Durarara!!x2 Shou - Episode 4 Discussion / Poll

[Kairin]

Welcome to the discussion thread for Durarara!!x2 Shou, Episode 4.

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[ACertainStark]

Thank you.

I thought the animation & art was a bit LQ this week, which sucks since the first half was quite hectic. But Celty got out of it just fine in the end. A sweet moment with everyone gathered to enjoy some hot-pot was nice and Shizuo being Shizuo. And oh? Mikado being a little...

But looks like Izaya is going to have some fun with just about everything soon.

Another Index reference. Thanks, Walker.

[Requiem-x]

Pure classic Durarara caraziness from beginning to end, and it wasn't even at full power.

For some reason I enjoyed Celty's dialogue the most through this whole episode, specially the first half. When it wasn't funny, it was frantic That said, my favorite part was

Spoiler for Spoiler:

The nabe party at the end, if only because of the moment between Shinra and Celty. And Mikado and Anri's faces from witnessing it Oh, and Shizuo's face. I'm not sure if he's annoyed or nervous Silly me, I almost forgot Dotachin being a bro and a badass at the beginning.

Of course, just as glorious was

Spoiler for Spoiler:

Izaya getting blown out by Namie right after being pestered by the incestuous duo

However, that's as far as you can go, it seems. From now on, the trollmaster is back in action.

Spoiler for Spoiler:

Good luck, Aoba.

Oh, right. Like Stark said, nice reference. Hopefully they keep coming.

[frubam]

Erika looks pretty cute without the hat; wonderful unique hairstyle=03! I think this is the first time I've ever seen her without it that I can remember, at least consistently.

Everybody got together, and that was great in itself, but kinda disappointed that more focus was placed on useless 'escaping the bikers' plot instead of interactions during the hot-pot party =0(. Could have made for some interesting interactions that probably would never happen in the course of the normal story(like Shinra telling Mikado not to give up trying with Anri or something). At least Erika and Walker discussing whether Celty was a tsundere was hilarious X03(didn't happen during the party though).

Adorable Shinra/Celty moment =03. Same with Yuuhei and Ruri, though it feels like the latter is a more stranger combination than the former =0b.

Still can't believe Anri is hung up on both Mikado and Masaomi =0\. Can't put my finger on it, but something about it is offputting. I think I'd rather her not feel anything at all than with both of them simultaneously. I'd even go for something like the "unrequited Shinra/focused-on-head Celty"-type of relationship(for Mikado/Anri respectively) from the beg of S1.

I've noticed this in the latter quarter of S1, but I wonder does someone like Izaya actually have feelings for Namie? I guess even he wants someone to feel close to at times. I have a feeling its quite the opposite on Namie's part though. Don't particularly see the need or desire for her to screw with Izaya, but it feels like she tries to screw him over when possible.

I'm surprised Aoba knew already that Mikado was the creator of the Dollars. I'm even more surprised that he[at least hinted] knew what had been generally going on in S1.

Originally Posted by ACertainStark

But looks like Izaya is going to have some fun with just about everything soon.

You sure that Izaya's the one who's going to have fun? Looks like Aoba plans to beat him to the punch.

[Requiem-x]

Originally Posted by frubam

You sure that Izaya's the one who's going to have fun? Looks like Aoba plans to beat him to the punch.

First we gotta see what he's capable of. Until then, Izaya is still the favorite.

[Iron Maw]

I think this arc proved that Ikebukuro will always be pretty wild even without Izaya ever doing anything.

Despite cutting out quite a bit, the staff end managed to end this arc quite well. I loved how Celty wall/building riding like crazy throughtout the chase scene. Ruri then showing up out of nowhere in the Dullahan armor/cosplay and wreaking people left and right was great too. Now Kasuka is falling for her for real.

I didn't Shuka expect would include the "is Celty a tsundere?" conversation between Erika and Walker at the hotpot party so that was a nice surprise and unnerving spot on about most points in Shinra and Celty's relationship.

One of the biggest highlight for me however was all the foreshadowing scenes at the end between various groups and Izaya.

That said:

Spoiler for novel comparison:

Damn they cut the Russians part of it though which hinted at Vorona and Slon being Japan and them being Igor's real reason for coming to the country.

I guess it's partly because it's entirely in Russian which none of VAs of Simon, Dennis and Igor no how to speak.

Which leaves me pretty bummed.

Originally Posted by frubam

Still can't believe Anri is hung up on both Mikado and Masaomi =0\. Can't put my finger on it, but something about it is offputting. I think I'd rather her not feel anything at all than with both of them simultaneously. I'd even go for something like the "unrequited Shinra/focused-on-head Celty"-type of relationship(for Mikado/Anri respectively) from the beg of S1.

While Anri has come to care about them a lot more now (evident with Saika acting out on it's own) she is still struggling sorting out her feelings comes to deciding whether their just familial affection or something more since she is unfamiliar those emotions. I did chuckle at their reaction towards Shinra and Celty though.

[Seihai]

This series never fails to deliver new revelations. I was really confused when Ergo showed that he's under Saika's influence until Anri had the flashback of when he touched her shoulder in the karaoke bar.

[ChampDream]

It was really nice seeing everybody having fun at the party, specially Shinra and Celty. It look like Izaya will start to have his own fun now.

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by frubam

Erika looks pretty cute without the hat; wonderful unique hairstyle=03! I think this is the first time I've ever seen her without it that I can remember, at least consistently.

Images

indeed

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another shot

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[Wandering Soul]

Nice to see everyone just enjoying a nice party together. Although I'm not sure how Shizuo felt with that face he had on. Shinra and Celty also had a nice moment.

[ACertainStark]

Originally Posted by Iron Maw

Images

indeed

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another shot

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Another is the the DRRR!!x10 cover.

[Stark700]

I just love how Celty is dealing with her pursuers in the latest episode. Izaya seems to have a target on his back though?!

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by the one above all

Nice to see everyone just enjoying a nice party together. Although I'm not sure how Shizuo felt with that face he had on. Shinra and Celty also had a nice moment.

He totally had the "who the hell are all these people and why am I here again?" "Ah whatever." face on.

It constants nicely with Izaya being butthurt about not being invited at all and Namie just blowing him off.

Originally Posted by ACertainStark

Another is the the DRRR!!x10 cover.

Ha! That's already a given.

[GDiddy]

ALL HAIL THE TROLL KING AND THE QUEENS!


Yuhei and Ruri are sweet together.

[Utsuro no Hako]

I thought the action was pretty lackluster this week. The chase sequence was nowhere near as dynamic as the ones in the first season, especially episode 12.5, and I never got any sense of danger from Toramaru. The bikers should've been using their superior numbers to try and corner Togusa while he used his knowledge of Ikebukuro to escape their traps, but what we got instead was more like a parade with the bikers following the van in a straight line. If they'd cut the hotpot sequence (which really deserves its own OVA episode) they could've made this episode truly epic, but instead it feels more like set up than the climax to a novel.

[ACertainStark]

Originally Posted by Iron Maw

Ha! That's already a given.

I just noticed the Persona Movie 2 poster in the first screen.

[Yu Ominae]

I don't know if this episode' foreshadow his dark side after that grin of his.

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by ACertainStark

I just noticed the Persona Movie 2 poster in the first screen.

There is a SamFlam poster on the right too. People can't call her tastes shit anymore.

Originally Posted by Yu Ominae

I don't know if this episode' foreshadow his dark side after that grin of his.

I don't know if I would call it "dark" as much as "mischievous", but it's actually been foreshadowed even as far back as volume 1. Because he has a tendency to do that whenever something tense and unusual/chaotic/extraordinary is happening. It's downplayed a bit in the anime's first season, but left as it is in the manga's slightly more faithful adaptation.

The first instance of it happening is here.

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That's when he saved Mika from Celty back in season 1. It's a subconscious reaction so he never notices himself and reader is only ever aware of it when POV is on anybody other than Mikado like Celty here.

EDIT:

BTW, This advice hilariously ironic in hindsight when you consider how they both ended up here.

Images

a bit late for that

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Stuff like this why I love this show.

[Kanon]

The chase was definitely not as exciting as the ones we have seen previously in the series. I wish the nabe party had been longer instead and that we had seen the characters interact with other characters they don't see often or barely even know. Like Shizuo with the kids.

Izaya being butthurt he wasn't invited was hilarious. That's what happens when you're an asshole

It seems like Aoba is trying to become the new Izaya. I hope he'll get crushed like an ant. There's only room for one master troll in this city.

Originally Posted by Iron Maw

There is a SamFlam poster on the right too. People can't call her tastes shit anymore.

There's also a SAO poster, so I can

[frubam]

Originally Posted by Iron Maw

I don't know if I would call it "dark" as much as "mischievous", but it's actually been foreshadowed even as far back as volume 1. Because he has a tendency to do that whenever something tense and unusual/chaotic/extraordinary is happening. It's downplayed a bit in the anime's first season, but left as it is in the manga's slightly more faithful adaptation.

Yet after the events of s1, I can't say for sure exactly how much power, if any, Mikado has. That grin is ludicrous, given circumstanes. Don't get me wrong, for someone who doesn't have a "talent", he came a long way. But really, what good is he outside of gathering a bunch of people together? Well he at least has some intelligence, but not on, say, Izaya's level or anything. Oh, and he can potentially gather information from Dollar members around the city. Can't see how that'd help him when it comes to the really big trouble. I really wondered what he was planning to do when he tried to go and help Celty.