Synopsis both seasons taken from MAL: Season 1: It has been 10 years since Heavens Gate appeared in South America and Hells Gate appeared in Japan veiling the once familiar night sky with an oppressive skyscape. Their purposes unknown these Gates are spaces in which the very laws of physics are ignored. With the appearance of the Gates emerged Contractors who in exchange for their humanity are granted supernatural abilities. In the Japanese city surrounding Hells Gate Section 4 Chief Misaki Kirihara finds herself at odds with an infamous Contractor codenamed Hei. Called Black Reaper in the underground world Hei like his associates undertakes missions for the mysterious and ruthless Syndicate while slowly peeling back the dark layers covering a nefarious plot that threatens the very existence of Contractors. From the mind of Tensai Okamura comes a scifi thriller taking the form of a subtle expos on a war in which political positions and justice have no swaya war waged exclusively in the shadows. Season 2: One night as meteors streak across the starstudded sky Shion Pavlichenko becomes a Contractor. Despite her brothers transformation Shions twin sister Suou continues to live a fairly ordinary life attending middle school with her friends and getting caught up in the awkwardness of growing up. However everything changes when her home is invaded by a masked man cloaked in black destroying any sense of normality she once had. Revealed to possess latent Contractor abilities of her own Suou is caught between family friends and her own sense of purpose as she ventures into the ruthless world of cutthroats and espionage that Contractors call home. Meanwhile in Tokyo investigation surrounding Hells Gates sudden collapse is underway and prophetic signs of doom point in the direction of a silverhaired doll. Story: Premise 1 out of 2: DTBs premise revolves around a myriad of narratives that generally fell flat after a few episodes. The scientific atmosphere the show established with the GATE backstory was pretty interesting for a while but I felt like it never really got emphasized enough until the end of season 1. The normal narratives found through the polices persecuting the contractors the name given to the people with unique powers in the show as well as the contemporary aspects seen during season 2 e.g. Hei acting as a sort of mentor and father figure to Suou while engaging in ordinary tasks while relatable became quite mundane due to how unoriginal and irrelevant it felt. The supernatural premise surrounding the syndicate members was probably the most interesting because of how unique each respective power was however I feel like its presence was diminished after season 1 due to the focus on Suous emotional narrative with both her brother and Hei. Additionally a heightened focus on Rins disappearance really jumbled up the second seasons focus I wasnt really able to identify a main premise since it seemed to focus on too many things at once. Pace 1.25 out of 2: The pace of DTBs story considerably shifted after the end of season 1. Season 1 was relatively lethargic which matched the sort of dark brooding aesthetic that the season established. I was really able to absorb the somewhat confusing elements of the story due to a slower plot progression and that really made season 1 better as a result. The second season due to its shorter length was slightly faster compared to season one. Therefore the plot elements character development etc. was less detailed and really made the second season more confusing that it should have been. Complexity 1.25 out of 2: Supernaturally DTB was a very unique and complex show. The development regarding the powers of each contractor was adequate and the story had some depth to it overall. Once again season 2 brings the quality down a tad due to its lack of comprehensive storytelling and length. In addition some aspects like Ambers involvement in the story arent really hashed out compared to something like Heis backstory/aspirations. Thematically the show explores themes of the past future mainly through the emphasis on stars as a symbol and other deep metaphors memory fails me here so I cant think of anything. Plausibility 1.5 out of 2: Once again a supernatural show does not advocate a plausible story as one of its primary components but instead integrates smaller instances of realism in order to retain some plausibility. DTB does this well overall through the segments that feature characters in an ordinary contemporary setting since most of the shows story highlights some unnatural phenomena. With these events we get a better idea of how down to earth the show actually is and how a supernatural show can still be realistic to some degree. I think DTB succeeds because the interactions are so genuine and dont integrate any sort of unnatural element that lurks behind the scenes. These interactions are simply human. Ending 1 out of 2: Generally speaking I thought that each ending was pretty lackluster. My memory really fails me here so I cant remember every particular aspect of the ending but I felt pretty disappointed with each one. Season 2s ending was good in wrapping up the story that it established and season 1 did offer up something that could be built upon seen in the miniseries but I didnt really feel satisfied after each one. Overall rating: 6/10 Characters: Presence 1.5 out of 2: From watching both seasons it seems as if most of the cast is pretty omnipresent throughout. They all seem to develop each episodic plot well at least in season 1 and impact the show from beginning to end. The minor characters who usually appear for 1 to 2 episodes are effective in their delivery of themes and development of more major characters. For example the scientist with the neat telescope gives us further insight into Heis interest regarding the starts since his appreciation for Even characters who appear for one scene do contribute to their respective plot however some of these contributions were pretty insignificant in retrospect. Personality 1.5 out of 2: Since the show exudes a pretty serious atmosphere throughout the viewer can assume that each character matches this demeanor. However this does not limit each characters personality to just serious. In fact most of the main and side cast have memorable threedimensional personalities. For example Kirihara is a character who is known for her strong work ethic and inhuman determination. While these two particular quirks are present throughout the show she occasionally flaunts her more feminine friendly side. Heis aloof and introverted personality dominates in a casual context yet his more mysterious and merciless side comes out through the Black Reaper. Overall we see that most of the main cast can be classified through some dominant personality trait relating to this serious or enigmatic demeanor most of the time alongside some other traits that might not show up as often whereas the side cast is relatively one dimensional which makes sense for an episodic show. Of course the plot is more linear in the second season which makes for a more dynamic side cast but leaves room for flat characters/plot devices e.g. Suous blond friend. Backdrop 2 out of 2: The setting is a relatively dark depressing and mysterious city that fits the overall atmosphere of the show. This setting interacts with its characters quite well as it elevates the level of drama and overall darkness that the show already contains. In addition the darkness flows to each characters personality and therefore adds some sort of mysterious or serious aspect as previously mentioned. The setting is also important in allowing for the show to establish its themes as the perpetual darkness might symbolize an underlying evil/bleak future this among other themes are present often but again I cant remember much since its been 2 months. Development 1.75 out of 2: The episodic format of season 1 alongside a more linear cohesive format of season 2 allow for a nearmaximum amount of character development to occur. Season 1 allows more characters to develop since each arc is 2 episodes while season 2 has a smaller cast with characters who can develop over a longer period of time. In both cases most of the cast develops into a dynamic character as the end of the arc/season approaches. For example we learn more about Yin Huang and Mao as season one comes to a close. I especially appreciated how Huang overcame his ignorance regarding contractors as just tools and sacrificed his life to help them in the final arc of season 1. His story as a whole was very tragic and I sympathized with him as a result. Yin is a stranger case you DO learn more about her in both seasons but her development is very confusing for lack of a better term in season 2. Overall season 2s character development is pretty mixed as some characters develop well while others remain pretty flat and onedimensional. Suou develops somewhat over the course of season 2 but her development doesnt really become relevant after her defining moment the fight with the trench coat contractor. I believe the ending just brings her back to whoever she was at the start of the show I might be misremembering here so forgive me. Catharsis .75 out of 2: Because of the numerous amount of contractors DBT is a show that is pretty much devoid of any catharsis. As a whole the show does not prominently feature any sentimental expression and instead places more emphasis on the mystery and drama surrounding the story and its characters. Of course using devoid would be hyperbole especially considering how the immense amount of character development in characters like Huang led to some catharsis however I really sensed little emotion throughout season 1. Season 2 was definitely more emotional especially with the inclusion of a younger character in Suou as well as an older Hei in a sort of father role the conflict they went through during her training was incredibly realistic. In addition the punk and the obviously traumatized dads relationship was filled with incredible amounts of sadness that you would definitely see in a relationship without a mother present. In short it makes up for what season 1 did not deliver on but it wasnt enough to balance it out. Overall rating: 7.5/10 Aesthetics artstyle: General 1 out of 2: The art style in DTB pretty lackluster. It is an older show so I cannot discredit it that much. The action scenes are very fluid and very nice to look out. The overall atmosphere/tone of the show dark brooding was established to perfection with the dark color palette and harsh jagged imagery which allows for the shows mysterious narrative to establish itself immediately. It has that Cowboy Bebop feel but it doesnt have the extravagance that Bebop brings with the constantly changing environment. Characters 1.25 out of 2: The characters for the most part have pretty unique designs. Hei and Kirihara are pretty generic and some of the side characters in season 2 were relatively boring in terms of design e.g. blond chick again. Heis design does get better after season 1 as his scruffy older and fatigued appearance signifies his transition from young hardworking contractor to apathetic alcoholic. Aside from that nothing really changes into something significant it all remains relatively consistent and generic. Backgrounds 2 out of 2: The backgrounds of each scene really contribute to the overall atmosphere of the show. Most of the scenes occur with no glaring distractions as to emphasize the seriousness of each scene they want you to focus on whats going on. These screens are particularly dark in order to emphasize the mystery surrounding the plot. While some viewers might find it boring to look at it was much easier to focus on what was really going on during each particular scene. Animation .5 out of 2: While the backgrounds bring out the best things of the show the animation comes off as really calm and uninteresting. The action scenes are fluid and engaging but the rest of the action doesnt really grab your attention. Some other scenes do look beautiful but it seems as if the show is definitely focused more on its still images. Visual effects 1 out of 2: Much like the animation the visual effects dont really stand out. There are some pretty spectacular moments which look absolutely magnificent but its not consistent enough to be considered good instead of below average. Overall score: 5.75/10 Aesthetics sound: Voice acting 3 out of 3: I really loved the voice acting in this show. Once again I think the subtle tones for characters like Yin and Hei really matched up with the overall tone of the show. With the action the voices became incredibly dramatic and fit the tense tone that accompanied the scene. Other tones like Suous were fitting for her immaturity regarding her newer role as a contractor and an adolescent girl. Heis exhausted delivery among other things that were previously mentioned really indicated how he has transformed as an individual. Overall the voices were fitting and really enunciated the seriousness of the show. Music 3.5 out of 4 Most of the music was incredibly fitting for a show this bleak and mysterious. The opening for season 1 was nice a nice mix of harsh and calm tones to suggest mystery with a side of action and drama. While it was fitting I wouldnt say it was great. The music found in the anime pretty much follows the same formula. The second seasons opening was more lighthearted compared to the first which makes sense considering how emotional the sequel season was compared to the first. Once again the same can be said for the music in the anime. The endings are good as well. Sound effects 2 out of 3: Sound effects were great. Nothing too jarring. Sounded great overall and really gave an extra umph to the action scenes. My memory not to mention I didnt pay much attention to the sound effects really inflates this rating but I cant really recall something that was really bad. Overall rating: 8.5/10 Enjoyment: Art .5 out of 1: Pretty much what I said in the aesthetic section. I enjoyed some of it while other aspects werent particularly interesting or enjoyable. Sound 1.5 out of 2 points: I enjoyed listening to the music and sound effects. Complaints stem from issues listed in the aesthetics sound section. Overall 4 out of 7: When it comes down to it season 1 was absolutely fantastic whereas season 2 was a complete flop. The plot and its respective elements were somewhat interesting and engaging and I was genuinely interested in the backstories for most characters. I enjoyed keeping up with each character and stayed attentive to how they developed over time. The aesthetics really established a mysterious narrative that kept me engaged the smaller details e.g. no distractions in background to make focal point the discussion/event really show how complex the season was. In contrast the second seasons plot was absolutely mundane and mildly uninteresting. While I did enjoy watching how the relationship between Hei and Suou developed most of the other characters were either bland or didnt show up as much as I had wanted them to i.e. other contractors. The mysterious tone that was established by the first season was replaced with a more emotional one which in my opinion was somewhat drastic considering how good the tone of the first season was. On a more positive note the music animation and sound got a decent upgrade from season 1 to 2 so I particularly enjoyed the aesthetics all the way through. Overall I thought it was nice. Id say I moderately enjoyed it. The flaws were sort of significant in lowering the shows quality so I didnt enjoy it as much as I wanted to. On a enjoyment scale Id rate it adequate. Overall rating: 6/10 Summary: While the show does so many great things in terms of tone and engagement the flaws that are found throughout mostly in season 2 really prevented me from enjoying the show wholeheartedly. Casually I would definitely recommend it. However a more critical watcher would probably stop watching after the end of the 1st season. Ill probably watch the OVA miniseries but thatll probably be in the distant future. Weeb note: I love Yin shes cute. No Misaka though. Suou is nice too. Very cute. Would headpat and protecc. Total rating: 6.75/10 Would I recommend?: Only casually. More critical watchers should only watch the first season and the OVA miniseries.