D.Gray-man ep.16

January 23, 2007 | 16 Comments

This is totally filler Hell. I want to get out of here but it looks like there are 2 more episodes to endure before the series get back on track. I don't understand why the producers decide to insert fillers so early in the series. If I remember correctly, there are more than enough volumes to at least make 24 episodes. Anyway, the only plus to this episode is that they manage to include the resolution to Lenalee and Allen's conflict that happened during their encounter with Road. I think the worst thing about the episode has to be the character design for the gladiator. I'd think that something from old Rome would look more like those characters in Gladiator or Spartacus not a cross between Spike Spiegel's hair from Cowboy Bebop, the body of a gladiator type, and a huge sword from one of those Final Fantasy male characters.

1000 years ago in Rome, there was a feudal lord's daughter called Sandra. Although she had many suitors, she only wanted to marry the strongest man in the world. In order to facilitate her wish, her suitors are put in a Colosseum fight against a Gladiator called Vittorio. However, no one could defeat him and 1000 years later, it's said that Vittorio continues to fight. In the present time, Kanda arrives at said Colosseum and faces off with a mysterious swordsman. Back in the Black Order HQ, Allen finds out from Komui that Kanda has gone missing in Rome. Apparently they haven't had any contact from Kanda for about a week. It doesn't help that there are a lot of Akuma in that area. Because of this, Komui decides to send Allen there as well. Just as Allen about to leave, he's surprised to know that Lenalee also comes with him. The problem is, she's still angry with him after he blew up on her during their encounter with Road.

Later on at the train station, Allen tells her that they haven't had the chance to talk since that incident and apologises to Lenalee. In response, Lenalee puts her groceries on top of his head, telling Allen that he can't raise his head since she hasn't forgiven him yet. She thinks he's selfish for putting his life on danger and asks him what's the point of them being friends if he refuses to let her fight with him. She also tells Allen that she hates his left eye before sitting down on the floor in sadness. In response, Allen thanks Lenalee for saving him. Lenalee curtly tells Allen that she'd always help him and runs into the train. After Lenalee left, Allen wonders if he's been forgiven now. All of a sudden, a more cheerful Lenalee pokes her head out of the train window, asking Allen to board the train. She reminds him that they won't be able to arrive in Rome if they slack around. That's just weird. It's like she never had a fight with him.

Inside the train, Allen finds out from the brief that's been given by Komui about a gladiator who's lived for 1000 years. Lenalee points out the guy's similarity to the 500 years old Lala from the Ghost of Marter case, suggesting that the guy probably has the innocence in him. The brief also informs the two that there are many Akuma in the area and yet once they entered the Colosseum, they never come out again. Allen belives that this is probably because the innocence-powered gladiator kills them. At the same time, Kanda and his Finder are seen surveying the Colosseum before Kanda asks the Finder to hide. He then heads towards the Akuma-infested Colosseum as this Japanese music plays in the background. Inside a town in Rome, the townsfolk become afraid because a group of armed men have come to the town and do anything that they please like eating food without paying, etc. Upon seeing them, Lenalee wonder if a war is brewing.

Another armed men explains to Allen that they are actually bounty hunters who are in the area to find the daughter of the Sardinio family called Claudia. It appears that 3 weeks ago, the 16 year old Claudia was kidnapped by someone called Vittorio. Allen and Lenalee immediately wonders if this is the same Vittorio that they've read from their brief. A man on the horse then appears announcing that a man called Valetti has ordered the bounty hunters to gather and follow the news carrier. Allen and Lenalee decide to follow the bounty hunters to a castle. Upon arriving there, Allen uses the opportunity to pig out the foods so Lenalee has to remind him that they're not here to have a picnic. An older and younger man then appear on the balcony where the younger man announces himself as Claudia's fiancee, Valetti. He also tells the bounty hunters that they'd get 10% of the Sardinio family fortunes if they can find Claudia.

The old man, who turns out to be Claudia's father is not happy that Valetti goes around announcing this without his knowledge but since he wants his daughter back, he has no choice but to agree with this. That night, Allen and Lenalee appear in front of Claudia's father and informs him that they are from the Black Order. The father informs the two about one month ago, Vittorio came to Claudia's room and told her that the strongest man in the world has not appeared yet. Valetti then enters the room and the two start bickering about how this marriage is supposed to be a connection marriage for honour and money. Allen promptly refuses to join the bounty hunters in the search. He thinks if the father/fiancee want her back, they should be looking for her. He also asks them which one is more important to them: money/power of Claudia. Upon seeing their hesitation, Allen tells them that he's not surprised that Claudia runs away from them.

The next day, the bounty hunters head to the Colosseum to search for Claudia. However, they are immediately confronted by a group of Akuma who proceed to kill them. Allen and Lenalee arrive in time to help some of them to run away from the place. In order to stop the bounty hunters from running away, a man has been sent by Valetti to offer them 1/5 of the Sardonio fortunes. Later on, Vittorio appears in the Colosseum, slicing an Akuma into two pieces. However, before Allen can fight the guy, Kanda appears and tells Allen that the guy is his target so he asks Allen not to interfere. Kanda's Finder then appears and explains that the big sword is the innocence and that Kanda has been fighting Vittorio for 3 days. During the fight, Kanda manages to injure Vittorio with his sword but because of the Innocence, Vittorio is promptly healed. He then uses the opportunity to stab Kanda with his sword, causing his opponent to lose a lot of blood.

Impression:

I suspect Claudia is actually in love with Vittorio because that's the kind of angle that this kind of story tends to use. The whole story reminds me of Beauty and the Beast and other fairy tales of that nature. Even the father/fiancee and the bounty hunters remind me of the same characters from that fairytales. I also wonder what would happen if Kanda and the others can take the Innocence from Vittorio though. Would he grow older and turn into a rotting corpse straight away? Or will he stay in his age and become older normally from this point forward? Either way, it's kind of impressive that Kanda managed to fight the guy for 3 days straight. I'm sure they have some rest but it's still an impressive feat. Anyway, I find it amusing that Allen still have the time to stuff his mouth with foods even during mission. What's even funnier was seeing Lenalee refusing her large portion of foods. I wonder what she thinks about pig-tummy Allen now. :D

Preview

On next week's episode: Tales of oldest time....

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