This show is awesome. The first episode was pretty banal but worked as a set-up for the second. And boy was the second episode great.
I find it hard to write anything about the show because the second episode was just so damn impressive. I’ve always loved psychological shows that dive into the minds of people with problems. And the second episode of Durarara!! is more than a dive, it’s borderline mindfuck of a young girl with a grudge towards her parents and a wish to disappear. Not all that uncommon with teenagers with well-off parents – Rio’s story is a scenario that is no doubt repeated all over the Western world every day. I’m sure we all can sympathize with Rio, yet recognize her naivety and conceited attitude. I shouldn’t say too much to avoid spoiling a great episode, but all in all the second episode is about graduating from the teenager’s way of thinking that you are more special than others and know things better than your elders.
Durarara!! seems to be a show about people and their personal circumstances that exist everywhere around us in the real world. However much like SHAFT’s Bakemonogatari, the show adds in an extra twist of fictional, supernatural elements to prevent it from becoming banal and bring a bit of a different focus to the usual problems. The dialogue between Izaya and Rio in the second episode somewhat reminds me of Bakemonogatari – it proves that all talk isn’t necessarily boring. Watching Izaya crushing Rio’s naive teenage world was simply awesome. Also, it’s nice to see Kamiya “Araragi-kun” Hiroshi doing a bad guy’s role for a change, I can’t think of a better person to voice Izaya’s type of a verbal badass. And I really can’t hate a bad guy who basically says he did it for the lulz. People probably have mixed feelings about the narration throughout the episode but personally I think it’s fine (plus Sawashiro Miyuki), nothing like the unnecessary annoyance in The Third.
As for the visuals, Durarara!! is quite decent. The character animation could be more fluent and consistent but it does its job. The background art takes a grim, realistic approach that fits well in the mood of the show. I also loved the OP and ED sequences, can’t wait for the songs to be out. All in all I think I’m going to love Durarara!!. It’s refreshing stuff that has once more convinced me that the Japanese animation keeps going as a powerful medium. As long as there is at least one show like this in a season, everything’s fine with the world.
PWNT.
By the way, I was finally featured in the ‘Otaku’ Elimination Game and got approved for now. The guys even said
Ironically, NovaJinx blogs much more skillfully and interestingly than the fake ‘otaku’.
BRB manly tears.
I’m starting to feel like I should un-lazy myself and watch the second episode of this. If it’s really going to turn out to be a real world anime, with a little extra mixed in, that’ll probably be good. And I see no reason for it not to turn out that way.
“And I really can’t hate a bad guy who basically says he did it for the lulz”
huh, I never thought about it like that but that is basically what he did. I wonder if he’s doing the same thing with the headless biker? Then again, it’s kinda hard to see the expression on her face…
Fukken Izaya is lolawesome. Getting aboard the crazy train once more! That’s one thing I already love about the show, the characters have the dark and unpredictable edge. Things are happening, the characters are making it happen, great shit.
@mefloraine yes get unlazy you!
“As long as there is at least one show like this in a season, everything’s fine with the world.”
I hear you on that part. And congrats on passing the first round of OEG!