moonmonday I have loved Peter Chung's direction since Liquid TV's Aeon Flux. While the follow-up full-length TV series was ultimately disappointing, I was still interested in seeing what he had to bring to Reign: The Conqueror, or as it's called in Japan, Alexander Senki.What he brings to the series is basically just his brilliant direction and design. The story is incoherent and honestly insulting; after about episode 10, there is no further reason to watch. If only it had been cancelled then and the last three episodes never made! They are abominable, and they demolish what little interest any viewer should have in seeing what happens next.There is immense pretension in the series, which asserts itself through pseudophilosophical tangents and trumped-up nonsense only nominally related to mystery cults of the ancient world. What slight sympathy for Alexander exists at the beginning of the series is steadily whittled away by clumsy writing, until by the end there is none left. In fact, most viewers will actively be wishing for the character to be annihilated because he is so unsympathetic and unlikable. That isn't something that any series with a character's name in the title should aspire to do.It is perhaps unsurprising though, since the series was actually cut short; the final episode is marred by continuous reuse of earlier footage cobbled together in an unambitious yet confusing melange of asinine attempts to be profound. By the end of the series, you are ready for it to be over and thankful that it was cancelled. If you must watch this, either watch the Japanese film version (which is comprised of the first few episodes edited into movie form), or simply stop at episode 10 and regard it as complete, which it essentially is at that point. Everything past there completely demolishes what the previous episodes established.It has been said by many entertainers that it is much better to leave an audience wanting more, than it is to give them extra and leave them disappointed and wishing that they had been left wanting. This series is a prime example of how that works: episode 10 could leave a viewer feeling quite satisfied and wanting more, but watching to episode 13 would leave that same viewer feeling disappointed and wishing he had not done so. The last 3 episodes are a waste of time, and were clearly just done to fill out space.If you want an intelligent, interesting look at a famous historical figure...well, look elsewhere. This tries to be much more than it is, but it's interesting enough to a point. Just consider it done with episode 10 and you should come away with enough satisfaction to make it worth seeking out. The visuals are beautiful and strange, the animation well-done...and that's about it.

billchiu beautiful postmodern art animation by peter chung, mixing up the 'idea' of alexander, scientific mysticism (i.e. museum of jurassic technology), the study of charisma, distinction between knowledge and wisdom, all integrated into one coherent narrative that require the brain to function to watch. i agree with the reviewer on aeon flux, if you liked af's non-linear experimental narrative you'll like this, there are similarities, especially in first few episodes when peter still seem to be in control of the production (some voice actor changed midway?). Finally friendly advice to the self-proclaimed literal, things-are-only-as-they-are and i-watch-movie-just-to-relax-and-not-to-use-my-brain people - respect your well known limits and rent something straightforward (a disney movie maybe?) for a very relaxing evening of brain vacation, you deserve it. On the other hand, if you ruthlessly seek out creativity and can't get enough thinking from your boring work, this might delight.

CyanZ The new series by Peter Chung (maker of Aeon Flux) is beautiful. After watching the first episode aired on Cartoon Network, I can definately say that "Reign, The Conqueror" is one of the best anime series created in recent times. Peter Chung's unique style of character design creates a world of fantasy that takes the watcher on a sci-fi journey with limitless possibilities.

Mulliga I saw the first episode of "Alexander" on Cartoon Network today (They renamed it "Reign: The Conqueror"). Well, it follows on a hallowed Peter Chung tradition - it's confusing as all hell. The Pythagorean Assassins were AWESOME, though. The plot is going to be riddled with cliches, but if the character design is imaginative, I won't care.Let's see if it's any good.