Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 10

Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 10 -Your Smile On The Street Corner of Lies

Reveals galore in this episode, quite a few mysterious plot points are finally cleared up.

Episode Summary

Suou’s mother (Makimiya Asano) reveals to Kirihara that she saw Suou die in an explosion. So she was understandably shocked to see her daughter return who she had her cremated years ago. She then rationalises that the current Suou must be a copy or clone. The ability to make copies of people is Shion’s contractor ability. However Suou is an incomplete copy and as a result is able to feel some human emotion.

Also revealed is the way Mao lost his human form.  His body was destroyed in the same explosion that killed Suou while he possessed a body of a cat.

Episode ends with Hei returning to the group after a standoff with Kirihara, an orange crescent moon in the sky and Yin shown glowing in a field of flowers.

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Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 9

Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 9 – A Sudden Meeting One Day

Episode Summary

Detective duo from first season return to help Suou find her mom. More as comic relief rather than actually doing anything meaningful. Hei also finally sheds his homeless look.

I clearly wasn’t paying much attention about some of the finer elements of the story as a few things were cleared up in this episode. First of all Izanagi is supposed to be Shion, and Izanami is Yin, I wasn’t paying enough attention to realise Izanagi and Inazami are entirely different. The reason as to why there is so much attention to these two are described in the Mitaka Documents as followed “Izanagi gazes upon the false sea bottom, waiting for Izanami. Izanami will cross the sea bottom, and eventually, the two will meet. When they do, heaven and earth will split into two, and the Gate of Hell will open it’s way there. From the Gate will come forth one, a being unknown. And strife will continue for eternity.“

Comment – One thing that has become clear about the show is that it isn’t really a top tier show. It seems better than it really is due to the lack of quality this season. It just doesn’t have the complete package, great action but average story. It is still worth watching, especially as it’s core is enjoyable action sci-fi.

Casshern Sins Review

Animation Production – Madhouse Studios

Director - Shigeyasu Yamauichi

Stylish post apocalyptic action drama

Casshern Sins is Madhouse Studio’s modern re imagination of the classic 70’s anime series Casshan. Director Shigeyasu Yamauchi bring his experience from directing action in numerous movies such as Dragon Ball Z, Saint Seiya and Digimon.

I watched Casshern Sins having never watched any Casshan related property. I understand it was a fairly popular Tatsunoko property but just not as popular as Speed Racer or Macross. It definitely has a more serious tone throughout the series when compared to other Tatsunoko series. Casshern Sins primarily follows Casshern a cyborg who has caused the world to fall into a state of ruin. The series starts years after this where he has lost his memory of the past and tries to piece it back together.

The ruin of the world has caused the robot population to vastly outnumber the human population. Poisonous gas has caused the death of most of the human population. Robots are also in a way experiencing death as they slowly rust away. The robots having heard a myth are looking to take down and devour Casshern to gain eternal life. Each episode usually deals with a different encounter or scenario in this doomed world culminating with encounters with those involved in the causing this situation.

The animation is distinct with a mixture of thick line manga style and the familiar Madhouse animation style. The fights are beautifully animated and there are plenty of great fights involving individuals and whole armies. One of the main reason to watch this series is the great robot on robot destruction.The music is understated orchestral music which helps set the ominous lonely atmosphere.

Recommended for those looking for a straight up action show with a more serious tone. My only complaints are to do with the character and story progression which do very little to keep you wanting to continue watching the series to the end.

Rating – B+

Genre - Science Fiction, Action, Drama Length – 24 Episode series Year - 2008-09

Licenced by Funimation Entertainment for US distribution.

Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 8

Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 8 – On Summer Days, The Sun Sways

Episode Summary

While on the train to Tokyo the Russians with Tanya capture Suou. Hei is offered a job to work with the Russians who threaten to blow up the train. The fight begins once Tanya stops the train. Suou believes she has killed Tanya with her rifle however Shion was the one shooting from distance.

Mitaka Documents are mentioned again and are referred to as Memory of the Future. And Inazami’s power is described as being able to “send contractors to heaven“.

Comment

I feel that the mystery in this season surrounding Inazami and the Mitaka documents are not as interesting as the events in the first season. Although I’m still liking the action set pieces despite Hei not being able to use his contractor powers. I find that I’m only watching this show for the animation, action, and occasional moments of character development.

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Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 7

Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 7 – The Doll Sings to the Dancing Snow

As they make their way to Tokyo another contractor is sent by the Russians to capture them. This episode explores Dolls, whether they feel pain and emotions, and contractor’s attachment to them.

Episode Summary

Dr Pavilechenko, Suou’s father, does not seem to be dead. He is spotted by the Russians in Tokyo which might mean he is a doll or has made clones of himself. Also referred to as Izanagi’s father.

Hei hires a smuggler to get them past the blockades looking for them. Successful to the point when the smuggler take off with July. The smuggler intend to sell July as dolls are valuable commodities.

Suou, becoming attached to July,  follows the trail of July’s observation ghost. However she is led to another contractor, Ilia Sokoloff. This contractor’s power is a gaze that puts you to sleep and kills you peacefully. Hei manages to kill him while on top the contractor’s car with his wire.

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Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 6

Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 6 – A Sweet Fragrance, A Bitter Heart

Awesome episode that reveals the identity of Inazami and closes off the story in Sapporo as they move on to Tokyo.

Episode Summary

Hei is caught in a trap and fights off with Shizume.  However Hei has lost his contractor power and makes his way back to the rest of the team.

Inazami is revealed to be Yin, a doll that was Hei’s partner.

Hei stops Suou from shooting Inazami and flee the scene separately to draw off Hazuki’s attention.

Suou is attacked by Norio’s contractor mother, saved by an observation ghost which turns out to be Yin.

They head to tokyo where the submarine is headed with Yin/Inazami.

Suou makes an agreement with Hei to stop using her contractor power if Hei stops drinking.

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Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 5

Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 5 – Gunpowder Smoke Drifting Away, Life Drifting Away

Episode Summary

Every time Suou summons her rifle there is one round in the rifle and 5 in her pocket.

Suou shoots a hole in the wall trying to kill a cockroach, she hates bugs after seeing Nika killed by Tanya with insects. Alerts the Japanese agency to their location.

Madam Oreille’s info for Kirihara to seek out the Mitaka Documents and Inazami. Shortly after her team has a new objective, to transport an important object (Inazami) from an institute in Sapporo. BK-201 is also revealed to be in Sapporo, I don’t think this was mentioned in the previous episode.

Suou and the others are attacked by a contractor with the power to manipulate water, turns out to be Norio’s mother.

Hei and Suou are assigned a mission to destroy Inazami, Hei takes on the truck transport but it is a decoy for the sea transportation.

Comment - Nearly halfway through the season, when did 12 episodes become the standard? It’s a shame as there is less deviation from the main plot when compared with a full 22+ episode season. My favourite episodes have always been the side stories or the more experimental episodes.

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Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 4 – The Ark Sways on the Lake

In episode 4 Suou is coming to terms with being a contractor while still travelling with Hei and July to Tokyo. The fact that contractors do not feel emotions, in particular love are played up however there are definite signs that Suou does indeed have some emotions and may be a different kind of contractor like Hei.

Episode Summary

Kirihara joins the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Statistics Bureau, Research Division, 2nd Investigation Division, 3rd Assistant Chief Clerk under the name Ichinose Yayoi. Joins Sawasaki, Shizume (armour contractor), and Hazuki (blade contractor) with a priority to capture BK-201 and Shion.

Hei is training Suou to be a contractor, they practice shooting and hand to hand combat.

Introduced to a local teenage gang whose leader is the son of a transvestite bar owner. The son’s name is Norio and has an instant crush on Suou.

Kirihara meets with the legendary information broker Madam Oreille to gather information on the location of Hei/Bk-201.

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Darker Than Black Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 3 – Vanishing into the Snow Field

This season is shaping up well, awesome episode.

Episode Summary

Suou saves Hei from the trap, her pendant triggers her contractor abilities and disrupts the forcefield trap.

One of the contractor’s renumeration is moxibustion. A traditional chinese medicine therapy, where moxa is used to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and qi (wikipedia).

Hei and Suou are headed back to Japan as Shion has left a note to Suou to go to Ikeburo, Tokyo Japan.

Tanya is a contractor for the Russians and is sent to use Nika to locate Suou. Later on in the episode she kills Nika.

The high point of the episode and season so far is when Suou’s contractor powers awaken where she can materialise a long barrel rifle.  A great scene. Her renumeration is origami.

The last scene involves Misaki Kirikara from the first season as she is offered to work for Section 35, whose aim is to eradicate The Syndicate. She is looking for Hei a member of The Syndicate.

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Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor – Episode 2

We get to see the opening credits for the first time and this season the song is “Tsukiakari no Michishirube” by Stereopony, Abingdon boys school gets demoted to the ending credits. One interesting clip in the OP is Suou with a long sniper rifle, this image by itself has me hooked to see how this is used.

Episode Summary

Suou’s last name is Palivchenko.

Nika, another school friend of Suou, escapes from getting memory wiped, meets up with Suou for a while but then leaves to search for Tanya.

Both the Russian Army and CIA (who have hired Hei) are after Shion and the meteor fragment.

The magician shows and subsequently get taken down by Hei. His power is distorting the area around him and renumeration is telling people the secret behind a magic trick.

Another group appears consisting of a female contractor who is able materialise blades (renumeration is to kiss anyone) and a male contractor who can cover himself in heavy rock armor. Episode ends with this group trapping Hei in a special forcefield.