[Dragon-Emperor]

Exciting episode even though it is taking a turn that some people seem to dislike. 24 is up in the air. I doubt anyone who has read the novels can even guess what will happen next because of the large levels of deviation the season has taken.

Spoiler for 23:

Dantalion seems to have illuminated the answers to some questions asked for this season so that’s a nice change. Also, this meeting of Bel Masque vs. the Flame Haze shouldn’t be taken as some “ugh it’s the exact same as last season” because there is still one more episode to go and they definitely do NOT have room for all the nemesis to have their 1 on 1 battles again. They are definitely on the stage, but the true spotlight is on Yuuji right now. Hell, leaving anyone out and not giving them some screen time for the season finale would be a bigger crime than causing similarities to season one.
Yuuji falling into that abyss after trying to fight off the Domino brigade was a neat scene to me, to see him fighting so strongly and not cowering away. Falling down into that abyss also reminds me of the end of the animated Transformers movie, where inside Unicron when HotRod fell into an abyss of his own. One might think he would’ve been lost – but he fell exactly where he needed to go- and I believe this is the case with Yuuji as well.
Making use of the ending credits section for more animation made me happy too, as since the protagonists were being held back during the closing music and Yuuji also losing ground, it was a good epic futile struggle feeling that I got. This really makes the next episode worth looking forward to!
I may also be imagining things, but Hecate had some unneeded stares at Yuuji at the beginning when she could have disposed of him. But she didn’t. Maybe some feelings from her faux vessel are going to reveal themselves next episode, or more likely somewhere in season 3?
Kazumi might have to make a choice next episode too. I wonder what that will be? And of course… will Yuuji finally make a choice between the two other points of the triangle? Can’t wait to see!

Also… Doesn’t Dantalion make you smile when he talks? I love the guy! =D

Great episode imo!