Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha Gaiden

*Minor spoilers, mostly discussion about breaks in continuity from season 1*

I am honestly conflicted. I first watched this in 2012 and thoroughly enjoyed it, but watching it again now, after having just finished rewatching season 1 has put me in kind of a bad mood.

Now, the first time I watched Darker than Black, I couldn't find the dub for season 2 back in 2012, and so I've never watched it. But I have seen season 1 and Gaiden two times each at this point. And while I loved rewatching season 1, I feel like the story here falls short by a large margin.

There ... are just too many breaks in continuity in the overarching story.

In season 1, the premise is that the gates, the dolls, the contractors... everything appeared 10 years before the story started. By the end of it, we learn that the syndicate was created with the sole purpose of destroying all contractors and dolls.

However, in this OVA, that is directly contradicted. Instead, we are told that the Syndicate was created fifty years before (so roughly 38? years before this OVA takes place). FIFTY YEARS! I mean come on. Somehow, someone made a prophecy that a doll (and it's not like anyone even knew what that was at that point) would "awaken" and become a reincarnation of one of the Japanese Shinto gods. And instead of tossing said prophesy in the trash, they created a multinational, multi-BILLION dollar organization with the sole purpose of stopping that from happening.

Someone literally went, "oh boy, the local fortune teller said that Izanami is going to be resurrected. Guess I better spend the next 50 years infiltrating every single world power in order to stop that. Yep, that's the plan!"

Oh, and those special particles that the syndicate was going to use to destroy all the contractors in the world? The ones that Hei erased from existence in order to choose the third option at the end of season 1, using his sister's power to change matter? And the fact that these particles were erased from existence being the ENTIRE REASON the syndicate fell apart (due to them no longer being able to erase all the contractors)? Yea, apparently they're back for some reason, and the doctor involved in the Saturn Gates is making devices that still use those particles.

Like... what?

Don't get me wrong, I love the parts of this that involve Hei and Yin. Think it's well done, and I definitely enjoyed it. Worth watching for that alone. But my experience was definitely soured by the complete and utter dismissal of the facts we learned about in season 1.

I know this was made after season 2 and it's story is going to be constricted because of that. But maybe there shouldn't have *been* a season 2 if this was the direction they were going to take it.

The parts between Yin evolving as a doll, and Hei and Yin's relationship progressing gets a solid 9/10 in enjoyment from me. The parts involving Yin turning into some out of control god, the syndicate apparently forming 40 years before the events of season 1, and every single organization in the world knowing that this was going to happen get a solid 2/10. So going to give this an overall 7, even though it objectively should get like a 4/10.

(I'm writing this review as someone who's seen season one of Darker than Black, as well as read both manga adaptations.)

This special had a decent start, but quickly went downhill and left a sour taste in my mouth by the end of it. The story was incredibly confusing and difficult to follow, and I even felt that they retconned some elements of the first season. Sound design took a nosedive, as well; the background music felt awkward in several scenes, and was even distracting at times. There were moments when the characters acted strangely for seemingly no reason, and it sometimes felt new ones were ... thrust into the narrative with little to no warning or explanation.

The only element I felt improved from season one was the animation. There were a few action scenes that really shone over the course of these four episodes, with some brilliant sakuga moments that I ended up rewinding to rewatch because of how gorgeous they are. The art style itself was on par with that of the original season, too.

Maybe if you put on the dub but mute your TV, you'll be maximizing your viewing experience... ?

I like to pretend that DtB: Gemini doesn't exist.

I apparently need to include more words for this review. Okay: it introduces some clarity (maybe) and a little bit of extra lore, but it's just... so bad. Do yourself a favour: watch it for the sake of watching, and then forget about it. Pretend like it doesn't exist. "DtB: Gemini? Who dat? I don't know her."

The directing could be better. The newly introduced characters could be better. The team is amazing as always, but it's just... Not good. I think if they wanted to continue on, that an entirely different approach would've been more suitable.