Rewind: Durarara!!

I heard that Durarara!! is getting a second anime series. I don't know when, but if it's supposed to be part of the ten year anniversary for the light novel, I would assume it will come out this year. No, I didn't do much research; this post is called "Rewind," not "Fastforward." Go Google it yourself while I focus on the first series.

Screenshot from ep 11, in which, uh... actually, I don't know how to
explain without spoilers. So, something cool happens, and Mikado gets
the best of someone my records call "the bad guy." I'm sorry, but my
computer situation is making it hard for me to get new screenshots.

I loved Durarara!! when I saw it three years ago, but it took me two tries to get through it. The first several episodes failed to catch my attention the first time around. The storytelling is unconventional but ultimately intriguing, the action is exciting, and the characters both interested and surprised me. Durarara!! comes from the same studio, staff, and original author as Baccano! does, and it's obvious... even without the Isaac and Miria cameos.

It's been several years since I watched Durarara!!, so see my old Survival Guide to the World of Durarara!! for 7 tips on how to survive Ikebukuro with the main character, Mikado. I included more of my thoughts in the "headlines" in the bottom part of that post. The spoilers aren't too big, but they're present.

For more information and videos, see Anime-Planet's page for Durarara!!.

Oh, and punctuation tip, because it's hard to remember how many exclamation points to put on these Japanese Titles:

Baccano! came first and only has one exclamation point.
Durarara!! came second and has two. But it has three "ra"s, which makes its name about as long as that of its predecessor.

---
On an unrelated note, here's a computer update: It looks like the hard drive cable on my Mac is broken again, and I won't get it back for more than a week, and that assuming the wonderful guy in I.T. is correct in his diagnosis (I'm on Spring Break now, and no longer in the same city as my Mac). I'm using my old PC, but it's in serious need of updates... and protection... and speed... and a new battery (not gonna happen)... and the fountain of youth, while we're at it. 

I miss Crunchyroll, and I miss reading people's blogs. I feel out of the loop. Now that I'm on break, I hope I'll have time to catch up a little using my phone and my Mom's computer, but I do have to be diligent about homework if I want to have a pleasant April.

Survival Guide to the World of Durarara!!

1. Don't be fooled. No one is as they seem. The leaders of the gangs, the serial killers… they might be the person you least expect.

2. If you must go out at night, don't go anywhere alone. Go in groups of a dozen or so.

3. See that blonde in a bartender's outfit and purple sunglasses? That's Heiwajima Shizuo. Don't make him mad.

a. One other tip: yes, he is that famous actor's older brother. He loves his little bro, but still, do NOT talk to him about his brother. I repeat, that topic is off-limits.

b. On the other hand, if you don't make him angry, Heiwajima is a very good friend.

4.  If you lead a gang, make sure you know everyone well enough to notice if your enemies infiltrate. Otherwise, you just might end up neck deep in trouble.

5.  Stay away from Orihara Izaya. He tends to be the mastermind behind crazy, scary situations. He might not directly, physically hurt you, but he'll probably manipulate you into his latest schemes. He's a bit smart and has a bit of a god complex, similar to Light or Lelouch… except he doesn't even have their twisted sense of justice. If he had supernatural powers like theirs… well, he doesn't, so let's not think about the nightmare that might create, okay?

6.  Even if you don't like sushi, I recommend you stop by that Russian sushi place with the huge black guy. He's a pacifist, but a very strong one, and makes a good friend. If you get in trouble, book it to his restaurant. He could probably even hold off Heiwajima Shizou.

7.  I repeat, no one is who they seem to be. Some you can trust, many you can't. And some, though trustworthy, hide a side you never imagined.

--- Durarara! Headlines ---

Leader of the Dollars Revealed – It’s episode 10, and viewers everywhere are shocked. What clues did they miss?

Dollar Site Password Comes Clear - If you didn't notice the password as he was typing it in, I highly recommend you go back and watch the last few minutes of this episode. It should make you smile. And if you see it and don't understand the significance of it… poor thing. You've been deprived. Are you new to the anime world?

Heiwajima Shizuo Becomes Philosophical – It’s episode 11, and we find Heiwajima-san reflecting on his past. “What is life?” he asks, “To what end do we live? A man once asked me that, and I beat him within an inch of his life.”

Viewer Reports Baccano! Sighting – There are a lot of Dollars gang members around, and one of them is even a cop! More importantly, viewer reports, “Baccano! sighting! Does this call for an immediate re-watch of a few scenes? Yes, yes it does. Oh, Isaac and Miria – you weren’t my favorite characters, but perhaps absence makes the heart grow fonder, for I now realize that I had missed you. Good to see you again. I’m surprised you survived these eighty years, even if you are immortal. You aren’t exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer. Anyway, hi! I kind of want to revisit you two in Baccano! again.” The viewer doesn’t seem to mind that Isaac-san and Miria-san can’t hear her, so we leave her alone with her exclamations.

More Baccano! Sightings Reported – One in a special episode, and another in episode 18. Will the connections between Durarara!! and Baccano! continue to pop up?

Pacifist Punches Information Broker – In episode 24, Orihara Izaya is sent flying by the most cool and collected of characters. “He had it coming,” says a customer at the local Russian sushi restaurant, “Frankly, I think he deserved much more than a single punch.”

Viewer Finishes Anime With a Smile – Episode 25 comes to an end, and a viewer listens to the ending music for the last time as she writes: “That. Was Good. The title of the final episode was ‘World at Peace,’ but ‘peace’ is relative, considering what kind of town Durarara!! takes place in. Wonderful! I wish it weren’t over!”

*Picture from Durarara!!