Durarara!! – 25

Kyo-Special Two: Are you ready for some Drrr! AWESOMENESS?! Ikebukuro ni Yōkoso!

How can Durarara!! not be part of my special anniversary trio posts? Like Cool-chan hinted, while reviewing the first special of Durarara!! the wait is over and this is second of three surprises for completing a year at Metanorn. You can cheer me on, while I do some crazy updating and ninja missions in the backend.

Well, this was scheduled to be my first one but as it seems my third post will be a bit… ahem, delayed… I upped the KnK Medley OST release to leave a Drrr! impact before the day becomes old and dies to give place to another. This special is like a full circle for me as I started my hopefully long-lasting aniblogging journey with this show; my first ever completed series. I felt very nostalgic seeing this episode and even played the OP thrice just to take in the awesomeness yet again. I miss this so MUCH!!! >.<’’

It all starts with the usual chat-format of Dollars’ site with the trio (Mikado, Masaomi and Anri) being joined by Celty and Izaya (minus Shizu-chan but he’s coming soon so no worries there). Yes, our favourite gang, the one we love and have come to miss… Not the time to rant towards Brains Base so moving on, the supposed timeline for this episode is right after twenty-fourth and it’s a holiday too so everyone has their own version of plans. But of course, knowing Ikebukuro, nothing happens as planned so you can imagine, Yagami Light would totally fail.

Also, just like any other episode, everything starts with a glimpse of climax and then wind back and then down; literally like that old spice commercial of: look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me… and ad nauseum; you catch my drift. Someone has already threatened to kill Hanejima Youhei (Shizuo’s brother) online and this certain post has already caused quite a commotion, which is quite believable with Satoshi Tajiri’s demise rumour spread recently as a reference. Being a total professional though, Kasuka decides to wear a cupid’s visage and strut around Ikebukuro to find the Number One Couple with the live broadcast of “Love Love Star Chance Program”. The lovey-dovey couple would get to appear in a scene with the heartthrob in his upcoming movie.

Live broadcast can sure be pretty interesting in Ikebukuro

Shinra’s so MOE and DAWWWWW~

Denial: Did you hear something? At least, I didn’t…

A simple scope out of downtown tells the viewer that the Dota-chin gang has upgraded their van with a TV so they would be watching over the whole event. Celty’s planning to enjoy a lot of recorded tube but Kasuka distracts her, while Shinra manages the kitchen; yep, role reversal ahoy! Izaya’s twin imoutos Kururi and Mairu finally make their appearance, stalking after their idol Youhei and are overly familiar with Shizuo (who is skulking around to keep an eye out for the rumoured killer after his brother). He suggests a simple thing for them to meet his brother on further pestering. Not to forget Simon, who is flashing promotional signs of his sushi joint every chance he gets; it’s cool to be tall, yo~

I say the same thing but for a different reason altogether.

While scouting downtown, Kasuka meets Seiji (remember the psycho couple?) and Harima, who vows in front of a live audience that they are most lovable couple of the universe; yeah sure, Harima, in Psychoville, you get turned on by being stalked via 20 cameras… Also, Namie seeing all this blows some big bucks destroying the TV of Iza-nii; jealous much, onee-san?

Kasuka intercepts the contemplative-Mikado while he was mulling over Anri agreeing to a movie with him, even if only to talk about what happened between Dollars, Saika Children and Yellow Scarves. His memories of the first date resurface with the shy Mikado being all gentlemanly for asking out Anri, whose nervousness Masaomi and Saki enjoy, watching the broadcast from a distant city.

After the good introduction and nostalgia later, the rumoured killer surfaces with a shiny knife in his hand, threatening Kasuka. Like he looked scared but Shizuo saves him with a flying hoarding board, the perp in question wasn’t heard from no more. Though, it was all a trap by Izaya to lure Shizuo out with the right supply of information. If you are looking for a deep reason look somewhere else, because you should know better that Shizaya is the One True Pair (the Fujoshi mind can take over anything) and they would chase each other forever… or so does Karisawa thinks with the chant of seme/uke. Teehee.

Let’s Get It ON, BABY!

The fight pic-spam starto!

GIVE IT TO HIM, IZAYA…. SHIZUO!!!

I know this feeling… Oh, so well… Shizaya you have ruined me for life…

That leads us to the downtown showdown between Izaya and Shizu-chan with a lot of low-weight baddies that are not worth even mentioning. Even if Izaya wants to only just piss off Shizu-chan, before going underground for some time, his underhanded tricks of a truck accident did not work twice. The comeback was so EPIC that I literally rolled on the floor laughing at “Who the fuck hasn’t grown up?!” It literally had the feel of “Orewa dareda to omotte yagaru!”

SHIZUO, YOU SO MANLY!

Did we just get some fanart made into canon? YEP!

You have to agree, the thing that we SO LOVE about Durarara!! are these batshit crazy Shizuo scenes, where he just throws everything within his grasp like a smexy beast. If you add Izaya in the mix, it equals to EPIC ENTERTAINMENT. And that is what happened with the powerful and acrobatic chase around Ikebukuro and much display of power even from the characters that were recently introduced.

Someone call the Twincest brigade~

New Age, Disco Dance~

All’s well that ends well?! Lol, you must be joking, right? Not in the Durarara!! version of Ikebukuro for sure. You would ask, why am I saying that? Well, that little runt who got out of the train is actually Aoba Kuronuma (not Sawako’s brother, mind you), who will soon be joining Raira Academy. His role is much more than being Kouhai to Mikado and that is all I’m going to say. And yes, welcome to Ikebukuro, chumps!

MOAR DRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

HAWTNESS is sometimes in genes and Heiwajima family has plenty~

Does that mean…. like the twins…. *Fujoshi powers activated*

This chick doesn’t need your saving, Mika-pu

Hello… Is it me, you’re lookin’ for?

Three cheers for… Celty, the Pacifier!

Mission Accomplished and MOAR business for Simon~ Sometimes, stalking helps.

The POWUH of Miami Vice

Psychosis is genetic too

Come back next season, damn it!

These eyes will haunt you in your dreams~

End Thoughts: Do I think this is the end of Durarara!! HELL NO. This episode just proves it that Brains Base will get off its lazy ass and do another season on this brilliant storyline. WHEN is the big questions; if I take Natsume Yuujinchou as a reference, the first two seasons were quick like Arakawa Under the Bridge by SHAFT, though the third is quite unexpected and coming after two years. Omori is quite methodic so I’m not sure when he will be able to tame the storyboard of Durarara!! season two but I definitely see it coming in the near future. I’m going to rely on hope for this? Oh, how have you forsaken me, God!

At least my lament from the last episode review was heard about MOAR Shizuo:

“Of all, I would miss Shizu-chan the most, the fortissimo of Ikebukuro and one of the most interesting characters of Drrr! Why was he only in one scene? Like last episode, Brains Base, C’MON!!!”

I can’t say, the first special wasn’t brilliant but comparing the two, this is EPICER, most probably just because it had more Shizuo-craziness. Also, the chase, which you can never go wrong! Every important character showed up. Sure, Kaztano and Hashim weren’t around and many other minor characters like Ryo, ero-sensei, etc. and who misses the gas-mask-creep anyway? Now, if you talk about Shiki, he already got coverage in the first special so we are covered for all the interesting characters.

This was a great way to finish things; closing business for a season yet leaving some stuff behind for a hope of second one, because episode twenty-four needed some winding down, which no one got. Having been a long-term fan, I’m currently sifting through the available summaries of volumes that have not been animated yet. I can only tell you one thing, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet; Ryohgo Narita writes brilliance into the characters in such a manner that it leaves you totally convinced that they are that powerful or even wearing such a plain or timid visage, they can do so much. Everyone has been pretty disappointed with Mikado but he’s going to be one strong leader, the glimpse of which we only saw on that episode where he revealed himself to be the mastermind behind Dollars. Would Masaomi be back? Will Anri accept Mikado’s love? What is Izaya’s next diabolical plan to use Celty’s head for acquiring forever bliss of Valhalla? Would Shizuo and for that matter Dollars, Yellow Scarves and Blue Squares just shuffle around? Ney sir! So, I’ll look forward to some more EPIC WIN from Durarara!! if it ever gets another season and I persist, it should! Till next time, Ja ne~

PS: I took 1,448 screens for this episodic… Call that obsession. >.>

For the love of you all, linking the gif’s direct link here (NO HOTLINKING OR I WILL CUT YOU!):

• Shizaya: Spiderman Acrobats
• MOAR SHIZAYA
• FUJOSHI ACTIVATED
• Who the hell hasn’t grown up?!
• Head Butt~
• Twincest~
• Celty’s Dark Magic

About Kyokai

The Boss lady of Metanorn, who makes it all happen. An animanga enthusiast, who watches/reads almost anything that strikes her fancy. Just beware of her Death Perception and always keep her happy. Regularly found at @KyokaiTM & #[email protected].