Darker Than Black: Ryūsei no Gemini & Gaiden.

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Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor

Plot Summary: Two years have passed since Hei and Yin escaped the Syndicate after the events of the first season. Making their way to Russia, Hei encounters a young girl named Suou Pavlichenko, whose family is gradually pulled into the war between contractors and various intelligence factions. Meanwhile, Misaki Kirihara has quit her position in Foreign Affairs to begin her own investigations into Hei, the Contractors and the Syndicate.

So the second season of my favorite anime's finally arrived.

In season one, too many aspects of this show were left aside. Among them were the truth behind the gates, why was the real sky hidden behind a fake sky or the true meaning behind contractors and dolls' existence. But that's what made this show this fascinating.

In season two, I'm looking forward to knowing what exactly happened to Hei and Yin, did they join another organisation or could they be by themselves this time.

According to episode one, season two, the plot seems to be aimed at the very existence of the meteor which caused all of the events that came to happen to Earth during season one, including the gates, the fake sky and the contractors/dolls.
Most organisations are still intact despite all the events of season one.

Now it's your turn, tell us how you like or dislike this anime, how could they've made it better and let's have a good time enjoying a smart conversation about Darker Than Black: Ryūsei no Gemini.

Gaiden's discussion starts here.
 
Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor

Plot Summary: Two years have passed since Hei and Yin escaped the Syndicate after the events of the first season. Making their way to Russia, Hei encounters a young girl named Suou Pavlichenko, whose family is gradually pulled into the war between contractors and various intelligence factions. Meanwhile, Misaki Kirihara has quit her position in Foreign Affairs to begin her own investigations into Hei, the Contractors and the Syndicate.

So the second season of my favorite anime's finally arrived.

In season one, too many aspects of this show were left aside. Among them were the truth behind the gates, why was the real sky hidden behind a fake sky or the true meaning behind contractors and dolls' existence. But that's what made this show this fascinating.

In season two, I'm looking forward to knowing what exactly happened to Hei and Yin, did they join another organisation or could they be by themselves this time.

According to episode one, season two, the plot seems to be aimed at the very existence of the meteor which caused all of the events that came to happen to Earth during season one, including the gates, the fake sky and the contractors/dolls.
Most organisations are still intact despite all the events of season one.

Now it's your turn, tell us how you like or dislike this anime, how could they've made it better and let's have a good time enjoying a smart conversation about Darker Than Black: Ryūsei no Gemini.

Gaiden's discussion starts here.
 
episode 1...intriguing so far. I can't wait for the next episodes to come out.

I was kinda disappointed though with the death of the blue haired ebony chick. I liked her :x
 
While not my favorite, DtB is definitely in my top five. After hearing that the sequel would focus on a tween biracial Mary Sue, I was petrified and convinced that the show would be heavily shojo-fied (like the first manga was).

That being said, I loved the first episode. The colorful setting of the Russian school and the carefree attitude of the children was a very welcome change in tone, and a good contrast to what was to follow without ever seeming gratuitously blithe and cheerful. The pacing was excellent - I did wonder at the amount of time they spent on the teen romance, but it didn't bother me at all, and Hei's appearances were spaced perfectly (though tantalizingly).

My only complaint is that the art is too basic. The backdrops are beautifully detailed, but the characters are drawn too simply. I also had this problem with the first season, so I guess it's not likely to improve. I don't know how I feel about the music yet. It certainly stood out as having some weird genres for typical tracks, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Once the action started (let's say the last quarter), I didn't notice the score (if there was one), so I cannot really comment on that.

My only question is about that thing that zoomed past on the highway. Was that supposed to be some kind of a flying vehicle, or was it just a weird instance of QUALITY?
 
episode 1...intriguing so far. I can't wait for the next episodes to come out.

I was kinda disappointed though with the death of the blue haired ebony chick. I liked her :x
 
I actually like the really clean, basic art style - especially the "dead" nature of the eyes of contractors. It allows for more complex facial expressions and I think just adds some of the unique flavour that makes its predecessor great.

Of course, anyone who's read my top 10 knows that I love the first season to death, and the second season did not fail to disappoint. I already found myself transfixed (I love the new character, Suou) and Hei's entrance was pretty much perfectly timed at the point where you're thinking "give me HEI". When
April was told there was a black-cloaked contractor with a mask on
I was like "f**k yeah!" out loud which got some weird looks from my brother. Even so, I was a little disappointed with Hei himself -
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April (who was one of my favourite characters in the first season. Gay.

Even so this show already kicks ass from episode 1 (just like its predecessor) and I'm really keen to see some questions answered from the first season and see how it all plays out. But it's going to be pretty hard for me since I've developed a crush on Suou already... by the end of it I might, who knows, marry her!

:(
 
Skylark said:
Even so, I was a little disappointed with Hei himself -
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April (who was one of my favourite characters in the first season. Gay.
Click to expand...
That took me by surprise too. I mean yeah he looked all cool & badass but I didn't think he'd take it that far :o
His character is going backwards.

But I have to say this was a brilliant episode. I think we all thought Suou was going to mess up the plot for DtB2 but that's not the case anymore ^^; She's actually pretty likeable and I really liked the slice-of-school-life factor put into it. The music was done quite well even though Yoko Kanno took no part in it ( I liked the song-insert )

Either way, I can't wait for more and hope this season doesn't disappoint :]
 
While not my favorite, DtB is definitely in my top five. After hearing that the sequel would focus on a tween biracial Mary Sue, I was petrified and convinced that the show would be heavily shojo-fied (like the first manga was).

That being said, I loved the first episode. The colorful setting of the Russian school and the carefree attitude of the children was a very welcome change in tone, and a good contrast to what was to follow without ever seeming gratuitously blithe and cheerful. The pacing was excellent - I did wonder at the amount of time they spent on the teen romance, but it didn't bother me at all, and Hei's appearances were spaced perfectly (though tantalizingly).

My only complaint is that the art is too basic. The backdrops are beautifully detailed, but the characters are drawn too simply. I also had this problem with the first season, so I guess it's not likely to improve. I don't know how I feel about the music yet. It certainly stood out as having some weird genres for typical tracks, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Once the action started (let's say the last quarter), I didn't notice the score (if there was one), so I cannot really comment on that.

My only question is about that thing that zoomed past on the highway. Was that supposed to be some kind of a flying vehicle, or was it just a weird instance of QUALITY?
 
I actually like the really clean, basic art style - especially the "dead" nature of the eyes of contractors. It allows for more complex facial expressions and I think just adds some of the unique flavour that makes its predecessor great.

Of course, anyone who's read my top 10 knows that I love the first season to death, and the second season did not fail to disappoint. I already found myself transfixed (I love the new character, Suou) and Hei's entrance was pretty much perfectly timed at the point where you're thinking "give me HEI". When
April was told there was a black-cloaked contractor with a mask on
I was like "f**k yeah!" out loud which got some weird looks from my brother. Even so, I was a little disappointed with Hei himself -
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April (who was one of my favourite characters in the first season. Gay.

Even so this show already kicks ass from episode 1 (just like its predecessor) and I'm really keen to see some questions answered from the first season and see how it all plays out. But it's going to be pretty hard for me since I've developed a crush on Suou already... by the end of it I might, who knows, marry her!

:(
 
As I said in another thread, the episode did a wonderful job of getting us back in the action (together with a punch in the face?). It would be too elaborate if someone else was wearing Hei's mask or whatever, but on the other hand, it doesn't look like something Hei (by the end of the series) would do. The cuts do not actually show him
killing April or the professor
, but they do imply it strongly. However, we are intentionally left in the dark (the series lives up to its name I guess :P ) about his motifs. He does seem to be extremely wearied and generally unkempt, and we don't see Yin anywhere, that may point to something. Whatever it is, life certainly wasn't easy for him afterwards.

The vehicle that zoomed past on the highway was an illustration to the sentence "change is coming". It's even complete with the classic antigrav hissing sounds, so that's definitely not a quality issue.
 
Skylark said:
Even so, I was a little disappointed with Hei himself -
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April (who was one of my favourite characters in the first season. Gay.
Click to expand...
That took me by surprise too. I mean yeah he looked all cool & badass but I didn't think he'd take it that far :o
His character is going backwards.

But I have to say this was a brilliant episode. I think we all thought Suou was going to mess up the plot for DtB2 but that's not the case anymore ^^; She's actually pretty likeable and I really liked the slice-of-school-life factor put into it. The music was done quite well even though Yoko Kanno took no part in it ( I liked the song-insert )

Either way, I can't wait for more and hope this season doesn't disappoint :]
 
arachneia said:
My only complaint is that the art is too basic. The backdrops are beautifully detailed, but the characters are drawn too simply. I also had this problem with the first season, so I guess it's not likely to improve. I don't know how I feel about the music yet. It certainly stood out as having some weird genres for typical tracks, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Click to expand...
I always liked the art, and I'd hate if they changed it. I'm not too sure about the new soundtracks yet, not as exciting as first season's. But I'm hoping they'll last only during Russia's arc.

My only question is about that thing that zoomed past on the highway. Was that supposed to be some kind of a flying vehicle, or was it just a weird instance of QUALITY?
Click to expand...
Now, here's something we should observe. If it was just your everyday anime, that street would've been full of flying cars, but it wasn't. They know that manufacturing so many flying cars in the span of two years is impossible.
Yes, that's a flying car.

Small details that nobody paid much attention to:
The cat that looked exactly like Mao.
During the ending, the image of the flowers from season one's ending.

Skylark said:
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April
Click to expand...

That's exactly how Hei should be. We still get to see his cold hearted kills and his smiling and innocent mask while deceiving others.

Mister V said:
The vehicle that zoomed past on the highway was an illustration to the sentence "change is coming". It's even complete with the classic antigrav hissing sounds, so that's definitely not a quality issue.
Click to expand...

Shion clearly stated that the world had changed greatly, and that the effects of the war were minimal in Russia. Which means, don't be surprised if you see a lot of flying cars in Tokyo.
 
As I said in another thread, the episode did a wonderful job of getting us back in the action (together with a punch in the face?). It would be too elaborate if someone else was wearing Hei's mask or whatever, but on the other hand, it doesn't look like something Hei (by the end of the series) would do. The cuts do not actually show him
killing April or the professor
, but they do imply it strongly. However, we are intentionally left in the dark (the series lives up to its name I guess :P ) about his motifs. He does seem to be extremely wearied and generally unkempt, and we don't see Yin anywhere, that may point to something. Whatever it is, life certainly wasn't easy for him afterwards.

The vehicle that zoomed past on the highway was an illustration to the sentence "change is coming". It's even complete with the classic antigrav hissing sounds, so that's definitely not a quality issue.
 
BunnyCupCakes said:
Skylark said:
Even so, I was a little disappointed with Hei himself -
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April (who was one of my favourite characters in the first season. Gay.
Click to expand...
That took me by surprise too. I mean yeah he looked all cool & badass but I didn't think he'd take it that far :o
His character is going backwards.

But I have to say this was a brilliant episode. I think we all thought Suou was going to mess up the plot for DtB2 but that's not the case anymore ^^; She's actually pretty likeable and I really liked the slice-of-school-life factor put into it. The music was done quite well even though Yoko Kanno took no part in it ( I liked the song-insert )

Either way, I can't wait for more and hope this season doesn't disappoint :]
Click to expand...

Remember the Law of Masks though: "Just because it looks like him doesn't mean it necessarily is him, thogh it probabally is." :wink: We haven't seen who's behind it yet. Although,
I think it was his voice actor if I remember right, but it's been years since I saw DTB and I'm too lazy right now to go look it up.
 
arachneia said:
My only complaint is that the art is too basic. The backdrops are beautifully detailed, but the characters are drawn too simply. I also had this problem with the first season, so I guess it's not likely to improve. I don't know how I feel about the music yet. It certainly stood out as having some weird genres for typical tracks, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Click to expand...
I always liked the art, and I'd hate if they changed it. I'm not too sure about the new soundtracks yet, not as exciting as first season's. But I'm hoping they'll last only during Russia's arc.

My only question is about that thing that zoomed past on the highway. Was that supposed to be some kind of a flying vehicle, or was it just a weird instance of QUALITY?
Click to expand...
Now, here's something we should observe. If it was just your everyday anime, that street would've been full of flying cars, but it wasn't. They know that manufacturing so many flying cars in the span of two years is impossible.
Yes, that's a flying car.

Small details that nobody paid much attention to:
The cat that looked exactly like Mao.
During the ending, the image of the flowers from season one's ending.

Skylark said:
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April
Click to expand...

That's exactly how Hei should be. We still get to see his cold hearted kills and his smiling and innocent mask while deceiving others.

Mister V said:
The vehicle that zoomed past on the highway was an illustration to the sentence "change is coming". It's even complete with the classic antigrav hissing sounds, so that's definitely not a quality issue.
Click to expand...

Shion clearly stated that the world had changed greatly, and that the effects of the war were minimal in Russia. Which means, don't be surprised if you see a lot of flying cars in Tokyo.
 
egoist said:
Small details that nobody paid much attention to:
The cat that looked exactly like Mao.
[...]
That's exactly how Hei should be. We still get to see his cold hearted kills and his smiling and innocent mask while deceiving others.
Click to expand...
It did, but then Mao is more or less
dead since the end of the first season
.

If it's how he "should be", where does the character development from the first season go? I'm not saying he wouldn't do it (in fact, he did look pretty ghastly under the mask, - if it was him, - which would support the theory that life wasn't exactly a walk in the part during those two years - maybe he and Yin have been hunted by everyone, so he didn't even notice whom he killed), but there has to be a strong reason. So far, however, they have explained most things, I guess we should just wait. Just goes to show how great that was for a first episode, the intrigue and all.
 
Kruszer said:
Remember the Law of Masks though: "Just because it looks like him doesn't mean it necessarily is him, thogh it probabally is." :wink: We haven't seen who's behind it yet. Although,
I think it was his voice actor if I remember right, but it's been years since I saw DTB and I'm too lazy right now to go look it up.
Click to expand...
Did you watch after the ED?
The mask broke from the water attack and it showed Hei's face with April's dying words BK201.
 
BunnyCupCakes said:
Skylark said:
Even so, I was a little disappointed with Hei himself -
I thought at the end of last season he was regaining his humanity, since he showed those qualities all through the first season.. Yet he showed no mercy in killing the professor, and then April (who was one of my favourite characters in the first season. Gay.
Click to expand...
That took me by surprise too. I mean yeah he looked all cool & badass but I didn't think he'd take it that far :o
His character is going backwards.

But I have to say this was a brilliant episode. I think we all thought Suou was going to mess up the plot for DtB2 but that's not the case anymore ^^; She's actually pretty likeable and I really liked the slice-of-school-life factor put into it. The music was done quite well even though Yoko Kanno took no part in it ( I liked the song-insert )

Either way, I can't wait for more and hope this season doesn't disappoint :]
Click to expand...

Remember the Law of Masks though: "Just because it looks like him doesn't mean it necessarily is him, thogh it probabally is." :wink: We haven't seen who's behind it yet. Although,
I think it was his voice actor if I remember right, but it's been years since I saw DTB and I'm too lazy right now to go look it up.
 
egoist said:
Small details that nobody paid much attention to:
The cat that looked exactly like Mao.
[...]
That's exactly how Hei should be. We still get to see his cold hearted kills and his smiling and innocent mask while deceiving others.
Click to expand...
It did, but then Mao is more or less
dead since the end of the first season
.

If it's how he "should be", where does the character development from the first season go? I'm not saying he wouldn't do it (in fact, he did look pretty ghastly under the mask, - if it was him, - which would support the theory that life wasn't exactly a walk in the part during those two years - maybe he and Yin have been hunted by everyone, so he didn't even notice whom he killed), but there has to be a strong reason. So far, however, they have explained most things, I guess we should just wait. Just goes to show how great that was for a first episode, the intrigue and all.
 
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