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10/10.

To those complaining that the Kenshin and other Ruroken characters in the OVA are OOC compared to the manga, I understand that. The manga adopts a happy-go-lucky attitude geared towards a younger audience where Kenshin and pals go on wacky adventures and epic fights. But these two OVAs aren't the manga, and they aren't meant to be. They aren't direct prequels/sequels to the manga, they're a standalone series that uses the same characters. It's a different (darker) interpretation, but given Kenshin's dark and tragic backstory that was present in the manga, I totally understand that the story could've gone this way.

Yes, this story is sad, ... but there's plenty of happy-ending animes out there... this one portrays the darker, more realistic side of life. Tragic stories happen in real life, and this OVA gives you a glimpse into those emotions. Here are my ranking breakdowns:

Story: 10
As explained above, this is a perfect example of a tragic story that is masterfully done. I would say it's sad, but it's not depressing. Kenshin's scar disappearing at the end showed that he finally found inner peace through sacrifice, and I think this ending is very fitting for his character, who dedicates his life to sacrifice and atonement after leaving behind his "Battosai" persona. The flashbacks to Kenshin's earlier life are well-timed and executed, and the music enhances the emotions greatly. I especially like that they did not exaggerate fantasy elements and went with a more realistic tone - the closest they came to fantasy was Jineh freezing Kaoru with his gaze, but even that can be interpreted as caused by fear instead of "dark magic abilities" like in the manga.

My only complaint with the story is the very beginning, where Kenshin falls off the ship and drowns. Except he doesn't. Apparently, he survived and washed ashore (not shown on screen) on an island, where Sanosuke later finds him. It would have been fine if the true ending was Kenshin being knocked overboard during a storm on his return from the war, but since it wasn't, this was just confusing.

Art: 9
The art is good, and I think it executes the realistic style well. Unlike in the first OVA, there weren't as many (or as obvious) instances of usage of real life scenes to supplement the animation. I think I can show this to a friend that doesn't watch anime and not receive any comments about how anime is "immature" or "just for kids".

Sound: 10
Without the music, these two OVAs would not be the same. Truly the best score I've seen in any film. "In Memories - KO TO WA RI" captures the essence of the story perfectly.

Character: 10
The mix of flashbacks and present-day scenes enhances the nostalgic feeling. We see glimpses of how great a swordsman Kenshin was during the Bakumatsu, and we see bits and pieces of how his interactions with his past (Saito, Jineh, Enishi, Tomoe, Hiko, etc...) shaped him into the man he is today. My favorite moment was when Enishi saw the spirit of his sister protecting Kenshin right when he was about to deliver the killing blow. This scene combined with the ending music from the first OVA was very powerful and brought me to tears.

Enjoyment: 10
This OVA isn't just about feeling sad or depressed. Tragic stories have existed since the beginning of literature, with examples such as The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men... the list goes on. When done well, a tragic story can bring out deep emotions in a good way. Seisou-hen does it flawlessly.

Overall: 10
For the reasons above, I award this OVA a 10. I am extremely glad that I discovered this OVA series, and I will remember this story for decades to come. If your only gripe against it is that it's non-canon, don't let that deter you. Just think of it as an alternate interpretation.