Madlax - Vol. 2: The Red Book (DVD, 2005)

Madlax (マド&​#12521;ッ&#12463​;ス, Madorakkusu) is a 26-episode anime television series produced in 2004 by the Bee Train animation studio. Kōichi Mashimo directed Madlax and the soundtrack was composed by Yuki Kajiura. The DVD version was released by ADV Films in North America and the United Kingdom and by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand. According to the director Mashimo, the title is a portmanteau of two English words: MAD and reLAXed, mirroring the authors' intention to portray the two extremes of human being.

The story revolves around two young women who seemingly have little in common and do not know of the other's existence, at first. The titular Madlax is a legend amongst the mercenaries and assassins of the fictional civil war-torn country of Gazth-Sonika. "Madlax" is a code name and a substitute for her real one, forgotten along with the rest of her past before 1999, when the war started. The other protagonist is Margaret Burton, the sole heir of a wealthy aristocratic family in the peaceful European country of Nafrece. Twelve years before the story begins, an airliner her mother and she were on crashed over Gazth-Sonika, and its passengers, as well as Margaret's father who lead the rescuers, have been missing ever since. Margaret managed to travel back to Nafrece on her own, though how she made it remains a mystery considering that she too has lost her memories prior to her return; the only thing she recalls is a single word, "Madlax". With this thread linking the two girls, they both independently start investigating the powerful crime syndicate Enfant and its enigmatic mastermind who, for some reason, shows interest in both of them.

Multiple similarities between Madlax and Noir, an earlier work by Bee Train, have been pointed out. According to the authors, these two series are the first installments of a trilogy exploring the so-called girls-with-guns genre, with the third title being El Cazador de la Bruja. Still, Madlax differs considerably from its predecessor in its less episodic and more plot-driven style. In particular contrast to the predominantly realistic Noir, Madlax incorporates many supernatural aspects and concepts associated with psychological thrillers and surrealism, which the audience must often interpret without further explanation

Madlax is a good deal in terms of price in anime since the DVDs are sold separately and at a bargain price. The animation and art style are excellent but I find that the story is average at best and so full of the typical staples of anime that its become boring.

We have the girl with no memory, the mysterious bad guys who never reveal what they are up to but still manage to be around enough to act like corny stereotypes, etc. It seeps with not ever telling you anything for fear that the plot might advance.

But, I do enjoy the main character, Madlax and the theme of the avenging assassin. Course that's kind of a stereotype too, but its done very artistically . I haven't seen the whole series yet, so it still has promise.

Madlax gets one step closer to discovery the meaning of the red book. Watch as another mystery opens. Madlax remembers new things of her life. Good action and good story line.