Featured Articles

Durarara!!x2 Ten - Episode 10 Recap

Everyone wants to know who the mysterious leader of the Dollars is. Dangerous figures are tracking our heroes in this latest episode of Durarara!!x2 Ten.

by 5camp
Sep 16, 2015 8:24 PM | 6,649 views

Durarara!!x2 Ten Mikado spits truth

The last arc for Durarara ended in quite dramatic fashion with Kida discovering that Mikado was the new leader of the Blue Squares. Or surrogate leader at least, as he attempted to cull the Dollars of their less favourable parts. It was an incredibly well done scene that opened up a whole new storyline that it looks like this arc is set to explore. Multiple people have gotten it into their heads that they want to learn more about Dollars. The main difference now is their insider knowledge means they all know that Mikado is the leader. Now they're all researching this kid. The yakuza are asking Izaya for information on this otherwise nondescript teen. The mysterious, dangerous figure of Yodogiri Jinnai is also looking for more information on Dollars. They've made enough of a name for themselves now that they're attracting interests from groups arguably far more dangerous and certainly more experienced than them.

Durarara!!x2 Ten Izaya with one eye

I wasn't a fan of Mikado before now. In a show with so many larger-than-life characters, the idea that the main character would be this boring normal high school male lead who we've seen in over 80% of anime airing today was irritating. But now with his newfound status, the previous 40-something episodes of establishing him as an everyday boring teenage boy has added to this mystique surrounding him. It adds layers to how such a seemingly ordinary kid could control this feared gang, and whether he even has a clue on how dangerous this power he controls is. The comparison between 4chan and Dollars is one I've seen brought up before. The founder of 4chan was barely growing his first "big boy hairs" when he set up the unholy centre for internet trolling. I doubt either him nor Mikado had any idea of what a scary place they had just created in their spare time.

Durarara!!x2 Ten possibly yodogiri

The direction they're taking with Mikado and everyone getting involved with his story is certainly interesting. However I will admit, this week I reached a breaking point with Durarara bringing back characters and expecting us to remember them. The ex-Yellow Scarves leader returning with new hair and a freshly burnt face I recognized, since he was a fairly important character in the first season. A terrible character who was a primary reason the last arc for the first season was so poor, but I like what they've done with him. He made for a particularly entertaining narrator this week. But everyone else being introduced drove me to madness. The cute police officer lady talking to the grungy looking reporter seemed to be referencing past events that I can't for the life of me remember. Yodogiri Jinnai shows up in this episode, except it's a completely different old guy from the Yodogiri Jinnai we saw in previous episodes. I thought Yodogiri was the old guy with the weak sounding voice.

Durarara!!x2 Ten police officer

One rule for writing good stories is that you have a core cast of characters that you base the story around. A good piece of advice for young writers is getting them to cut entire characters from their stories when you realise how little they actually bring to the narrative. However the writer Ryogo Narita has made something of a career writing stories about a much wider cast of characters as they bounce off each other. They only work because of how good a creator of personalities he is. Each and every person he writes is instantly memorable and distinct, so his wide cast in Durarara and Baccano can be instantly recalled. He can spin stereotypes into new and fascinating people. But this only really works when they are on screen. Once character callbacks, deep relationship ties and complex allegiances get crammed into the story and we're required to remember them, it stops being entertaining. I'm generally able to keep up thanks to wikis and personal notes, but it's not fun to spend most of the episode furiously wracking my brain to remember who is connected to who. I like what they're doing with this new arc, but at some point the sheer amount of characters introduced gets in the way of what makes the anime so compelling.

Related Articles

Top 15 Anime Demon & Devil Characters

Top 15 Anime Demon & Devil Characters

Anime demons and devils are arguably some of the coolest types of boys and girls in anime.
How a 1961 Ep. of The Twilight Zone May Have Inspired Death Billiards

How a 1961 Ep. of The Twilight Zone May Have Inspired Death Billiards

A 1961 episode of The Twilight Zone entitled, "A Game Of Pool" features two men playing a life or death game of pool under supernatural circumstances. The 2013 anime short film Death Billiards also features two men in a life and death game of billiards; but just how similar are the two?
Top 12 Strongest Fairy Tail Characters

Top 12 Strongest Fairy Tail Characters

So we have a bunch of powerful mages, villains and dragons who encompass the thrilling Fairy Tail universe. But which of them are truly the strongest Fairy Tail characters of the lot. It's time to step inside the battle field, and settle the score once and for all!
Everything You Need to Know About the NEW Live-Action Death Note Movie

Everything You Need to Know About the NEW Live-Action Death Note Movie

Information about the live-action Death Note movies so far and the new movie coming out in late October.

by ChaosKei44

36,826 views

Tales of Zestiria the X First Impressions

Tales of Zestiria the X First Impressions

A little behind on the anime of Summer 2016? Here are some impressions of the first episode of the Tales anime that everyone is hoping is better than the game.

by marthaurion

14,947 views

Related Database Entries

Anime: Durarara!!x2 Ten
Manga: Durarara!!

All Tags Trending Tags

It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login