I’ll try not to spoil too much from episode three, as I’ll probably write a 3-4 post later this week.

Suou is a different character. Although she’s standard for the industry she’s a completely different type for DTB. Most of the characters in the first season had incredibly large regrets and the way we explored each episode literally lead to us digging up that regret and finally coming to terms with it. We explored the dark world of the contractors instead of growing up with them. Suou is us growing up with them. My creative writing instructor a few years ago told me that all stories can be boiled down to young boy/girl grows up or new guy/gal comes to town. The original DTB was definitely new guy comes to town and this one is definitely young girl grows up.

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t character development (we all know there was), but I would address the soulless comment with the general image of contractors as those without emotions. Through the first season we explore this idea and come to realize that contractors haven’t really lost their emotions they are just more in control of them then normal people (Wei=revenge, Amber=love, Bai=love, Havoc=regret). I can understand there need to get away from this trend as they have already explored it and would only be trying to live off past glories.

Of course my entire post was about Yin http://yinnopiano.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif She’s one of my favorite characters after all.

The Mao question is answered in Ep 3 so no comment.

I was surprised by April’s death myself. She was in all of the previews and it just kind of blew my mind that Hei killed her at the end of the first episode. I think most of all though it sent a clear message to the fans that they were not going to pander to them. By killing April they showed that they were willing to sacrifice ratings for good writing. Do I feel sorry for July, yes I feel sorry for July. For once we get to look at a Doll who opened up to his comrades in the first season lose both of them before his eyes. (ep 3 spoiler sentence) Now he’s a new member of the Hei team.

Urgh, it’s killing me not to write about a few of Hei’s last lines in Ep 3 now that I’m actually writing this. I might just write a post anyways.

Anyway I really like what I’m seeing so far (only two episodes, Orz). One of my small gripes with the first season was the action scenes that were, while pretty good, all abruptly brief. Granted this isn’t exactly a series you watch for action, but it always felt like if Bones wanted to they could have put in a little more that would make the experience more satisfying. I’m glad they seem to be doing precisely that this season.

About Mao, I dunno, but my first guess was Suou’s squirell – the thing WAS sticking around all through and it did fling itself at the rock-man contractor guy to let Suou run.

“I’m thinking probably Shion and Tanya, so don’t get too attached.” – First arc of first season gave me a sufficient rude awakening to NOT get too attached to ANYTHING in DtB And guess what, end of episode one, April dies. Rage!

And I like Suou too. It’s probably a matter of taste but my impression is DtB’s characters tend to be rather… I dunno ’soulless’? It’s not a bad thing and it contributes to the overall ‘darker than black’ (that’s almost literal!) style, but I like it that they seem to have decided to inject some ‘brighter colors’ into the heart of the story. Of course, as per my previous point (and yours on the poster), I probably shouldn’t expect said colors to last very long