Slayers Evolution-R is the fifth and thus far final saga in the Slayers TV anime saga. This 13-episode series picks up right where the previous season left off, so in a way, these two seasons could be considered a unit with 26 episodes total across the entire arc, much like the first three seasons. That said, Evolution-R probably won't make much sense to those who haven't seen Revolution... and it certainly won't make sense to anyone who's never seen Slayers, period. Evolution-R maintains the updated art style and recast English voices which were introduced in season 4, both of which I think were valid improvements.

Writing: Now, before I address the story directly, I'd like to point out the very first thing I noticed while watching this series... EVERYONE appears in it in the new art style in some form. The opening sequence alone should be a draw to any longtime Slayers fans, as villains and characters from all four past seasons are re-envisioned for the new decade--in addition, the break cards in the finale prominently show every single character in the entirety of the Slayers TV franchise... plus, one who never actually made a TV appearance. Everything ties together in this final season, as old names are brought back to light and connections are made to fill in any chance plotholes, and a few characters even make grand re-appearances in the storyline, proper (and one long-awaited cameo for fans). For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won't name names, but oh goodness, it's fun to see all these faces if you're a longtime fan of the series.

However, that brings me to another point regarding the story and its characters... Evolution-R has the distinction of having more villainous parties than any prior season. Slayers Try had 2 or 3 opposing forces, but they were all tied together pretty closely and involved in what was essentially the same battle. Each of the antagonists in Evolution-R has his or her own unique endgame, and it's interesting to see how these many conflicting goals clash over the course of the show. All in all, the story in Revolution and Evolution-R isn't as concise or linear as the first three seasons, but it's a very fun ride from beginning to end, and in a way, the multiple arcs and independent villains brings the two series a bit closer to the original Slayers OVA's in style--something longtime Slayers fans haven't seen in a while, and I myself am always up for having a dynamic array of conflicting villains.

Art: The artwork is just as fluid and well-animated as Revolution was. As stated in my review of said series, the art has been updated from the first three seasons of Slayers to a more modern look (meaning, everything is sharper and shinier). There's a bit of a war going on against this new style, but I myself enjoy it--it's great to see characters re-imagined in this day and age. I was happy to see it happen to the main cast in Revolution, and now that I've gotten to see everyone in the entire series reanimated in this style, I'm ecstatic.

Sound: No complaints as far as sound goes. The music is fitting, the voices well-cast, and everything's ship-shape on the audio front. I don't think the opening and closing are quite as catchy as the ones in Revolution, but that would really be nitpicking.

If you saw Revolution, then you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this season--the two really tie together splendidly. Honestly, after watching the final episode, I don't think I or any other Slayers fan could have possibly come up with a better finale to this series. The climax is absolutely fantastic, bringing the entire series home with it in an incredibly epic and dramatic conclusion the likes of which haven't been seen since Paranoia Agent. If you're a longtime fan of the Slayers franchise, then this outstanding finale is a must-see. Despite the common usage of the term, Evolution-R represents a much more deserving definition of "fanservice"--it is, above all things else, a service to existing fans of the series.