The Last Exile

The family recently subscribed to Netflicks. Now, we can stream a host of videos we would have never watched. Over the last few weeks, we have binged on Dexter, The Tudors, and even Dr. Who.

Surfing through Netflicks's online offerings for a new and better hit, I came across Last Exile. An anime series produced in 2003 to commemorate Gonzo's tenth anniversary.

Curious, I added the series to the que. I'm addicted without knowing why. The episodes are riddled with divas and drama queens that distract from otherwise interesting plots.

I think it is the imagery. Steam punk? Unlike the streamlined, utilitarian, minimalism of iPhones and Audis, the planes, cameras, uniforms, ships of Prester are complex, intricate affairs. The Last Exile offers an elegant, stately alternative to our cheap, egalitarian plastic cosmos. The sleek ships of Dio Eraclea and his cohorts suggest the clean lines of contemporary cars--cold, impersonal, and inhuman. No question--these guys represent a world best avoided.

Watch it, and enjoy the Victorian indulgence in detail that we jettisoned long ago.

Bayard