Anime
Darker than Black: Under the Same Sky, Gazing at the Same Stars
I’m almost done watching Darker than Black, as part of this DtB watching/rewatching movement that Hitl– I mean omo’s– err rather, Owen spearheaded, which I kinda fell behind on but somehow managed to get back to again. And while I know there’s a lot left to be revealed in the last two episodes I’m about to watch, I don’t think that will ruin the experience for me. I found it fascinating right from the start, and I don’t think that will ever change.
There’s just one thing I want to say after watching episode 23, though:
Click at your own risk, you’ve been warned!
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*ahem* Now where were we…
I remember there being cries of disappointment about Darker than Black back when it aired, and while I can see where those complaints are coming from, I’m proud to say I managed to dodge the pitfalls in watching this, because I was not the least bit disappointed with what I’ve seen. I don’t know if this has something to do with my *ahem* heightened senses or “clarity of mind”, or that it so happens that I viewed the series from the “right lens”, doesn’t change the fact that I seem to be acting like an elitist with what I just said, but yeah.
There were a few episodes which I found to be rather forgettable, the mind-boggling (or just the whole relationship between a woman and a man as old as her father or grandfather) Scentimental episode, for example, but I do want to take a second look at it and see just what I missed (I think the answer lies somewhere in my subconscious, and I refuse to read Owen’s post until I figure this out myself).
Of course, there were also episodes which I found to be the Cream of the Crop: the Yin arc (episode 13-14), and the Huang / Gate-sama arc (episode 19-20); I’m sure most of the ones who watched Darker than Black would agree. They resounded to me the most, gave me that “wow *goosebumps*” feeling, and, even for a brief moment, made me see what superb storytelling is about. I guess I could also say that it made me see what Darker than Black is all about (which is, understandably, but one of the many interpretations people could draw out from this series).
There’s a lot of questions and thoughts running through my mind right now. I’ve been silently “nurturing” them since watching the first few eps, and now they’re screaming to get out and into a blog post — one of which is this idea I’ve been toying with as to why Darker than Black is titled as such, and what does this have to do with the Color Names of the characters, the rich metaphor behind the title. How “Black” can either refer to Hei himself, or the “absence of colors”, the “absence of light”, Hei’s “absence of colors”, and that the very existence of “Darker than Black” already dispels the “fact” that “There is no Darker than Black”. Now you can say, “Darker than Black exists”, only, in anime form. very unpunny, yes I know. That, among others. I’ll get to that post soon enough, need to organize my thoughts first and make them coherent enough and reader-friendly (somewhat).
And as I was watching episode 23 and notice the thematic focus on the stars right from the start, I came to this realization: Amidst everything that happens in the DtB world, the clash and unity between its people — their ultimate search for identity and purpose in life, within and apart from being a Contractor, Doll, or human — one thing remains universal: They’re all under the same sky, gazing at the same stars, real or not. The stars might have divided them, dictated their so-called “fates” (or whatever it is that happens in their lives get to be reflected in the stars/skies), but it’s also one of the few things that unites ALL of them — the ultimate witness of their lives.
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9 comments for “Darker than Black: Under the Same Sky, Gazing at the Same Stars”
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Forgive me for my ignorance, but what were the “cries of disappointment”? I don’t follow many blogs/forums, so all I know is that the last two episodes ended up raising more questions than answering them. I personally loved the show, though I did kinda skim through pretty much all the bits that felt like filler (primarily those scenes involving the PI and pink).
Hm…tempted to rewatch DtB now as well…mainly to pass my free time waiting for more Cross Game ;]
Pretty much along the same lines, ‘the last arc didn’t tie the loose ends of the series’, or that ‘it would’ve been better if the series length was cut in half’, ‘I stopped caring for it after the first half’, etc. I owe it to not seeing the message behind the other episodes, hence people’s labelling of some episodes as ‘filler’. I too thought the ones with Pinky and the PI were filler-like, but if you take a closer look at it, you’ll see that it doesn’t stray away from the intended theme of the series.
A rewatch would be good, you can see what you missed out on that way!
I was not in tune yet with the blogosphere at the time, but DtB was still the best of 2007 for me. A rewatch would be good, even though I already did that for the last 5 episodes or so to catch exactly what was being implied.
Though Owen’s episodics have been making me rethink as well.
only the last 5 episodes? that’s not enough! Watch MOAR!
I had the same reaction after that episode too (re: Nov 11). For me, DtB and Moribito were the best series in the Spring ‘07 season (with Oofuri and Love*Com next on the list).
Glad to hear you’re enjoying DtB! Even until now, I’m still noticing some little details that help me understand the story better every time I re-watch it (3 times and counting xD).
There was a rumor before about a season 2… it got “leaked” along with the FMA s2. The FMA part turned out to be true, oh how I wish the DtB s2 rumor would also be true!
Darker than Black definitely thrilled and entertained me as a series, plus I loved the atmosphere of mystery and the contract and remuneration system (Poetry and boiled eggs 4tw! I’m surprisingly a sucker for groups of random powers, it’s what got me interested in the likes of Fushigi Yuugi -srsly XD- and even *gasps* Bleach for a while. I’m surprised I don’t watch more shounen anime…) Not perhaps the deepest of reasons, but yea loved the show as it is
I WAS disappointed when the rumours for a 2nd season got dispelled though, would’ve loved more episodes! I can see how some people may feel that the show could’ve done a better job of explaining things or that it was just being cryptic for the sake of being cryptic (people like Owen will obviously disagree), but if some would rather rewatch the show to gain a deeper understanding of what may or may not have lied under the surface of things that’s great too. Still, regardless of whether or not it be ‘necessary’ I do believe a 2nd season wouldn’t bring the series down a notch at all (unlike say, for a series like Da Capo. Oh, TOO LATE) and hence is still VERY welcome us of fans
P.S. November 11’s swell and all, but still prefer Hei – or should I say his over-eating alter-ego Lee? – maybe cos I’m a glutton as well
@hazy: haha, I feel like rewatching DtB now, actually!
But I guess I’ll let it linger in my mind first, then rewatch later. How I wish the DtB season2 rumor would come true too!
@issa-sa: oh don’t be mistaken, Hei tops my list too!!
But Nov.11 was just so… suave and sexay~ 
But eh, the s2 rumor got dispelled?! D: noooo! I’ll remain hopeful… oh please let the rumors be true.
…November 11 is pretty much dead in the 21-22 arc, episode 22 to be specific. 23 is where we have Pai backstory etc.
well sorry for getting the episode #’s mixed up… again. T__T
Technically speaking, he _is_ dead after episode 23 as well.
But what the fuck Owen, I expected better of you.