Trust Me (Durarara!! Episode 5)

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This post has been so hard to write. It’s times like these I really wish I hadn’t raised the quality of my posts. Though I can only hope you guys expect something of me I know it’s mostly me expecting something from these posts so what do I do with episodes like these where I’m starting from scratch and rewriting for the third time?

The Narration: It’s fitting that I start by talking about Kida’s narration. Although I like Kida’s character I have to say that this was the second time I found the narration of the story shift in a direction I didn’t like. Though I’m interested to know what characters think of themselves it usually becomes apparent through the story telling. Thus Kida coming out and telling us the theme and the point kind of ruined it for me. I liked the narration in episodes two, three, and even four a bit because the character was telling someone else’s story with all of their own particular nuances (thus keeping some of the message subtle). It gave you a feel for the narrator while showing us a unique (somewhat objective) view of someone else’s problems. When people talk about themselves it makes it really hard for the viewer because at some point we might think they’re just complaining too much or they’re playing for sympathy. In a way it’s great that you can make me feel like the character is wining, but that’s also a big indicator to me that the writer is stringing me a long (thus disconnecting me from the story trying to be told). Kida’s narration wasn’t nearly that extreme (and despite what I’ve said I actually really liked it for this episode), but I do feel like it’s going in a bad direction and I would like to see less of it in this show (This rule isn’t an absolute, it’s very possible they’re leading into some really great stuff with this style of narration; I’m just not sure if they’re changing the style for a reason yet).

On the positive side of this equation I was fond of some of the things they set up this episode. First and foremost we have the idea of connection. Initially Kida sets us up for this episode with “I heard this city is made up of jokes, whims, and coincidences”. Unlike Simon and Shinra’s narrations this is a very powerful, mood setting beginning; Kida could have given us a general description, but instead he focused on posing a much larger question. Although the city has been somewhat personified before by Simon, Kida’s line here paints it as almost a cruel and thoughtless (and random) being. Compare it to Simon’s line “Sometimes this city presents you with a chance” and you get a dialog on destiny versus randomness. It’s basically the difference between positive and negative and is exactly the kind of inner struggle Kida is going though. I love this line because it sets up the cynic and by the end of the episode we see him looking at the world almost positively

In Other Words Change

The change subtheme is still going strong in this episode with Kida so I hope you caught some of the things we talked about before. Especially present in the lines above.

Kida puts on a mask and he does it so often that he starts to believe it’s real (Stockholm Syndrome in action). It makes him interesting while also making him understandable. I’m personally of the opinion that showing his multi-faceted personality also makes him somewhat deep: He even knows why he has to wear the mask.

Hilariously, this makes him the wisest character in the whole anime–even with his uncontrolled outburst of teenage hormones earlier in the episode. It also makes him the most fragile character in the anime. Although Mikado seems incredibly weak compared to the rest of the characters, Durarara!! has done a pretty good job of showing his emotional strength and curiosity. While he believes that the world is going to get more interesting and is excited about the future, Kida is worried about falling into the same pit he just climbed his way out of. I can’t help but feel that this just might be the most important dynamic of the entire show and heavily focused on in this episode. Kida protects Mikado from the dangers of the outside world while Mikado protects Kida from himself with Mikado’s sunny optimism. I was lucky enough to meet someone with that kind of positive attitude. It was pretty annoying (I used to be quite the cynic and no fun to hang around on bad days), but over time you start to see the world from their point of view; it’s beautiful.

A parallel is set up between Mikado X Kida and Anri X Harima. You probably noticed that Kida’s line:

Is surprisingly similar to Anri’s lines:

With respect to her being just a foil for Harima. You’ll of course, however, have to note the different connotations for what was said. (Negative versus Positive)

In Other Words Mutually Beneficial Relationships

I’m of the opinion that Ryohgo Narita intended to harp on a message here about meaningful (and good) relationships. Last week we had to watch the sick perversions of Shinra (Episode 4 gets worse every time I remember it ) which was a pretty nice contrast for this episode. Kida and Mikado make each other better by simply being around. Kida helped Mikado through his big question of change in Ep 3 while Mikado is helping Kida become someone who is almost happy. Just from the way Kida talks you can tell he likes himself better. This is a great example of an emotionally constructive relationship. Anri and Harima were using each other, but Harima’s influence caused Anri to want to go for things she wouldn’t have tried before. She’s the much needed rival. I honestly find this refreshing. I think we’re subject to single minded opinions most of the time in anime. The writer either thinks that all relationships are symbiotic in nature or they think emotion conquers all. Durarara!! shows the haphazard and symbiotic start of the relationship, but turns it into something more. Anri didn’t become Mikado and Kida’s friend because she was in their class; Kida and Mikado started the friendship because she was hot: Ultimately the relationship is turning into something that none of them expected: They just like each other’s company.

Contrasted in the background of this episode are the bad relationships. Kida has a pretty obvious history with Izaya and the color gangs. I’m pretty sure I know, but I don’t want to spoil it for you: I think this line says a lot though:

The noticeable difference between Kida’s thoughts when with Mikado and without him point out the importance of the connection. When Kida says stuff like:

And

He’s really showing how easy it is to become someone when you fall in with certain people. Before Mikado got here he associated with those people and became someone he now despises. He’s also determined to never let Mikado (or himself) become that person (again). People joke about peer pressure and some take it seriously. The kind of peer pressure that really hurts you though is the kind you don’t even notice. Most of the time we don’t make the conscious decision to act one way or the other. Sure drugs and alcohol have been harped on so much we all realize that its peer pressure in action, but what about the way we talk? What about the way we carry ourselves? Most of us know that we want to be accepted (by somebody) so we become the person who will be accepted. It’s only when the change is glaringly in the face of some moral that we take notice. I can completely understand Kida’s past and why he’s decided to change now (I think that’s good writing).

Another interesting relationship to contrast with is the Yagiri x Harima relationship. What changed to turn Harima from the stalker into Yagiri’s betrothed. I watch them and can’t help but think they’re self destructing. That’s a destructive relationship (All of Izaya’s relationships seem to be destructive too).

Conclusions

Even though Kida started off the episode with a powerful line about relationships starting meaninglessly, I like that it finished by pointing out that it didn’t really matter. He came back to the importance of good relationships and was somewhat happy that his relationship with Mikado wouldn’t change. Even though he might become a better person by being around Mikado the importance the two have to each other won’t change.

Some other Less Important Stuff:

What the slasher posted on the web:
“The Strong
Desire
Love
Humans who desire love
Desire Because the strong humans love
Desire because Because because
I
This is why I desire
Strong humans
I desire
I, love
That is why”

Sorry, I just found this to be awesome. Take that all of you philosophers and poets. I like how it gave no answer for why we desire love, but somehow that was enough. IOW people should stop trying to justify why they love. Just answer with a because; that’s good enough.

I like both sides of Kida. He really shows off his intelligence here while showing his dorky side too. You can’t help but think that he’s seriously becoming his mask after watching a scene like this… even going so far as to call Mikado a dork. It’s like he’s able to forget his past for a little while in the company of other naive high schoolers. Able to forget your past: Sound like someone else we know? Our Dullhan is surprisingly similar… Maybe there’s something she wanted to forget or change about herself.

Mikado calls this a contradiction, but I just don’t think he’s been watching enough Anime. Last week’s Hanamaru Kindergarten ED totally explains this sentence. In fact, that ED pretty much justifies every shoujo ever made. Behold you doubters:

I’m completely sidetracked now

If you’re not watching Hanamaru Kindergarten I really question your ability to function as a human being. Yeah Anzu is starting to get annoying, but did you watch the same ED I just did (not to mentions Hanamaru in Outer Space the week before).

Gainax slays me. I’m starting to think they did a kindergarten show just to do awesome ED’s (though they didn’t have to do a kindergarten show to do that).

Oh yeah, this post was about Durarara!!… Looks like I didn’t have anything left to say anyways.

Sorry it took me so long to write the post this week. It was hard to make the thoughts line up in a coherent way. There was so much stuff to talk about (I’ve actually taken out a good deal of it, but I thought the other stuff was less important at this point in the story).