Once again, I'm reminded of how tightly and gracefully choreographed the action is. But this time, I realized that DtB's true forte is in the telling of its characters' stories. The series handles character development with a deft but loving hand, showcasing in very humane ways their longings, inner struggles, losses and nebulous but persistent relationships. If one accepts the technomumble at face-value, as simply a manner of world-building, a stylistic backdrop, then the show becomes a meditation on the larger themes of identity, grief, personhood, redemption and loneliness. In this way, it is similar to Mushishi, in that the mushi simply serve as an excuse to delve into the circumstances and consequences of what are often heartbreakingly human failures.
Seen this new light, DtB is really a series worth watching.
