Darker than Black ep.21

September 11, 2007 | 8 Comments

Well, this is pretty good. The start was a bit slow but it's well compensated by the well-executed fights toward the end of the episode. I also like the way Hei and his group work together in a mission. It seems after the previous episode's incident, their teamwork becomes a lot more effective. Plot-wise, I like how everything is heading towards a climax involving the end of the Great Sunspot. I do wonder, however, if we'll ever find out about the diffection factions that exist in this story and their intention in regards to Contractors and the Gate. One thing that I feel is a bit extraneous is Misaki and her subordinates. I guess they need several characters to represent the normal human factions but at times they feel so removed from the general plot. Of course it doesn't help that they're always late and miss out on crucial informations.

A Professor called Schroeder has just finished his experiment when a naked woman moves forward and proceeds to kiss him, effectively causing her and the Professor's body to disappear. Meanwhile, Misaki and her subordinates manage to subdue a Contractor who can levitate object using an injection to his neck. When they check through his bag, they find out an explosive hidden within it, intended to blow up the American embassy. Misaki believes that this is the work of EPR (Evening Prime Rose), the group responsible for chain of terrorist bombing. According to their statement, EPR's intention is to make the existence of Contractors known to the public and obtain their own rights. The problem is, all of the bombing suspects have the common similarity of having no memory of their leader. While briefing her subordinates, Misaki tells them that the bombing incidents will probably decrease once the Great Sunspot ends in three days.

Misaki tries to convince the American embassy to let the Japanese police tighten up the security inside and outside the embassy but the embassy refuses. When she gets out, she finds November 11 waiting for her to let her know that Professor Schroeder, who's known for his research on the gate, has been targeted by the EPR. November also lets Misaki know that EPR's leader, Amber, used to be MI6 agent called "February". November then part ways with Misaki after telling her that from now one she won't have enemies or allies and must rely on her own intution and action. Meanwhile, the embassy rep who refuses to let the Japanese cops to work inside the embassy assures his secreatry, Brita, not to worry about this so-called terrorist attack. The sleazebag tries to put the moves on her but Brita refuses and goes out of the office. As it turns out, she's checking on Professor Schoeder, who's been held hostage underground, guarded by a man.

Brita reveals that the police has made a move to suggest that EPR is targeting this place. The man informs Brita that he hasn't heard anything from Amber about this place being targeted. This means that the whole thing was just a bluff by the Organization to sneak into the embassy. The man then plays a recording which was made by the Professor, saying that if one fires an electron accelerator at the center of the lens, the act would destroy the gate's stability. The man believes that this guy is most likely the real Professor Schroeder and wonders if they should let "her" meet him. Brita thinks they should wait because if this guy is the real Professor Schroeder, then they will certainly come after him. The man agrees and reveals himself to be Wei. Meanwhile, Hei's group is trying to find their way into the embassy. However, they soon find that there are more guards around the area than usual. Despite this, Hei and Mao go ahead with the plan.

In order to do this, Mao drops a smoke gas bomb into a nearby security area, causing havoc around the place. Hei uses the opportunity to shoot an arrow into the embassy, allowing him to enter the place. While this happens, Misaki and her subordinates are on the stakeout to see the entire thing. After Hei enters the compound, he follows every single instruction that Yin gives to him so that he can infiltrate the place quietly. Hei then plants a bomb inside the building and set it for 5 minutes before leaving the place as instructed by Huang. Before Hei can leave the place, however, he's confronted by Wei, who has killed a guard to enter the place. Wei is delighted to meet Hei again and informs the later that he's glad he joined Amber. Outside the embassy, Misaki tries to warn Mr.Vernom that this whole thing is not a decoy. However, even after a bomb detonated inside the embassy, Vernom orders his men not to let the Japanese police to enter the embassy.

Because of this, Misaki makes a phone call to the Police chief, asking him to give her a permission to enter the place as the Chief of Public Order. Otherwise they can't prevent further casualties and will lose information on their leader. Eventually Misaki gets her order and tries to enter the place. She then notices November 11 entering the place and decides to follow him. Meanwhile, Hei and Wei are still fighting with each other when Brita appears and uses her power to make herself and Wei disappear. When Brita appears inside the room where Professor Schroeder was held, she finds that November 11 already waits her there. He claims that he wants to see Amber so Brita kiss him and take him to Amber. By the time Misaki arrives there, November already disappears, leaving only his clothes on the ground. To make things worse, she gets captured by Pandora guards. The episode ends with Mao being greeted by Amber when he's waiting for Hei.

Impression:

What does body transportation got to do with being naked? If you can transfer the matter of the bodies, surely you can also do the same to your clothes? Don't bother answering that, I was just being facetious. Having said that, I think it's a ridiculous excuse for the animators to draw Brita parading her naked booty while she does her job. I like fanservice but this one borders on trashy and over the top. On a more positive note, the story is becoming really interesting. Amber herself really confuses me. In person, she seems harmless but her organization and her ideals seem to be the kind of thing that can kill many people. If that's not bad enough, she tries to recruit both November 11 and Mao to her cause. I am also still confused about the Organization's intention, especially in regards to Evening Primrose. I mean, on the scale of danger, it seems Evening Primrose is far more dangerous but if that's the case, why bother showing the Organization as a shady group in the last 2 episodes?

Unrelated and shameless pimpage: Kongetsu's latest update.

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