Paradise Found, Paradise Lost (DTB OVA 1)
After all of the waiting the Darker than Black OVA finally tromped its way onto my monitor for some eagerly awaited Yin goodness. I needed this like the 1990’s roleplayers needed Magic ~the Gathering~. Yes, Yin is like crack for this particular YOCP (Yin Obsessed Crazy Person) and surprisingly enough this episode did more than just deliver my silver haired, Eastern European, doll fix.
Some images are so ingrained in our minds from watching anime they can literally show them for five seconds and convey “It’s summer”, “It’s peaceful”, and “It’s normal”. All three of which don’t come easily to Darker than Black. I loved the melancholy piano music too; it was really mood setting.
This episode felt a little rushed, but not as much as most of the second season. I’ve always really appreciated that Darker than Black can make setting up conflict appear easy and the conflict here requires a knowledge of DTB that the casual watcher might not be privy to. You see, even though it was apparent that Amber loved Hei the reverse was a bit of a mystery to us the viewer. Sure we all knew he loved her like a companion or a friend that betrayed him… but love? You can imagine my ecstaticism then at the subtlety of her lookalikes appearance. We get initial trepidation and fear; then we’re privy to caution + curiosity and lastly a warm scene with a kitty cat + subtext.
Subtext (lol)!
Hei’s feelings for Amber became clearer with each passing moment. You might think I’m blowing hot air since Hei’s actions didn’t really manifest any of this, but it isn’t Hei I’m concerned with. Yin’s actions spoke much louder than anything Hei did, and who would know him better? When he was in pain she reached out for him; when he was trapped in the gate she stayed with him; and then there’s that whole second season where they have some ineffable relationship that screams background knowledge that goes way beyond work buddies. In other words I believe Yin knows about Hei’s past ‘loves’ in a way he doesn’t.
Since we haven’t been allowed to see that much there’s really no way we could know, but Yin on the other hand has been there for all of his lingering stares out at a starry night sky when her name comes up (or the stories he tells of her). You can get a lot from what people say about others when they’re not really paying attention. Affection infects the voice with weird sounds to let everyone know who you like. For all of those who are on the fence let me just remind you of a certain little Rei Kugimiya and a particular “Urasai! Urasai! Urasai!”
Now for everyone who isn’t a romantic (or not into the Hei x Amber angle like I am) you’re probably wondering why this is important. In true DTBesque fashion I’ll now direct your attention to a particular moment in a bedroom.
Even in his sleep Hei closes himself off from Yin: A growing separation.
I don’t think Hei really loves Yin—at least not romantically—and what’s more I think she can tell. I believe there’s a part of him that’s afraid of her for reasons he hasn’t begun to understand yet and another part of him that protects her out of some sort of obligation(Hint: This is just like a relationship he had in the past). Why do all of his scenes with her look eerily similar to how Hei interacted with Bai (Answer Bai)? He’s acting like an older brother: cold, distant, and protective. When we first meet the duo at the episodes introduction Yin is already trying to change her role. She’s trying to get him out of older brother mode by acting on her own and without his permission. She’s trying to be a partner, not a dependent. Therefore, when Amber appears and we see Hei slightly remembering what it was like to be in an equal relationship (one free from being an onii-chan) all Yin’s worked for is threatened (and she was so close too). This resounds throughout the episode and what it was really about.
Just like Alchemy this episode relied on the concepts of creation and destruction. Yin as mentioned before was trying to create a life with Hei where her love could finally be realized. In the first half we see her defy his paranoia (which isn’t really paranoia since people are always chasing him) by insisting it was safe, but also comfort him by being the constant watcher (protecting him from the things that were coming). Surprisingly enough in only a day she succeeds (Which justifies all my mad ravings about her I’ll have you know).
She calms and changes Hei enough to miss the boat and take a chance on a normal life (or at least a few more days of peace). This is a pretty big deal considering how scared and business like he was at the beginning of the episode. Thus, by the time we get to fake Amber’s introduction we’re actually looking at a future that could be happy.
You’ll notice when she shows up they show another eating scene and we can already see the visible change. They set up the normality and the feeling of safety in the first dinner scene to emphasize Hei’s growing unease and distrust in the second.
(And what’s more he doesn’t guard himself well enough for Yin not to notice: Hence the checking up on Amber later to make Hei feel safe).
Then everything falls apart. The lesson Hei will take from this episode is “I can’t let my guard down for one second or I’ll lose everything”.
Yin being kidnapped actively reinforces his paranoia and fake Amber being fake actively reinforces his general distrust of others. The worst part of the whole endeavor was him having to watch Yin force fake Amber to shoot herself (not really, but that’s what Hei saw) which is starting to give credence to that terrified feeling he feels when he’s around her. A small part of him would even believe “She’s a monster” just like how he thought of his sister.
Some Other Things that Somehow Didn’t get worked into the Rambling:
I think people who use the cheesy line “Let’s run away together” should be forced to watch this episode. Yin and Hei didn’t have much of a choice in the matter, but somehow I thought it would turn out better for them than this. Even though Yin shows no facial expressions shots of her alone in an empty dark room convey more ‘real’ emotion than an entire plot based around a childhood friend.
I love that line “She looks like she’ll fall over if the wind blows”. It means so much more than the physical and is directly referencing the state she’s in. She needs support to stand up against raging winds (and Hei at this point in the story hasn’t been providing it).
This was pretty darn interesting lore wise. Yin says “She says so too.” which is the first time theres a mention that her surveillance specter is somehow different from her. In this single line we finally get a growing disconnect between Yin and this thing that is, but isn’t Yin. In other words that’s Izanami starting to take control (which is also probably what Hei is really afraid of).
I know this isn’t Amber but: Amber FTW! I wanted more Amber screen time even if she isn’t the real thing. Even though the illusion guy seems evil and conniving I can’t help but thank him for resolving some of the Hei x Amber relationship questions I had.
Yin at the end of DTB season 1 “Don’t leave me alone”. Hei says “I won’t leave you alone” this episode to Yin’s “You’re lying.” and finally it comes full circle. This was a great moment for Hei’s character. This was the point at which he finally reached out and admitted that he needed Yin. It’s actually the moment that she hoped for; where she became a partner instead of a dependent. It was also sweet (though I still don’t think Hei actually loves her romantically).
I LOVE DARKER THAN BLACK!! All of this was conveyed without the use of exposition. It was “show not tell” storytelling and they used some classic DTB moments like the focus on hands (an extremely anime symbolic appendage). speaking of hands…
Hands!
HANDS!!!!!
Phew… I almost got carried away there.
Haha, maybe some of you think I’m overanalyzing this (or that some of it is obvious), but I know that many of you are DTB psychologists just as much as I am. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you have even looked more into this than me.
I can’t wait for the next OVA as I’m excited to see Yin in different outfits.
Yeah I said it; I appreciate these OVAs because they’re actually spending some money on giving her different outfits. Hei and Yin go to China. I assume we’ll continue to watch the situation spin out of control until everything blows up and Hei becomes a drunk, bearded, child moaaallesther. As you all know I loved that about Evangelion so I can’t wait to see it in DTB (hopefully they do it as well).
Until next time!
Please be sure to remember that Yin is the best thing that ever happened to the universe… Ok? Great!
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22 Comments
Thanks so much for your review. I just finished watching it myself, and really this episode was fantastic! This is what I’ve needed from DTB all along! It was real fun to read your analysis, too ^^ I really appreciate it~ Can’t believe we have to wait months for the next one…
This fills in a lot of holes left by the first season (I don’t say that very often) which is what I think most DTB fans wanted. I’m really happy with it too and am bummed by the length of time we’ll have to wait. Oh well, hopefully it will make it all the better once it actually does come out.
A new DtB episode! And a new DtB post! That’s like my Bat-signal.
It’s quite apparent now that DtB is a giant tease. For only about two minutes we are treated to a life that cannot be. It was like an unreachable future, a happy end that is only indulged by the yakuza kid in season 1 by proxy. Contractors do not dream but in this episode Hei jumps quickly from nightmare to a fleeting fancy and back to nightmare again. His dream is but simple times with Yin. His nightmares likewise involve Yin: Yin becoming some sort of monster, Yin being taken away by the syndicate. Yin is, perhaps, a symbol of a tranquil happiness. Like Yin, it is fragile; a strong wind blows, the syndicate finds them, and it toppled over.
Totally Reading Too Much Into It 1: Yin makes Hei eat, comforting him with assurances of peace. In season 2, when Yin is gone, Hei has stopped eating.
Totally Reading Too Much Into It 2: “I envy you. It’s a honeymoon, but you’re able to prolong your stay if want to.” the inkeeper says. “Well, it only happens once in your life.” Hei replies. And right on cue, in walks fake Amber. How cruel. How very cruel.
Your note about Yin being Bai Redux is a good one, and I am inclined to agree. The parallels, I think, are quite deliberate. No matter the relationship between Hei and Yin, from the first season right up to the end of this OVA, Hei seemed quite incapable of love. For one, he cannot trust. His apparent betrayal by Amber was scarring. His need to kill and deceive has hardened him. No, he cannot allow himself to love. He almost said as much to yakuza kid in season 1: Hei tells Kenji that falling for the Doll would mean a life of running and hiding, dragging the Doll around no less. It was a decision that cannot responsibly be made. Unfortunately for Hei, he cares too much. All of DtB (when overly simplified) is pretty much Hei caring too much for people he should just have left well alone. I personally see an unfortunate irony for Hei: because he cares, he cannot abandon Yin, but because he cares, he cannot help but be distant. If the few days of peace with Yin is the impossible future, then the arrival of fake Amber is the past continuing to haunt Hei. Although Yin made him forget about it temporarily, the paranoia, the restlessness and the coldness came flooding back all too readily.
The gradual role reversal with Hei and Yin was great! Oh, how far Yin has come since season 1 (which breaks my heart in season 2). Totally Reading Too Much Into It 3: This is the first time, I think, that DtB has actively hinted Yin’s albinism. She wanted to go out, but she needed a hat, so she borrowed one from the innkeeper. Can you even call her a Doll anymore? All this development, just to set up for Despair. Oh, DtB, you giant, sadistic tease.
This episode alone is better than anything in Season 2…
@Passerby
I don’t think I stopped laughing the entire time I read your comment. Bat Signals, Over Simplification, and Reading the lines that aren’t between anything because they’re barely hanging onto the page. I think this is your masterpiece or just a Coup de Gras.
Your oversimplification was surprisingly thoughtful. I normally am so busy looking for subtle imagery that I often forget to look at the big picture and Hei caring too much is definitely big picture stuff. It actually makes me like him (as a character) a heck of a lot more. It makes him tragic and a sad lonely hero who somehow gets all of the ladies to fall for him: That is the very definition of who I want to be.
An Example:
First I walk into a room slowly dragging my feat. Then I flobble into a chair and sigh really heavily.
The first girl walks over.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“Oh, I shouldn’t worry you about it, but I’ve spent the last five years taking care of my weapon of mass destruction sister. I wanted to be rid of her, but I also loved her and now she’s gone.” says I as I stare wistfully through the windows at the cloud covered sky.
“That’s so sad.” says she, falling into my trap. She calls over the fifty other girls and wow this is getting out of hand and should stop now.
Sorry I was in fantasy land there for awhile, but I’m back to normal psychotiscism of only being a YOCP.
Let’s see what was I supposed to be talking about… (rereads portions of your comment)
Darker than Black is a giant, sadistic tease, but that doesn’t surprise me anymore. What surprises me is you haven’t apologized for it yet with something like: “Yeah sure Darker than Black has started freeloading in your house, eating all your food, and creating a mess wherever it walks. But it can’t help it; it’s really a good show at heart; it’s just going through a rough patch you know. He’s really a good boy… I mean show…”
On that note I think the Joker stands defeated and Gotham is safe once again from the ludicrous villains that plague it. Well, at least for another couple of months.
Fantastic Comment by the way. It added a lot to my DTB repertoire which I arrogantly think is quite the feat.
You know, I must admit that a small part of the reason this post came out so fast was in anticipation of one of your comments. Is that weird? I sure hope so!
@Kain
Be careful Kain, the person who commented just above you will give you a verbal smack down if he reads it (Actually he might not since there’s nothing there to really pick apart: Give us some supporting arguments! I love tl;dr). After receiving many myself I’m now of the opinion that it’s not necessarily better than the episodes in season 2, just more of what I wanted to see.
You actually liked that comment? The entire thing was just a poor attempt at undermining your HeixAmber shipping. Take that!
“Darker than Black is a giant, sadistic tease, but that doesn’t surprise me anymore. What surprises me is you haven’t apologized for it yet…”
No, I know it. Darker than Black is a horrible monster. It kills happiness and tortures hope. I can’t defend this OVA. But I care too much about DtB. I can’t leave it alone. Isn’t it sad?
Kain: I liked season 2.
My job here is done!
Now I’m feeling very stupid for liking your comment and from this point forward declare that I have officially taken back all the good feelings I felt from it.
To further destroy any hope of getting away from the Hei X Amber ship I would like to formally (and on the record) point out that Hei and Amber have kissed (TWICE). Have you seen any other characters kiss Hei? I don’t think so… Yeah the first one might not have had anything to do with him, but he sure didn’t resist the second one (though he was a bit surprised).
I’m on the Amber ship probably because I just don’t think Hei and Yin could ever be happy together. Honestly Hei is pretty emotionally abusive of Yin throughout the first season (and even a bit in this OVA). She needs someone who’s thinking about what she needs; not only of her safety. SHE NEEDS ME; wait, no, that’s not quite right…. I think it’s more like I need her and I don’t think Hei can really be happy.
Let’s think about it. What if Hei was happy. What if there was nothing in the world affecting his happiness. That’s right, there would be no DTB. Conversely, if Yin is happy and Hei still isn’t there could still be a DTB. Hei would still go on his un-merry way (being the dreadfully stoic person he is) and Yin wouldn’t be involved in all of that dangerous crap. In fact, if Yin hadn’t gotten mixed up with the bringer of doom known as BK-201 to begin with she’d be a slightly evolved (less chased) Doll off with some other good intentioned YOCP.
Yeah… it really is. *Dustin plays a mournful tune on an air violin to commemorate the moment*.
Finally the OVA has arrived!
Why oh why was season 2 not more like this?
Really enjoyed it and I hope the rest of the OVAs are of a similar standard (though I couldnt help being a little disappointed that it wasn’t the real Amber). It seemed to me as though this episode really went back to the tone and style of the first season, which I had missed terribly. In particular the use of the hands as non-verbal indicators was great and executed with real style, as you noticed. Pity we have to wait so long for the next installment.
I enjoyed reading your analysis as well, not missing a trick as usual (vindication for my Hei x Amber musings last year:grin:).
As a matter of interest, have you seen the trailer for the next OVA on the official Japanese DTB site? Its quite meaty and features a very sinister looking Yin. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts .
Immediately after you let this comment I went and checked it out. I must say that I didn’t think Yin could become more awesome. However, after I watched that trailer I stand completely corrected. Sinister Yin is ok with me. I was worried they were going to destoy her character in season 2 and in the OVA’s, but that was a direction I really didn’t expect (though I suppose I should have).
Anyways it looks like what will basically happen next time is what we already expected. Yin becomes more and more evil; we’ll get lots of reaction shots of Hei looking surprised and horrified; They’ll either have a moment towards the end where they’ll come together out of love or totally start going there separate ways. She looks pretty sinister; waku waku.
Season 2 wasn’t like this episode because Hei was to busy being broken over losing Yin. I really can’t blame him, he’s an idiot for letting anything come between him and her (even though it isn’t really his fault he’s still an idiot). I might become a bearded drunk like him too.
Thanks for the analysis compliment though I only really concentrated on the important stuff (Hei X Amber
).
Astns, Season 2 wasn’t more like this OVA because season 2 is not season 1.
A lot of the commentary from people about season 2 seems to mourn this fact. This depresses me. Season 2 is not, and in my opinion was never meant to be simply a continuation of the first season. While season 1 was strictly Hei’s story, in season 2 the story has moved. The focus was not so much about Hei, but really about Suou and her development. While Hei certainly remained on screen, his personal story was a background affair and his development went backwards, from his trashed state in the beginning back to the Hei we used to know.
I would never go so far as to say that season 2 was perfect–it was not. But to so harshly dismiss it just because it was not more of the same, judging it against what you expected rather than what it is, is an injustice to the series.
@Passerby
You might be right that Season 2 wasn’t like Season 1, but liking the story of DTB when it concentrates on Hei instead of Suou isn’t necessarily short selling Season 2. You can appreciate Vanilla ice cream while still desperately wishing it was Chocolate or Rocky Road (It’s not a perfect metaphor).
I of course can’t be absolutely sure what Astns meant, but in this case I would say that you like watching what you like. You obviously liked watching Season 2 while Astns apparently did not. If he wishes it would have been different so he could have enjoyed it more can you really blame him?
We try our best to make do with what we’re given, but Astns specifically said in his comment that what he really liked watching was the tone and style of the first season which the second season didn’t provide. This OVA did.
Not to be mean or cruel, but your comment was a little harsh for the actual content of his comment. I can understand though, you’re so used to defending Season 2 against the people who just don’t get it, it’s almost second nature now
. I personally think that Season 2 missed some of the marks it was trying to hit. Some of the stories didn’t really get the point they were intending across to me and the ending was far more ambiguous and chaotic than even the ending of the first season. I think the second season would have been a lot better if they had cut out half the content or if they had been given twice as many episodes.
This OVA is termed by many as a “bridge” between Season 1 and Season 2, right? I felt like it’s almost a separate story by itself, and I loved it. I love how they portrayed Yin’s yearning for Hei, and yes, hands
! Even though those are simple gestures, they carried a lot of meaning behind them – acknowledgment, trust, security… It’s great to see Yin trying her best to not only keep Hei safe but to make him FEEL safe as well. Halfway through the episode, it’s obvious Hei looks out for Yin but the way he interacted with her gave me the impression that he was stubborn, almost arrogant, to admit that he needs her. I’m relieved to see him realizing and admitting this at the end.
Great episode overall! I don’t know why but it neither gave me the feel of Season 1 nor Season 2. It’s like a standalone story meant to tell the continuation of Season 1 and bridging this with Season 2. Maybe it’s the flow of things, or the mood. Although what I’m really sure of is that I look forward to more. Nice to see you again, DtB?
They’re right; it is. At you pointed out though it’s also so much more. I really like how there isn’t currently some overriding end of the world plot progression from the point of view of Yin and Hei. They’re just two characters running away and having trouble with love. If anything it has been the best chance for character development so far. I can’t wait for the next one (although it looks like we’ll be headed more towards plot escalation).
I like all the feel goodness this episode provided while ripping it apart at the same time.
Sorry if I came off as too brusque. That reply really was a reflex action; the argument is a standard response to a lot of the reactions I get about season 2. I probably don’t like season 2 quite as much as I appear by my comments, but as a result of wanting to balance against all the hate out there my position ultimately ends up being overwhelmingly affirmative. Standing up for the underdog is an attractive thing.
My gripe is not fundamentally about people disliking season 2. It’s not about enjoying season 1 more than season 2: I know I did. It’s about giving season 2 a fighting chance. This blog aside, I rarely see the same kind of intellectualism applied to season 2 that season 1 naturally garners (and even season 1 has its share of detractors). If there was a discussion about whether the music carried the show as strongly as Yoko Kanno, I will definitely join in. If it was a criticism of the pacing, I can get behind it. If you wanted less Madame Oreille, I will almost certainly agree. But treating the show as strictly inferior purely on the basis of it not being the same as season 1 is rather unfair. Season 2 needs the opportunity to show its strengths, to do what it wants to do, and get the kind of feedback that is useful for analysis. Being quelled by the shadow of its elder sibling, while inevitable, is something I find tragic.
(And in the next comment I will apologise for being an apologist for my apologia.)
I actually heard quite a bit of criticism for season 1 the other day (from a director cousin of mine whom I greatly respect). He didn’t watch season 2, but what he said about season 1 was pretty interesting. Something about empty scenes and… something… else I can’t remember (it was very convincing at the time). I tried to explain my perspective on it and though he agreed it was a good series he managed to bring down my fanaticism a couple of levels with good arguments about the directing.
In other words Season 1 wasn’t perfect either and people trying to classify it as pure gold is an overstatement to say the least. It was very good, but everything should be taken with a grain of salt. As I have quoted before and will be sure to quote many times after today “There is no such thing as bad writing, only writing I don’t know how to like.”
Still, most blogs are simply summary and reaction posts. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but in that case I read most with the idea that I’m going to get an either “I liked this” or an “I didn’t like this”. I’ve actually noticed a surprising change lately in some of the blogs surrounding this one. There’s more of an emphasis on the way the story was told and what became apparent from its portrayal. I think that’s pretty darn cool and I hope to see the Blogosphere evolve from its current form into a place that can more deeply appreciate the many facets of genre.
With that said I think you’re good for this community by playing the role of the underdog. The people who won’t listen will remain only attracted to the shallower aspects of a show, but the ones who do might not be so easily swayed by one persons opinion.
Continue being the apologist Passerby! It is your destiny!
Some people’s destinies are to discover their latent powers, fight a great evil, save the universe and get the girl. My destiny is to flail around verbally on the internet. Huzzah!
LoL
(You forced me to post another comment just to type that.)
Wow, Yin looks so mature here. Cute and mysterious in a way.
I still ship HeixYin
@Cece
That’s ok
. We appreciate you anyways.
@Meimi
Zuto!
Where can I watch the OVA I can’t find it?
I downloaded it from BSS subs torrent here: http://bssubs.net/