July 16, 2007: Darker than Black Reviews Dropped

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As mentioned in this entry, I considered dropping Darker than Black from my current list. Well, today is the big day! What are the reasons? Well, please refer below:

- slow release of XVID or AVI formats
- 5 episodes behind
- makkun is no longer interested

I'll transfer this title to my "backlog list". Backlog is a term I don't normally use so I was thrown off-guard when Scheider suddenly associated this word with anime. I define backlog as a supply reserve. But the other meaning is "a list of things that need to be done, but have not been done for some time".

In short, anime titles put away for later viewing. ^o^

June 27, 2007: Darker than Black EP 10 { THE PURE WHITE DRESS ... PART 2 }

Posted at 01:51 AM   Darker than Black   1 Comment/s    Permalink  

Full Episode Title: The Pure White Dress Stains Her Dreams with Blood Part 2.

This very nice story definitely deserves a 100%.

I honestly thought that the events were predictable but despite that, I still enjoyed watching the White Dress arc, especially the last part because it reminded me that I used to be like Alice. I depended on my friends so much to the point where I can't do anything or be happy without them.

It's sad that there are people who take their friendships the wrong way. Alice, in this case, tried to kill Misaki/Kirihara because Kirihara "failed" to be there for her. Kirihara, on the other hand has her own issues: allowing other peoples' sufferings burden her. I think my sister is like that. O.o

Thing is, a friend can't be your friend all the time. So erase that "a friend in need is a friend in deed" notion because everyone has problems. You can't always expect that they'll come knocking at your door whenever you're blue. Sometimes it really is better that you deal with your own problems. It builds character after all.

Episode Rating:

Memorable Quote from Episode 9: So many people in this world care only for their own gratification, ignoring the suffering of their fellow men -- Young Kirihara.

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June 24, 2007: Darker than Black EP 9 { THE PURE WHITE DRESS ... PART 1 }

Posted at 05:09 PM   Darker than Black   Add a Comment    Permalink  

Full Episode Title: The Pure White Dress Stains Her Dreams with Blood Part 1.

I'm considering dropping this anime from my current list. Still, I can't decide just yet because I actually enjoyed EP 9.

Hei and Kirihara have chemistry, that much is obvious. She's strong-willed, pretty -- a perfect match for Hei. Not that I'm expecting a love plot in this dark anime, but well, a sprinkle of it wouldn't be so bad.

The story needs to pick up though. Enough about individual contractor tales, I think it's important that the major characters are developed. We still have no knowledge of Hei's past, except that one, he had a sister and two, he likes to eat a lot. Also, I would like to see more of Yin; her past, the extent of her powers, why did she become affiliated with Hei. This anime lacks these kind of things. It's so sad. T_T

Still, I have no complaints about the animation. Probably this is the strongest feature of Darker than Black. As for the music, well, I don't really focus on that, although I think DtB effectively uses its background songs when necessary.

So, I'm giving this episode a 98%

Episode Rating:

Memorable Quote from Episode 9: How funny that a Mafia's daughter and an officer of the law should be friends -- Alice.

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June 14, 2007: Darker than Black EP 8 { THE GARDENIA ... PART 2 }

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Full Episode Title: The Gardenia Releases its Scent in the May Rain Part 2.

A very ordinary episode. If Darker than Black was originally a manga I'd say the Gardenia arc was a filler.

Say, I've recently started monitoring the visitors of my blog and I was surprised that the most accessed page is Romeo x Juliet. Not only that, the song Inori ~ You Raise Me Up ~ is to the date the most downloaded MP3. See, I was thinking this blog doesn't attract non-Tabulas readers but when I checked the hit report page, I proved myself wrong. Apparently my blog appears in search engines and the Brazilians are the top visitors of my site. I just wish they spare a second to tag something at my shoutbox. I can only identify them through their IP addresses. I'm thankful though. ^0^

Going back to this episode, I was a bit uncomfortable with the belief of the mysterious widow regarding bad odor. She said everyone was born with it, but I don't think that's fair of her to say. If you torch a man then that sure will smell but a normal person doesn't have a natural bad odor. Even if we go back in time to see a fangirl sliding out of her mama's womb. Babies smell so good. Not in a way that I want to eat them though.

Episode 8 gets an 80%.

Episode Rating:

Memorable Quote from Episode 8: We're all born into this world with BO! -- the mysterious widow.

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June 6, 2007: Darker than Black EP 7 { THE GARDENIA ... PART 1 }

Posted at 06:32 PM   Darker than Black   Add a Comment    Permalink  

Full Episode Title: The Gardenia Releases its Scent in the May Rain Part 1.

Big surprise! The comic-relief release of this dramatic anime is not at all expected, although personally I find the "relief" appropriate and well-received. I enjoyed it better than the previous episodes.

Kiko's uniform/costume is somehow out of the ordinary. She could better fit in the anime Galaxy Angels or Vandread but I guess it may be assumed that she likes to cosplay because Gai mentioned about her fanaticism in animes.

Gai is your typical detective who wears a hat and brown jacket and likes keeping notes in a small notebook. I think he can be the funny antagonist in the anime Cowboy Bebop, chasing Faye Valentine for her debts. Something like that.

I'm giving this episode a 90%.

Episode Rating:

Memorable Quote from Episode 7: Oh did you know? People with waxy ears have a strong Bo -- the mysterious widow.

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