Fairy Tail: Part 4by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Studio
Credits Grade: 8 Part four spends several episodes wrapping up the cliffhanger from Part 3. Juvia and Lucy fuse their powers unconsciously for a stronger attack, becoming friends in the process. Gray saves Natsu from being digested. Erza and Natsu defeat Jellal in an emotional battle that unleashes Natsu's inner Salamander. Then, our heroic group returns home to Fairy Tail to find that both Juvia and Gajeel have joined the guild … just in time for Laxus to pit the guild-members against each other in an attempt to gain the title of "Master." The girls are turned to stone for a while, but it's Erza and Natsu (with some help from Gajeel) that save the day.I love this series. This part is particularly exciting. It mainly focuses on Erza and Natsu, but everyone still gets some powerful scenes. The battles are intense and also creative. I was surprised that Natsu didn't unleash his inner Salamander against Laxus like he did with Jellal … especially after Laxus reveals his true nature. However, it allowed Gajeel to be a part of it, so it worked out. Despite some things that happen, I'm still not 100% sure we can trust Gajeel, but I like to think there's a heart under all that steel. I especially like his interactions with Levy, who has forgiven him for attacking her before. Poor Laxus seems to have lost his mind. He's such a different person after he gets beat, but up until then he's crazy! I also liked seeing some new sorcerers and their powers. It spiced things up a bit. And since they are super powerful, it allows us a perspective on how much Erza and Natsu have grown. My favorite part is when Mirajane transforms. She is kick-ass! And powerful! I am in love! What a great character! And I'm glad they've saved her transformation till now. However, I was under the impression that she couldn't transform like that anymore without grave consequences. I understand why she did it here, and it fits well with the story, but nothing bad happened to her as a result. In fact, she uses her transformation again at the end (into a different form), so obviously everything is ok. Then why is she always crying because she can't transform and feels so useless? Maybe she wasn't as "broken" as she thought? The other thing that is a little weird is Erza's tears. It's explained why she can only cry out of her left eye (and that story also adds to the turned-to-stone part), but she starts tearing from that right eye at a random point. She continues to cry from that eye after that point, and no explanation is given as to why she can suddenly cry from that eye. I can guess, but even then, the things I would point to are more vague than concrete. This series is incredibly well-rounded. The story is growing at a good pace. The characters are evolving and the cast is expanding. The animation style is great, with unique designs for several characters. I get swept up by the story every time I watch this series. I can't wait to see what happens next. Written: May 8, 2012
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