Volume 5 chugs along with monkeywrenches, lost love, found love, and some heavy-handed foreshadowing, setting the stage for the final showdown in the last volume.  Relationships are explored and cemented, and the action, while fairly limited this go round, is relevant and contributes greatly to the plot.  Just as they say, "all roads lead to Rome," these four episodes certainly begin that climb up the mountain to the climax of the series.   

Wadou, with the help of Nishida from the NSWF, creates a version of the Witchblade that can be used by men, rather chauvinistically called the Ultimateblade.  With their rivalry reaching a breaking point, the Ultimateblade may be the weapon Wadou needs to finally trump Takayama and bring his biodivision to the forefront of the Doji Group.  Wadou gets his chance when several unexplained, brutal murders are linked to the company.  Meanwhile, the young Neogene, Maria, learns to control her temper and consolidates her power within the NSWF.  With the looming threat of both Wadou and the NSWF, this is not the time for Masane to discover that the power of the WItchblade is not unlimited, and that there is a price for her transformation.

Masane may not be the best mom, but no one tries harder to do a good job.  After losing Rihoko to Reina, once Masane gets Rihoko back, she is consumed by fear and becomes overprotective.  With the help of her housemates and Takayama, Masane struggles to find a balance between being too permissive or too suffocating.  It's these kinds of breaks from the action that make Witchblade worthwhile.  Without the exploration of her relationship with Rihoko, and the difficulties an adult has as a single parent, the fights in this series wouldn't be nearly as significant.  Masane knows what it is to be poor, and she wants to provide a good life for Rihoko.  That means she needs to work, but how much is too much?  She needs a good job to provide for her child, but if she works long hours, she misses time with her daughter.  Faced with the possibility that she may be consumed by the Witchblade, Masane must make the best of the time she has with Rihoko.  She also must provide for her daughter's safety and care in the event of her death.

The animation is still very well done, with a few interesting changes to the character designs.  The fights are smooth and fast-paced.  Of course, the latex makes an appearance and the blush on Masane's bum is as rosy as ever. 

This volume has my favorite box cover yet.  The guest artist's drawing is a fantastic rendering of Maria and Father.  Volume 5 is packaged in the same manner as the other volumes, with the shiny silver protective sleeve bearing the guest artist's work, and a booklet with production art and an interview with music composer Masanori Takumi.

If you've made it this far, and have been buying the series, go pick up Volume 5.  The series is worth watching for its entertaining bare-bummed fights as well as the slower paced moments at home.  The family moments compliment the action, and the series finds a good balance between the two.

Details: Runtime 100 minutes, contains episodes 17-20.  Extras include a booklet, The Witchblade Forged Part III, Japanese cast interviews, textless songs, and some trailers.