Maoyu:
The Complete Collection (2013/Section 23/Sentai Blu-ray)
Picture:
A- Sound: B Extras: B Episodes: A-
After
15 years of war between humans and demons, mankind's greatest
warrior, the Hero (or Yusha) decides to single handily confront the
Demon King to end the war, but to his surprise instead of a King ...
he finds a Queen? Who tells to him that neither side winning
or ending the war is true a victory because someone always
loses and the people will always suffer. So instead, she proposes a
third option, to join her to reshape and reorganize the land and
kingdoms with new ideals with modern sciences so that both humans and
demons can co-exist peacefully, but together, they face even a more
difficult challenge of changing the hearts and minds of the people
and demons alike.
Maoyu
explores the struggle between the humans and demons. How war was not
a struggle between 'good and evil' but for resources, wealth, control
and power. Both the Hero and Demon King give up their
titles, the Demon King becomes known as a noblewoman known as the
Crimson Scholar who uses her knowledge to help bring prosperity to
the masses, and the Hero becomes the Black Knight whom protects the
ideals of the Crimson Scholar. As the two become the symbol of
co-existence (and lovers), the Crimson Scholar gains more popularity
with the masses, but when the church and nobility begin to lose
control of the Kingdoms they brand her as a heretic and seek to
'silence' her in anyway they can.
Back
in the dark ages people believed in order for any kingdom to prosper,
they must conquer and take riches from other neighboring kingdoms,
but in truth, was only the rich/nobility who benefited while most
masses still suffered, starved and died... regardless of whichever
side won the war. The series uses humans and demons to
illustrate/symbolize the changes of society through modern economics,
farming and the eventual movement towards democracy and capitalism.
The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer is up to Sentai
usual high standards with fine color, definition detail and
consistency, while the DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo lossless mix is warm, has some Pro
Logic-like surrounds and is as good as it will ever sound. Extra
includes Japanese commercials, Blu-ray Spots, Social Game Spots,
clean opening and closing animations, and trailers.
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You
Will Be Mine Hero! ~ I Refuse! - The Hero meets the Demon King
and is surprised to find a girl instead, who proposes to him and
convince him to help her bring peace to the kingdoms.
Please
Make Us Human - The Queen now (known as the Crimson Scholar)
introduces crop rotation to help increase food for the masses. They
are joined by two runaway sisters who are fleeing from slavery and
serfdom, and take them in to become their maids, in exchange for
freedom, a home, education and equal treatment.
Where
Have You Been?! - Few months later, the Hero and Crimson Scholar
run into one of the Hero's old companions, the Female Knight. The
Crimson Scholar introduces a new crop, potatoes, which helps feed the
poor.
If
That Happens, I'll Take a Bite Out of the Hero - As the queen
continues teach and introduce new crops and ideas, the Southern
nations becomes more independent from the central kingdoms. The Hero
goes to the Demon Realm to find allies.
You
Smell Good, Demon King ~And I Feel Safe in Your Arms, Hero - The
Hero now known as the Black Knight learns of humans harassing demons
and defends them from racism, but as the Humans and Demons continue
fight over a critical piece of an island the greedy humans meet with
disaster, and blame the Winter King and the Crimson Scholar to take
responsibility for the next charge.
Welcome
Back, Hero ~ Yeah Old Man, I'm Back - The Crimson Scholar and the
Female Knight helps the Winter King take back the Island. The Hero
returns with some new allies and they are reunited with another of
the Hero's old companions, the Archer.
I'll
Be Back Soon. ~ We'll See Each Other Soon - With the string of
military victories, new ideas and technologies, the Winter Kingdom
becomes even more rich and prosperous, but the Queen reveals that she
must return to the Demon Realm soon to for a ritual to maintain her
right and rule as the Demon King.
Take
This Sword My Lord - A the Demon King prepares for the ritual
room, she instructs the head maid to kill her if she emerges if
spirits of the past Demon Kings takes over her mind. Meanwhile the
Central Kingdoms jealous of the Winter Kingdoms successes and their
waning power, brands the Crimson Scholar and her teaching as heresy,
whom the Elder sister is masquerading as.
I
Am Human - The Emissary from the Church takes the Elder Sister
who is disguised as the Queen's double and plans to publicly stone
her, but Elder Sister speaks out to the public of past injustice to
her and the people by the Church and the nobility, the people then
rise up and stone the Emissary instead. The Winter Kingdom then
declares the Crimson Scholar is Saint and is under their protection
and the Central Church has become twisted and corrupt.
So
Now Their Plans Are Finally Coming to Fruition? - With the
Southern Kingdoms becoming more prosperous and powerful, they begin
to united against the Central Nation's unjust rule and taxes. More of
the common people begin to immigrate South in hope for a better life.
I
Just Destroy and Kill, Without Creating Anything - The Southern
Kingdoms faces the attacks from the Central Kingdoms, but manages to
emerge victorious thanks to the tactics left by the Crimson Scholar
and Female Knight. The Queen emerges from the ritual chamber, but is
possessed by the spirits of the past Demon Kings.
I'm
Back, My Hero ~ You Sleep Too Much , My Demon King - The Hero
goes to the Demon Realm to rescue the Demon King and tells her what
has been happening in the human realm. It is revealed that the war
was conspired by the Central Leaders, the Church and Blue Demons, the
Hero and his friends discuss the future of the kingdoms, their
people, and the future of human and demon co-existence.
-
Ricky Chiang
