Anime has reached a shiny layer of polish lately. Even the most rudimentary series rustle up eye candy galore. Madlax is a great looking series, with an emotionally resonant opening theme song, smooth animation, convincing explosions, and other technical touches that make it shine.

Fortunately, and perhaps more important, the material shows promise. The first episode is a rousing adventure story that stands on its own. A stunning secret agent lands in the midst of a skirmish, and uses a host of clever espionage techniques to navigate her way through the mess. Some of the sequences reach the stylized heights of action and character that characterize the most memorable anime.

The second episode is less impressive. It shares no obvious link with the first episode, taking great pains to introduce us to a flighty character who has no obvious importance. This will surely change as the series wears on, but as of this moment I have very little to go on.

Madlax is one part action spectacle, one part slow characterization. The glossy technical presentation pushes it over the edge, making it a series I'll look forward to seeing unfold.