Darker Than Black [1st season] generic discussion

[Vanehei]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Quick questions for a latecomer.

What episode is Darker than Black up to right now? What is the latest subbed episode you can find?

Today the episode 20 was showed in Japan. About subs.. we cant tell a lot about it because it was licenced, sorry!

[tresor]

Remember, it is not so much a personal thing to me, but much more so for Bones et al, as they made the decision to write the show this way.

Originally Posted by hipeach

I don't really see any semblance between Saikano's Akemi and DTB's Shihiko, albeit both are among my favorite characters in anime.

That is why when I first saw it, I went back to confirm w/ facts whether this was true or not. Although it was somewhat drawn out, consecutive posts etc, but no one else really posted Sunday, the thinking process was honestly shown in my posts Sunday.

Akemi is 17 in Saikano, this woman is at least in her late 30s looking at the lines on her face. Why are they different? Here is another way they are different, Shihoko's eye's are dancing, She is insane. Also, the same as last line, see my speculation spoiler for "contractor" mode. It happens in real life that way to, when people turn cold to you, a different person etc. I think that is the reason that Bones et al did include Akemi here so they could drive the point home between "personal mode" and "contractor mode" (see battering ram in this message title).

Spoiler for These are the many things that are the same:

It was setup in Episode 16:
Maki Quotes the lyrics to the closing song of Saikano:
GoTo Spoiler for Episode 16 Desu
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost...postcount=1615

Double click through 2 spoilers alert:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost...postcount=1622
If you look at the first 2 pictures, they are the same (hair, smile), both voices speak in the same exact cadence in the reference I made. The title of the episodes are similar (like Eureka Seven grabbed the title of Everybody's Changing for one of their episodes).

"Oh yeah, that hospital bed scene, I A-B that one, I really like Akime, and I re-watched, as emotional as it was, the episode 9 of Saikano and some of the phrases may be exactly the same,"

http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p490242jo9.png
http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p470001bx9.png

http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p489680bc7.png
http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p466129qw5.png

Akemi is always bossy and always in motion.
http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p473239ex5.png

Closing the Eyes is a trademark Akemi move
http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p475263qx5.png
http://img409.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p492002jh5.png

Spoiler for From Current Episode 20:

http://randomc.animeblogger.net/imag...Large%2025.jpg
I am not going to go back and get the screen cap of the exact right screen from Saikano
http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?i...p465137mu0.png

Akemi befriends a misfit with no friends (Chise), hummmm
Akemi gets trick kiss of Shuji in that Akemi epsiode 9, Shihoko gets trick kiss of Huang on steps.

So, after doing all that I moved on to the next question. Why did Bones et al do this, and that is where I am now. The next part is speculated educated guesses but it is where I am today in my thinking (without drawing/laying out my conclusions)

Spoiler for Last Thursday:

Saikano, How is Chise Created = How Contractors Are Created?
Maki acts like Chise when they both go into 1 state. Was maki the actual emobodiment of Chise when she goes into that final state? Did Amber's love save maki? Did Shuji's love save Chise? Shihoko changes personality A to B like Hei? What does this mean when one enters into "contractor mode." Kill in cold blood? Chise was "saving", Nick was "saving" that Corinna Moku?

Love? The screen shots show Akemi with Shuji, closing her eyes opens her eyes and smiles. The screen shots show Shihoko alone closing her eyes opening them and then.... Close your eyes to dreams, are the dreams gone?

gamma rays come from what? What Causes time to go freeze/go in reverse? What Causes stars to disappear? Think of the simple answer, I don't think Bones are nuclear scientists, or wasn't that Mina? The closing song animation was simple/reviled? Three words. Nick turning shoes upside down.

Here is the kicker question:
Saikano was obviously SCIFI wacked out, but the actual stories contained in the container where all true.
Are some of the stories in Darker Than Black true? I know the last one with Huang looks true to me, even down to the woman being the one to turn the .....
(See Throwing Everyhing and the Kitchen Sink In)

[Snait3]

Originally Posted by Kashima

Jeje, i dont think we`ll see Amber today.. but i bet that next arc she will be there for sure.
Eres de chile? casi no veo hispanos por aca, un saludo!!

Indeed, no Amber today .

Salu2 para tí tambien

[7Th]

Episode 20 basically confirmed Amber's contract is indeed getting younger.

[Gundam Master]

does she still age, or does she just get younger and never ages

[Mangaka-chan]

Good questions. If she just ages and then grows older again, wouldn't that means she could technically be ageless if she wanted to be? But on the other hand if she ends up not being able to grow older, then it makes more sense that she can't use her powers whenever she wants to or else she'll eventually end up an infant.

[Gundam Master]

but wouldn't it also make sense that she ages because if she didn't age that would be her contract instead of getting younger. It's only natural for her to age, maybe she just uses it so much that she has become so much younger.

Also I wonder how old she looked before she used her powers.

[hipeach]

Originally Posted by Mangaka-chan

Good questions. If she just ages and then grows older again, wouldn't that means she could technically be ageless if she wanted to be? But on the other hand if she ends up not being able to grow older, then it makes more sense that she can't use her powers whenever she wants to or else she'll eventually end up an infant.

if that's the case, then if she never uses her power, she'll be an immortal?

Originally Posted by tresor

That is why when I first saw it, I went back to confirm w/ facts whether this was true or not. Although it was somewhat drawn out, consecutive posts etc, but no one else really posted Sunday, the thinking process was honestly shown in my posts Sunday.

oh, so those scenes are what you mean... I may agree with some but not with some others, like the "closing eyes" part, since that seems to be just a popular way to show cute-ness in lots of animes. And stealing a kiss under sakura blossom is just ubiquitous, albeit THIS is definitely the best sakura scene ever! Also I'd not say the hospital scene is anywhere sad, rather Shihoko is displaying her ability to switch between all kinds of faces instantly

Anyway I thought you were talking about the two characters' personalities and stuff, so I guess I have misread your line.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by 7Th

Episode 20 basically confirmed Amber's contract is indeed getting younger.

So that explains why she looked a lot older in the first flashback we seen her in --- i should have known.

[Itachi-evil]

It was so obvious.
I think most of us have already thought that her "price" for using her powers is her getting younger.

However there were a few sceptics.......

Now it is officialy affirmed!

[Iggy_Pop]

There will a drama CD of DTB. Just read it in the official website. Although, the story seems to be based from the manga, not an original story.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Kashima

Today the episode 20 was showed in Japan. About subs.. we cant tell a lot about it because it was licenced, sorry!

Hmm...I wasn't asking about where to find the subs, but rather asking which is the latest subbed episode. However, I can understand the rationale behind not answering the question as it was originally phrased, so I apologise if it inadvertently flouted the rules.

Having watched up till Episode 18 over the past week, I felt that Darker than Black started to be interesting only from Episode 13 onwards, with the beginning of Yin's arc. On the other hand, it felt as though the show was trying too hard to be another Cowboy Bepop for the first 12 episodes, especially given the influence of Yoko Kanno's music. I suppose we'll be seeing the reasons behind the Evening Primrose's actions pretty soon?

[Gundam Master]

Well Cowboy Bebop a lot of the episode could stand alone, this the episodes come in pairs.

[Nanami]

Originally Posted by Gundam Master

does she still age, or does she just get younger and never ages

I think Amber still age. She says something like "Hei, I've traveled a long way. All throughout time". At least her price is getting about 2-3 years younger and I think when she was in war at south america she've must used her power more often. This was was 10 years ago (just don't count how old really is Amber ) so this years count too. If not, she'll be a small baby now. But who knows?

[7Th]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

So that explains why she looked a lot older in the first flashback we seen her in --- i should have known.

Eh... I was talking about an indirect confirmation since that Evening Primrose "cult leader" had the price of growing older, pretty much saying that such a physical change is indeed an acceptable contract by itself.

[Vanehei]

Well, then we learn that de payment is not an action, it can be an intern or extern process to. Amber get younger, Alma get older.. Shikoto "feel" and Hei.... WTF with Hei?, i think that we can think again about "have feelings" as payment for him. But if the writters want to be more dramatic, Hei`s payment should be something like "shorter life"... i don know..
So, maybe Amber is the same age that Housimi- sama, maybe... she is her twin sister or something like that... and i hope that she dont become a kid...(more)

[tresor]

Originally Posted by Nanami

I think Amber still age. She says something like "Hei, I've traveled a long way. All throughout time"...

Nanami, I agree w/ your thinking on this one.

Spoiler for With Clues From Episode 20 - What is the syndicate:

I'm thinking that Hei's syndicate may be some sort of off the books counter surveillance/terrorism, and the ##### that syndicate works for may have created the "problem/gate" in the first place.

Spoiler for Hospital Scene Is Sad To Me:

It is sad to me, the music, the audition book represents dreams that never come true (ala Hollywood the Land of Dreams). Basically Saikano was about dreams that are prevented by war, death, etc. Akime's dream, basically each episode is an end to some dream in Saikano. So the hospital scene added all that weight also. "Hei then says that Contractors don’t see dreams" - Omniscient from Episode 20

Spoiler for Pictures From Current Episode 20:

I think these pictures go together



I think these pictures go together



And it is kind of poetic, no? From Akemi to Akari.

I think the point that Bones et al was trying to drive home was the difference between "personal mode" and "contractor mode" and that each of us have the ability to achieve both, that it is within us. See "Prophet Speech." If one is personally invested in Saikano and 5cm (see bitter) then it is a pretty neat/sneaky trick.

Looks like the 5cm reference was correct, about the Snow falling like Cherry Blossoms.
Speaking of which, my prediction on 5cm post:
"...a sense of something lost yet was never there in the first place."
Watch the current episode #19 of Darker Than Black for a real first place, meaning the first place is real, which is obvious (to me)."
A Book recommended from 5cm thread sounds themes of "prophet's" speech?
"tresor said about the conflict of Takaki's spiritual and Akari's materialistic values. I think it's an interesting point especially in the era of a bestselling book like this.
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E4%B8%8B%E6...6280069&sr=8-1
"by lobabel : 2007-08-12 at 11:32"

"Shikoto "feel" and Hei.... WTF with Hei?, i think that we can think again about "have feelings" as payment for him. But if the writters want to be more dramatic, Hei`s payment should be something like "shorter life"... i don know.." -kashima

Spoiler for Contract of Blackness:

I think Hei is bound to a contract of blackness rather than being a black contractor. I think before the gate Hei himself was a human "God" of Death, and his reward now is the contract.
I think the payment Hei makes will be the final payment. I think Hei's fate is sealed no matter what he does. I think just like Tohno was fated to see Akari many years later at that railroad crossing with nothing he did previously of any consequence, Hei is fated to that meeting with Amber. Beyond Promises, The Final Part of the Contract. Also fits with man trying to play God theme of the show, and a theme which suits Bones well.

Spoiler for Analysis of Current Episode 20:

The Hospital Scene? We did not here the music in this episode until the death scene...
Hospital Scene = Killing Partner = Final Death Scene.
Also, Akemi was crushed to death in Saikano, but crushing Shikoto/Akari with the truck may just be mean spirited, oh yes her face did not go back to "Shikoto/Akemi" face, does that mean she will live in Huang's heart forever as "Shikoto/Akemi" ...like the very last scene of Saikano, aww.
Wow, too many details, sidetracked again.
Wow, This was definitely not a filler arc. Almost a privilege to see a Srsly show this great.
It fits with a theory that I developed at the end of episode 11, that Bones et al was going to make a point of about how we went from an extended family to a nuclear family to the nuclear person, with the nuclear person being unstable and that Bones would then try to embody that in nuclear science. So, if that theory holds all of the information given in this arc definitely is not filler but part of the main plot. Plus, we get to see Bones et al growing, questioning previous supositions (raising the dead), putting things in a new light, a new context.
Wow thinking back to FMA, the gate also represents the gate inside of all of us, the gate from good to evil, the gate to dreams (heaven) and the gate of only reality (hell) (the other side of the gate in FMA).
+, we get a strong hint that some of these stories may be real but incorporated into the series story like Saikano was. And... the Bones fatalism/bitterness is a soothing reminder that some things never change.

[nubby]

wow the ending to eps 20 confused me a bit.....

Spoiler:

did the girl commit suicide because she noticed the guy from the organization following them or does the guy from the organization have powers to control people?.........

[tresor]

Spoiler for Yes:

She committed suicide... I think the organization following was irrelevant in her decision, that she, as she said that she could not outrun the organization on her own, and Huang, as I might like his character to a degree, he did not have the guts to pull the trigger on her. Actually that scene is also in Saikano with the gutless Shuji unable to kill Chise at the end of that episode and then subsequently with Shuji crying, Chise saved him by committing suicide with her "contractor" powers.

To Save Huang, probably to save her love in Huang, it's basically the last scene from Saikano reincarnated in a smaller scale.

Spoiler for Dark Joke:

Was Shihoko "inspired" by watching Saikano in her last scene?

Spoiler for Answer to My Question of How Huang Situation would be manipulated by syndicate:

"the guy from the organization" = Huang's Boss. He never had to lift a finger, or pull his hands out of his pockets, because he knew how the situation would resolve (read cynicism).

[ItachiGT]

Wow again a superberb episode!!

Great too see the character-developement of Hei

Just fantastic.

Episode 21 will be the hit too

Towards the final this show is getting more and more brilliant.

Btw:

SInce the characters do resemble each other pretty much, the guy in the white silk, is he the one with the "blood-attack" again?

In the end Hei shall die peacefully.