Volume 4 of this galactic soap opera piles on the angst and melodrama.  Now, where are my bon bons and box of tissues?  Well, maybe just the bon bons.  For some this series might be a guilty pleasure, filled with shocking moments and political intrigue, but for me, it's just tedious.  In the beginning, I had hoped the series would improve, but with each successive installment, the story gets more and more bogged down with flat characters and a convoluted plot. 

The defeat of the People's Army in the previous battle has left the rebels scattered, and in dire straits.  They must regroup and attempt to reassure their allies if the rebellion is to continue with any success.  This may prove difficult when the rebellion's leaders are captives themselves.  Cleo is stuck mining ore in a prison camp and Michel and the glass ship are hostages in Vetti's palace.  None of the players, however, sit idle waiting for something to happen.  While Michel comes to terms with her disastrous encounter with Vetti, Cleo's crew and Michel's retainers plot to retrieve both the glass ship and Michel.  Meanwhile, Cleo plans a daring escape, leading him through abandoned tunnels and ultimately to a most surprising and unsettling discovery. 

On the other side of the fence, Vetti has a difficult time enjoying his latest victory over the People's Army.  Having finally won not only Rachel's affection but also her hand in marriage, Vetti shuns her advances.  She sincerely wants to make their marriage work, but Vetti has his heart set on hunting down Cleo.  The mysterious soleil, which seems to be some sort of debilitating power within both Vetti and Cleo, draws them together like magnets.  It's inevitable that they will meet again, but what will be more important, killing the other or winning the war?

Glass Fleet has grown into a hugely convoluted mess of a story.  The characters spend an awful lot of time plotting and running hither and yon, and yet very little seems to be accomplished.  Granted, this particular volume is a bridge between the climatic mid-series battle and the remaining episodes until the end.  These episodes tied up the loose strands from the battle, and put our heroes in a position to regroup and plot for another day. 

The plot has a tendency to veer in directions unrelated to the matter at hand.  I'm sure the intent is to flesh out the characters, but instead these side trips into memory only break up the flow of the story.  Any movement forward, like Cleo's daring escape attempt, for instance, loses its momentum when the series takes an episode-long break to recount the story of his parents.  Now, if Cleo doesn't particularly care about this tale, and brushes it off, how is the audience supposed to care?  The flashback does little to illuminate Cleo or his motives.  Knowing his family history might add some backstory for the pirate, but for all the drama and his roguish nature, he's still about as interesting as industrial carpet.

Startling revelations seem to be the only device the series uses to build its characters.  This dependence on shock value rather than taking the time to present well-rounded characters is disappointing.  Most of the interaction between the characters consists of explanation, giving orders, negotiation, or declaring one's intent in battle.  Character and dialogue are just tools to move the plot forward, and the series suffers for it.  Centering a story around a rebellion is dramatic and has the potential to be very engaging.  However, the story loses its punch if nobody cares whether the characters live or die.

While the characters might not be all that enthralling, the deeper we get into the series, the more bizarre the character designs become.  It's kind of fun to see what the creators come up with.  I can't say I like the designs, but they are unique.  It makes it far easier to keep track of the less prominent characters when one guy is wearing what looks to be a chicken suit and another guy has a headdress that looks like it came out of Barnum and Bailey's closet of goodies. 

If I were watching this series on my own, I would have abandoned it by now.  It just doesn't engage my sympathies the way it should.  A series about war, the struggle for freedom, it should be something to care about.  Instead, I've given up trying to keep track of the alliances, and find myself amused by parts that shouldn't be funny.  This series isn't for me, but it might be for others.  There is a great deal of drama, and the shocking moments do tend to be pretty darned shocking.  For folks who enjoy intrigue and tangled alliances, then it's perfect.  But as far as cool space ships, troubled pirate captains, and a quirky crew go, I'd rather rent Outlaw Star. 

Details: Runtime 100 minutes, contains episodes 15-18.  Extras include live drama theater, textless songs, and trailers.