A Sweet Fragrance
A Bitter Heart

The Russian organization discover something strange. Dr. Pavlichenko is still alive in Tokyo? Meanwhile, Genma offers his help to Yayoi in finding what their bosses at Section 3 are planning. I’m somehow guessing Section 3 will be the main final villain in all this.

Hei and his group need to get out of the city but, Japan’s Public Safety is making it difficult. Meanwhile, the Russians and their "allies", Foreign Affairs, already have one contractor looking for them. He’s supposedly very strong and quite the sick person. Anyway, the people helping Hei escape set it up so they can kidnap July, probably trying to sell him (or child abuse.. I think). Suou goes to save him forcing Hei and Mao to go too.

Suou finally acts like a Contractor, and similar to Hei. She take out their trator alone but, Sokoloff appears. His ability is like some biological gas weapon. It makes them unable to move and breath, all the while making them fall asleep. In some way, it’s a peaceful death. Still, he basically has the ability to kill with his look. He can also use it by stages, only making people fall asleep for example.

The last scene was really cool. Hei proves once again to be an infalible assassin, not matter what the situation. Suou also ends up managing to change July a little bit. Watching the first series, I never imagined July would become such an important character and even have some development.

Cool episode, enjoyed it much more that the last ones, although I think this series can still improve. Pavlichenko being alive and with Shion looks like a nice development and the Russians finding out Hei’s current location.. what will they send after him next?

• Next Episode: The Doll Sings to the Wind Flower…

A Sweet Fragrance
A Bitter Heart

Whatever it is they were transporting, it was just a decoy. BK-201 is driven off somewhere else by Genma. In the middle of that, they discover the mission’s "objective" and the thing being transported is really a person, like I suspected. And it’s Yin. Hei manages to run from Yoko and get back in time to stop Suou. Meanwhile, Hazuki is already heading to them.

Hei helps them escape. In the meeting point, Norio’s mother appears, trying to capture Suou. Then something strange happens. One of Yin’s observation ghosts appears and Norio’s mother’s powers turn up on her, like someone else is using them and kill her.

I’, actually finding the latest episodes less interesting. This one in particular was the worst, not to say that it was bad. The ending, specially Suou and Hei’s understanding of each other was what saved the episode for me. I hope the series get better from now on.

I guess, from now on, Hei is going to try and rescue Yin, with his current companions helping him.

Nice episode, specially the ending. I hope the new change in the plot focus helps make this series interesting again, the preview looked good.

• Next Episode: The Doll Sings to the Wind Flower…

Gunpowder Smoke Drifting Away, Life Drifting Away…

Yayoi has a rather complicated conversation. She learns they used some weapon on BK-201 similar to the one she saw two years ago, although this one is centered for smaller targets or areas. She also gets intel on the Mikata documents and "Izanami". She’s sent to Sapporo to check for BK-201 before she can confirm the info.

Meanwhile, Suou’s strange contractor mind is understood by Hei. Anyway, they have a new mission, in which Suou is wanted to participate, and their hotel room is attacked. A new contractor appears, controlling water, (she’s Norio’s mother), I doubt she will live long against BK-201. They are only alive right now because he lost his ability.

Section 3 shows Izanami to Yayoi, I’m guessing it’s some super contractor or something. Hei’s client wants him to destroy it. Knowing Section 3 is also on the lookout for him, things will become interesting.

Norio’s mother also returns to him and his father, no idea why. This episode was quite good like the others, although nothing "exceptional" really happened.

The next episode’s preview seems confusing. Norio is going to get involved and I’m guessing he will either die at his mom’s hands or die trying to save her. I’m also quite curious to see how Hei will deal with all those contractors without his powers.

• Next Episode: The Smell is Sweet, the Heart is Bitter

The Ark Sways On The Lake…

So, Sawasaki, Shizume and Hazuki belong to the Section 3 Yayoi is going to join. They are now, as everyone else, searching for BK-201. Hazuki and Yayoi have some interesting conversations, it’s nice to have this new layer to the characters. Meanwhile, Hei has to train Suou but, she still has some "feelings". I really like her mix between contractor and human mind.

Anyway, Suou’s training goes to the practical stage and she’s put on against some guys. This scene is really funny. It’s cool that they even take some time to flesh-out some minor characters and make things more slice-of-life like. Anyway, Norio gets in love with Suou, not he’s going to last more than Nika. I’m liking that they are exploring the process of becoming a contractor from a child’s point of view.

Yayoi goes to investigate Shion’s house and meets Madame Oreille, I think. Not sure what’s going to happen from now on, so I’m not really looking forward to anything specific.

I liked this episode mainly for the humor. I think the story will mainly focus on character development from Suou for now.

The next episode seems to be continuing Suou’s growth as a contractor and have some awesome fight scenes.

• Next Episode: Gunpowder Smoke Drifting Away, Life Drifting Away…

Vanishing Into The Snow Field…

Somehow, Suou’s amulet lets her in into Hei’s memories and somehow, I think it turns her into a Contracter. Anyway, it interferes with the devices and they stop functioning. Suou then runs towards Hei and jumps into the water with him before the others arrive.

The cat from the first season finds Hei again, can’t remember his name, anyway, his consciousness rests on Peta now. Hei offers to help Suou reach Japan, where Shion supposedly is. The military uses Tanya to get Nika to expose Suou’s location. Hei has lost his powers, he’s no longer a Contractor. And with so many different people after them, things will get tough.

Tanya kills Nika right in front of Suou and with all this happening she becomes a contractor again. Her power is to materialize a giantn anti tank riffle. She quickly allows themselves to escape. This show isn’t sparring no one lol. Hei allows July to join them. His group is dead, thanks to Hei, so, he’s joining him now.

Elsewhere, the-girl-I-can’t-remember-the-name-of is asked to join Section 35, objective, destroy the Syndicate’s remnants.

Nice episode, although I didn’t find it as entertaining as the first two. Still, the story is developing nicely and there’s still many characters we have no idea about.

• Next Episode: The Ark Rocks on the Lake…

The Fallen Meteor

The OP’s so so. I kind of liked but, it seemed weird at the same time. Anyway, Hei mistakes Suou for Shion and asks her for the meteor core. But, before he can realize it, an assassin appears. This girl seems to have more than one power. She and BK get in a draw while Suou manages to escape. All of her friend’s memories have been erased and she can only count with Nika, who escaped too.

It seems Hei is working for the CIA now, as a mercenary. Suou uses her photos to try and get some info on Hei. He then appears to her and finally understands she’s not Shion. The military appears too and also April’s group. Then, Youko’s group appears too lol.

The fight scenes were awesome. Hei, yet again, kills another tough contractor. He really seems unbeatable. Youko’s group capture him in the end and something weird happens. Suou’s protection amulet has some strange effect and she sees Hei’s memories.

Not sure of what will happen to them now but, it doesn’t seem like they are trying to kill Hei. Somewhere else, a girl who I’m supposed to remember from the first series is seen witnessing BK-201 disappearance. Not sure what this means. Maybe that "force field" just took his powers or something.

Really nice episode, I’m loving the series right now and it seems better than the first.

• Next Episode: Vanishing Into the Snow Field…

The Black Cat Doesn’t Have a Dream of the Star…

Alternative Title: Darker Than Black: Gemini Of The Meteor

Studio : BONES

Length : 16 Episodes

Year : 2009

Genre : Drama, Psychological, Science-Fiction, Supernatural, Action

Synopsis: Two years have passed since Hei and Yin escaped the Syndicate after the events of the first season. They are now on the run. Making their way to Russia, Hei encounters Suou Pavlichenko who has become entangled in the war and with the Contractors, including her own Contractor brother, Shion.
In the meantime, Hell’s Gate is still in Tokyo, while Misaki Kirahara has resigned her position with Foreign Affairs in order to investigate Hei and the Contractors.
A sequel to the original Darker Than Black series.

I loved the first season. Even though completely different, it reminded me somehow of Cowboy Bebop in style, one of my favorite animes. It was a really nice anime with stylish music, lots of interesting characters and awesome fight scenes, what’s there not to like?

Right now I don’t remember the plot very well anymore and I remember not liking the ending much. Still, I couldn’t pass this one up, specially after all the really good criticism it has been receiving.

It starts following Suou, showing her brother becoming a contractor and her current days at school. She does a nice job of introducing new people to Darker Than Black. Anyway, a friend of hers suddenly becomes a contractor. The military comes to get her and Shion too. April has been working undercover with Shion’s father. She tries to bring Shion back but he disappears. Suddenly her intel states someone wearing a mask is inside the house. Could it be?

The mysterious guy kills the professor before April or the Military get to him. April escapes with Suou and fights a contractor from the military. The fight was really nice. April is really strong. Not sure what she did but, it was some kind of water or snow bullets.

She’s then caught by none other than BK201. She tries drowning him but, he kills her. Not sure if something is different about him, bullets didn’t harm him. I’m really sad April died, I really liked her character.

The art and animation were really good. The quick fights were well planned and executed. Everything felt right. Even Suou’s normal day life was entertaining to watch.

Awesome first episode and it still feels like a small portion of what’s coming, can’t wait to watch the rest.

• Next Episode: The Fallen Meteor…