Cillian Murphy is the last guy that most people would ever imagine popping up in a romantic comedy, but he pulls it off Back in 2002, the Anime Invasion was in full swing thanks to the immense popularity of shows like “Dragon Ball Z,” but as FUNimation and Cartoon Network desperately attempted to fulfill demand by finding (and then dubbing) new series to import, the fad was already beginning to wear off. The introduction of “Yu Yu Hakusho” certainly helped to reinvigorate the movement, and though it was never a favorite of mine during its time on the air, it did give “DBZ” fans something to chew on while they patiently awaited new episodes. The show follows the adventures of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage delinquent with a knack for skipping school and getting into fights. When he’s killed one day while saving the life of a little boy, however, Yusuke is given a second chance by working as a Spirit Detective and protecting humanity from the demon world. Awarded the power to channel his spirit energy in a gun-like blast, Yusuke teams up with others like him to do battle against the evil forces of the Spirit World.
It’s been five years since I last saw an episode of the show, but my opinion of “Yu Yu Hakusho” hasn’t changed. Though the series starts off incredibly weak with four or five episodes containing almost no action, it eventually evolves into a format not unlike “Dragon Ball Z” or “One Piece.” By the time the show has reached the conclusion of its first season, however, it has ditched almost every remnant of story or character development and become a never-ending battle royale. That might be a good thing if all you care about are cool fights and eccentric villains, but “Yu Yu Hakusho,” oddly enough, lacks a soul. To make matters worse, FUNimation has once again compiled the strangest collection of episodes for a first season box set by also including the beginning of season two. I’m not sure if it’s a ploy to get you to buy future seasons, or if they just think they’re being fair by splitting up the episodes equally, but it’s definitely something that needs to be addressed.
Click to buy “Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files – The Complete First Season”
