Darker Than Black [1st season] generic discussion

[Joojoobees]

I hope we get a special arc devoted to giving us more information about Yin soon. Or they could do one of those "day in the life" episodes. It will probably be a half hour of her standing there with her hand in the sink. But I would like to know more about her. Does she have her own thoughts? Where did she come from? Was she ever truly human?

[Deathkillz]

well most probably that there will indeed be an ep about Yin ~ or better yet she might get more involved with Li's business whatever they may be...but that line about her standing in the sink made me chuckle :heh:

[Sinestra]

Li is definitely one interesting character. I love how is personality can flawless change from happy go lucky student and cold hearted contractor. Learning about his past and also whats beyond hells gate will keep me glued to the show. I think also with anyone possibly being a contractor we will not be wanting for action. Want to know more about the dolls as well but it seems pretty straight forward what they are all about, so i dont plan on having any real surprises in that department.

[Kisuke06]

First off al a question: I see that a lot of people are calling the main character Li, but isn't that name a cover up? His real name isn't Hei?

Anyways the third episode was very good. Little by little new things are revealed to us.

One interesting thing about this show is that if you forget you're watching Darker than Black you could very well think that it's a romance show. :heh:

[Omniscient]

First off al a question: I see that a lot of people are calling the main character Li, but isn't that name a cover up? His real name isn't Hei?
I've taken on the policy of calling him Li when he doesn't have the black coat on, and Hei when he does. That may or may not apply better with the mask he's got, but that mask hasn't shown up since the first episode.

[MrProphet]

Hei isn't a real name either. It's his alias in the Organization.

Hei, Huang, Yin - those are all aliases, Chinese words that mean "black", "yellow" and "silver" respectively. Mao's alias simply means "cat" in Chinese.

[DangerMouse]

I hope we get a special arc devoted to giving us more information about Yin soon. Or they could do one of those "day in the life" episodes. It will probably be a half hour of her standing there with her hand in the sink. But I would like to know more about her. Does she have her own thoughts? Where did she come from? Was she ever truly human?

Indeed, I'm especially looking forwards to an arc about her. I think it'll be awesome.

Hei is an awesome protagonist but I'm hoping we get to see an arc that follows the other members soon because I think the rest of the team is equally awesome and it'd be ashame if they don't get some good screen time. IMO, this show better be 24/26 episodes long so that they can keep this pace and also have time to develop the others...if it is I think this show could really be something special.

[PreSage]

Hei has a huge appetite and the way he downed his meal in episode 2 was abnormal - he also said that this was less than what he normally eats. I'm guessing that his Contractor power uses up a lot of his energy such that he must eat more than normal humans to replenish himself. That his hugely abnormal appetite may be a consequence of his supernatural powers than a mere comedic ploy.

On another note, I thought it was mentioned earlier that DtB will be 26 episodes? It would be bad if it was only 13 because this series has so much potential to develop beyond a mere 13 episodes - plus the mystery-plotline would develop a lot better if the series was longer.

[DangerMouse]

On another note, I thought it was mentioned earlier that DtB will be 26 episodes? It would be bad if it was only 13 because this series has so much potential to develop beyond a mere 13 episodes - plus the mystery-plotline would develop a lot better if the series was longer.

I thought so too, but I was just stating that I agree it would extremely sad if this show got a mere 13 episodes. I love the pacing of the mysteries and the tone of the show and it needs the episodes to keep this up and hopefully build the rest of its cast too and really be a classic. I was convinced it was indeed 24/26 episodes from wao's posts about this and the information that a lot of the show was going to be done in 2-parters, doing that also necessitates 24/26 episodes in my opinion, especially after seeing the style of the first three episodes. To me there's no question this "feels" like a longer well planned out show that has time to do things right.

[kira-sama]

i hope this anime will be 26 episode including hei and yin past

[mike211]

i am stuck between two subber Shinsen-Subs and Mishicorp both have very good video quality and the subs seem good, so i have no clues on which one to go with.

[eggplant]

This site (http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/news.php?nno=14940) mentions that the Darker Than Black DVD releases will be 13 volumes containing 2 episodes each, so there should be little doubt the episode count is 26.

[Zekori]

You know what? I just realised Shinndou could have made a very good point. Because

the room in which Jean and co. were in had a sink and dripping water, hence Yin could observe it, and tell Hei about it (that's probably a good explanation as to why he's conveniently there when she runs out).

If Chiaki was changed into a doll there, then from the time she burst out onwards Hei would have known it was a trap and everything after that was done was known with intention of reverse-luring the three assailants.

But if Hei knew she was a doll since then, why did he still try to coax the information out of her? He must have been banking on some of her humanity being left behind to either a. engage her as a real person or b. hopefully get some sort of information out of her that she might not have told them.

So what exactly is Hei thinking!? I think it's meant to be purposefully ambiguous at this point of time :p


Gah, they're all such details and such - I wouldn't be surprised if they were just details or plot holes missed out during production or whatever, it happens all the time in anime. I shall stop thinking about this for a while now before I get cross-eyed. :p


Not sure if this has been addressed or not, because I have still yet to actually find time to see the next episode/s so I rather not be spoiled so I skipped alot of the discussion

But towards episode 2 my impression was,


The real chiaki died after being captured, the minor details and information of Yin's (?) dialouge of not being able to sense Hei due to lack of water makes me get the impression that Hei already knew that she was a doll.

Much like his partners (or that one guy) complaining on why he didnt already get rid of her, I'm guessing because Hei had a motive to kill that Jean guy for the reason he stooped to such levels to lure him out, and accomplishing the mission beforehand wouldn't net him a good opportunity to kill him at any other time.

In the first episode we already see that Hei has a major dislike to the actions/personalities of that certain group of contractors or maybe others. So it seemed pretty obvious the reason why he just didnt kill the fake chiaki was because he already knew there was a trap, and he didn't seemed surprised at all once he got the book full of blank pages.

That's vibe I got, especially after chasing down the blonde guy and finishing him off, in ironically the same manner how the original Chiaki died which was in water, so somehow Yin relayed that information to Hei or something.


If this has already been discussed or mentioned, move along. But those were my thoughts since I hadn't seen it mentioned yet.

[DangerMouse]

This site (http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/news.php?nno=14940) mentions that the Darker Than Black DVD releases will be 13 volumes containing 2 episodes each, so there should be little doubt the episode count is 26.

Great release news, thanks for the confirmation, as expected it's going to be a longer show :) And 26 instead of 24 even, sweet :)

[Kisuke06]

So, I was playing with VirtualDub and ImageReady and I did a simple avatar(my first one), if someone wants it:

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8521/untitled6dt7.gif

A little bit faster:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5801/untitled7ps9.gif

[kira-sama]

So, I was playing with VirtualDub and ImageReady and I did a simple avatar(my first one), if someone wants it:

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8521/untitled6dt7.gif

A little bit faster:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5801/untitled7ps9.gif

thanx itachi-chan
hei so cuutteee

[Kaioshin Sama]

Bones isn't the type to do really short series if they can avoid it. Hagane was 50 episodes as was Eureka 7. Rahxephon was 26 and apparently Ayakashi Ayashi was supposed to be 50, but got cancelled. I'm sure this one will last a while.

[Katapan]

I already thought the music in the first three episodes was great, but we were treated to some new tracks in episode 4, which made me look forward to getting the OST even more.

...what else did we get this time? The unavoidable end-of-the-arc fight scene with Hei which kept episode 2's thrilling factor, some not very pretty keiyakusha powers (looks like showing blood isn't a problem in this show), some Kirihara fanservice? (she did look cute when her glasses slipped a little), and some rather moving scenes. Thanks to all of this, plus the few unheard tracks which worked perfectly, I enjoyed this just as much as the first arc. I'm impressed that the wow-factor isn't going away just yet, even when the plot hasn't moved much so far.

Meh, I shouldn't try to go too far into the story just yet (yay for my limited understanding skills) - but Kirihara went to a very strange place. The only character that seemed to be actually 'normal' (to me) had to end up being related to mysterious things too... hmm.

Next week... a keiyakusha with a funky fur coat!

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9960/45hi9.th.jpg (http://img126.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45hi9.jpg)

Her power seems to be related to water, which immediately made me think of Yin. Could we possibly get to see her doing something else than detecting objects? I can only hope.

[DangerMouse]

I already thought the music in the first three episodes was great, but we were treated to some new tracks in episode 4, which made me look forward to getting the OST even more.

...what else did we get this time? The unavoidable end-of-the-arc fight scene with Hei which kept episode 2's thrilling factor, some not very pretty keiyakusha powers (looks like showing blood isn't a problem in this show), some Kirihara fanservice? (she did look cute when her glasses slipped a little), and some rather moving scenes. Thanks to all of this, plus the few unheard tracks which worked perfectly, I enjoyed this just as much as the first arc. I'm impressed that the wow-factor isn't going away just yet, even when the plot hasn't moved much so far.

Meh, I shouldn't try to go too far into the story just yet (yay for my limited understanding skills) - but Kirihara went to a very strange place. The only character that seemed to be actually 'normal' (to me) had to end up being related to mysterious things too... hmm.

Next week... a keiyakusha with a funky fur coat!

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9960/45hi9.th.jpg (http://img126.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45hi9.jpg)

Her power seems to be related to water, which immediately made me think of Yin. Could we possibly get to see her doing something else than detecting objects? I can only hope.

Sounds great, looking forwards to it, I've also loved the soundtrack so far so I can't wait to hear the new music.

It's been a while since I've been following a show this closely to the point of not even wanting to wait to marathon some episodes but to want to watch each one right away. If episode 4 is really that good, and I suspect it is, then I am amazed at how well executed the series has been so far.

[flou]

Yeah, episode 4 was impressive, especially the body count :heh:

[wao]

Just watched ep 4. I don't need 5 eps anymore, if they keep up this quality I'm voluntarily watching all the way until the end, dammit.

That was really a good episode. They revealed more little things and the emotions and characters were really brought out very well - I shan't say too much, but for those who are wondering about the conclusion:

Mai had exhibited her powers as a young child. Tahara had tried very hard to stop this and used teh seed (which he got from his trip inside which was actually ordered by the company that afro contractor and dude belong to) but as a result of suppressing her powers for so long she became a "moratorium" or something related to that. It's like some kind of self-destruct mechanism when a contractor doesn't pay back for their powers after a certain time - they turn into Dolls. They're different from normal Contractors in that they cannot control their own powers by themselves.

We see this happening to Mai - so y'all who were thinking she's a Doll and a contractor got both right. She can't remember what she's doing and she has no control over when her powers activate... it's quite scary - her neighbourhood is being evacuated because of the danger and her friend comes to try help her, and her friend's dad comes along and she ends up BURNING THEM TO DEATH whut. :twitch:
But to cut things short near the very end after her father has died and Hei stepped in to kill the afro contractor she seemed to have turned into a normal Contractor (her price was to sing this song). Hei and co. were quite surprised by this themselves.

But I'm sooooo glad she didn't die ;_; Her father did though - after he decided to go and get her after she got caugh by the contractors (which was just after the police were trying to get her, but they got their heads sliced off). He presented them with his "research" - the dead plant, and went to hug Mai who was encircling them with flames and saying that her dad was cooler and not such a man... and her father said no, your daddy is a bad man etc. and tried to kill the both of them (because his daughter had become a monster)

But one of the folks (was it the contractor?) killed Tahara although Hei had tried to stop him. Hei did kill him right afterwards and was damn cool about it :cool: When the police etc. came onto the scene they had lost track of BK201 and the newly-born star. The case was handed over to a different department...

I wonder if this means we'll get to see Mai in future episodes?!11 Is she going to join the team? *excited*

I enjoyed it very much, anyway. Great stuff. The animation was much better than I had anticipated, even. It was a P.A. Works episode (one of I.G.'s frequent subcontractors and they're one of their co-produciton studios for Seirei no Moribito) Once again Hei was just as awesome and perplexing as usual :D

When he was fighting the contractor dude (which was pretty good stuff), his mask got broken. And then you could see that sometimes he had a pretty human-like face going on especially when he saw Mai, and Tahara.

http://s01.imagehost.org/0768/human_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0768/human.jpg)

Conversely he looked the most evil when he was talking to Tahara (who for some strange reason told him everything).

http://s01.imagehost.org/0768/evil_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0768/evil.jpg)


And that strange place Misaki went to was the observatory. The music was creepily nice there. Interestingly they're the ones who're sending out those kansokurei that you saw going round the telephone poles in episode 2. I didnt catch it exactly but those things they had in the tubes appear to be Dolls controlling those kansokurei. The kansokurei + the astrological readings are what allow the police to track Contractors and their status .The old weird babaa turned up (Hoshimi-sama I think her name was) as well as the sexay lab assistant who's Misaki's old classmate! :cool:

[Shinndou]

Damn you college network. I can't wait to get my hands on the raw of the fourth episode. It's all your fault, wao! ;_;

[wao]

This is where I thank certain restricted JP video uploading sites where it gets up in just an hour or two after airing :heh: I have a feeling that's where Katapan got to watch it too..

Gah, and looking at certain scenes I really liked that scene where Mai was screaming at her friend and the dad and they got engulfed in flames. Mai just sounded so painfully desparate and hopeless because she knew she couldn't control what she was doing anymore...

And of course I loved it when Hei was telling her "stop it" and so on just before she killed the other guy. It's like how they konw each other's secret now so Hei has no reason to hide himself and he took on a very un-Hei like tone (he sounded more like Li?!) Awesome. That one line said many things IMO (either that or I'm delusional lol.)

I really, really wonder if we'll see Mai again... :)

Oh yeah, and the group in the next ep preview it's July, April and November 11. [img=http://s01.imagehost.org/0765/unintroduced_jpg.t.jpg] (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0765/unintroduced.jpg) That's them. April is the woman with the fur coat.

According to Pash! magazine, November 11 is a CIA agent who is also a contractor. I wonder if they're going to be more recurring characters since I remember there was a mag spread of them in Animage March.

[DangerMouse]

Just watched ep 4. I don't need 5 eps anymore, if they keep up this quality I'm voluntarily watching all the way until the end, dammit.


I purposefully didn't read all of that, but wow, just the bit I did and I'm with you, I was already convinced after the first 3 (unless they somehow shocked me and dropped the ball on 4), but the sounds of greatness from 4 make two absolutely amazing arcs, so I'm definitely in it for the long haul even if there's a weaker episode somewhere, if they keep this up this show is going to be something special.

[lightbringer]

Great. Cheers for the summary, wao. I was agonizing over whether Mai was gonna bite the dust or not for the whole last week. Her joining the team is probably too much to hope for, but then again with no relatives and her Contractor status, she doesn't really have many places to turn to. This show is way too somber, it could do with a cute bishoujo lead/sidekick...


On a separate topic, I'm not sure if this has been discussed already, but what exactly is Hei/Li's price? Cooking and eating lots of food? Would that qualify as "moe"? XD

[DangerMouse]

This show is way too somber, it could do with a cute bishoujo lead/sidekick...


I'm going to go the opposite way and be extremely glad it does NOT have that, though I'd accept a guest character like that for maybe an episode or two to break things up. The mood would be completely different and the show would be so much more "normal". I'm quite happy with having the cute Yin around. I could see them using her straight-facedness and Mao for some great comedy to break things up occasionally, in terms of the regulars.

I don't really agree with it being too somber but I can understand that feeling, however I thought the Mao bits and the landlady were good for that in episode 3. Wao has also mentioned that there is a high likelihood of some comedic stories from the director interviews back before the show started so those should be good for breaking that up just like they were what gave Bebop such a good balance between powerful stories and believable but laugh out loud comedy stories.

At this point I'm inclined to believe that stuffing his face on food is his price. They haven't used his eating habits in exaggeratedly comedic ways but instead in realistically comedic ways and in ep 3 I'd assume he used a lot of his power to do that and right afterwards his stomach grumbled, so either that's his price or he burns a lot of calories using his powers and we haven't overtly seen what he has to do yet. :)

[lightbringer]

The landlady vs cat was priceless, yeah. Well, while killing off characters is usually a good thing (as long as they stay dead), I was just getting interested in the doll's development in the first two episodes when they offed her. That's why I feel this show is a bit too dark. Why, darker than BLACK, apparently (oh, the painful puns).

Well, even though I said that, I'm not advocating turning it into a mahou shoujo story or anything... it's definitely the show with the most style this season.

Interesting tidbit about comedy episodes, I'd settle for that :)

[DangerMouse]

Interesting tidbit about comedy episodes, I'd settle for that :)

Me too, I hope it happens.

[issei]

one of the most refreshing things about this series is precisely its tone and the seeming coldness of its protagonist, who reminds me very much of a classical noir figure.

it's moments like when mao asks hei, "do you have any additional information regarding tahara's daughter?" and hei has the most perfectly chilling poker face possible as he recalls mai's story of the "charm" in her wrist that really seduce me into the world of darker than black. the humor that is used is all the more enjoyable because it's sparse.

as with seirei no moribito, i'm enjoying this series because it avoids many of the tropes and structures that other series, pandering to a certain kind of audience, tend to overuse. the ones that darker than black does take advantage of, it does so with a certain kind of self-aware class that i often find lacking in other series.

other ep4 highlights for me:

+ chilling music played during observatory scene
+ the scene where mai burns her friend and her friend's father alive, especially the voice-work, and the music, which segues nicely into the next scene
+ the exhibition of luke's powers at the playground
+ tahara's embrace of mai, even as the flames surround them
+ hei throughout the entire episode, but especially his actions/dialogue during the closing action scene
+ misaki's ending narration

if anyone still had doubts about the quality of the series overall, episode 4 should dispel them, or finalize the decision not to watch it.

[Shinndou]

I finally watched episode 4. Since it's pretty late over here I'll post more detailed impressions later, and there's only one quick thing I'd like to speculate/talk about:

Wao talked about "moratorium". Watching the episode it did feel they said "moratoria" though. In any case the word is the same, and it's derived from latin (it's actually used in neo-latin languages as well, like in italian). Generally speaking, a "moratoria" is the delay in the payment of a debt or in the fulfuillment of a contract. Which is a perfectly used term in this episode since it describes Mai's situation as a Contractor who still hasn't fulfilled her contract.

On a side note, I really liked the fact that she has to sing a song in order to fulfill her contract and use her powers.

... It almost makes me want to be her onii-chan.
No, not in that way. >_>;


P.S. Since a Contractor who's under "moratoria" can potentially become a Doll, could it be that Yin was originally in a similar situation?
And that's it, until I give a more detailed insight on this episode. 'Twas good indeed.

[monir]

Screenshot for episode 4: Very good episode! Bad parents seem to be a recurring theme used in several anime in this year, let it be for comedic purpose or just plain drama.

http://content.imagesocket.com/thumbs/darker_04a47.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/darker_04a47.jpg)

I really liked that scene where Mai was screaming at her friend and the dad and they got engulfed in flames. Mai just sounded so painfully desparate and hopeless because she knew she couldn't control what she was doing anymore...

I was quite unprepared for this episode, although, I think it's me being a little naive for not expecting something like this after what we have been presented with in episode 1. I eagerly wait for the episode when Hei meets one of the stunningly designed character in anime, Kirihara Misaki.

[Kaioshin Sama]

I was amused to learn the opening to this series was actually by a band started by T.M Revolution. I remember his music being so average after Invoke and now suddenly he's incredible. I used to poke fun at him for being Fukuda's favourite and getting roles as pointless character in Gundam Seed, but after Howling (pretty much the only anime song I've had on loop for this long without getting sick of it for a week straight), I don't think I ever can again. This song seriously deserves to win an award. From now on T.M Revolution has my full support.

[wao]

P.S. Since a Contractor who's under "moratoria" can potentially become a Doll, could it be that Yin was originally in a similar situation?[/spoiler]
And that's it, until I give a more detailed insight on this episode. 'Twas good indeed.


Don't have the ep at hand so I can't verify/check anything, but I think it might not have been the case because Yin has control over her powers but Contractors under moratoria have no control.

[Nightengale]

Okay, episode 4 was good. Since I'm lazy today to write too much, I'll just say that there's more reason than one now for me to keep DtB on watch.

MAI LIVES! Though I'll be pissed if we don't see her again, even if it's solely in the epilogue of this show...

More gaijins = <3

[Deathkillz]

whow ep 4 was a cracker :D
i was totally thrown off my seat to see mai burn her own friend talk about crazy O.o what i would have predicted was for her to simply run away but i guess thats not enough for a series like this :3 and the gore which i havent seen for a long time (since elfen lied) ~ ahh looking at those police guys getting chopped up like swiss cheeze brings back memories :D too bad mai's dad died...i wonder whats going to happen to her now...shes going to probably be a lab rat now >.<

[Omniscient]

Episode 04 Screencaps and Summary (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2007/04/26/darker-than-black-04/)

I really think this show is just getting better and better, and I enjoyed watching how this arc turned out. I definitely did not expect to see Mai kill her friend or those cops being chopped up like they were. Wao talked about "moratorium". Watching the episode it did feel they said "moratoria" though. In any case the word is the same, and it's derived from latin (it's actually used in neo-latin languages as well, like in italian). Generally speaking, a "moratoria" is the delay in the payment of a debt or in the fulfuillment of a contract. Which is a perfectly used term in this episode since it describes Mai's situation as a Contractor who still hasn't fulfilled her contract.
I'm positive that every single time the word was said, it was モラトリアム (Moratorium). But yes, the definition does fit perfectly for that type.I was amused to learn the opening to this series was actually by a band started by T.M Revolution. I remember his music being so average after Invoke and now suddenly he's incredible. I used to poke fun at him for being Fukuda's favourite and getting roles as pointless character in Gundam Seed, but after Howling (pretty much the only anime song I've had on loop for this long without getting sick of it for a week straight), I don't think I ever can again. This song seriously deserves to win an award. From now on T.M Revolution has my full support.
Have you listened to their song that was the first OP to D.Gray-man? Their song on the LOVE for NANA tribute album was decent too.

[Shinji103]

On a side-ish note:Mmmm, maybe I'm reading too much into it, but Yin appearing in the next episode preview for the first time (despite briefly), makes me wonder if there's going to be some Yin focus next episode. She's only had 5-6 second appearances so far which is probably why she's never appeared in the next episode previews before, so her appearance being shown in the next episode preview has me hopeful.

UPDATE (so as not to double-post, sorry if I ended up repeating something somebody already said, I didn't feel like going back through all the previous posts :heh: ):I suspect that Contractors get a specific power they want or something, rather than the power being something random. That Contractor’s whip/knife-like weapon was way to specific a weapon to be something he just got randomly. He was pretty buff though, taking Hei’s knife in the arm without even flinching. That’s Karura (Utawarerumono)-toughness right there. :) It seemed like his payment for his powers was to fold the corners on all the pages of a book, though, lol.

It was indeed quite surprising to me that Mai survived this arc, which indicates to me as well that she may be coming back in a future episode.

And the high amound of blood and bodies was definitely unexpected. :heh: But as Omni said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Also, for some reason I just got an odd feeling about the room Yin was in in the next episode preview. It looked like it was a....maybe I won’t bother to say anything on that, I seriously doubt I’m right about that feeling, lol. Although it would be a rather startling surprise….and I’m probably just getting an odd feeling from it because until now we’ve only seen Yin doing stuff in places rather than just lounging in a hotel room anyway.

The words of a Yin fanboy who wants Yin focus, lol.

[Shinndou]

Don't have the ep at hand so I can't verify/check anything, but I think it might not have been the case because Yin has control over her powers but Contractors under moratoria have no control.

Ah true, I forgot that. But atleast now we know that

some of the Dolls that we might see in future episodes might have originally been Contractors. I have a feeling that this "moratorium" case probably won't be the only one (it felt more like the staff had to introduct this kind of role among contractors, dolls, normal people etc).

[7Th]

Contractors don't turn into dolls; they just lost control over themselves. Moratorium is actually just an unnatural state by which the person breaks-off after accepting their responsibility as a contractor, staying in it only means becoming a “murderous” fiend rather than risking transforming into dolls.

As for impressions… I’ll write something more in deep than “really, really, really cool in an 80’s noir style” a few minutes later, I need to go now.

[wao]

Well, my Japanese is far from perfect but this is what I heard the lady lab assistant (what was her name, Kanami?) say:

持ち得た能力を行使したうちに必要とされる、対価と呼ばれる精神的呪縛（？）行為。その支払いをモラトリア ムは用意されている。一定の期間が過ぎると、大概はドールへと状態（？）を移行する


She explains a bit about the power and then says that there's a moratarium prepared for the payment of these powers. Then - if I'm not misunderstanding this, she says that "after a prticular period of time has passed, usually the person's condition gets changed to that of a Doll's".

Then she says they're like the 霊媒 (the spirit medium things) in the lab (those things in the tubes.)

That's where the Doll <-> Contractor link came.

BTW if I have one complaint about this episode it'd be that Hei got the information from Tahara so easily! All he had to do was say something like "what did you to do Mai" and plonk, exposition. Meh.

[Oberon]

BTW if I have one complaint about this episode it'd be that Hei got the information from Tahara so easily! All he had to do was say something like "what did you to do Mai" and plonk, exposition. Meh.

It was indeed a bit sudden that he started blurting out everything, but then I thought that Mai's father didn't really care any more and just wanted to tell somebody what he had been hiding all those years after his last hope blew up (the plant). After all, this is a broken man who would soon decide that he had to kill his own daughter, so it was in a way his last confession. Additionally by the matter of fact way Hei adressed him there about Mai, I took it that he figured out that nice bloke Lee wasn't all that he seemed at first.

[7Th]

Well, my Japanese is far from perfect but this is what I heard the lady lab assistant (what was her name, Kanami?) say:

持ち得た能力を行使したうちに必要とされる、対価と呼ばれる精神的呪縛（？）行為。その支払いをモラトリア ムは用意されている。一定の期間が過ぎると、大概はドールへと状態（？）を移行する


She explains a bit about the power and then says that there's a moratarium prepared for the payment of these powers. Then - if I'm not misunderstanding this, she says that "after a prticular period of time has passed, usually the person's condition gets changed to that of a Doll's".

Then she says they're like the 霊媒 (the spirit medium things) in the lab (those things in the tubes.)

That's where the Doll <-> Contractor link came.


I think that meant "Doll-like" rather than a "Doll" itself.

[runpsicat]

Well, my Japanese is far from perfect but this is what I heard the lady lab assistant (what was her name, Kanami?) say:

(・・・持ち得た能力を行使したうちに必要とされる、対価と呼ばれる精神的呪縛(?)行為。その支払いをモ ラトリアムは用意されている。一定の期間が過ぎると、大概はドールへと状態(?)を移行する


She explains a bit about the power and then says that there's a moratarium prepared for the payment of these powers. Then - if I'm not misunderstanding this, she says that "after a prticular period of time has passed, usually the person's condition gets changed to that of a Doll's".

Then she says they're like the 霊媒 (the spirit medium things) in the lab (those things in the tubes.)

That's where the Doll <-> Contractor link came.

It's actually (そもそも契約者が「契約者」と言われるゆえん･･･)持ち得た能力を行使した後に必要とされる、「対価」 と呼ばれる精神的呪縛行為。その支払いをモラトリアムは猶予されている。一定の期間が過ぎると、大概はドー ルへと状態を移行する。So, if we take the word "猶予" at face value, Moratoriums are temporarily exempt from the "must pay for powers used" clause that binds Contractors. It's also mentioned later in the episode that Moratoriums are incomplete Contractors (they didn't make the transition all the way), so my sense of things is that they're not considered a subset of Contractors but rather a class unto themselves. Most Moratoriums (it sucks from an English standpoint that they're using this term like a label) transition into Dolls after a set time period has passed (perhaps this is when they "pay up" when the Moratoriums' moratorium expires? ^^;). That's why they were astonished when Mai transitioned into a Contractor (Mao comments that the possibility of this happening is supposed to be zero) instead of into a Doll.

[Shinndou]

So I got it right (my japanese is not really that good though)...? Moratorium eventually turn into Dolls if they don't fulfill their contract.

[MrProphet]

Well, I am a bit late to the party, but I still wanted to express my amazement with episode 4.

I am sure that everyone has already touched on the awesome impact of the unexpected transition from moody tension to outright gruesomeness, so I'd rather talk about something else that I loved.

Anyone who drives a car on a regular basis, as I am, would probably be extremely pleased with the way automobiles are handled here. I thought that Stand Alone Complex has set the bar for realistic and natural car movement, but Darker than Black has definitely upped the ante considerably.

Just watching Kirihara drive her sporty coupe, with the car swaying on turns, the tire handling and so worth. It's was nice.

I am glad they pay attention to such detail.

[Kaoru Chujo]

MrProphet's post reminded me of something else I liked in ep4. When Mai was walking along the street early on, I felt that the sound of the traffic going by was very realistic, or at least made me feel as if I was there, and a bit threatened by the vehicles rushing by so close. The volume and the sound quality worked for me. And it turns out that sound director Wakabayashi Kazuhiro did GITS:SAC, Wolf's Rain, and even was "audio director" of Princess Mononoke.

[wao]

It's actually (そもそも契約者が「契約者」と言われるゆえん･･･)持ち得た能力を行使した後に必要とされる、「対価」 と呼ばれる精神的呪縛行為。その支払いをモラトリアムは猶予されている。一定の期間が過ぎると、大概はドー ルへと状態を移行する。So, if we take the word "猶予" at face value, Moratoriums are temporarily exempt from the "must pay for powers used" clause that binds Contractors. It's also mentioned later in the episode that Moratoriums are incomplete Contractors (they didn't make the transition all the way), so my sense of things is that they're not considered a subset of Contractors but rather a class unto themselves. Most Moratoriums (it sucks from an English standpoint that they're using this term like a label) transition into Dolls after a set time period has passed (perhaps this is when they "pay up" when the Moratoriums' moratorium expires? ^^;). That's why they were astonished when Mai transitioned into a Contractor (Mao comments that the possibility of this happening is supposed to be zero) instead of into a Doll.

Thank you very much for the clarification! I couldn't make out "猶予" at all since I'm not familiar with that word, but it makes a lot more sense now. It clears up a lot of things... That explains why Mai had become a "Moratorium" after her powers were suppressed for so long, rather than return to a Contractor, because she's sort of "retarded" so to speak in terms of her abilities perhaps. And Tahara had not realised this until later where he says something to the effect of "not only did the seed lose its effect, but she turned into a Moratorium [not a Contractor]".

I like the sound effects in this show too. Wakabayashi has been involved in a lot of great productions (he goes under a pseudonym sometimes for Ghibli productions - well he must be good to be asked to do Ghibli productions' sound directing) and he's good at working with various different casts. If I'm not wrong he was the audio director on Eureka 7 as well.
For this show one scene that stood out to me sound-wise was Louis' chase in episode 1. You could totally feel like he was running desparately on the rooftop of a building with cars whizzing by below. Very city-like atmosphere.

[DangerMouse]

MrProphet's post reminded me of something else I liked in ep4. When Mai was walking along the street early on, I felt that the sound of the traffic going by was very realistic, or at least made me feel as if I was there, and a bit threatened by the vehicles rushing by so close. The volume and the sound quality worked for me. And it turns out that sound director Wakabayashi Kazuhiro did GITS:SAC, Wolf's Rain, and even was "audio director" of Princess Mononoke.

No wonder the atmospheric audio has been so awesome.

[aardvark]

Watching episode 4, aside from what everyone has noticed and discussed already, it reminded what I think one of my favorite aspects of the show is, the way Hei manages to go from, regular guy, normal looking, to changing his expression to that absolutely creepy, cold blooded killer gaze. His stare towards the beginning of episode 4 was just cold blooded... And of course that scene from episode 1 where you see the look in his eyes and face gradually change seamlessly...Damnit, aside from some of the weak artistry going on these episodes, I can't think of a single thing I dislike about the show...



I like the sound effects in this show too. Wakabayashi has been involved in a lot of great productions (he goes under a pseudonym sometimes for Ghibli productions - well he must be good to be asked to do Ghibli productions' sound directing) and he's good at working with various different casts. If I'm not wrong he was the audio director on Eureka 7 as well.
For this show one scene that stood out to me sound-wise was Louis' chase in episode 1. You could totally feel like he was running desparately on the rooftop of a building with cars whizzing by below. Very city-like atmosphere.
Yeah he was, he was part of the audio commentary for the final ep on DVD too.

[Li Jianliang]

I think DARKER THAN BLACK is one of shows that starts off confusing because no one knows what is going on and garners interest as the show goes on and reveals more pieces of the puzzle... ^_^ I'm looking forward to seeing how the whole thing will end.

The reason why Hei's mask got destroyed so quickly in episode 4 is because he is too hot for his mask.

**runs away**

[flou]

The reason why Hei's mask got destroyed so quickly in episode 4 is because he is too hot for his mask.

I second that thought.

[runpsicat]

That explains why Mai had become a "Moratorium" after her powers were suppressed for so long, rather than return to a Contractor, because she's sort of "retarded" so to speak in terms of her abilities perhaps.

Ohh! I hadn't picked up on that, but that sounds pretty tenable. Cool stuff.

[hipeach]

about contractors and moratoriums moratoriums are not contractors, although they are related, but Mao commented that the chance of a moratorium turning into a contractor is supposed to be zero. moratoriums are those who got the ability but confused about the payment, so they don't pay, and their abilities go berserk, and eventually they turn into dolls. Guess that's why Yin doesn't need to pay for her ability. Another difference is that moratoriums still have human emotions, while contractors and dolls don't have emotions (Hei being an apparent exception so far) according to official info
http://aquroia.at.webry.info/200704/article_10.html
contractors are contracted to some unknown non-human entity, so the payments are completely beyond human comprehension. At the time of contract, one lost all sense of good and evil, became completely amoral and would act only based on necessity and rationality. That's why contractors are not considered human.

my biggest gripe is that despite the title being "darker than black", and Hei/Black is nicknamed "black death", he is far from dark or black. he is more like "brighter than white", very compassionate despite he's supposed to be a cold agent and amoral contractor.

another note, I don't think Hei's ability is just about electricity.

[7Th]

Watching episode 4, aside from what everyone has noticed and discussed already, it reminded what I think one of my favorite aspects of the show is, the way Hei manages to go from, regular guy, normal looking, to changing his expression to that absolutely creepy, cold blooded killer gaze. His stare towards the beginning of episode 4 was just cold blooded... And of course that scene from episode 1 where you see the look in his eyes and face gradually change seamlessly...Damnit, aside from some of the weak artistry going on these episodes, I can't think of a single thing I dislike about the show...



If with weak artistry you meant the badly average visual aesthetic design I agree with this statement. It's really a shame how common, not in a good way, the animation and graphical management have been so far considering the Studio's pedigree and the great original illustrations. Everything else is extremely cool, however. While like every human production it isn't completely flawless it's amazing how really well done everything outside of the already mentioned problems. I like how they've managed in this episode to further enhance and actually give a nice much more anime-like feeling, the super powered humans were just a concept rather than a real stylistic deformation so far, to the low-key direction and the whole "tech noir meets action spy flicks" mood they seem to be trying to get with it.

As for the clarification on the moratorium term... Thanks! I don't think I'll be seeing this in "raws" again. I feel left out. :heh:

[quina]

about contractors and moratoriums moratoriums are not contractors, although they are related, but Mao commented that the chance of a moratorium turning into a contractor is supposed to be zero. moratoriums are those who got the ability but confused about the payment, so they don't pay, and their abilities go berserk, and eventually they turn into dolls. Guess that's why Yin doesn't need to pay for her ability. Another difference is that moratoriums still have human emotions, while contractors and dolls don't have emotions (Hei being an apparent exception so far) according to official info
http://aquroia.at.webry.info/200704/article_10.html
contractors are contracted to some unknown non-human entity, so the payments are completely beyond human comprehension. At the time of contract, one lost all sense of good and evil, became completely amoral and would act only based on necessity and rationality. That's why contractors are not considered human.

my biggest gripe is that despite the title being "darker than black", and Hei/Black is nicknamed "black death", he is far from dark or black. he is more like "brighter than white", very compassionate despite he's supposed to be a cold agent and amoral contractor.

another note, I don't think Hei's ability is just about electricity.

Then most likely Amber is that "non-human identity" that Hei is searching for :\.
Darn... why is that remind me so much of Cod* Ge**s.

[lightbringer]

Darn... why is that remind me so much of Cod* Ge**s.

1) withdrawal symptoms
2) same time slot
3) you're still waiting for C.C's cameo

gambatte ne :)

[MrProphet]

Um.. I am a bit confused.

Isn't "moratorium" a SOMETHING, not a SOMEONE?

Moratorium (plural - moratoria) is a temporary cessation of some activity. It comes from latin "moratorius", meaning "something that is being delayed".

I am confused by the fact that "moratorium" is being used to designate a person instead of an action (which it technically is, at least, in the morphological sense).

[Shinndou]

I was confused about it as well. As far as I know the original latin word refers to a "thing", or rather, to a situation. But it seems BONES is using as a term to identify a category of people instead (which is not exactly correct albeit the definition of moratorium does fit).

[Kaoru Chujo]

Re: moratorium

Engrish takes many forms. Isn't this like calling someone who is under a moratorium (the word being somewhat misused) a "moratorium"? I can't think of an example right now, but it sounds like something even native speakers could do.

[MrProphet]

Well, um, no.

There's no special word for someone who has declared a moratorium. You can use it as an adjective, as in "moratory law", but definitely not as a proper noun ("moratoriumist"(sic!)? Ugh!)

But I think I'll just accept your answer of "It's Engrish!" as sufficient. 8)

[Kaoru Chujo]

I didn't say it would be "correct," just that it might be done even by a native speaker. I can imagine something similar being done in a context like this one: i.e., as a special term in a science fiction story. For example, calling an alien who travelled in a red spaceship a "red ship."

[Shinndou]

A native speaker? No, Romans (since moratorium is a latin word, and it's a neo-latin word as well) never used words representing things or situations to address a category of people or a person, specifically. Even nowadays it isn't used like that in italian, spanish, or french. The term got simply somehow misused in this show (albeit its meaning does make sense in the context of what happened so far in the latest two episodes), just that.

[TigerII]

Wow just watched 1-3. Definantly gonna watch this series. Anyone know how many episodes this is gonna be?

And the dolls are sad. Just the memories of someone who died. Shame.

[Kaoru Chujo]

>>Shinndou, MrProphet: I'm talking about a native speaker of English. Latin doesn't come into the question, except as the ultimate origin of the word. I'm thinking of it as an English word, used or misused by a Japanese writer. I expect the writer learned it through English rather than directly from a study of Latin. I gave an example of how an English-speaking writer might use "red ship" as a special name for a class of persons, which would separate that from its dictionary meaning and usage. I believe the rhetorical term may be "metonomy": using one thing to refer to something else that is associated with it.

However, the word "moratorium" was used as a term here in a way that is hard for anyone to understand, even a native speaker of English, since it is somewhat difficult to see how the concept applies: are these people under a moratorium? Perhaps in the sense that there is a moratorium on their having to pay for the benefits they receive under their contract.

[Shinndou]

Moratorium is not an english word though.
As we said in previous posts, moratorium represents a situation where a person has obtained a delay in the payment of a debt. Applied to Darker than Black's plot, a moratorium represents a situation where a contractor or a "potential" contractor hasn't fulfilled his/her contract yet, or hasn't fulfilled after a long time. However rather than using the term to identify the subject's situation, they use the term to directly identify the subject. But that's a not so correct way to use that term though, although as MrProphet said earlier there's no adjective for the word moratorium that could be used to directly address a person in a similar situation. I'll bring you an other example so you get the picture. Let's pick a person who's under a stressful situation. In English we have the adjective "stressed" to point a person who's under "stress". But let's suppose the adjective never existed, or let's just not use it and address the person who's in a stressful situation with the word "stress" rather than "stressed". A "Stress" person. Would you find it natural to use the word "stress" like that? No. Same thing applies to moratorium. ;)

[wao]

Well, runpsicat did say that it was a little annoying how they used the word "moratorium" as a label of a person rather than a description of the condition or whatever. As someone aptly said, it's Engrish, and that's all there is to it.

Also I want to thank the persno earlier who gave a link to a Japanese page describing some of the stuff that was on Charaberry. hipeach for this link: http://aquroia.at.webry.info/200704/article_10.html :p
I've been looking for stuff on that article for some time now, because I can't seem to find Charaberry in the local Kino's :( I heard the interview gave out some interesting tidbits and there were some nice sketches of Hei, but oh well...


One of the things that was on that page which I read on 2ch as well was something about how Hei and co. are not Chinese but their headquarters are apparently in... Brazil O_o;

Also apparently the director says that his payment is not to eat a lot of food but I'd like to see what he said verbatim... It's possible they showed him eating a lot all this time to trick the viewers :p (Or perhaps to trick whoever's been spying on him? Whoever wants to take advantage of his weakness)

Furthermore Hei is made to be about 22 years old (hay he's younger than both my brothers). He doesn't smoke or drink. And apparently (when he's Li of course) he looks as though he's very kind and good with people but if you look carefully he seems to be avoiding having to contact with people, too. I suppose we'd have to watch more of the show to get an idea on this.

Because he eats a lot he usually cooks for himself and rarely goes to the conbini (so I guess he buys his stuff from a fresh market rather than getting instant noodles; thats what they mean?) The person who wrote that page also said something about how Hei hasn't been a contractor for very long, but I don't know if that was her guess or was actually written in the magazine.

The thing about Yin being someone who used to like music is confirmed again because Yuji Iwahara says that he was told that she used to play the piano when she was younger...

According to what the director said on that website Yin can do the usual things like eat, sleep and wear clothes normally, but sometimes she forgets those and ends up wandering out into the streets. And there's an episode in which she does that and starts interacting with various people.

She'd be asked "who put that goth-loli getup on you" and then the conversation would turn to her mother (probably because the person asking would say "it was your mother wasn't it", since although she's 17 she looks 12 o_o). And here it seems that the director said that "there might be a story about Yin's mother". Hm.

*mutters at Charaberry for being not particularly popular*

[Nightengale]

Those sounded so...random.

Still, the bits on Hei and Yin were interesting. DtB will most likely have a lot of focus on Double-0-Black, so his side of the story, as slow as it will potentially be, has it's own fair share of time to exploit.

And I'm hoping his "payment" is something that is already hinted or will be hinted shortly with some of the visual direction and background hints. Either way, I hope it's not something "out of the bag" when it matters kind of thing. It ruins the visual mood and feel of DtB a little.

I just hope they won't be excessive with the obligatory flashback episode sequences.

[MrProphet]

Thanks a lot, wao, I loved that snippet about Yin. She is definitely the one I want to know more about.

I still think that Hei's contract is to look at the stars, maybe even count them. It fits the whole astronomical profile for contractors and is that a coincidence or what?

[Jazzrat]

Thankfully i waited for the sub for episode 4. I wish my Japanese is better but DtB is one of those anime that i can't spoil myself with RAWs. Looks like my original view on Moratorium being another form of Contractor was correct. Just my view but i think this arc explains the difference between Contractor and Dolls using Moratorium as the medium for comparison.

Episode 4 really did well when it comes to the music and scene composition especially during the scene when Mai burn his friend and when his father hug him. Those 2 scene made quite impact for me and i cant help sympathized with her and her condition. While i didn't expect her to live through this, but being shipped off to another country (China i guess?) as a Contractor/lab rat without the conscience or guilt isn't any better.

[mishka]

:rolleyes: ummm SPOILER TAGS PLEASE!!!!

[7Th]

:rolleyes: ummm SPOILER TAGS PLEASE!!!!

I don't know... the subs are out after all.

[Aniki Meiski]

It's not unusual to refer people by their condition, or status. It's called Metonymy. So, it is not wrong to extend the meaning of "moratorium" to refer to people who are under moratorium. I don't think this is a case of bad use of English and I am not sure whether native English speakers would have done any better. The only down side to the word is that it is way too long for either Japanese or English ears. However, according to the laws of fantasy TV, you need something that sounds vaguely Latin to convey a sense demonic or Hellish connection.

Hei's character is very dark as he is an archetypal Homme Fatal.

[lightbringer]

Another interesting episode, giving more tidbits about the background setting while advancing the current story. My guess is that Mai is not going to China but rather to a country a bit further away.

[7Th]

Another interesting episode, giving more tidbits about the background setting while advancing the current story. My guess is that Mai is not going to China but rather to a country a bit further away.

She's going to Brazil.

[lightbringer]

She's going to Brazil.

That's what I meant :)

[Wosho128]

This is my pick for the best anime of the season.

I've been thrilled for 4 weeks in a row. The scriptwriting, characterization, art and music are all wonderful. Hei is one bad mofo. I find it almost hilarious on how he can switch gears in his personality. He's become one of my favorite characters, he's on the same page of coolness as Spike Spiegel from "Cowboy Bebop" fame.

I try really hard to put Hei/Lee in an archetypal role I've seen so far but I just can't. He's not the brooding bishounen, he's not the silent loner, he's not the angsty man looking for revenge. His personality has peaks. It changes with the mood and the time.

Oh, and in ep 4:
I love that theme after Mai's father dies. It's beautiful and I really want a soundtrack now.

I'm going to keep watching; I love this stuff.

[lightbringer]

I try really hard to put Hei/Lee in an archetypal role I've seen so far but I just can't. He's not the brooding bishounen, he's not the silent loner, he's not the angsty man looking for revenge. His personality has peaks. It changes with the mood and the time.


I like Hei too, but honestly we just don't know jack about him right now, which is why it's so hard to classify him :D But what we've seen of him so far has been anything but clichéd, which makes me one happy watcher...

[evil-samurai]

Great episode, surprising to see Mai's friend and dad get killed, I was expecting there to be deaths and that Mai's Dad to die but not them.. The fight scenes were pretty good, I loved the shot of Hei running to teh Door he was about to bust in. The music got even better in this episode, my favourite piece would have to be when Kirihara went to and into that strange place, the music felt like it was out of the Alice game which had creepy but awesome music in it.

I here still hoping that The team gets more screen time, Mao is getting some screen time here and there, and Huang shows up a little same with Yin. I'm guessing once the story get moving they will play more part. Mai still alive but I doubt we'll see much of her, which is a good thing I think since there are still alot of other character in Hei's team who be better off having the screen time.

[Shinndou]

I like Hei too, but honestly we just don't know jack about him right now, which is why it's so hard to classify him :D But what we've seen of him so far has been anything but clichéd, which makes me one happy watcher...

Actually I thought that Hei so far seemed to be the usual "fangirl-bait" kind of character, albeit I don't really mind that anyway, as long as it's interesting.

[Eej]

I don't know, it's kind of hard to get a read on Hei because his actions vary so much. For example, he'll kill a contractor despite Mao telling him not to and at the same time he'll treat a doll like a human being. I think it boils down to the fact that it's difficult to determine what his true face is.

It's easiest to think of him as a calculating character who only does things to further his objective, but he shows flashes of emotion both as Hei and as Li. Referring back to the earlier example, he claims he hates people like Louis but for some reason he keeps treating Chiaki as a human (which saved his life, so maybe he wasn't being selfless after all!) even though he finds out she's a doll. He kills Ruuko saying people like him don't deserve to smile and as Li, he walks out on Tahara condemning him for his sins.

Maybe he just has a soft spot for the ladies. ;)

[hipeach]

Also I want to thank the persno earlier who gave a link to a Japanese page describing some of the stuff that was on Charaberry. I've been looking for stuff on that article for some time now, because I can't seem to find Charaberry in the local Kino's :( I heard the interview gave out some interesting tidbits and there were some nice sketches of Hei, but oh well...

*mutters at Charaberry for being not particularly popular*
Do you mean me and this link?
http://aquroia.at.webry.info/200704/article_10.html

When you want to thank someone, you should thank him properly, at least with a name :mad:

:p :D

[wao]

Well sorry :p I was lazy to go back and check names. I've edited the post since it's such a big deal ;)

I still have no luck with Charaberry but I think I'll just give up...

More recently it's been the topic of conversation about how one of the production staff had run away from his job along with some design sheets/key animation and production had gotten a bit delayed... heh.

I posted about this somewhere else, but maybe I won't write the details here after all - but if you know where to look you can find the trivial details. I suppose they must be up to about episode 7 or 8 in terms of actual production right now.

[Sorrow-K]

Ep 4.

Not bad. I was quite impressed with this ep. I certainly won't complain about this series if it has more stories on the calibre of this one.

[whitepearl]

My friend has been talking to me about Pokemon Diamond and Pearl a lot recently as he just got the game.

So after watching the scene in ep4 where Mai's friend and her father get burned alive, this came to mind:

Mai used EMBER!
Critical hit!

Shame on me...:uhoh:

But I really felt bad that Mai did that to them especially when she had no intention of doing so either.

[Skyfall]

Ep4 was good as well. Though Mai's father spilling the beans so easily was kinda :eyebrow:

Other than that - this show has been very good with a nice, surreal feel to it. I hope they can keep up.

[Lelouch]

I like Mai.
Will she be back in future eps. ?

[Mueti]

Ep4 was good as well. Though Mai's father spilling the beans so easily was kinda :eyebrow:
Hm? Spilling beans...? Since I don't remember anything like that I guess it didn't bother me all that much. :p

I loved the episode just as much as the previous ones, so far this show got everything it needs for me to consider it a hit. I hope we'll get a little more insight into Hei's (and the other contractors') character sometime though.

[Skyfall]

Hm? Spilling beans...? Since I don't remember anything like that I guess it didn't bother me all that much. :p


With spilling beans i mean he confessed to Li way to easily - why did he become so talkative so suddenly? :)

Cheers

[Friera]

I enjoyed very much episode 4. It cleared up my mind in some aspect which I were quite confused about.
But I wonder - I really didn't understand what a Doll is? What seperates them from Contractors? And Moratoriums (?), are they like contractors without the need of doing "stuff" that hold the mind under controll (Like placeing the stone) so they have no controll of their powers? (like Mai) Can someone please fill me inn?

[Mueti]

With spilling beans i mean he confessed to Li way to easily - why did he become so talkative so suddenly? :)

Cheers
So that's what spilling beans means, learned something new again.^^


I'd say he just didn't care anymore since he thought that his daughter was done for. Even though he just made things worse in the end, the original motivation of his research was to protect his daughter. So once he saw her having become a Moratorium it didn't matter anymore whether he told anyone about it or not.
Or maybe he didn't even think all that much and just was in shock. Anyway, it didn't strike me as particularly strange.

[Deathkillz]

I like Mai.
Will she be back in future eps. ?
probably not ~ right now these eps have been more like mini arcs rather than contributing to the overall plot of the series...shes probably taken to some place far far away :(

[lightbringer]

probably not ~ right now these eps have been more like mini arcs rather than contributing to the overall plot of the series...shes probably taken to some place far far away :(

I'm still hoping that she'll reappear as a kick-ass side-kick for Hei around ten episodes down the line, after receiving major training at wherever she's being taken. :D

[Joojoobees]

It's easiest to think of him as a calculating character who only does things to further his objective, but he shows flashes of emotion both as Hei and as Li. Referring back to the earlier example, he claims he hates people like Louis but for some reason he keeps treating Chiaki as a human (which saved his life, so maybe he wasn't being selfless after all!) even though he finds out she's a doll. He kills Ruuko saying people like him don't deserve to smile and as Li, he walks out on Tahara condemning him for his sins.

I think Hei hates himself and takes it out on every contractor he can. I think he felt particularly bad for Chiaki because of her memory of the contractor killing her parents. He probably felt guilty for their murder; even though he wasn't necessarily the contractor who killed them, he probably has done the same thing any number of times. When he says people like Ruuko shouldn't be allowed to smile he means people like himself. Tahara's comment that his daughter "couldn't even become a contractor any more" probably pissed Hei right the F off.

My opinion: Hei is one scary, psychotic murderer. Li, on the other hand, is a nice guy who would be fun to have as a neighbor. Errr, wait a minute :uhoh:

[Kisuke06]

Episode 4 was very enjoyable. It was a sad episode, but at least Mai survived... right? I hope we see her again in future episodes, but I doubt it'll happen.

Anyways, I did some freebie avatars(nothing so great, but they are fine =P):

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9362/untitled2pu0.gif http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7347/untitled3zn4.gif

[kira-sama]

i'm glad that mai survived but she kind of insane or don't know who she is
but i hope we will see her in future episode

[wao]

HAY GUYZ SPOILARZ HAKKEN! Next time I"m keeping tabs on this (http://anime.goo.ne.jp/contents/tvanime/ATVNTPDanptvdtb1/index.html) page...

As usual, don't mind my flaky English skillz. (P.S. There's some confusion about who November 11 is, so anyone who's thought he was from you-know-where, he might not be...? Not much difference though.)

The person said to be the worst and most malicious Contractor on the planet has been captured. Her name is Havoc. [[Note: This is the red-haired person]]
It is said that 5 years ago, when the "Heaven's Gate" in North America SOUTH AMERICA disappeared, she also lost her powers as a Contractor.
Kirihara Misaki from the police's Public Safety Section, together with the Contractor known as November 11, sends Havoc to "Pandora", a facility for studying the situation inside the Gate.
There, Hei appears. He attacks the transport vehicle, and takes Havoc away. Hei and Havoc have managed to meet up again after five years.
The two of them had first met each other coincidentially during the disappearance of Heaven's Gate.

Apparently this Heaven's Gate has something to do with the headquarters of Hei's organisation which is actually in Brazil. BRAZIL.
This is based off a thread of a vague spoiler which I don't even know is really true (!@#$ that Charaberry magazine which I do not have), but apparently once Heaven's Gate had appeared in ***SOUTH*** AMERICA there were a lot of agencies that popped up like Hei's.

According to Pash!, November 11 is from the CIA. But the DtB mail magazine thing says he's the best agent in MI-6 which is Britain's Secret Intelligence Service... I hope it's the latter, smexy British guys are better than smexy American ones in general

The mail magazine also says that November 11 is witty and to expect a battle scene between him and Hei, so let's hope they give us some decent action this episode.

When the Heaven's Gate had disappeared, Hei's younger sister disappeared as well. In order to find out his sister's whereabouts, Hei tries to get some information out of Havoc regarding the incident. However, Havoc had lost her memories of that period. Havoc says that if she goes to Hell's Gate, she may be able to regain her memories along with her Contractor abilities. However, that would mean saying farewell to the restful days [she has enjoyed so far]. Hei takes Havoc with him and heads towards Hell's Gate, but... There, on the tail of Havoc, appears November 11.

In a run-down building within the city area, Kurasawa Kai (? 久良沢凱) was carrying out investigations. There, a beautiful widow wrapped in the scent of gardenia, Yuzuki Arisa (弓月亜璃紗), appears before him. She had come to him to ask if he could help her find the black cat her late husband had loved dearly. However, Kurasawa suspects that behind this request are ties to a certain other incident. Because at the workplace of Yuzuki's late husband, there was a series of suicides committed by employees. Kurasawa proceeded on to Yuzuki's house, and meets Hei. Hei was pursuing a particular Contractor.

Okay, so...
What the hell is Hei's nationality?!

And here's betting $20 that Amber is Hei's little sister ... wait, but that makes the OP scene...

...

>_> *erases idea*

Also, I won't be surprised if Havoc dies. I wonder how the hell July and April tie into episodes 5/6, though... and to think Hei knew Havoc before. WTFLOL. O_o

I know I'm going to regret having done this :heh:

EDIT: It's SOUTH, not north america.

[darlliu]

Wow.....its getting interesting indeed.Maybe amber is hei's sister whos captured and brainwashed and turned into a deadly contractor,and when they confront each other it'd be evil and that'd be great ....i mean heartbreaking....

[kira-sama]

so hei is a survivor from hell gate?

[Vanehei]

Everything in this story its so enigmatic, thats what i like the most. So, the red hair girl and Hei have some kind of story in common?.. it would be interesnting to find if Hei had a girl friend before become a contractor.

[chupacabra]

Raw for 05 is out (thanks to me lol), anyway was good the episode i won't spoiler it yet

[White Manju Bun]

~makes sure not to the epi 5 spoilers~

I liked epi 4, at first I thought it was a bit slow, though Mai setting ppl on fire was interesting.
But then Hei breaks out his kick butt side and I was happy!! The glowing effect looked very nice :D
I still dont get the seeds and the flower being contacted to contracter's :heh:

[Skyfall]

I still dont get the seeds and the flower being contacted to contracter's :heh:

The seeds of the flower could suppress the awakening of contractors powers - hence why one was planted in to Mai's wrist.

[mishka]

is it me, or Hei looks alot like Naru from Ghost Hunt! (in a twin-brother kindda way!) maybe they're related...now that'd be a cool twist! :heh:

it just crossed my mind....just ignore my jibbering :p :heh:

[wao]

O_o That was a slightly weird episode. But it was okay nonetheless. It definitely felt like more of a set-up than anything else but... ah whatever, it's 4:45 am and I want to go back to sleep :p

However, to think Hei's imouto is called Bai (=White in Chinese)...

LOL.

And what the hell, April's contract is WAY TOO DAMN GOOD! At least they made it clear that even the Contractors know that the prices various people have to pay can be vastly unfair. I still can't forget the guy who broke his fingers... :heh:

Bah, but now I want to know what happens next week. They ended on a rather nice note.

Also, Hei didn't appear for 90% of this episode :heh: (PS: This doesn't mean it's bad. Not in the least)

PPS: And Kazuhiko Inoue is \o/

[Shinndou]

Guys, I wonder what's the point of replying to wao's post (the one with spoilers about episode 6 and 7) if you forget to use spoiler tags when you are replying to it. Come on.

[Vanehei]

Shindou you are right!!! sorry!!.. (i read your message and say to myself... who in the world could something like that!!.. and when i check.... it was me!)
We need more spoilers from chapter 5 please!

[issei]

quick notes on ep 5:


+ it's great seeing the organization from a different perspective (primarily kirihara's).
+ november and hei fight in a park, but again, since it's from kirihara's perspective, the action occurs off-screen. we, as viewers, only see flashes of light, and then huang gases kirihara & co. in order to retrieve havoc. what? an anime series using interesting filmmaking techniques? no way...
+ november is mi-6's "top agent." his contract forces him to smoke. he doesn't take it very well -- his very first reaction in the episode is hilarious.
+ yin's conversation with mao is priceless. yin was supposed to be with havoc, but when mao and huang go into their room, havoc is gone. mao asks, "where is she?" yin replies: "out." "where'd she go?" "i don't know."
+ we see the beginnings of an angry outburst by hei. the preview for ep 6 shows him completely outraged at havoc, presumably because she doesn't know what happened to his little sister.

[quina]

episode 5
According to the earlier scan, Hei is suppose to be searching for Amber. This episode kinda tripped me off when they revealed that Hei is searching for his sister whose name is Pei/Bei.

Where does Amber fit in this picture? or is it suppose to be "after" this when Hei will start searching for Amber. If Amber has something to do with Hei's sister whereabout that might makes sense. For all I care, bring out Amber already >_<

Other than that, I like where the show is going. I would prefer if things develop in a faster pace, but that just might be because its in CG time slot.

[Deathkillz]

episode 5
According to the earlier scan, Hei is suppose to be searching for Amber. This episode kinda tripped me off when they revealed that Hei is searching for his sister whose name is Pei/Bei.

Where does Amber fit in this picture? or is it suppose to be "after" this when Hei will start searching for Amber. If Amber has something to do with Hei's sister whereabout that might makes sense. For all I care, bring out Amber already >_<

Other than that, I like where the show is going. I would prefer if things develop in a faster pace, but that just might be because its in CG time slot.

whos amber? ~ im rather behind on things :heh:

neways ep 5 was pretty good...the start of a new arc and the fight continues ~ november is pretty smooth for a guy i must say ~ but being quite dialog heavy i cant say more until after ive watch it with the subs >.<

[wao]

Amber is the name of that girl with green hair in the OP (the one who looks like C.C., she's also been featured in some scans).

There is one Animedia scan that says that "Hei has a purpose, and that is to look for Amber", but there is no telling whether Pai = Amber.

Like I said before the ep when I read the spoilers, if Pai = Amber then O____O WHAT DOES THAT LAST SCENE IN THE OP MEAN *claws brain out*


By the way, did any of you catch that Hei called Havoc "Carmine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmine_%28color%29)"? Bingo, another colour...

Also, I'm wondering if July is not a contractor (meaning that Newtype mag scan was misleading) but a Doll? He seemed to act like one.
I wonder if his kansokurei thing moves through signs o_O

EDIT: The mag spoielrs should be coming any time soon now, but OI OI OI at the staff credits for episode 7. OK, it was already leaked earlier that an "Igarashi-san" was going to do storyboards for the 4th story (=ep 7 and 8), but to think it was the Igarashi-san I was guessing...

Takuya Igarashi. Ouran's director!

What's better is that this rumour/pasted thing/whatever seems to say that not only is Igarashi storyboarding 7, but one of Ouran's better directors, Shingo Kaneko, is directing and Ouran's hardworking character designer Kumiko Takahashi is doing the animation supervision.... no way? I had read on the production blog that that arc is going to be more lighthearted, which makes it very suitable for being done a bit by the Ouran team, but this is a bit too unbeliveable :heh: (It would be really unbelieveable if it was Enokido doing the script too...)

[Shinndou]

By the way, did any of you catch that Hei called Havoc "Carmine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmine_%28color%29)"? Bingo, another colour...

Carmine is also a person's name which is used in neo-latin languages (as far as I know mostly Italian, Spanish, and Portoguese). So that's really a perfect choice because it's both a real person's name and at the same time it serves the purpose to identify a colour as well like the other names we know so far do. :)

[Shiroth]

By the way, did any of you catch that Hei called Havoc "Carmine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmine_%28color%29)"? Bingo, another colour...
Yeah, and that made me lol at Bones --- only they could do something like this within such a story.

I think a chart is needed for the color names. & just have to say that Amber has to be the best name to date.

[Omniscient]

Episode 05 Screencaps and Summary (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2007/05/03/darker-than-black-05/)

I'm not sure if anyone's mentioned this yet, but it dawned on me that the girl from the very beginning of the first episode that stood on the edge of a lake could very well be Hei's little sister. She had the same hair color and there was a telescope in that brief scene too.

[nubby]

Who do you guys think the kids in the preview flashback is? I don't think it's Hei because they look too different. It kind of looks like November 11 except his hair color is different...

[lightbringer]

Hmm, first time to see Kei get that really angry expression. Need more glares from him :D Looks like he's not below torturing girls either, next week will be fun.

@nubby: probably just Havoc's family. For all we know, she might have slaughtered them all accidentally due to her Contractor powers, or something like that.

[DangerMouse]

Those are some amazing screencaps, can't wait for episode 5 to get subbed.

[Guido]

I have watched episode four and at first I thought that all the hints an clues regarding Moratorium, the star, and what relationship holds with the Contractors was out off sequence until Tahara gave his proper explanation.


After the events on how all concludes with Mai awakening as a Contractor, I have suspected a little while ago that the Contractors run a parallel with the mutants of X-Men.

Both races possess overwhelming, supernatural powers which make them be feared and loathed by the mainstream population of average humans.

In the former's case they have no trouble or issues to kill off ordinary humans that interfere against them in a regular basis, since the splitted factions of Contractors all remain in the grey zone. For the latter's case they are splitted between those who hate humans (black zone), and those who fight against that faction to preserve the humans (white zone).

In Darker than Black I presume that most Contractors are terrorists or work for any kind of organizations with terrorists agendas.
Hei's organization, while unknown at this point, is tasked to terminate the terrorists Contractors and whether or not it also handles the termination of those Contractors who have recently awakened, such as was in Mai's case, is ambiguous.
I mean Huang told Mai she was to be fetched to a boat ride to "Heaven". If we take his textual words on the literal expression of the context, then they retrieved Mai and truly disposed of her. However, if this is only a metaphor, then it is likely that Mai was taken to their organization.


Tahara's research.

My conclusion for Tahara going to the other side of the Gate was the hope of finding something to use as raw material to come up with a cure to treat Mai's state.

Tahara travel to the Gate happened 10 years ago prior to the main storyline, therefore, I must assume that either Mai was borned a Contractor or her Contractor abilities started to manifest at that time.

Exactly how Contractors come to be?
Are they just like the mutants, who are borned with those powers at birth? or is there an external agent at work which influenced some sensitive humans to develop those dangerous powers, for example, the presence of the Gate?

In any case Tahara failed to supress completely Mai's powers. The star on her left wrist was implanted by her father.
I also suspected that the flowers he picked up played a critical role relating to the Contractors, and I was not wrong. The flowers produce seeds which are the stars. The catch is that those seeds do not last for long and have to be replaced at a certain interval in order to prevent the potential Contractor from awakening.

But there is a side-effect on what Tahara did implant the seed on Mai, the big issue is not the seed rotting away but when it starts to rot. I presume that when the seed begins rotting it changes color to blue, as Mai have shown to Hei.
When the seed rots the Contractor's powers go berserk against his or her, and that person descends to Moratorium.

In that state the person no longer is a Contractor but a being between the Contractor state and Doll. If he or she continues to abuse the powers on that state, he or she will eventually become a Doll and be destroyed by his or her powers.
According to Huang, there is no recovery or return from Moratorium, but to their surprise Mai became the very first one to revert from Moratorium and awakened as a full Contractor.

My guess about the main difference between those who are Contractors and those who go to Moratorium lies on the eyes. For the first ones their eyes are red, while for the latter their eyes are blank just that those of a Doll.
For example, throughout most of the episode Mai's eyes were blank but when she recovered from Moratorium they became red meaning that she turned into a Contractor.


The conclusion.

The music was superb during Tahara's death scene, because it added emotion and made Mai realized that he truly loved here.

Maybe or not his death was the trigger for Mai to revert from Moratorium back to full Contractor.

I would have liked if Mai had died along with her father, consumed by the sea of flames because that would have incurred a powerful image and poignant climax for the conclusion.

I also realized a little detail. Perhaps Hei wanted that Mai have also died with her father, maybe he didn't wish for her to start walking the same life as they do. Possibly because by experience he full well knows that the life of a Contractor is hell.

My theory goes that when someone awakens as a Contractor that person casts aside her former personality and life. Notice that I am not stating that the Contractors lose their memories or anything else, but I am merely stating that they get rid of any attachments to the ordinary world.

Just look at Mai's behavior when she becomes a Contractor distant, frivolous, and unemotional.

[Joojoobees]

I mean Huang told Mai she was to be fetched to a boat ride to "Heaven". If we take his textual words on the literal expression of the context, then they retrieved Mai and truly disposed of her. However, if this is only a metaphor, then it is likely that Mai was taken to their organization.


In the voice-over at the end of episode 4, it is stated that her star did not fall, so she is still alive.
Exactly how Contractors come to be?
Are they just like the mutants, who are borned with those powers at birth?
Well, Hei and most of the other contractors we have seen are older than 10 years, which is when the contractors started appearing (stated in episode 1), so I don't think they are born that way, but their exact cause certainly is a mystery.
My theory goes that when someone awakens as a Contractor that person casts aside her former personality and life. Notice that I am not stating that the Contractors lose their memories or anything else, but I am merely stating that they get rid of any attachments to the ordinary world.
That is a very interesting observation.

[Manatsu]

Just saw ep 5.

Woah this show just got alot more exciting with the introduction of some new contractors and their cool powers. My favourite for now is November 11 for his suave demeanor, lame jokes and most definitely his hilarious pitfalls.

That long talk about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke was really amusing for the bewildered looks on the gangsters as he went on and on about the minute details. Even funnier for a meticulous person like him that his contract forces him to smoke and add to that the opposite situation with April's contract serves as a constant reminder of his plight, man it must really sucks for him. :heh:

Than there is the scene where he tried to get friendly with Kirihara but it backfired. And then the scene in the car with his canty mobile ringtone. Heh if he is only going to be here for two episodes, I might miss him.
Hmm considering how some characters in this show can be identified by more than one name, Hei has 3 (Hei, Li Shun Sheng Li Sheng Shun, BK-201), November 11 has 3 (Jack Simon, November 11, Mr Smith), Chiaki has 3 (Shinoda Chiaki, Ayame, Haraguchi)... ok maybe I'm pushing it, but couldn't it just be the same person with two names?

Looking at the trend of colors...

Hei - black hair, black cloak
Yin - silver hair
Carmine - carmine hair
Amber/Bai - amber eyes, white one piece

Huang? I don't know, maybe the writer is playing with us here. His hair is brown, eyes are black, don't seem to have a favourite color in his wardrobe. Maybe it's taken from his real name, the chinese surname "Huang".

I have another speculation which might support this one person two names theory: Perhaps Hei's organisation has many teams of agents in other parts of the world. The agents use colors as their code name (why Mao is an exception I don't know) and the language of the naming indicates their team affliations.

ie.

Hei, Mao, Huang, Yin and maybe Pai (was once with the group) as one team. Carmine, Amber (before her disappearance) plus other colors could make up another team. And who knows, maybe there's a team consisting of Akai, Murasaki or Kin out there in the DtB world. :p

[Zu Ra]

I finally finished the first arc of Darker than black it left a bitter sweet feeling . A few unanswered question which are better left that way, primarily though had Hei fallen for Shinoda . Apart from Hei’s chivalry these words also add to that

“ She wasn’t a puppet she was alive “

Overall a good arc reminded me slightly of the movie Entrapment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrapment_(film)) , On a lighter note Hei’s beady eyes and appearance reminded me of L .

[quina]

Amber/Bai - amber eyes, white one piece

Huang? I don't know, maybe the writer is playing with us here. His hair is brown, eyes are black, don't seem to have a favourite color in his wardrobe. Maybe it's taken from his real name, the chinese surname "Huang".


Amber and Bei are most likely different person.
We already saw Amber. Have yet to see Bei.

Huang is yellow, I think its personalized his love for money.

[Zu Ra]

This arc began with the stark visuals a nice touch reminded me of Resident evil series The background score is nice eclectic ensemble of offbeat instruments which are used reminded me of D gray man OST 1 Seeing the last arc and this arc Hei is the embodiment of Gluttony as Shinoda said he will get a paunch by the time he hits 30s

Nice episode though it did leave a bitter sweet taste in the mouth better than the previous arc ending. If someone has posted the videos of OP&ED previously I apologize

* OP Theme Video :

uriUybOAO1E
* ED Theme Video :

kgUWZ8IWsdg

[ssfsx17]

What is the Apple laptop for? The guy it belongs to seems to be a little preoccupied with the turntables to be mixing the audio on the spot.

[at1987]

What is the Apple laptop for? The guy it belongs to seems to be a little preoccupied with the turntables to be mixing the audio on the spot.

He used the program on it. I don't sure he used Ableton live or Traktor but I'm sure that he used it as sound module because he used the Korg pad to trigger the sound on laptop.

I think he's a kind of laptop symphony guy like BT.

[cmage]

So I finally got around to watching ep. 4 a few days ago (I wait for Shinsen), and I loved it. Bones has gotten much better at animating cars, IMO. Normally they scream CG to me, but these were beautiful. :heh: Love how they move, too. I also loved the animation on the flames. So...pretty...~

I don't normally notice music much in a show, but I really liked the music during the laboratory scene. I don't know how to describe it, since it's been a while since I watched the ep., but it was so perfect. :heh:

[Kaioshin Sama]

This arc began with the stark visuals a nice touch reminded me of Resident evil series The background score is nice eclectic ensemble of offbeat instruments which are used reminded me of D gray man OST 1 Seeing the last arc and this arc Hei is the embodiment of Gluttony as Shinoda said he will get a paunch by the time he hits 30s

Nice episode though it did leave a bitter sweet taste in the mouth better than the previous arc ending. If someone has posted the videos of OP&ED previously I apologize

* OP Theme Video :

uriUybOAO1E
* ED Theme Video :

kgUWZ8IWsdg



I like how the guitar players SUNAO and Hiroshi Shibasaki are right there and they show the importance of his their riffs to the song. I've found that lately in all forms of music there's been to much of a focus on the cult of personality surrounding the lead singer and while T.M Revolution is a great singer here, it's nice to see that his backup is getting just as much respect for his contribution to the song. I remember when we used to know the names of the individual band members of a group, but now I think we'd be hard pressed to name a single person other than the singer in any given act since we're never really told who they are. Idol-Pop anybody, Yui Horie's music for example, who plays the drums there, who plays the Guitar's, I don't know :confused: maybe it's time we knew who they were.

All said and done, I'm looking forward to whatever Abingdon Boys Schools next song will be. It would suck if they split quickly like a lot of the Idol groups seem to.

[wao]

Hi guys. Scans from early release of Newtype and Animage, finally. A bit slow since... I'm actually doing other work... wow.

Animage June

http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/animagejune_1_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0770/animagejune_1.jpg)

http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/animagejune_2_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0770/animagejune_2.jpg)

2nd part has an interview with Misaki's seiyuu.

Newtype June (with new character, Wei, who is a close to a big mafia boss in Hong Kong called Wang; Wang's daughter Alice used to be Misaki's classmate in HS)

http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/newtypejune_1_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0770/newtypejune_1.jpg)

http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/newtypejune_2_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0770/newtypejune_2.jpg)

Seiyuu interview + staff info. There's a sketch of Misaki in a high school uniform, and Alice who is dressed up for someone's birthday party.


Now it's time for spoilers/information.

FIRST. 3rd and 4th pages of Animage contain some explanation of the key words, so hopefully this clears up some questions (and my own misunderstandings.) Here's some that are not 'duh'...


Dolls
Are a type of contractor. Ding!

MRC
A technology that originates from the Gate? People who have come into contact with Contractors can have their memories erased with this technology (somehow I get a feeling it works only on people who have bumped into Contractors? I'm just guessing, though.) In converse, the substitute for Chiaki, which was a Doll had the memories of someone else flowing through her.

Moratorium
Contractors whose payment has been postponed, but who (in return??) cannot control their own powers. Kashiwagi Mai became a proper Contractor after being in this condition, but most end up as Dolls.

The Seed
It appears that while it can seal a Contractor's powers, the host will eventually become a Moratorium (yes, they said "Moratorium ni naru"...)

Pandora
The UN led research agency for all matters dealing with the Gate. Officially this is where any Gate-related matters should be dealt with but each country ends up carrying out their own secret research and uses Agents to pick up more information.

And yeah, as usual Mizuki Nana wuvs Hei and says he's soooo naughty and I agree and all.

Now for a little bit relating to the arc of ep 5/6, nothing really very spoilery. Hei used to live where?

-July IS a doll, whose kansokurei (the spirit thingy that Yin also uses) travels through glass as a media. Remember Yin's travels through water.
-One of the Animage headings is "Is Hei really a contractor?" but this could merely be rhetoric.
-However, it is described that Havoc asks Hei (presumably in ep 6) whether he really is a Contractor and Hei suddenly gets quiet and turns his back to her.
-Amber is described as holding the key to Hei's past but it appears to be more specifically about what happened in South America.
-And yes, Hei used to LIVE in South America.
-Apparently 5 years ago there was a war called the "Third War of Heaven" 第三天国戦争. And Havoc took part in this.

And about 9/10 (eh? Why nothing on 7/8, you wonder? Well maybe they're just one-off characters... but yes, it's the Comedy Episodes of the show. Lighten up! I bet you it's all a joke. Or whatever! Laugh! Because it goes back to SRS BIZNIS after that! The preview text for it is pretty much exactly the same as what was translated earlier )


Includes the preview text for 9/10.
Ep 9 and 10. The arc is called "The pure white dress is stained by the girl's dreams and blood". Please stop thinking about that.

9: More and more murders are occuring among the Mafia's core members. The name of a Contractor known as VI-952 surfaces.

10: In the hotel conservatory, teh body of Alice's father lies on its side. Alice then decides to cut off all bonds and obligations, and begin acting on her own terms so she had the freedom to put a hand into matters. Or something like that.

Aaand for those of you who are interested ni this sort of thing, an excerpt from a short set of comments by the seiyuu and the producer Ooyabu. Which is quite loosely translated.

Mizuki: Speaking of which, in episode 10 Hei and Misaki finally get to have a proper conversation with each other, but it's not as tense as you'd expect it to be. Misaki is the rather straight-laced sort, so she might actually be somewhat weak to someone as overbearing as Hei. He's a type of person she hasn't met before, too. Maybe she'll get tricked?
Fukuen: What do you think, Producer!
Ooyabu: Misaki is a character representing the "humans", and she'll probably get involved in many more situations involving Hei. But she pretty much works with extreme determination and effort, so I wonder how things would turn out.
Fukuen: Even though she's such a pretty lady....

Another excerpt from Mizuki elsewhere in the same scan.

Mizuki: Episode 9 and 10 are an episode that let you understand Misaki's past. Unlike the usual Misaki who seems uptight, this time I got to act out her inner characteristics. She's someone with a lot of cute aspects to her too.



Some characters who appears in this arc (possibly again later? Who knows)

As mentioned before, that character in the Newtype scan is Wei. He is close to Wang (王少棠 Wang Shao Tang, what's that in Cantonese I wonder?) who is the boss of the Hong Kong mafia group known as "Chin Ron Tan" (is this derived from Cantonese? I don't know nuts about Cantonese, but the Chinese characters are, as one would expect a mafia group to have, 神龍会). Wei is a very cruel and ruthless Contractor, and also used to take on the protection of Wang's daughter Alice, but was really planning to take over Chin Ron Tan.

Alice is Misaki's high school classmate.
The sketch of Misaki describes her as the "typical class president type" and the sketch of Alice with her hair in buns describes her as having dressed up for Wong's birthday party. どう見てもコスプr(ry

And the episode credits. I laugh for two reasons. You figure out why if you want.

Episode 7
Script: Shinsuke Oonishi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=13716)
Storyboard: Takuya Igarashi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=9803) (One)
Episode Director: Shingo Kaneko (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=12158) (two)
Animation Director: Kumiko Takahashi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=11) (three!)

Episode 8
Script: Shinsuke Oonishi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=13716)
Storyboard: Takuya Igarashi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=9803)
Episode Director: Kei Tsunematsu (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=54288)
Animation Director: Hideto Komori (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=39026) (ding!)


Episode 9
Script: Kurasumi Sunayama (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=20511)
Storyboard: Katsuyuki Kodera (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=15632)
Episode Director: Takefumi Anzai (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=39307) (ep 2, 5)
Animation Director: Yoshiyuki Kodaira (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=18843) (ep 2)

Episode 10
Script: Kurasumi Sunayama (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=20511)
Storyboard: Minoru Ohara (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=11986) (...G-Glass Fleet's directo)
Episode Director: Shingo Kaneko (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=12158) (ep 7)
Animation Director: Atsushi Hasebe (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=21669)
Yuka Kudou (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=23857) (ep 3)
Takahiro Komori (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=1570)(character designer)

Why do I have this strange feeling about episode 10...

[evil-samurai]

I'm alot more Interesting in this Arc xD then the last one, which wasn't bad but I didn't think it was that great compared to alot of other people. Got to love November, as soon as I heard his voice, I was thinking what the hell is Kakashi doing here ? :heh: He has the Intelligence and the smooth looks as him too.

Were finding out more out about the characters and plot, and some of these contractors are lucky, drinking alcohol as payment is easy though it would Suck to have to smoke >.> The episode itself was great but its going to be interesting how they will finish it off since they have brought up alot of things like Hei's sister which will not get resolved just in one episode. The "what happened during that time" has me really Interested :D Since it might be one of the key events in the series, we maybe could even get flashbacks of it.

Whats Hei doing to that poor girl, Mai is lucky she didn't know anything then ^^; Well whatever it looks like in the pre-view I'm sure it wont turn out to look that bad for Hei.I'm not sure if anyone's mentioned this yet, but it dawned on me that the girl from the very beginning of the first episode that stood on the edge of a lake could very well be Hei's little sister. She had the same hair color and there was a telescope in that brief scene too. I think you might be right there, the stargazing + telescope plus the hair. I paid it no thought other then thinking it was Chiaki just after watching the first episode. Plus I don't think that Amber is Hei's sister more likely she is a means for him to find out where she is... or to find more information.. The way Hei looks at Amber in the opening right at the end looks like she isn't welcomed.

Thanks for the scans Wao but I'll pass on the spoilers for now.

[runpsicat]

Moratorium
Contractors whose payment has been postponed, but who (in return??) cannot control their own powers. Kashiwagi Mai became a proper Contractor after being in this condition, but most end up as Dolls.
Well gee, talk about misleading comments by Tahara (Mai's Dad...)... totally had me fooled since he was supposed to be a leading researcher on Gate-related stuff and all. :uhoh: Thanks for the info! :D

[Joojoobees]

Episode 5
Another very interesting episode. One of those that had me so into what was happening, that I was surprised when the ED theme started.

I really enjoyed seeing things from the side of the police for a change. It must really suck to be a normal human with contractors all over the place. They must feel very incapable of doing their jobs when confronted with their powers.

Plus we start to dig into Hei's back story!

[Jazzrat]

Intriguing episode, the organizations finally coming to surface (i.e: Pandora, Mi6, Hei's own organization). Judging by this, it does seem like Contractors are widely used especially among the spooks.

I feel quite sad looking at Havoc/Carmine, it seems her life and her mind is all used up by organizations that sees her nothing more than a tool. Last story arc, we saw the birth of a contractor and this arc we get to see the end of one.

November and April sure makes a good pair. One controls weather (haha, reminds me of Storm from X-Men) and another freezes stuff he touch). Huang shows that he isn't just a pencil pusher by hijacking Havoc (i didn't expect him to be involved in field work).

edit: Ah, also events like War of the Heavens. I hope they ll shed some more information on events like this. I would guess it's probably the first war that involves Contractor seeing how their power are connected to the stars (heaven). I enjoy stuff like these in anime.

Beautiful background art are just pictures but little bits and pieces of information turns em into believable alternate world for the viewers.

[Wosho128]

It must really suck to be a normal human with contractors all over the place. They must feel very incapable of doing their jobs when confronted with their powers.


I was thinking the exact same thing when November starting kicking butt.

Anyway, excellent episode. My only disappointment was that Hei was only in a few scenes. ;_; I understand that he needed to be taken out of the picture to advance the plot though. Havoc's occupation is very sad; not because it's a societal taboo but it's because she looks so empty as a person. I'm looking forward to some background history on her.

April has a very unique character design; I applaud the DTB animators for that as well.

Next week is going to be great!

[lightbringer]

Rather than a taboo, let's say that it's the second-oldest profession on Earth. Nothing wrong with it :)

[quina]

Sounds like we won't be seeing Amber anytime soon...sigh..

[DangerMouse]

This episode 5 and 6 arc, is shaping up to be another great arc. The new cast members are very interesting additions and I hope we learn more about Havoc and that she isn't done yet after these two episodes she must have a very involving past.

More great music in ep5 as well.

In the second Newtype scan it's impressive how accurately they did that setting background with the building and the bridge, from episode 2 where they placed the big action scene.

[Sorrow-K]

Ep 5.

Huzzah! The first hint of characterization for Hei. It's good to know that he (and the gang) won't just be there as devices to facilitate the stories, but will actually be something more than that... with any amount of luck, actual characters with actual backgrounds and emotions.

Not that I'd totally mind if this was just episodic story after episodic story that all followed the same formula of Hei interacting with women (and they have all been women so far) affected by these narly powers in one form or another, since they've all been fairly interesting. This one included. And it was interesting to see that much of this ep was told from the point from Kirihara and her group. Although, certainly, the whole theme of them being normal humans surrounded by contractors (as someone mentioned earlier) is something that can really be explored deeper (and I hope it will be).

Man, some of the music in this show is quite awesome. The jazz piece in the action scene at the beginning deserves special mention. Although, on the technical side of things, this show has been pretty close to flawless to date... although that's pretty much expected from Bones.

Overall, good stuff. I'm digging this show more and more with each passing ep.

[Wosho128]

Rather than a taboo, let's say that it's the second-oldest profession on Earth. Nothing wrong with it :)

Haha, you have a point.

[kaerstan01]

hmm... looks like hei and carmine knew each other for a long time...

[Deathkillz]

looking back at ep 5 this idea just hit me ~
"loli in a suitcase" :heh:

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9562/snapshot20070509182129zi8.th.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20070509182129zi8.jpg)
november sure is a cool character...and even at times i keep getting this thought of him playing the bad guy role ~ its not going to be pretty when he and hei clash >.<

[Kisuke06]

Episode 5 was great! At least now we now a little more about Hei(I wonder if his sister is that girl with green hair at then end of the OP...).

Well, I'm waiting to see Brazil and this Heaven's Gate later in this show. :)

[Shinndou]

Now it's time for spoilers/information.

FIRST. 3rd and 4th pages of Animage contain some explanation of the key words, so hopefully this clears up some questions (and my own misunderstandings.) Here's some that are not 'duh'...


Dolls
Are a type of contractor. Ding!

MRC
A technology that originates from the Gate? People who have come into contact with Contractors can have their memories erased with this technology (somehow I get a feeling it works only on people who have bumped into Contractors? I'm just guessing, though.) In converse, the substitute for Chiaki, which was a Doll had the memories of someone else flowing through her.

Moratorium
Contractors whose payment has been postponed, but who (in return??) cannot control their own powers. Kashiwagi Mai became a proper Contractor after being in this condition, but most end up as Dolls.

The Seed
It appears that while it can seal a Contractor's powers, the host will eventually become a Moratorium (yes, they said "Moratorium ni naru"...)

Pandora
The UN led research agency for all matters dealing with the Gate. Officially this is where any Gate-related matters should be dealt with but each country ends up carrying out their own secret research and uses Agents to pick up more information.

And yeah, as usual Mizuki Nana wuvs Hei and says he's soooo naughty and I agree and all.

Looks like we were right about the theory Contractor->Moratorium->Doll. Now the only thing I don't get is: what about Chiaki then? She wasn't a Contractor, yet she was replaced by a Doll. But if a Doll was originally a Contractor how could they find a person with the same looks as Chiaki? Or maybe we have two different types of Dolls, one that originates from Contractors and the other type that are artificially made...?

Now for a little bit relating to the arc of ep 5/6, nothing really very spoilery. Hei used to live where?

-July IS a doll, whose kansokurei (the spirit thingy that Yin also uses) travels through glass as a media. Remember Yin's travels through water.
-One of the Animage headings is "Is Hei really a contractor?" but this could merely be rhetoric.
-However, it is described that Havoc asks Hei (presumably in ep 6) whether he really is a Contractor and Hei suddenly gets quiet and turns his back to her.
-Amber is described as holding the key to Hei's past but it appears to be more specifically about what happened in South America.
-And yes, Hei used to LIVE in South America.
-Apparently 5 years ago there was a war called the "Third War of Heaven" 第三天国戦争. And Havoc took part in this.

So he's an asian-looking guy who lived in South America (because I doubt that a caucasian could disguise himself as a chinese :heh: ). That's quite an exotic combination. :heh:
The fact that Amber seem to hold a key to Hei's past and the fact that Hei is actually looking for his sister (Pai) do indeed suggest that there might be a connection between these two characters, or that they actually might be the very same character. Afterall Hei does have one more identity as "Li", and "Amber" might end up being just a codename/fake identity for Pai. Mind you, this is just wild speculation. I do hope that Amber != Pai.

Includes the preview text for 9/10.
[spoiler]Ep 9 and 10. The arc is called "The pure white dress is stained by the girl's dreams and blood". Please stop thinking about that.

Well I wasn't even thinking about THAT until you underlined it. Anyway, I lol'd.

[Joojoobees]

Well, I'm waiting to see Brazil and this Heaven's Gate later in this show. :)

Yeah, the mention of that was a total surprise. Now I wonder what in the Hell these things are.

[hipeach]

Looks like we were right about the theory Contractor->Moratorium->Doll. Now the only thing I don't get is: what about Chiaki then? She wasn't a Contractor, yet she was replaced by a Doll. But if a Doll was originally a Contractor how could they find a person with the same looks as Chiaki? Or maybe we have two different types of Dolls, one that originates from Contractors and the other type that are artificially made...?
maybe some advanced make-ups? Since that Doll disguised as Chiaki have a living pulsing human heart, I doubt she's artificially made.


-One of the Animage headings is "Is Hei really a contractor?" but this could merely be rhetoric.
-However, it is described that Havoc asks Hei (presumably in ep 6) whether he really is a Contractor and Hei suddenly gets quiet and turns his back to her.


I'm also wondering about that, if Hei is really a Contractor, why he's so emotional :confused:

[runpsicat]

I'm also wondering about that, if Hei is really a Contractor, why he's so emotional :confused:
Well, 80-90% of his apparent emotions are calculated displays meant to make his quarries trust him and confide in him. That's why Huang comments in ep2 to Hei in the "family restaurant" that Hei's their best man for the job. I think he also says something similar in ep4 about how Hei has no qualms duping those around him because he has no guilty conscience as a rational contractor. His question to Havoc/Carmine at the end of ep5 might be the first time we really see him being "emotional"--he has no reason to put up a facade for Havoc, so we know it's not feigned. Ep6 is going to be neat.

[Joojoobees]

I think he also says something similar in ep4 about how Hei has no qualms duping those around him because he has no guilty conscience as a rational contractor.

Huang thinks Hei has no remorse about duping people, but I think he is wrong. In fact, I think Huang is projecting his own cold-hearted attitude onto Hei. Hei clearly feels guilty about duping Chiaki and that is why he said that contractors are liars, it was a clear admission of his guilt. Huang is the one who doesn't think that dolls or contractors are humans. Hei is very much a human because of his guilty conscience.

If Hei were a "rational contractor" we wouldn't have seen him repeatedly acting emotionally, e.g. killing the first contractor on the rooftop when he was ordered by Mao to stop, hanging out with Chaiki, and letting her live, when Huang wanted her killed and her information stolen, even that scene where Mao shows up at the workshed and finds Hei is already gone in episode 4, is revealing that Hei doesn't simply act as a tool for the organization, he gets personally involved in every case.

[Shiroth]

november sure is a cool character...and even at times i keep getting this thought of him playing the bad guy role
November 11 = GAR of 2007

[wao]

You know, I never figured out what the heck GAR means exactly, but I think Kamina'd give all the 2007 males a run fo their money as the most awesome, manly and cool dude. And charming. In that crazy way...

I'm really looking forward to tonight's episode, although the 2-part nature of it makes me strongly believe Carmine'll get killed or deported or something in episode 6 because if she did successfully get close to the Gate and regain her powers, then logically speaking the next few eps would have a lot of carnage happening... but they move on to other stories and it seems as if everything else is still largely normal (if Carmine was going around wreaking havoc, you'd think they'd at least mention it briefly in the synopses...)
And since people die so easily in this show... well, not like I made a lot of logical sense just now, but I really think she's going to kick the bucket.

I won't put my hopes up too high on the action for this show (if I want action eyecandy I'll watch Seirei or Gurenn, tyvm) but hopefully it won't be embarassingly short...

[Shiroth]

You know, I never figured out what the heck GAR means exactly, but I think Kamina'd give all the 2007 males a run fo their money as the most awesome, manly and cool dude. And charming. In that crazy way...
Here you go, a link that'll explain GAR: Link (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gar)

Episode 05 was a solid episode in my opinion. Even though each story lasts two episodes, you're given enough drama that makes it such an amazing show to watch. Heh, seriously --- not shocked, it is Bones and all.

Hope we get a lot more from Carmine in tonight's episode. Looking very forward to it.

[runpsicat]

Huang thinks Hei has no remorse about duping people, but I think he is wrong. In fact, I think Huang is projecting his own cold-hearted attitude onto Hei. Hei clearly feels guilty about duping Chiaki and that is why he said that contractors are liars, it was a clear admission of his guilt. Huang is the one who doesn't think that dolls or contractors are humans. Hei is very much a human because of his guilty conscience.

If Hei were a "rational contractor" we wouldn't have seen him repeatedly acting emotionally, e.g. killing the first contractor on the rooftop when he was ordered by Mao to stop, hanging out with Chaiki, and letting her live, when Huang wanted her killed and her information stolen, even that scene where Mao shows up at the workshed and finds Hei is already gone in episode 4, is revealing that Hei doesn't simply act as a tool for the organization, he gets personally involved in every case.

Oh, I'm with you there--I was just wondering what hipeach meant by Hei being "so emotional". Now that I've reread his/her post, I guess he didn't mean "so gushy/angsty", oops.

[Vanehei]

So, guys, anyone knows how can we make this thread appear in a main menu?, i think that the show deserve it (sola has a main thread! come on!)

[hipeach]

Oh, I'm with you there--I was just wondering what hipeach meant by Hei being "so emotional". Now that I've reread his/her post, I guess he didn't mean "so gushy/angsty", oops.

yup, I was wondering why Hei was obviously not the "completely rational and amoral" kind of character that Contractors are supposedly to become when they get contracted to some unknown inhuman being. He actually cares about the doll disguised as Chiaki because she's "a living being" when Contractors are supposedly unemotional killing machines with no regard for life".

[Deathkillz]

hei is the type that holds his emotions in for a personal reason...something tells me that before he was a contractor he was just your average cheerful guy (like what the flashback suggests if he does have a connection with her) ~
So, guys, anyone knows how can we make this thread appear in a main menu?, i think that the show deserve it (sola has a main thread! come on!)
by getting people more interested and talking about this series :p

[White Manju Bun]

Just watched 5....geez Hei has a sister....this is gonna get interesting...not that it already isnt XD

Also question about what November 11 said about Contractors needing to smoke or drink even if they hate it...1-do we know why? 2-Hei doesnt do either so Im thinking the food thing??

Sorry if this has already been discussed Im not in this thread alot

[wao]

You know you're getting too obsessed with a show when you have a dream that while you were asleep episode 6 got released on ********... and then you actually wake up for it at 3am without an alarm... and then it's actually there.... :twitch:

And I don't know if it was a good thing or not, because after watching it now I can't go back to sleep (I have a test later lol.)

That was goooooood. Very gooooood. (In a DtB way. And you wouldn't believe this was outsourced to another studio...) I have to write about what happened...

But for now, six points that stuck in my head (aside from the fact that Naomi Shindou was awesome to me :cool: )

-Carmine did die, but as I guessed before she asked, she asked Hei to kill her should her powers come back.

-Pai != Amber, because they were mentioned as separate people (Hei says, "on that day Amber, you... and Pai were there"

-Sad to say, the fire attack that saved Hei was NOT Mai, I looked carefully at the split second before the fire attack where they showed who did it, and it was Huang wearing a gas mask with Mao beside him.

-Later Huang was taking the shit out of Hei (well not really, but still), and Yin later reached out and held Hei's fingers and he yanked his hand away angrily. Extremely different from his usual attitude towards females...

-And speaking of Hei he was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo evil this episode awasafs;@@!-fujiko. Breaking Carmine's fingers?! And then serving her chahan later? I must have died.


-WTF THE NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW LOL IS THIS A DIFFERENT ANIME

They gave us sufficient warning the next arc was going to be a comedy/gag one, and it sure as hell is going to be one...

[Shiroth]

-Carmine did die, but as I guessed before she asked, she asked Hei to kill her should her powers come back.

-Pai != Amber, because they were mentioned as separate people (Hei says, "on that day Amber, you... and Pai were there"

-Sad to say, the fire attack that saved Hei was NOT Mai, I looked carefully at the split second before the fire attack where they showed who did it, and it was Huang wearing a gas mask with Mao beside him.

-Later Huang was taking the shit out of Hei (well not really, but still), and Yin later reached out and held Hei's fingers and he yanked his hand away angrily. Extremely different from his usual attitude towards females...

-And speaking of Hei he was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo evil this episode awasafs;@@!-fujiko. Breaking Carmine's fingers?! And then serving her chahan later? I must have died.


-WTF THE NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW LOL IS THIS A DIFFERENT ANIME
You've just made me explode. I can't wait to see episode 06.

& lol, i need to see preview for episode 07.

[Katapan]

Wow, that preview for episode 07 is totally crazy. I was clearly expecting something very different from the previous arcs, but for it to be that different... :heh:

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8808/snapshot20070510214535ps2.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20070510214535ps2.jpg)

...wait, is this really DtB? Well, I did actually already go "aww" because of Mao, thanks to being a total cat lover... I shouldn't be so surprised.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5994/snapshot20070510214600bc5.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20070510214600bc5.jpg)

You start having serious doubts when seeing characters with this kind of looks, especially after some very serious moments a few minutes earlier. You can even hear a ~nya in the preview...

Have the seiyuu been announced already? I thought I was hearing Akemi Kanda as the pink-haired girl at first but in the end I ended up thinking it wasn't her. All I know is that so far, the seiyuu for all the girls have been great (like wow, Naomi Shindou can do that well?), and I wonder if such a 'generic'-sounding seiyuu can pull off a performance that would top the previous ones (but maybe it won't be needed in a comedic arc?).

PS: a very minor spoiler from episode 6.

Hei and Carmine actually ran to hide into a BONES building! :heh:

[MrProphet]

Well, I enjoyed the 3rd batch of episodes quite a lot. DtB continues to impress with really solid characterisation and unexpective perspectives.

In particular, I preferred this dilogy compared to the first two because episode 5 focused so much on the British, instead of on the Syndicate (Hei and co.) and because episode 6 really furthered Hei's character. His scenes with Carmine showed quite succinctly that our protagonist's bi-polar issues vis-a-vis dorky Lee and coldly murderous Hei are not so bi-polar after all.

Hei managed to show quite a lot of intensity and emotion while staying in his Hei persona, which was previously presented as deadly calm. Which, in turn, exposed that calm as a false facade. I thought it was quite interesting that the real person behind the "Hei" and "Lee" aliases is somewhat of an amalgamation of the two. The character traits of both personas began to intermingle as soon as the real Hei began to emerge under stress from meeting Carmine again.

I thought it was very effective.

Needless to say, the episode was very pleasant to watch. Both considering what I've mentioned above and the visual presentation. BONES really outdid themselves.

And I am quite happy that November and his pals survived. I love them and I hope they come back to fuck up Hei's plans yet again. They are really great, both as characters and as Contractors.

PS: Though, seriously, what's up with that preview?!

[wao]

For anyone who wants to know what happened or didn't get it (not too dificult as surprisingly enough this was not such a dialogue-heavy episode although I had thought it was going to be)

-Hei gets very violent in the room he's kept Carmine in, he breaks her fingers and yells at her to tell him where Pai is.
-And by george it sounds painful.

-Carmine explains to him that she wasn't on their pals and doesn't know anything about "Amber-tachi", and that she can't remember anything from those days. If I understood it correctly when she regained consciousness she had already crossed the ocean to Europe. Since then she had never stepped out into the street (...what a NEET, lol)

-Hei gets angry at this because it's not what he wants to hear and grips onto her jaw area, and is of course very sexy when he does this because he is.

-Carmine then asks what it is Hei wants since she doesn't have the information he needs. She mentions that ultimately a Contractor puts him or herself before ideologies or even their agencies. Getting so emotional and clamping her jaw would do nothing and is hence irrational, so why is he doing it?

-She then mentions "You, who were colder and more cruel than anyone despite not being a Contractor, to the point of being known as the Black God of Death (kuro no shinigami) --- despite having become a Contractor now, just over your sister you're losing control over yourself." Hei gets majorly pissed and hits her violently on her face causing her to topple over in her chair.

-She goes on to say that he's emotional, but unlike a Moratorium who is mentally unbalanced, he doesn't seem to have any sign of paying for his contract either. "Are you really a Contractor?" she asks.




-Meanwhile Misaki is at the scene of another crime and Saitou tells her he's got Kouno and someone else to watch over the folks from MI6 and make sure they don't leave, but sure enough when they turn around November 11 and crew are there (and then Kouno makes an embarassed call to apologize for losing sight of them, to which Misaki casutically comments that they're already there.)

-November 11 and co offer to help since Havoc/Carmine is extremely dangerous after all. Misaki eventually agrees to let them lend a hand to Saitou's surprise.






-Carmine also has a flashback to when she's in this house and there's two kids playing around and their mother, and a grandmother peeling something... and Carmine whose eyes are positively dead is given stuff to peel as well (this was in the preview from last week).

-When she wakes up she hears the sound of cooking - it's Hei making fried rice! Dude, there's spies, there's secret agents, and then there's snarky dudes who cook in the middle of nowhere...

-And furthermore I have to mention he was cooking in a very cute way, because he looked all angry and >:/-ish. Eheh.

-Then he gave Carmine a dish of fried rice and untied the rope around her hands so she could eat. He sat down at a table filled with all sorts of food and starts gulping down, prompting Carmine to comment that "as usual he eats a lot". Perhaps he was like this even before he became a Contractor?

-Carmine talks about how until she lost her powers she never thought of food as delicious, but just as something to fuel herself. However, when she met with "Laura's family" she learned how to cook. At first the kids didn't like her cooking but eventually it came to the point where they were saying they wanted to eat this or eat that. She was actually happy and felt like making more to give them to eat, to see their happy faces - but as payment for her powers she had to suck the living blood out of the children.

-This part was very sad. Carmine tries to pick up the spoon to eat but because Hei had broken her fingers she keeps trying and fails.

-Eventually Hei gets up and takes the spoon and feeds her. Oh what a tsundere.

-Carmine says it tastes good. And she also says that Laura had told her before "You can never trust men who cook well - they're definitely bad guys". Hei is about to feed her another spoonful and stops halfway when he hears this, and Carmine says it's just a joke... Then Hei eats the spoonful instead and Carmine wryly asks if he was actually angry over that despite being a contractor, and sort of laughs. Argh, this was so cute...

-Hei looks on surprised and Carmine says that he's really changed - but it's not for the worse. Hei says that it's a strange sensation to see her smiling face for the first time. Carmine says that it's rather awkward and anyway the same applies to Hei (the awkwardness?).

-Then she gets serious and says that it might not just be her - but "the others" may be still living somewhere out there like herself and Hei. She tells him she'll help him out and asks him to take her to the Gate (and her eyes are looking very dead by now...) where she will be able to get back her powers and her memories of that time. But in return, she wants him to do something - if she goes back to the way she used to be, she wants him to kill her on the spot.

-July uses his hand on the glass to determine where Hei and Havoc are, and meanwhile Yin (inside that room) uses water from a broken pot to figure out their location as well. She tells Huang that they're in Ichigayayanagi-chou (which is in Shinjuku-ku btw) and are heading east towards the Gate. Interestingly Huang's map shows the extent of the Gate as well as an exterior perimeter which normal people are denied access to (known as Level 1, the Gate area is Level 2).

-November 11 and Misaki and co. are walking along a deserted area (probably Level 1) towards the Gate and he mentions how it feels a bit nostalgic (i.e. he hasn't felt this way in some time) but for any Contractor, when he or she gets closer to the Gate they invariably start feeling stirred up. He says that it's not like he doesn't understand the motive behind the researchers hoping to awaken Havoc's powers (I think he means they want to study how the "awakening" happens).

-Misaki says that before that happens she'll make sure she's under proper care (I think she means Havoc'll be put under control or something). November 11 says of course, because if she awakens then the submachine guns Misaki and Saitou are holding would be completely useless against her.

-November 11 mentions how he thought BK201 was out to kill Havoc and not keep her alive, since he thought he was an assassin sent by one of the agencies who want her to keep silent should she regain her memories.

-He says that furthermore BK201 is taking her towards the gate just as Pandora (the official research agency) had intended to do with her, except he was acting entirely on his own. Very strange.



-As for Hei and Carmine, they're walking towards the gate when Carmine suddenly starts squeezing Hei's fingers. She's looking disturbed and a little frantic because she's taking deep breaths and all... and looks at him with a rather terrified sort of face. She lets go of his hand and sort of catches her breath for a while and then trudges on.

-As Carmine stands outside the barbed wire outside the Gate, her eyes start glowing red and flashes of red-stained memories come back. They're scenes of carnage. Her hands start shaking and her gasping starts echoing in her head (this part was kinda cool).

-Yin says that she's found out where Hei is, Sotobori-doori in Kagarazakashita. Huang asks if Havoc is with her, and she says yes - but...

-Just then Misaki gets a call from Mayu Ootsuka who tells her that the Astronomy department has just gotten new information. Her words are a bit garbled, but it appears something that signified Havoc's powers as a Contractor had appeared again (a star orsomething?). Ootsuka then tells her clearly that Havoc may regain her powers.

-Misaki says to get a special squad ready, but strictly not to fire until she gives out an order for them to do so. When she looks up, suddenly she realises November 11, July and April have mysteriously disappeared. I don't know how they do it..

-Carmine is getting more and more disturbed and she tries to run away from the Gate. (BTW the music here is nice.) She collapses against a wall while breathing in deeply and Hei tries to get closer to her but she tells him not to. She says she knows this feeling - her sensations of those days are returning to her. She says to Hei that "If I could change like you did, then I thought it might be a good idea to have my powers returned to me" but it seems like i wouldn't happen to her. So this means that Hei's actually become a nicer person since he became a Contractor?

-Carmine says "If only I had met with you earlier, I would have been unafraid of the contract and could have been able to live normally..." And she begs Hei to kill her. She takes his hand and puts it under her chin (this was in the preview, and damn is it sexy or what?) so that he may strangle her.

-Just then, however, a strong wind starts blowing. Hei notices the shadow of someone coming and says to Carmine that they're going to escape. He says to her "You're not a Contractor any longer. And there's no need for you to die" and they run off, but July's thingamajiggy notices them and as they're running it starts raining heavily on them. Strangely enough Carmine starts looking like someone from Wolf's Rain for a moment here...

-Carmine lets go of Hei's hand as they're running and collapses onto the floor where she's sounding even more desparate as she stares at her hands and says she doesn't want to go back (to being a Contractor). Hei tries to help her up but she pushes him away screaming that she doesn't want to kill anyone anymore. She begs tearfully for Hei to please kill her already...

-And Hei puts his hands around her face and lifts it up saying that it's OK - if they can get out of here, her powers won't come back either. He says "You won't kill anyone anymore!..." - and smiles wryly. "...Right?"


-But just then Carmine gets stabbed from the back with three giant spears of ice that go through her body. She spurts blood from her mouth.

-Hei tries to get her away somewhere but as he's running with her on his shoulder she tells him "It's fine already. Just run." and she collapses onto the floor. Then she puts one hand on the side of his face and looks at him and seems to say something and yet seems to be on the verge of crying... then she falls to the floor. The last thing she saw before dying was Hei's face and he looks pained as she dies. A star falls in the night sky... and Hei closes her eyelids.

-Then, with the cool guitar battle music you might have heard earlier (think it was episode 2?) Hei stands up after a short moment of contemplation and walks out to face April+July and November on either side. He is now wearing his mask.

-11/11 gets down to the floor and freezes the ground in a line towards Hei, but Hei stops it with his electricity. He then hurls some ice spears at Hei who uses his wire to get up and away and avoids 11/11's spears, but he lands on a puddle of water which immediately freezes and locks his feet in that position.

-11/11 says that he's finally gotten hold of Hei, who tries to attack him with his power but is told that it won't work at that distance. It turns out 11/11 is using a pair of rubber boots that insulate against electricity (and they're Japanese-made, of course). He says Havoc has died now, and Hei's job should technically end here. He says he's pretty much used up his power now (I think he's talking about himself and not Hei?)

-He asks Hei to follow their orders - because he's not going to arrest Hei or turn him over to the Japanese police or Pandora, he just wants to know about the agency Hei belongs to. He tells Hei to "make a rational decision, like a Contractor would".

-But then, Hei flings his knife at 11/11 and stabs his arm. Hei tells him to die and sends electricity through it but November manages to get it off him in time, so Hei withdraws the knife back.

-Then, a burst of fire comes from a corner allowing Hei to escape. This is not Mai (though it would have been awesome if it was), but Huang. Watch carefully. When the fire's gone Hei is nowhere to be seen...

-In the early morning the police are investigating the scene. Misaki is next to Carmine's dead body and then asks 11/11 why she didn't use her powers. She tells him that she got a report from the astrologers that she did indeed regain her powers. She says she didn't think 11/11 and co. would be so terrified of her (to the extent of killing her despite the fact that she didn't use her powers). 11/11 looks kind of surprised. Misaki ends off by saying "It's a joke." like he always says, except with a completely serious face. I loved this part.

-On the rooftop of some building close to the Gate, Huang asks Hei why he moved on his own. He says he won't report this incident to the agency because if he did they'd all get screwed over. Hei then asks why Huang didn't just kill him there (with the fire).

-Huang then gets angry and grabs Hei's collar, yelling at him that Contractors should just shut up and kill people and leave it at that. Hei looks away as Huang backs off...

-Then he feels something - it's Yin holding (http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/hand.jpg) onto his hand (http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/hand2.jpg). Hei however abruptly pulls his hand away and looks at her rather... I don't know, is that a look of contempt (http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/contempt.jpg)? Yin still looks the same (http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/same.jpg) though. Hei then walks off.


-Over in England, 11/11's boss tells him to continue their observations and investigations into BK201 and the agency he belongs to. Yay, so November 11 and co will still be around :cool:

That is as far as I understand, at any rate. Perhaps I may have misunderstod some parts. But as MrProphet says, I think it's becoming clearer that Hei's personality seems to lie in between his two "personas" and this is also a somewhat confused personality. I remember this being mentioned in some interview or article or somethng, about how he maintains this fine balance between either personality so that he can live normally in society and yet carry out his job as a Contractor. It's really coming out...

As for next episode. Yeah. Talk about a super change of pace... and as I have repeated endlessly, an Ouran team. Dude, I wonder how the heck this is going to turn out.

For one thing, the music was different in the preview. Then they've already broken the fourth wall with the first phrase... This is as far as I understood.

Girl: は～い！こんな時間までアニメを見てよい子の皆、いよいよ（？）へ！お約束の美少女キャラ登場で、大きなお 友達の心も軽～くゲットですよ～！

"Hi~! To all the good children out there who're happily watching anime at this time of day, next episode we finally get your prerequisite bishoujo character! And we can eaaasily GETTO the hearts of our grown-up friends as well!

Mao: 誰が美少女だ子のポンチキャラが！

"What bishoujo are you talking about you kiddish character!" (What exactly is a ポンチキャラ?)

And so on...

http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/yen_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0770/yen.jpg)

She looks like she's got something to yen for... (please don't hit me)

http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/charles1_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0770/charles1.jpg)

And I think we just got someone sneaking in from another BONES anime.

http://s01.imagehost.org/0770/charles2_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0770/charles2.jpg)

LOL IS DAT SUM CHARLES HERE LOL?

Mental preparation... mental preparation...

[MrProphet]

Next episode preview also promises fanservice. 8)

Although, I thought he looked like Spike rather than Charles.

[Shiroth]

Although, I thought he looked like Spike rather than Charles.
Yeah --- the preview is just 100% wacky. I hope Bones know what they're doing.. they probably do.

Well, what can i say apart from awesome episode? It carried on with the drama from the previous episode which i liked oh so very much. Shame to see Harmine go, though her story helped --- same goes for seeing a very creepy side of Hei. Though his sister is involved, so its no shock.

Awesome November 11, i hope this guys get his own spin-off series or something.

& Yin at the end --- max awesome. Her un-changeable facial expression after holding Hei's hand added to the already awesome scene.

[at1987]

After I finished watching episode 6 and see the scene that Yin held Hei's hand.

I guess maybe Yin's body is Hei's sister body and what Hei find is his sister mind, memories or something like that.

[quina]

-Carmine explains to him that she wasn't on their pals and doesn't know anything about "Amber-tachi", and that she can't remember anything from those days. If I understood it correctly when she regained consciousness she had already crossed the ocean to Europe. Since then she had never stepped out into the street

Sounds like Amber is a bad girl here :3...
hoho this is getting so interesting. Give us Amber already!! I don't need more filler!

[Deathkillz]

ep 6 ~
waaa poor Carmine :sad: wtf is up with november eliminating her >.< even if it was somewat expected that she is going to die they way it was done was heart breaking...but oh well...we get to see her smile at least ~ and she wasnt as 2D as i thought (dam character development getting me attached >.<)

hei flipped but he did a pretty crap job at fighting...i would have expected him to go psycho but instead he choose to keep his cool...*sigh* but what i really love about this ep was the other side to hei...his caring side has a unique charm ;)

ep 7 is going to be one hell of a mood change :3

[kujoe]

Man, this series doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the death toll of relatively significant characters. I'm not sure whether I can consider that as awesome or not, but it's quite heavy-handed in a good way.

I'm at least relieved that there's good 'ol Chief Misaki to enhance my viewing pleasure of this show. :heh:
By the way, I think I might have missed something, but something isn't exactly clear to me yet. Anyone know where the allegiances of Hei's team lie?

[lightbringer]

I know that DtB is essentially about serial murderers, but the fatality rate is still sobering. Havoc went straight from a miserable life to Contractor Hell :S


@kujoe: Hei-tachi work for a mysterious Brazilian organization, so that's where their allegiances are. For all intents and purposes, you could consider them undercover secret agents working in a semi-hostile environment.

[hipeach]

So episode 6 comes with quite a lot of revelations so Hei was already the "black death" and was completely cold-blooded and unemotional before he became a Contractor, but after he supposedly got his Contract, he becomes full of emotions and doesn't need to make any payment. Maybe his payment is to have emotions?
ep 6 ~
waaa poor Carmine :sad: wtf is up with november eliminating her >.< even if it was somewat expected that she is going to die they way it was done was heart breaking...but oh well...we get to see her smile at least ~ and she wasnt as 2D as i thought (dam character development getting me attached >.<)
I think Misaki explained that November killed Havoc because they are afraid of her power so much. They want to kill her before she gets back her power, else they'll be pulverized easily. The sad thing is that Havoc has actually already regained her power but refused to use it to kill any more :(
-And speaking of Hei he was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo evil this episode awasafs;@@!-fujiko. Breaking Carmine's fingers?! And then serving her chahan later? I must have died.

That must really hurt, a really mind-boggling scene when he twisted and broke Havoc's finger :eek:

And I am quite happy that November and his pals survived. I love them and I hope they come back to fuck up Hei's plans yet again. They are really great, both as characters and as Contractors.

PS: Though, seriously, what's up with that preview?!
as much as I love November, I really hoped Havoc can use her power to smash the MI-6 in this episode. Her vaccuum power is so terrifying and drinking children blood for payment must be really cool.
Is is just me or that detective in the preview looks like Lupin the 3rd? :D

[lightbringer]

...drinking children blood for payment...


Wait, wait, WHAT? Are you serious?!

[hipeach]

Wait, wait, WHAT? Are you serious?!
yes, she said it herself.

[Vanehei]

The chapter six sounds great, so much character developmet.. i can wait to see it.

Its amazing what Havoc said about hei been more evil before become a contractor... i can declare it now... i am one of Hei´s fan girls

[Deathkillz]

yes, she said it herself.
i get the feeling that hei should fear the worse finding out what happened to his sister ~ okey she didnt kill her but boy drinking blood...bad bad thoughts are spawning :twitch:

[kujoe]

@kujoe: Hei-tachi work for a mysterious Brazilian organization, so that's where their allegiances are. For all intents and purposes, you could consider them undercover secret agents working in a semi-hostile environment.
A Brazilian organization? With characters such as Hei, Yin and Mao, I assumed that they were working for a Chinese one.

[Dynzel]

I don't think the organization Hei and co. are working for are necessarily Brazilian, being situated in Brazil/South America. The group just happens to be stationed there. Just my two cents.

[MrProphet]

They are working for something called simply Organization (or Syndicate in the fansubs). According to some staff interviews, Organization hails from Brazil.

BTW, Hei's nationality is yet undetermined. His alias is that he's from China and I assume that he belongs to the Mongoloid race to pass for a Chinese (though, who knows?), it's yet unknown if he really is Chinese. The creators of the show are pointedly vague on this subject.

[Sonhex]

I've really enjoyed this arc. Not least Hei being truly mean and badass. I kind of liked Carmine. Shame.

I've love seeing Brits in anime; inaccuracies and stereotypes are often a great source of amusement though DtB avoided the obvious, though July did look like he'd shine your boots for a farthing. I must admit seeing April swigging Guinness was hilarious. Not as great as seeing the freaking MI5 building at the end of ep 6! I walk passed there every day (over the Vauxhall bridge), on my way to work, lol. It's a pretty accurate rendition too :p

[issei]

ep 6 was another strong episode. particularly impressive was hei's savagery toward havoc in the beginning of the episode, and the progression of their relationship until its untimely end.

[Doria]

Wao, thanks for that information and the scans. Gives me a little advance time to do some digging on those Cantonese names...

I have to admit that the Brazil thing is unintentionally funny to me at the moment, having only recently completed Shadow Hearts: From the New World, which features a Ninja from the... uh, Brazilian ninja village called Brazeel.

Ah, and I'm glad, also, that we weren't the only ones to find at least a passing resemblence to Storm; we even had a Havoc, though no energy powers, sadly.

[kira-sama]

after read the summary of episode 6
Hei so care about his sister so he torture Havoc "shocked" about Havoc she said that man who's cook can't be trusted what that's mean???
wanna know what kind of hell gate even Hei was trembled
dislike to see Huang how can he said Contractor should just kill people

[Vanehei]

Huang is always rude with Hei. He under estimate him all the time, I kind of have the feeling that Huang is a bad guy a he is against Hei a Yin (i also watch an image in the official site of Hei embracing Yin, like protecting her for something).

I think that yes, the emotions or guilt feeling is the retribution of Hei, but then, what kind of monster he used to be before becoming contractor? that is making me crazy

[Joojoobees]

I kind of have the feeling that Huang is a bad guy

Yeah, I have a hard time imagining I could get along with him. He always has something bad to say. :eyebrow:

[issei]

huang is certainly a realist, or maybe a pessimist, but i'm not really sure where the "bad guy" vibes come from. he goes by the book as a normal operating member of the organization, and hei runs completely counter to that notion by going off on his own, killing or not killing people, following his own agenda which only mostly coincides with that of the organization. from huang's own perspective, he has every reason to be angry with hei, and considering his age, it's not surprising that he has a low opinion of contractors, who as a whole don't seem to have been around that long. he's no saint, that's for sure, and acts according to rules and prejudices, but he's not "evil" or a typical "bad guy." he may cross hei in a more dramatic fashion later on, but it won't be a black-and-white encounter.

[Jazzrat]

well... in Huang's defense... even Hei himself hates contractor.

[deni]

i love this anime, watched all 5 episodes at ones :P

as far as i know ep 6 is out already, but when is it supposed to be avalable subbed :( ? Can anyone please tell me whats the interval of the time after the eps are out in japan and subbed versions release date?

also, isnt hai's payment eating alot of food, not being emotional?atleast thats the case imo

[MrProphet]

I think the previews for Huang's character mentioned that he is jealous of Contractors' powers, which explains his attitude toward Hei.

Sour grapes and all.

[kira-sama]

if he hate contactor he don't have put all his anger to Hei (poor Hei)

[Guido]

Little by little are they revealing more about the nature of the Contractors and starting to disclose or about to Hei's background.


In the universe of Darker than Black basically all the major political organizations are entangled together in some ways or other with their goals for the Gate and the research done to some Contractors like Havoc, for example, who may have had contact with the Gate.

What I understood more about the Contractors is that their stars may or not be the source of their powers but definitely are the link or core to their lives.

Hei, Huang, Mao, and Yin's organization has not an international, world-wide known pressence, therefore, I must assume it is a clandestine organization which works underground to interfere against Pandora or anyone else that may want to dig to deep on what's about behind the Gate.

Is there only one Gate or there are other Gates as well?
They mentioned South America's Heaven's Gate, and then something about that it is no longer there and another that moved up to Romania.

I got definitely the Elfen Lied vibes on Havoc. Those eyes lacking of empathy, touch, and emotions remind me of Lucy.

The nice cliffhanger for this episode was a shock to me to find out that Hei has a sister, and Havoc (Carmine) is either somewhat involved with her dissapearance or responsible for whether Pai is dead or missing.

According to the preview, the Lost are supposedly Contractors whose powers had been shut out and no longer can use them whether that condition is temporal or permanent remains unknown until the next episode.

If a Contractor loses his or her powers, wouldn't be risky for them to remain powerless for a long period of time even if they managed to live in hiding?

[Joojoobees]

Is there only one Gate or there are other Gates as well?
They mentioned South America's Heaven's Gate, and then something about that it is no longer there and another that moved up to Romania.


I don't think they were saying the Gate moved to Romania, but that Havoc disappeared from Brazil, and reappeared in Romania. I think that was where the MI6 group captured her at the beginning of the episode.

[Deathkillz]

i have most certainly missed this but...
how did havoc lose her powers?

[Joojoobees]

i have most certainly missed this but...

It seems to me that no one knows why the Lost lose their powers, which is why they use them as research subjects.

In other words, I don't think you missed it.

[Zu Ra]

Ep 5 : Its really good to see character development for Hei he is longer is the mysterious protagonist no more with introduction of his sister thrown into the plot .

[Vanehei]

Yes, I don`t think that any character in this show will be black or white (well.. names doesn`t count) .. as far as we see, there are a lots ofs grays. That`s what makes the anime soo good. I really hope that chapter 7 and 8 dont make the quality fall (you know.. as they will be "funny fillers".

[Joojoobees]

I really hope that chapter 7 and 8 dont make the quality fall (you know.. as they will be "funny fillers".

Does anyone know why the tone of the show is changing for the next arc? This show isn't based on a manga, so there is no need for traditional fillers.
:confused:

[Shiroth]

Does anyone know why the tone of the show is changing for the next arc? This show isn't based on a manga, so there is no need for traditional fillers.
:confused:
Doesn't look like a filler to me --- and we shouldn't take what the preview gives seriously. It probably will be a wacky episode, though not in the sense the preview is telling us.

Or i could be completely wrong, and it'll be everything the preview tells us.

[Joojoobees]

well... in Huang's defense... even Hei himself hates contractor.

You're right, of course, but I think it is interesting that even Mao questions his attitude.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Is Darker Than Black really only going to be 13 episodes. That seems so unlike BONES to have such a short series.

Anyway among other things I finally got around to watching some episodes of this show. True to form, BONES doesn't reveal all its latest series cards, or many at all really in the early episodes, but if Darker Than Black is anything like their other series its going to be worth it when the finally reveal some of the secrets after building up anticipation. I will state that I think this is easily the prettiest series of the season and that the characters are all very interesting and seem to have a story that you want to learn. The Loli as usual seems like she'll hold the Key to the story, being featured in the opening, wearing gothic lolita and appearing to be more than meer eye candy (These tend to be tipoffs). Also its nice to see an opening with Lyrics that are relevant to a series for the first time in a while and that the opening isn't necessarily just a push for Yui Horie or whoever's latest song (Though Darker Than Black wouldn't be the right series to promote that kind of music anyway). Now I've Lost It, I Know I Can Kill, The Truth Is Just Beyond The Gate *Followed by the title card and a shot of Hell's Gate* (Which is mentioned in episode 1 to be blocking the view of something critically important that the inhabitants of the city aren't meant to see). The suspense to find out what truth lies just beyond the gate is killing me as is learning the characters stories and motivations. BONES you've done it again. I just hope the series isn't only 13 episodes as there's easily enough potential in this series for 50 episodes let alone 26.

[Onizuka-GTO]

sometimes they schedule a series for 13 episodes, thus ensure more time and quality.

then they can regroup and do it again for the rest of the story, with a second batch. sometimes i think thats the best method, at leased they don't have an excuse to drop quality halfway though, in animation or story

[ssfsx17]

Chances are, after Ayakashi Ayashi got cancelled, BONES decided to play it safe.

[evil-samurai]

Is Darker Than Black really only going to be 13 episodes. That seems so unlike BONES to have such a short series. Dont know where you got the idea of 13 episodes from, But its been said it will be 26 episodes from going on the amount of DVD's that there are going to be =)

[issei]

this topic needs a subheading in bright, bold letters that 26 episodes are planned for the series, because every few pages, someone new brings up one issue or another with the idea that it's only going to be 13.

[Manatsu]

Ep 6 is just excellent beyond words.

I really like the interaction between Hei and Carmine in this ep, particularly the fried rice scene with Kanno's sad music playing in the back. The melancholic atmosphere and poignant conversations were really effective in expressing the irony with Contractors gaining powers but are in reality people slapped with a pitiful fate that they might never fully understand (beyond the payments for their powers) what they had lost. And the history shared between Hei and Carmine who form an odd combination of a Contractor who got salvation after losing her powers and another who gained emotions after becoming one, I have to say there can't be better candidates to accentuate the cold truth to us.

Hmm I wonder what happened in the past...
Btw, is there an English equivalent for 喪失者 (Soushitsusha)? The DtB Wiki calls them Regressors, but I think the meaning is off.

[Kaka]

sometimes they schedule a series for 13 episodes, thus ensure more time and quality.

then they can regroup and do it again for the rest of the story, with a second batch. sometimes i think thats the best method, at leased they don't have an excuse to drop quality halfway though, in animation or story

it's actually 13 stories
since each story = 2 episodes
so in total should be 26 episodes

[Kaioshin Sama]

Dont know where you got the idea of 13 episodes from, But its been said it will be 26 episodes from going on the amount of DVD's that there are going to be =)

Here (http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/997.html) and Here (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7382&page=25). I didn't think it made much sense either. I guess people are so used to 12-13 episode quickies that go nowhere these days that it was assumed that BONES, who has never done anything shorter than 26 episodes (Rahxephon being there shortest along with Ayakashi Ayashi) was lumped in with the normal crowd.

[duckroll]

Darker than BLACK is 26 episodes. 13 stories. Whoever uses ANN and Animesuki as a source for episode length on on-going series should be shot anyway. They're pretty much never 100% accurate.

Skullman is the BONES series that's going for 13 episodes this season.

[kira-sama]

yeah yeah
darker will be 26 episode

[Onizuka-GTO]

this topic needs a subheading in bright, bold letters that 26 episodes are planned for the series, because every few pages, someone new brings up one issue or another with the idea that it's only going to be 13.

WTF? thats a great idea, it'll definitely stop people making a fool themselves, trying to justify a non-existence point.

*slinks away* :uhoh:

[7Th]

Havok's arc was particularly interesting plot-wise even if the visuals were even more lack-luster than before. The cool noirish direction and overall nihilistic-yet-hopeful mood still are what sell the show to me in the end, even if certainly is a little bit more melodramatic than before. Carmine's finale was certainly something everyone saw coming yet still felt meaningful by the moment it came, and I liked how they didn't created a full-fledged teary moment out of it and rather treated it like a hollow indict on how Hei created his own reality.

[issei]

Havok's arc was particularly interesting plot-wise even if the visuals were even more lack-luster than before. The cool noirish direction and overall nihilistic-yet-hopeful mood still are what sell the show to me in the end, even if certainly is a little bit more melodramatic than before.

i can see where you're coming from, though "lackluster" hasn't ever entered my mind when thinking about this series. moments like november 11 and hei's entirely off-screen fight floor me in terms of the direction, although visually, it's not a complex or elaborate scene, nor does it look like every frame is painstakingly animated by hand. that entire portion of the episode was a complete perspective shift carried by the directing, and it was really enjoyable for me.

[wormspeaker]

I like the OP. It has that whole bad ass 80s hair metal thing going for it.

[Dagger]

I guess people are so used to 12-13 episode quickies that go nowhere these days that it was assumed that BONES, who has never done anything shorter than 26 episodes (Rahxephon being there shortest along with Ayakashi Ayashi) was lumped in with the normal crowd.
Juu-Ou-Sei was eleven episodes. The Skull Man will be thirteen, IIRC.

[Sinestra]

HA for once the CIA was totally innocent.

[hipeach]

and I liked how they didn't created a full-fledged teary moment out of it and rather treated it like a hollow indict on how Hei created his own reality.
I don't understand how you read into the minds of DtB's creators, but for myself it's very sad and emotional, especially when it's revealed that Havoc has regained her power but refused to use it to pulverize the MI-6 because of the happiness she experience after she lost her power. And the shocked expression on November 11's face at this revelation.

[vspirit]

BTW, Hei's nationality is yet undetermined. His alias is that he's from China and I assume that he belongs to the Mongoloid race to pass for a Chinese (though, who knows?), it's yet unknown if he really is Chinese. The creators of the show are pointedly vague on this subject.
Hm...while it's true that the makers never did come right out to say it, certain evidence like his penchant for cooking Chinese food and his expertise in handling the wok do contribute towards that logic.

Other than that, he could be Mongolian or Burmese for all we know.

On a different (and rather spoilerific) note, anyone reckon that the little girl at the very beginning in episode one is Bai? Given that Amber's most likely that CC lookalike and I can't think of any other reason for the moment as to why they'd just put that scene right there smack dab at the start, there's a pretty good chance that it's her...

EDIT: Since this thread is 30-something pages strong, I'd reckon this has probably been mentioned before, but on the off chance that it hasn't, did anyone notice that Hei's room number practically gives him away? I'm really slow about these sorta things and it didn't really hit me 'til I was rewatching the whole thing...and even then it didn't hit me until the end of episode 2 when he got questioned by Kirihara at his doorstep...-.-;; mmh...my power of observation is waning to none =((

EDIT2: Oh right...I wanted to say this earlier but keep forgetting. The abbreviation BK never fails to remind me of Burger King. So whenever Hei's Messier Code comes up, without fail, I will have flashes of the Whopper. Oddly appropriate, though, if you asked me.

[7Th]

I don't understand how you read into the minds of DtB's creators, but for myself it's very sad and emotional, especially when it's revealed that Havoc has regained her power but refused to use it to pulverize the MI-6 because of the happiness she experience after she lost her power. And the shocked expression on November 11's face at this revelation.

I meant how they didn't resorted to some long-winded dramatic exposition scene, it was emotional but not overly emphasized... although a little more melodramatic that what they had done at episode 1-2.

[Azure22]

Hey, everyone keeps talking about contracters on here like they are by necessity emotionless... My impression upon watching the show wasn't so much that the contracters have to be "rational," but rather that their powers force them to become that way to some extent. For example, Mai. She, ya know, seems emotionless at first, but we have to realize that she killed a person for no good reason, when someone else told her to stop. She had no reason besides emotions to continue. I think that the idea that contracters are emotionless is a stereotype based on the actions of a majority of contracters.

[Wosho128]

...Wow.

After a long day at school; this is exactly the kind of anime I need. Episode 6 was great. I loved the November trio but after watching what happened; I want their butts kicked. =P I realize that they were just doing their jobs but I wanted Hei to physically reprimand those guys in the back street.

It was obvious that:

Havoc would die. I mean, how would the producers work with her surviving though all of that? The endings to DTB episodes thus far have been bittersweet and this one was no exception. I feel sorry for the girl and Hei.

Next week looks to be a little more upbeat. I don't think there will be a "girl in distress" next week; just comedy and a bit of drama. The music in the episode was excellent BTW.

[kaerstan01]

i loved havoc... T_T

[Sorrow-K]

Ep 6.

Really good ep. Good story, well developed character (intentionally unpluralized), good character interactions (I thoroughly enjoyed that scene with Havok eating Hei's cooking... it never ceases to amaze me that such simple interaction scenes can create such dynamic characters) and good action.

I dig the fact that the most intriguing thing about this series are the characters. We've gotten the first hints that Hei was a vastly different man in the past and we're starting to learn what drives and motivates him. We're also getting hints that the relationships between Hei and the other major characters in the group aren't exactly straightforward, which suggests that there's more to these other characters than meets the eye. Man, I hope they don't miss an opportunity and choose not to examine these characters. That would be incredibly disappointing, in my eyes.

I'm really starting to enjoy this show. In all honesty, the thing I'm most impressed with is just how well executed everything in this series is. I think it's very hard to overrate the impact really good execution makes to a story, and I think this show is another example that aids that argument.

[ssfsx17]

Maybe, just maybe, Yin simply sensed that Hei needed a hug. Nothing more to her action than that.

[Vanehei]

Yup, maybe she "feel" Key word.. so, maybe she is an special doll too.
I can´t wait to see chapter 7!.. But i am afraid about chapter 7.....:rolleyes:

[wao]

Just watched episode 7. I should be asleep, but stilll....

Dude, this is not a bad episode at all! If you think the gags or humorous bits feel out of place for DtB or that the main cast is completely shelved aside, don't worry - and yes, there's actual serious bits.

In fact I think this episode was totally giving off that detective-noir sort of vibe much more than any of the previous episodes combined. I might have to rewatch to get it properly, but this was definitely one of the best-produced episodes so far.

It kind of felt like the director knew what the show was normally about - and decided to purposely put a humorous twist on it by extending certain expected bits of it. http://s01.imagehost.org/0771/BARANOMAURICE_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0771/BARANOMAURICE.jpg)I think Kurasawa Guy (lmao) said it himself the best - you've got all the TEH MYSTERIOUS ELEMENTS!!!11 in here and he's purposely looking them up but in complete contrast to all the dead serious Contractors we've been having so far, here is one guy (and a silly otaku fangirl - I lol'd at that magazine spread she was showing , I SWEAR THAT WAS TAMAKI)

...yeah, anyway, like I was saying, it sort of reminded us that there were Normal People. Not that there wasn't a humourless Contractor this ep - there was, which is good because the point is this episode is not totally detached from the stories or anything. It simply has a very different spin on it.

And I think it did it very well - maybe I'll let someone else talk/blather/act pretentious about hte production values properly, but take a look at the cutting of shots (the conversation between whashername and Kurasawa in the office) and other things like the perspective (I loved the bit when Kurasawa was looking from the stairs thinking he saw someone - that was one of the best composed shots in the whole series I think), and the use of various movements made this episode stand out from the rest. http://s01.imagehost.org/0771/guy_jpg.t.jpg (http://s01.imagehost.org/view.php?image=/0771/guy.jpg)I ain't saying this was a sakugamania episode, but aside from the use of various expressions in a good way and the hilarious motions (such as Kurasawa running off when Kiko showed him the cat, Kurasawa inching up to the door, etc.) are good. It isn't just that, it's even things like Kurasawa swinging his umbrella around that impressed me. Or him grabbing his coat. Maybe I'm looking too hard, but those sort of details are what made me enjoy this episode in particular.

And what's really good is that the "serious" bits were far from substandard at least within this show's contexts. The mood and execution of the little action/serious bits were, IMO, rather well done (especially the part before the OP - you'd be so fooled into thinking this was a regular episode of DtB! :)) I also thought that the transition from these scenes did not come across as jarring to me.

Maybe I'm overrating it or something, and I'm sure there'll be people who disagree, but for now my verdict (at 3 bloody a.m. in the morning!) is that that was pretty damn good and a smart way to have some fun, and I'll hang aroudn for next week's ep for sure.

Oh, and this week's Contractor! He has the same power as Mao - that is to transfer his soul into another body, except unlike Mao he can do it with human beings. So he can get into their body, make them give him what he needs and then make them commit suicide, and jsut before they jump off or whatever he transfers back into his own body. Pretty neat.

His payment is to smell something (what is that, a fragrance?)

Maybe next episode might actually tie up the story seriously...

[Kaioshin Sama]

Ep 6.

Really good ep. Good story, well developed character (intentionally unpluralized), good character interactions (I thoroughly enjoyed that scene with Havok eating Hei's cooking... it never ceases to amaze me that such simple interaction scenes can create such dynamic characters) and good action.

I dig the fact that the most intriguing thing about this series are the characters. We've gotten the first hints that Hei was a vastly different man in the past and we're starting to learn what drives and motivates him. We're also getting hints that the relationships between Hei and the other major characters in the group aren't exactly straightforward, which suggests that there's more to these other characters than meets the eye. Man, I hope they don't miss an opportunity and choose not to examine these characters. That would be incredibly disappointing, in my eyes.

I'm really starting to enjoy this show. In all honesty, the thing I'm most impressed with is just how well executed everything in this series is. I think it's very hard to overrate the impact really good execution makes to a story, and I think this show is another example that aids that argument.

And this is exactly why I really like BONES series. They always seem to come out with these great characters that they create from scratch and they put them in a situation that allows them to develop and interact with each other. The power of an interwoven web of character relationships in making a good anime should never be underestimated.

[MrProphet]

Ha-ha, episode 7 was hilarious. It was pretty much everything the other episodes were not. I guess even gritty spies need a rest sometimes. 8)

I loved the countless digs at film noir, from the intrepid detective to the damsel in distess, to the smoke filled room with bottles of Jack Daniels. It was funny when Gai's assistant walked into his dreary and moody noir flat, turned on the lights, opened the windows and voilà, it's just a normal room, not more mystery. 8)

And isn't it interesting that Gai and the contractor are so similar. Gai has an acute sense of smell, the contractor's obligation is to smell some perfume. They look almost the same, so that even Hei mistakes one for another. They have the same coat. What's up with that? At first I thought they were in league, but it doesn't seem so. Still, there's a connection.

[Shiroth]

Ohmygod, a Ouran reference.

It just had to happen. :3

[nubby]

I think the payment is to smell dirty underwear =p maybe the victim's dirty underwear lol

[serenade_beta]

Ehhhh?! Underware? That's funny (not sarcacism), but it looked like a perfumed handkerchief to me.

Kiko=brightens Darker Than Black. Darker Than Black=turning lighter (though it probably will get darker again if Kiko and Gai leave :sad: )

Needless to say, Kiko and Gai became my favorite characters in one episode...

[nubby]

Ehhhh?! Underware? That's funny (not sarcacism), but it looked like a perfumed handkerchief to me.

Kiko=brightens Darker Than Black. Darker Than Black=turning lighter (though it probably will get darker again if Kiko and Gai leave :sad: )

Needless to say, Kiko and Gai became my favorite characters in one episode...

He is probably collection perfume for the widow.

[aohige]

It's been a while since I posted on animesuki :heh:

Apparantly, episode 7 of DtB consisted largely of Ouran Host Club staff of Bones as guest animators.
Hence the in-jokes and familiar animation style. :)

[kira-sama]

episode 7 was very hilarious
i don't even think there will have ouran reference

[Deathkillz]

Ohmygod, a Ouran reference.

It just had to happen. :3
haha! i just knew that the guy on the magazine cover looked like tamaki :D /cheers

ep 7 ~
a complete change of mood from the previous eps...and it worked quite well O.o

so here we have a scene...the detective helping a provocative widow situation...ofc just looking at Gai he has fallen head over heels for her :heh: we also have the money hungry (but super cute) assistant Kiko and hei acting as the suspicious overlooker type :3

a whole formula for something big!

the contractor this time is interesting...that body swapping ability nearly caught hei off guard as well ~ if it wasnt for our neko chan :3 (guess he fell victim to it before and so knows the consequences...)

[aohige]

ep 7 ~
a complete change of mood from the previous eps...and it worked quite well O.o

so here we have a scene...the detective helping a provocative widow situation...ofc just looking at Gai he has fallen head over heels for her :heh: we also have the money hungry (but super cute) assistant Kiko and hei acting as the suspicious overlooker type :3

a whole formula for something big!

the contractor this time is interesting...that body swapping ability nearly caught hei off guard as well ~ if it wasnt for our neko chan :3 (guess he fell victim to it before and so knows the consequences...)


No, the reason why he can tell his ability is much simpler.
He says it himself in the next line.

He has the same ability as the body swapping contractor, except his only works on animals.

[Deathkillz]

No, the reason why he can tell his ability is much simpler.
He says it himself in the next line.

He has the same ability as the body swapping contractor, except his only works on animals.

oh so hes still a contractor then? O.o but seriously why would he choose to be an animal when he was originally a human? :heh: or rather maybe he screwed up in body swapping to a cat and then finds out that he is unable to return to his own body :rolleyes:

[darlliu]

oh so hes still a contractor then? O.o but seriously why would he choose to be an animal when he was originally a human? :heh: or rather maybe he screwed up in body swapping to a cat and then finds out that he is unable to return to his own body :rolleyes:

Yes,it seems so.But anyways that collarbone reference is classic, we get to know what kind of fangirl kiko is:heh:

[quina]

AWESOME EPISODE! the best one so far in my opinion.
Instead of having episodes which normally hardly develop like other episode, this episode threw off the pace completely. The new char are cool and the atmosphere is a lot lighter makes me enjoy this a lot more.
If the story are developing at next to nothing pace since episode 1, I prefer this kind of stuffs than normal episode!

[Vanehei]

wow, i have to wait a week to see chapter 7 subbed..but.. really? the best episode so far?... I am glad about having a relax episode, but i really love the heavy atmosphere of the series...
And i desagree about "nothing happened since episode 1", because each episode make my mind fly guessing about all the misteries in the story...

[Deathkillz]

well its just an ep to break the mist of bad angst after what happened to havoc in the previous ep...a good move i should say but i can see things returning back to normal after this mini arc ~ *just savor the light atmosphere for now ^__^*

[Azure22]

Ya know, we're watching a series titled "Darker Than Black" that, from the 6 episodes I've seen, seems to delight in causing pain to it's characters/killing them off. I'm kind of surprised everyone is so pleased with the pick-me-up mood that seems to be in episode 7. I woulda figured we'd all be watching this for the depressingness.

[karumofin]

Ya know, we're watching a series titled "Darker Than Black" that, from the 6 episodes I've seen, seems to delight in causing pain to it's characters/killing them off. I'm kind of surprised everyone is so pleased with the pick-me-up mood that seems to be in episode 7. I woulda figured we'd all be watching this for the depressingness.

dark and depressing stuff can only work well in cotnrast to happy stuff ;)
of course i havent even seen ep 6 yet and dont know for sure if ill even bother with ep 7 ;)

[Joojoobees]

did anyone notice that Hei's room number practically gives him away? I'm really slow about these sorta things and it didn't really hit me 'til I was rewatching the whole thing...and even then it didn't hit me until the end of episode 2 when he got questioned by Kirihara at his doorstep...-.-;; mmh...my power of observation is waning to none =((
Yeah, she seems to stop and think about it for a second there and then decide that it couldn't be. :)

[Kisuke06]

Well, I finally watched episode 6. It was a very good episode, too bad that the red-haired girl died(I don't remember her name, I only remember that she was called Havoc).

And so more about the main character is revealed. Now I really don't think that he is a Contractor.

And it looks like the whole world is involved in the events of this show(England, USA, South America, Japan...). And they said that South America has disappeared... too bad, I wanted to see it on this show~

[Kaoru Chujo]

Ep 6. Really good ep. Good story, well developed character (intentionally unpluralized), good character interactions (I thoroughly enjoyed that scene with Havok eating Hei's cooking... it never ceases to amaze me that such simple interaction scenes can create such dynamic characters) and good action.... I dig the fact that the most intriguing thing about this series are the characters.... I think it's very hard to overrate the impact really good execution makes to a story, and I think this show is another example that aids that argument.I don't have to write anything, since I agree completely with Sorrow-K on this one. Except that I do get just enough bits of characterization from some of the others, too. Havok in particular was just beginning to be a full person. Very sharp.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

oh so hes still a contractor then? O.o but seriously why would he choose to be an animal when he was originally a human? :heh: or rather maybe he screwed up in body swapping to a cat and then finds out that he is unable to return to his own body :rolleyes:
Well, there is also another possibility... perhaps his price for using his power is as unpleasent as Havoc's, so Mao would prefer to stay as a cat until he absolutely has to change.:heh:
And anyway, since he can only bodyswap with an animal, it is not like he could become human again. Sucks, huh?

[MrProphet]

Mao cannot return to his human body any more. This was mentioned in the setup stories. No reason given as to why. His original body probably doesn't exist any longer.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Mao cannot return to his human body any more. This was mentioned in the setup stories. No reason given as to why. His original body probably doesn't exist any longer.

It makes perfect sense that if you can only body swap with animals, then once you use the ability you will stay an animal for ever.:)

[MrProphet]

How do you suppose a Contractor would "use up" his abilities? It's not like we were ever given a hint that there is any kind of limit imposed on the number of usages of Contractors' powers.

By the way, for those of you who are wondering about the "Messier code" mentioned sometimes when referring to Hei's BK201 number.

Messier code refers to the 1774 catalogue of 110 astronomical objects (primarily nebulae and star clusters) collected by Charles Messier, a French astronomer. Messier was a renowned "comet hunter" and he was trying to create a list of all known static deep sky objects so that he would not mistake one of them for an actual drifting comet.

So when you read about galaxies and see designations like M1 (Crab nebula) or M31 (Andromeda galaxy), the "M" refers to Messier Code. 8)

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

How do you suppose a Contractor would "use up" his abilities? It's not like we were ever given a hint that there is any kind of limit imposed on the number of usages of Contractors' powers.

In no way was I claiming Mao had lost his ability to body swap. I merely made the observation that, since he could only swap with animals and not humans, Mao could now only become other animals, but never a human again. It's a one way street.:)

[7Th]

Mao cannot return to his human body any more. This was mentioned in the setup stories. No reason given as to why. His original body probably doesn't exist any longer.

Wasn't there something about his brain being stored in a super-computer and Mao just acting as a medium for it? I'm pretty sure I read something like it around the first pages.

[monir]

Saw episode 5 and 6. I'm a huge fan of Inoue Kazuhiko for his roles such as Kakashi, and Soma, so I was very entertained by November. His voice naturally gives any character that nonchalant edge which can't be brought out just by anyone.

http://content.imagesocket.com/thumbs/snapshot2007051921511796e.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/snapshot2007051921511796e.jpg)

The interaction between Hei and Havoc was touching due to the pure simplicity of it all. It also made me very curious about Havoc's ability and more about her brutal past. And the final best event was when the silent girl holds Hei's hand near the end of the episode 6 which made him jump. Awesome! :) This couple of episode is clearly the highlight of this series so far.

The only thing I'm a bit confused about is why November seemed unprepared for Hei's err... projectile that he had to block out with his hand. And is that Lupin in the preview for episode 7?

[Oberon]

The only thing I'm a bit confused about is why November seemed unprepared for Hei's err... projectile that he had to block out with his hand. And is that Lupin in the preview for episode 7?

As I see it, he didn't expect Hei to act the way he did. Contractors are supposedly cold and rational and put themselves before any organization or ideology. So when they trapped Hei, he was fully expecting him to cooperate, as they offered Hei a way out of this ("tell us about the organization and you can go"). It's like the pre-OP scene in episode 1, where the gravity control guy wanted to make a deal with Hei and Hei got pissed off to the point that he killed him, with a comment amounting to "that's how you contractors think, isn't it?".

[monir]

That's a superb explanation and it makes much more sense. Hmmm.. Hei truly is a strange one for a contractor. Thanks for the clarification! :)

[Guido]

Watched episode six.

No matter from which angle do I see this series, the quality for the storyline keeps getting interesting.

Basically, Carmine a.k.a. Havoc gives a detailed description about Contractors.

Contractors put themselves above any ideology and organization. So it is not surprising that they cold, rational, unamusing, and their gestures all look artificial and synthetic.

However, Hei strangely is an exception to the rule. He has emotions but digs them in so as they won't interfere with his job.

The problem for this mission that failed miserably was he could not keep them on check.

From what also Carmine explained Contractors should fear nothing else but their Contracts.
Is the contract related with their stars? or is it something that came from the Gate?

Quite two possibilities that would be cleared off eventually.

I do feel rooting for both Carmine and Hei, as they look like could make a nice couple. One can imagine the monstrosity that her power is alike from the bloody flashbacks she was recollecting again.

This is the first time that I've seen another (former) contractor aside from Hei whose emotions fluorished naturally and her smile was a true one and not an artificial like November 11 and his batch.

[aohige]

How do you suppose a Contractor would "use up" his abilities? It's not like we were ever given a hint that there is any kind of limit imposed on the number of usages of Contractors' powers.


To explain what he means, let me illustrate.

1. Mao can only swap bodies with animals.

2. Mao (human) swaps to a cat.

3. Mao (cat) tries to swap back to his human body..... "oh $#!T!! I can only swap to an animal! I'm stuck!!"

This is what his theory is, I assume. And it sounds pretty logical.