Durarara!! Episode 17 Discussion

controlmajortom said:
Shizuo's fight was lame.

kokuro said:
The more this anime advances the lesser I enjoy it or take it seriously. The plot is too light and is only needled together with a thin thread that feels like is gonna fall apart at any moment (Well it actually does at times). I can't help but notice the cheap production with too many still frames and can't help but to compare it with Baccano! As the latter managed to hold together with better and more original character and story development.

Yuki said:
I'm still wondering how Niekawa came to be possessed... Anri doesn't seem to have met her before to have been the one to possess her, and if Anri hasn't been making children, who else was out there to even possess her? Maybe I'm just missing something...

I also don't get how pedo teacher did anything for Anri that warranted her saving his ass. Why was getting her into the class so important? And I don't get how Izaya was behind everything this time. He got the teacher to steal the money, but why'd that lead to Anri coming out like she did?

kukuro said:
The more this anime advances the lesser I enjoy it or take it seriously. The plot is too light and is only needled together with a thin thread that feels like is gonna fall apart at any moment (Well it actually does at times). I can't help but notice the cheap production with too many still frames and can't help but to compare it with Baccano! As the latter managed to hold together with better and more original character and story development.

controlmajortom said:
By the way, what is with this show's obsession with keeping EVERYONE alive? Did Shizuo really need to explicitly state that no one died? How did the reporter survive after getting his head crammed into a wall?

Jagd84 said:

Anri, not remembering attacking Haruna before wouldn't be usual, if you rewatched ep15 she tends blackout a lot likely due to Saika.

Just because he's hitting on her doesn't mean he hasn't done anything for her, in fact that's why he's hitting on her to begin with to get on her good side and take advantage. Anri just returning the favor by saving him, not because she like him.

Razzuel said:
I completely agree. Shizuo is my favorite character in the show, and he's the main reason that I'm still watching Durarara. I was expecting an amazing fight, since they've been teasing another Shizuo fight for ages now, and it was very disappointing. It was way too silly and it wasn't animated very well.

I couldn't of said it better myself. This is exactly what I have been thinking! Thank you for putting it into words, since I was having trouble doing just that.

I really don't understand why everyone loves this show so much. These plot twists are underwhelming and predictable; the characters are uninteresting and boring (except for Shizuo); the story is sloppy; and the pacing is erratic.

controlmajortom said:
By the way, what is with this show's obsession with keeping EVERYONE alive? Did Shizuo really need to explicitly state that no one died? How did the reporter survive after getting his head crammed into a wall?

Jagd84 said:
How him punching a guy out of his clothes, or throwing vending machines, or Playground slides any different? He's been overtop but this a series by same author wrote Clarie(Baccano) who was basically perfect.

Jagd84 said:
Each to own, but this nowhere predictable, sure there is a lot of foreshadow, but there isn't anyway you could known Mikado was the leader of the Dollars, or Mika not having Celty's head. You might have predicted Anri, but only because the show foreshadow it.

And Baccano!s pacing was much worse since everything move at break-necked speed and basically nobody got any character development or, characterization except Ennis.

everydaygamer said:
man pretty crazy. so izaya has taken 3 friends who all lead there own personal army and has caused them to unknowingly fight against each other.

garfield15 said:
-Izaya is...one manipulative bastard. He's planned EVERYTHING! (So he's basically planned out for Masaomi vs. Kida to eventually discover...Anri...)

Razzuel said:

Those other times were hilarious and insane, which is one of the reasons I love Shizuo so much, but his fight in the park was very uninspired. There was nothing striking or interesting that happened during the fight, and all of his moves were sillier than normal. Also, the animation was surprisingly lackluster compared to previous Shizuo outbursts.

At first I didn't realize that Mikado was the leader of the Dollars, but once I got over the surprise from the cliffhanger, it was quite easy to deduce that he was the leader of the Dollars. I didn't predict Mika not having Celty's head, and I didn't predict Anri being the original Slasher — Saika's master. However, those two plot twists were extremely underwhelming, and in the case of Anri's plot twist, it didn't make sense given the context of previous events. Furthermore, I was able to predict that Kida is the leader of the Yellow Scarves.

Baccano is a strange one. I didn't enjoy it as much as most people, and it took me half of the series to even warm up to it. You're right that Baccano's pacing is erratic, but it's not erratic in the same way that Durarara is. Baccano's storytelling and pacing is eccentric more than it is wandering, while Durarara's storytelling and pacing is *only* wandering. It may seem like a subtle distinction to you, but the problem with Durarara is that its story has no depth, and its story feels like a bunch of unconnected vignettes woven together, albeit the lackluster story is taking a less ethereal shape now with Izaya's war.

Also, Baccano's characters are much more developed and interesting than Durarara's characters. Isaac and Miria are the showstoppers, and they *are* Baccano as far as I'm concerned. Vino is also on top with Isaac and Miria. Vino is perfect; he's a force of nature that cannot be reckoned with; he is unstoppable. Durarara's Vino is Shizuo, but so far Shizuo is much more restrained in comparison, which is disappointing and annoying. Jacuzzi and Nice are fantastic characters as well, and I could continue this with the rest of the characters, such as the insane Ladd Russo and Graham Specter

I'm just not finding Durarara exciting or enjoyable anymore. It's a shame that I'm not enjoying it as much as you guys.

Jagd84 said:


Despite him being your favorite character you don't really know why he said that?

Only those with resistance like that are those possessed by Saika, but since when killing randomly make show good? It's not like anyone important died Baccano! other than worthless folder.

controlmajortom said:


Your first question makes no sense. I should know why he said that because he's my favorite character? What?

I'm not saying there needs to be pointless killing, I'm wondering why Shizuo had to explicitly state that he didn't kill anyone. It was such a weird line because no one cares if a few of the Saika die. The only reason it was said seems to be to establish that no one dies. Why?

Same with the reporter guy. He's just fodder too, so unless they plan on bringing him back later (they might), why not leave him (rightfully, he got his head smashed) dead?

Jagd84 said:

Because Shizuo doesn't want kill people. His strength makes him depressed since people treat him like a freak and he fears one he will kill someone because he believes he can't control himself. While he did let loose for revenge in this ep he really only wants to control his anger.

You do really that Saika Childs are normal people under possession give supernatural powers and can't control their actions right? A lot people are going to care especially since their just victims of Saika.

He isn't fodder and is actually fleshed out (though he isn't very interesting), furthermore as I said because he became Child of Saika he take that kind of punishment.

controlmajortom said:


Yes, he's afraid of going out of control, but I don't ever remember him being afraid of killing someone. ie. "I love you Shizuo", "I got it, I'll kill you"

I didn't, did you? In terms of the story, they're insignificant people to which the viewer has no attachment towards. Do you weep when bystanders get killed in shows? Even if you've never been introduced to them? Hell, few people even care about insignificant characters that we have been introduced to. A lot of people were hoping the three bully's were dead when they got chopped by Saika.

Geez, you have a pretty strict moral code even when it comes to fiction. Fair enough. I didn't care whether he died or not. I was just slightly annoyed they actually wasted a few scenes just to prove he was alive.

Jagd84 said:

So, are you saying he should have killed the ganguro girl even when she was no longer attacking him? Hoo boy.

Besides he said that because "Saika" was hurting those he cared about, who he no choice, but to fight since it called him out. He his beef was never with anyone other than Saika, it was just that sword was manipulating people into attacking him.

Besides he was only in two scenes which were like 5 secs.

controlmajortom said:

That's not what I said at all...

I'm just annoyed they go out of their way to keep everyone alive. They could easily just not mention it.