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Originally a series of light novels written by Ryohgo Narita, with illustrations supplied by Suzuhito Yasuda, Durarara!! has made its way into other media outlets such as manga, radio, and of course anime. Aniplex USA brought the first nine episodes stateside back in January and keeps the ball rolling with another set of nine episodes that see’s the conclusion of one character’s story arc.
The first release focused heavily on Celty, the female motorcycle riding dullahan in search of her head. Part one left viewers on a cliffhanger, with Celty finally locating her head only to find it attached to another body. A frantic chase ensued and the girl wound up in the arms of the series second protagonist, Mikaido.
This set marks the introduction of Celty to Mikaido, both of whom have shared screen time briefly but never really interacted with one another till now. As the most normal of the quirky cast, Mikaido is naturally a little disturbed to find Celty is headless. Still, by this point he’s witnessed more shenanigans than any one person should have to bear and takes the whole thing with good measure.
As it turns out, Celty’s head is at the center of a conspiracy involving Yagiri Pharmaceuticals as well as the infamous street gang known as the dollars. Several members of the main cast are pulled into the conspiracy and by the end of it all, one character’s secrets are revealed and the beginnings of a new plot take root.
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Celty receives the most development of the cast, with her relationship with Shinra being put under the microscope. Celty is a character prone to human impulses such as fear and surprise, despite her ties with the supernatural, but it’s the loony doctor that brings out the woman in her. It’s not your normal romantic relationship but rather an acceptance of each other as the oddballs they are. Over all, it’s a satisfying way to wrap up the character’s story while still keeping her a prominent fixture of the series.
Two other characters come out of this arc as key players, one being Mikaido and the other being Izaya. Mikaido’s role as witness to the events springing out of Ikebukuro didn’t allow for much of a role in the first release, whereas here he interjects himself in the story in a big way, offering to assist Celty in the retrieval of her head. Izaya on the other hand takes his place as perhaps the series’ main antagonist, maneuvering the characters like pawns in his master plan.
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After that, we get the continuation of the “slasher” mystery that was only hinted at in part one. Of the two stories contained on the set, this one is the weakest and lacks the depth and energy of the first story arc. It’s not a failure, but it does meander in parts and tests the patience of the viewer.
Once again, Aniplex USA delivers an outstanding package, with a wrap-around cover that fits snuggly in a clear slipcase. The extras are limited to a pair of music videos and a set of postcards with nifty character artwork.
Durarara!! is quickly becoming one of my favorite series of this year. The characters are imaginative and exude an uncanny chemistry with each other that makes it a pleasure just to see them interact. The story features multiple twists and turns for viewers to navigate through, and even with the lull in quality, this DVD still manages to deliver some of the most entertaining episodes of any series.
A-
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