeo.

[Ending sequence]

ED: [Cyclone] by 12012
Listen to the ED: Mirror 1 | Mirror 2 | Mirror 3

[Thoughts]

I’m writing this not too long after watching the episode and I can’t stop myself from trembling. Why you ask? The episode was just that good. Familiar with the classical Romeo and Juliet story? Not familiar with it? Well, it doesn’t matter which category you fall into because aside from the names of the characters (some from other plays such as Othello, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest, etc.) and the bad blood between the Montague and Capulet, this is a fresh take on the classical tale. The animation and music were absolutely outstanding and the performances of the seiyuu were nothing less of solid. The OP and ED are excellent and definitely among the best this season.

Lena Park sings a beautiful version of You Raise Me Up and a band I’m not familiar with named 12012 delivers a fast-paced rock song.

Romeo X Juliet is definitely one of the best offerings of the spring 2007 season and is definitely a must-watch. I’m 99% sure I’ll continue watching and blogging this show until it comes to an end.

[Preview]
> The fated lovers meet again and again.