I looked around and couldn't find a thread for DTB - if I'm late to the party, feel free to close this down.

Anyway, just finished watching the subs of this show, and thought it was totally amazing. Anyone else watch it? I get the feeling it'll get picked up by [as] once the dub is done - seems like their kind of show.

Basic series outline for those who haven't seen it but are curious: Ten years before the beginning of the show, an abnormal post-apocalyptic area called Hell's Gate appeared around Tokyo, completely blocking out the sky and replacing it with a sky full of fake stars. Each star represents a Contractor - a person with abnormal powers, lacking normal human emotions who generally work as assassins, or just freelance murderers. The story follows a single Contractor, Hei, known to the general government/secret service/corporation (basically, your typical anime bad guys) population by his star's code, BK201.

Anyway, the series itself is pretty typical in structure - a few two-episode arcs leading up to one big arc, yadda yadda yadda. But hey, it's by Bones and has Yoko Kanno music, so you know it's either going to be good or it's going to be good at the beginning and devolve into a convoluted mess at the end - I personally think it's good, but hey, just my opinion. Characters are pretty good, although Hei can fall into the Superpowered Coldblooded Killer Prettyboy With Angst And Sister Issues stereotype sometimes.

As for the show itself...one of the things I really loved was how they handled the Contractor's powers. Each Contractor has to pay a price for using their power - the subs I watched called it an obeisance, I've also heard it called remuneration. Anyway, this price can range from earmarking pages in a book to drinking the blood of children poor, poor Havoc, and has to be done in order for a Contractor to use their powers. Not sure why I liked it - probably because they never, ever show consequences or anything for using powers in any other show I've seen. As it turns out, the contract can be paid off - apparently Mao did it, and it somehow cost him his body. I don't believe we ever find out how, though.

Anyway, overly long intro-to-show post over. Anyone else see this?

My hubby and I just started watching this show. We've currently only seen the first episode. We have a friend of ours who gets the sub shows for us and we have a weekely anime night, this is one of our new additions, along with Bleach, Naruto (currently going trhough filler) and Shippuden. Darker than Black looks very interesting and I must say the animation seems to be very pretty. I will have to keep a look out for this thread as we watch it so I can post some more relivent discussion.

I'm not entirely sure that it's appropriate to discuss DTB here yet, since most TWoP discussions are limited to shows that have aired on networks in North America or the UK.

ETA- Never mind. Apparently it's aired on TBS. Also see Strega's comments below.

That being said, it's on my short list of shows that I wish Adult Swim would run. A rather grim series that beautifully illustrates the point that in the "real" world super-powers would be lethal. Nice visuals, an interesting premise, Yoko Kanno music, and a butt-kicking intro tune by Abingdon Boys School don't hurt either.

It's fine to talk about the show before it has aired in the US. Y'all are always good about this anyway, but you just need to be careful about using spoiler tags (and maybe ID the episode or volume) if you want to talk about specific plot points.

I agree I think I really loved the show not just for the animation but that these people with super powers had to "pay" in order to use thier powers. Really do hope there is a second season. They seemed to rush a lot of stuff at the end. Plus they made Hei seem almost invincible, doesnt have to "pay", can transform things into whatever he wants, plus was anyone else confused during the last episode when they were in the alternate universe and the choice he had to make, I tried watching it a few times but still couldn't make complete sense out of it. Hi other anime fans!!!

I was under the impression that his remuneration is having to eat all of that food, although Wikipedia disagrees with me. If it's in Wikipedia it has to be true. (sound effect of eyes rolling here)

Sandman87 Did you watch the entire series? Hei isnt an acutal contractor, his sister who was one, had the power to change/manipulate things, she bascially made him one and he does have remuneration. He just eats a lot, lol.

I'm pretty sure Hei's remuneration was being emotional. The eating would be the obvious choice...but I think Havoc points out that he ate like that before becoming a Contractor, and we never see him doing it directly after using his powers the way we see everyone else doing it. Of course, there's always the possibility that Hei, being an uber-Contractor now apparently, just doesn't have one. Which is totally unfair.

As for a second season, I'm pretty sure they're doing an OVA instead...which is a good thing, they left a lot of shit hanging. The Syndicate is obviously still around and after Hei, who is God knows where, Kirihara might possibly be a Contractor, and did I miss something in the ending credits or has Yin completely disappeared? They've got a lot to work with.

Yeah, been there, done that. Doesn't mean that I didn't misunderstand a thing or two though, what with the fansubs of varying quality and all. (Hey, look at that; a triple negative!) That's partly why I'd like to see it again in a nice, official English dub.

I forgot to mention one of my favorite things about the series: There was never any time where I felt that any character (other than maybe Hai) was completely safe from potential sudden, painful death. Even then I was surprised a couple of times. Kinda kicked up the suspense a notch.

From what i understood, his sister made it so anyone who was near the heavengate turned into a contractor. Also I think in a way Hei eats so much because he thinks he is eating for him and his sister, or that he thinks he needs a contract. Also the alternate universe the way i understood it he was talking to everyone that he has cared about.

God, I love this show. I especially loved the last two episodes, "Are the Dreams of a Death God a Darkness Darker Than Black?" I don't like to nitpick the show too much (I save my energy for "Naruto" :), so I just sit back and enjoy the ride. As far as dubs go, I'd prefer ADV or maybe Geneon to have a crack at it; Funimation just irritates the hell out of me. Not to mention my motto; fansubs rule and dubs drool! 'Nuff said.

After watching the first episode, I thought Darker Than Black should appear on [as]. Plus, FUNi picked it up recently, so that's even more likely to happen now.

Wow, I'm bumping this up from more than a year ago. I really wonder if I even should because I don't have anything interesting to add to the conversation. But I just finished the show so I wanted to talk a little bit about it! Up to volume 3 (episode 14) is out in the US now so I'll put everything after that under a spoiler.

I really wish there would be a sequel. There were rumors about it last year when it was mentioned on some sort of leaked document from BONES but I haven't seen any rumors since then. I feel like they left a lot of things open and that there are lots of things they could go in to such as how the contractors came to be. I'd also like for them to look more in to the dolls because they did show that they were able to show emotion and have feelings but in the end there were still a lot of them left in the government tanks and I thought that kind of stunk. And I think there could be more of a relationship between Hei and Misaki even though at the end he said he wasn't Li anymore... even more reason for a part 2! Overall BONES is very good at coming up with worlds for their shows, almost every show I've watched from them I've felt like they could probably create whole new series in those worlds but they don't so I don't know how much hope I should have for this.

I wish this was on Adult Swim and could pick up a slightly bigger following but they've been treating their anime badly lately anyway so maybe it's fine that it's not.

I would rather see this series on Sci-Fi where it has more of a chance of living since AS now hates anime. With that being said I finished this series probably about 6 months ago. I need to re-watch it because I know I got lost on some things but over all, one of my top 10 animes "_"

I don't care whether it's on [as] or SciFi (no, I won't use that new name they came up with), just as long as someone shows it. Soon preferably, since I'm about ready for a rewatch.

According to the wiki thing: So at least I know now that the English dub exists.

If you search around the internet, the first 3 dubbed eps are up. The voices aren't too bad. I still hope they do a second season, the last few episodes felt so rushed, so many things they can do.

I had started to read the darker than black manga, which was weird because it kind of takes place after the series but yet all the people keep showing up who were gone at the end of the series...odd. Anyway back to what I was going to say was I would like a second season, but probably not more than that. I hate it when shows end on a high note only to get a second season and suck...

I've seen English dub up to episode 11, which was as far as the DVDs had been released in North America, last I checked. There may be more now.

Up to ep 14 is out now. It's actually how I got in to the show, my brother bought all the volumes and I started to watch them all and then finished it the other way haha because I just couldn't wait for the next volume!

The manga is not meant to take place after the series is over. In fact it started running as the anime was airing. It was just meant to be a side story. It ran in a shoujo magazine too, they probably used it to try and get some girls to watch the show (not that I think that would be very hard!). I only read the first chapter though, I'd like to read more but it's hard to get in to after the girl got her memories back. I thought they made it clear in the series that what's lost is lost and that that does not happen. I thought it was one of the main themes of the show...

Anyone seen the first ep of season 2? Not sure if I like the new characters and still can't believe that they killed off April. And not enough Hei, hopefully things will pick up in the next ep.

There's a new season? I've got to start paying closer attention to these things.

The new season looks pretty good, if the first episode is anything to go by. Action? Check. Body count? Check. Grim? Check again.

Abingdon Boy's School is still doing the (closing this time) credits theme, but I guess they couldn't hang on to Yoko Kanno for the soundtrack. Too bad.

Gemini of the Meteor #2 - I think abbreviating it GoM will do henceforth. Finally get to see the new opening credits. I might start calling Suou "Moose", just so I can make endless jokes about "Moose and squirrel". If I correctly understand what happened at the end, Hie's powers just got transferred to Suou. Probably sucks for her, but Hei is still in good shape with his swingline, coat and skillz. I sense a mentoring relationship coming up. Also: Hello again nice police lady whose name I don't remember!

GoM: Interesting idea about the power swap, I just thought that her necklace fragment thing just allowed her to see into Hei's soul, lol. I can't wait for the next ep, looks like lots of ppl are going to get shot.

That's what I would have thought too, except for the last few seconds where nice police lady saw Hei's star (BK201) go out.

LOL I had totally blocked her out of the episode, so what did you think of ep 3? I have to admit this season has a lot more action, which I love, I just hate though how the girl is trying to reason with her contractor friend, eventhough she knows how heartless they can be after dealing with her contractor brother. And her becoming a contractor, I don't get, I hope they explain that next episode, cuz the power to pull a gun out of a necklace and then be controlled by someone doesn't seem like a fun power to have. There are a lot of different factions going on right now, hopefully they will all be classified soon, I am guessing CIA, the section 35 people and then the lady with the creepy twin girls. But on a fun note, MAO IS BACK! And as a squirrel.

GoM #3 - So Suo got Hei's powers, but they're different. I'm curious to see if she can manifest any weapons other than that big ass anti-tank rifle, and also if she can do it without the necklace. Wonder if they'll tie her remuneration to the folklore belief that making 1000 origami cranes grants you a wish. Also, is Tanya summoning existing insects or creating them? Guess you could say it's bugging me <rim shot>, because if it's the former then they shouldn't be active when it's that cold. Even money says that the next time we see her, her hair is significantly different from all the pieces that she keeps breaking off.

The new season looks pretty good

One day later there's some Fridge Logic questions/observations:

1. Hei left his knife on the dock at the beginning of the episode. Did he run out to retrieve it/grab another one, and then come back to the shack where Suo was tied up? Because he used that knife, or one exactly like it, to cut her bonds there. Maybe he has a spare?
2. How did Suo get Hei back to the shack? With a sled?
3. Suo's first shot with her new BFG missed Tanya, but knocked her out anyway from the explosion. The only problem is that those old Russian ATRs fire solid, non-explosive bullets. Must have been contractor magic.
4. Relating to the previous item, what happened to the pervy materials guy and kissing sword lady after Suo fired in their general directions? Hei had time to pick her up and stroll down the tracks in a leisurely manner after the fight, so there was plenty of time for them to come after him. Did they need to suddenly run off for a change of underwear?

Sandman87 Question 1: It was a different knife, so I just assumed it was in the shack since it didn't look very weapony and more like a big kitchen knife or something. Question 2: I like to believe that Mao in squirrel form was able to haul both of them back to safety and then start a fire to warm them up Question 3: Since I have no idea about guns, I have no answer Question 4: Well at least for pervy guy I thought he had got knocked unconscious my the shot towards him and for the kissing lady, I say she lost a contact after being knocked to the ground and was looking for it while Hei strolled off.

You can read about that particular model here. They used to have a non-functional one on display at the sporting goods shop in the town where I grew up.

GoM 4 - Aaaand introducing...comic relief characters: One hairy comedy transvestite and his not-so-tough delinquent son. The son has a crush on Suo at first sight and she realizes it immediately, which is a refreshing change from the usual anime cliche obliviousness. Also, Hei is a mean drunk and doing the mentoring thing. Meanwhile, Mina makes a ham-handed pass at Misaki and seems puzzled when it doesn't work, and Genma is still icky.

GoM 5 - The softer side of Hei is reappearing, finally! I really hope they address why he drinks and where Yin disappeared off to in the next few eps instead of near the end where it will be rushed through. So it was an anti-Contractor device, interesting. So the plan to kill off every contractor is still an option then? I wonder what the chances will be that Hei will be able to get his powers back. I wish had done the second series exploring the past of Hei and the syndicate, there was so much more interesting stuff about how he learned to fight, his sister, his relationship with Amber. Hopefully the twin boy will re-emerge soon so we can find out what his power is and where he is hiding the meteor fragment and why it is so important.

GoM 5 - As soon as transvestite guy mentioned that his wife is a contractor, I started wondering when she'd make an appearance. Most shows would wait and maybe have a slow buildup before he sees her again. Not this one. She shows up almost immediately and demands to use his oven. Maybe cooking things is her remuneration.

I don't know why, but I get the feeling that Yoko's whole moe meganekko routine is a front, and that she's eventually going to turn out to be a really nasty piece of work. I'm probably just remembering Nina from Code Geass.

GoM 6 YIN IS BACK kinda! Well at least we got to see her and know where she is. So apparently it is through her that they can take away a contractors powers? Also how badass was it when she took down the water contractor lady. Poor Yin tried to visit Hei but he couldn't see her and then what was with Suou kicking the spot, is she jealous?

GoM 6 - So cooking was Michiru's remuneration. Too bad she died so soon. There were a few moments of comedy gold, like Genma realizing that he's ruined the truck that he needs to chase Hei, and the line "unfettered by the restraints of common sense."

Nice to see that people are getting killed again. It just doesn't feel like DTB without an occasional corpse.

I'm going to guess that Suo is pissed off at Yin for killing Michiru, since she's still shaky on the notion of being ruthless. Also, what Norio said to her sounded exactly like what she said to Hei when he killed April, so that's probably bothering her too.