It’s interesting how all three installments of Darker than Black (Kuro no Keiyakusha, Ryuusei no Gemini and Gaiden) have been completely different from each other. Gaiden again has no intention to be repetitive, and instead plays out like a slow-paced love story between Hei and Yin amidst all kinds of intrigue. Hei is here at his weakest, and even the soundtrack is completely new again.
And as much as I’m trying not to, I really can’t avoid those very obvious hints that the creators keep giving that the Darker than Black Saga is nowhere near over. I know that this is very dangerous, especially after what Ookiku Furikabutte is currently trying to pull, but still. There is no way that the creators intended the final episode of Ryuusei no Gemini to be the conclusion of this series. Even with this episode’s explanation, about how Yin is able to change the world, there still remain a ton of twists that still haven’t been nowhere near wrapped up.
About this episode, it was really excellent. It was a really slow paced episode, but the ending was very sad, and very well and very subtle in its delivery. We also learn what happened to Amber’s former comrades. They died. Seriously, all but one massacred in just one go. It again shows just how unforgiving this series can be. And at the same time, this episode also was dedicated to showing weaknesses of Hei. For the first time, he hesitated in killing an enemy, and rushed through combat.
One thing I absolutely loved about this episode was that we did not get to see the point at which Yin was captured. We only heard about what happened through that dog. Whatever went on is just left up to our imagination.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Even if some of the creators have said otherwise, there is absolutely no way that DtB can end with Ryuusei no Gemini. There are just too many unanswered questions, and, like you said, too many hints to a larger plot lying in a sequel.
Gaiden has done a pretty good job of tying some loose ends left from Gemini, but there are still a lot of things that I don’t think can possibly answered in the next episode. Why is Yin evolving? What is Izanami’s goal? Who is that white haired kid? What are contractors and the gate? How does all of this factor into the larger struggle between the Contractors and Humanity?
I just watched the 3 ovas and LOVED it… It shows how awesome the 2nd season would have been if there was more Yin in it LOL those romance parts with Hei and Yin are just awesome, the way that her feelings for him make her transcend what a doll is normally like
What I really loved was the revelation that Contractors are incomplete Dolls. I always thought that it was the other way around =)