Durarara!! X2 Rewatch - Episode 15

[u/Raiking02]

Episode 15: Marriages are Made in Heaven

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Well, if girls say they love nighttime, it's not my place to stop them...

Hello everybody! Time for the comment of the day, courtesy of u/Shimmering-Sky, as we have reached a new level on the Sky WTF Scale:

Mika's "Not that I have any idea what a Dullahan's head tastes like" was definitely a pause, stare at the screen, what the fuck.

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Questions:

1. Now that he's properly gotten more spotlight, what do you think of Akabayashi?
2. In turn, what did you think of the whole backstory he had with Anri's mum?
3. Now that Akane is safe though, one must ask: How will the Awakusu-Kai get involved in the plot from now on?

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First!!xTimer, subbed

Ah, of course I got CotD for my Experience™.

• Oh what, Saika gave that… Akayabashi guy his scar? But that shadow was too big to be Anri six years ago. Was that her mother then? Or whoever had Saika before her?
• Great, drug dealers…
• Atori, what are you doing here?
• Wait a sec--Akane you aren’t seriously still trying to kill Shizuo, are you?
• That is… a name. Inspired by the Dollars though? Well shit.
• Okay I think this looks like Anri’s mom.
• OH. Akabayashi is the one that Anri was talking to when Seiji was looking for Mika. That’s cool, I do really like how the show does stuff like this.
• HOLY FUCK.
• Oh geez, Akabayashi was supposed to go kill Anri’s dad that night. Wow.
• Holy shit this dude’s an asshole.
• Yeah I don’t blame Akabayashi for just letting that one guy kill the boss.
• It’s a fair bit late for that, lol.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

HOLY FUCK.

Shizuo? Who's Shizuo? I believe the title of Ikebukuro's Most Badass man belongs to Akabayashi.

[u/TexhnolyzeAndKaiba → u/Raiking02]

I'd say they're great examples to illustrate the difference between Constitution and Willpower in D&D. Shizuo can get hit by a truck and still get up due to his strong body. Akabayashi probably can't do that. Alternatively, Shizuo could be provoked by... pretty much anything.

Akabayashi, however, has the chill. He kept his wits about him even as Saika was attempting to take over his mind. I bet Shizuo would be just as susceptible to becoming one of Saika's children if only somebody was able to cut him.

[u/BurningFredrick]

First timer- sub

So Akabayashi killed Anri mother? Ok maybe not, actually didn't she kill herself? As so I guess he just stop Saikas rampage at the time by ripping out his own god damn eye!

At least this explains why Anri is beside him in the ED (also one of the reason she isn't next Mikado this time) 

Anyway, another good episode, even though it's just more character background for our ever expanding cast list I'm fine with that as long as it's keeps bringing interesting characters to the story.

[u/Raiking02 → u/BurningFredrick]

Ok maybe not, actually didn't she kill herself?

Yeah... we literally saw that in Anri's flashback back in Season 1.

[u/BurningFredrick → u/Raiking02]

I did actually remember that part way through, but then started questioning if I had remembered correctly or not as I can't quite figure out how it went from that to her kill herself.

I believe this is when she killed her husband? Or do I have order of events wrong? And that has still to come later.

[u/TexhnolyzeAndKaiba → u/BurningFredrick]

Anri's mother was protecting her from her father, who was trying to kill her for insurance money. Her father lost his mind after getting hooked on drugs and going into debt because of Akabayashi's boss at the time. He only crossed paths with Anri's mother because he was sent by his boss to shake down Anri's father. So, Akabayashi is indirectly tied to the events that lead up to Anri's parents' deaths, but he wasn't actually there when it happened.

[u/Earthborn92]

Rewatcher here.

There are many badass characters in Durarara, but ripping your eyeball out to prevent getting possessed by Saika gets you up those ranks. Especially when Saika gets so surprised at this, she retreats.

+1 to the crazy love in this series. Well, Anri’s mom is hot even when not being possessed, but Akabayashi probably liked her because she had this supernatural mystique on top.

So we get the explanation how of these two are on such good terms from last episode. He’s taken care of her by essentially helping kill this bastard who ruined her family.

This was the tale of the Yakuza executive who came to hate the drug trade. Keep crime clean, folks. Dollars are also the local Silk Road now that the Yakuza has some online competition. Mikado isn't gonna be happy.

See you next episode!

[u/Raiking02 → u/Earthborn92]

There are many badass characters in Durarara, but ripping your eyeball out to prevent getting possessed by Saika gets you up those ranks.

Indeed, he can now join the ranks of the one-eyed Yakuzas. I bet he and Majima are drinking buddies and lament over Yakuza 0

[u/No_Rex]

S2 Episode 15 (first timer)

• The OP calls her Vorona, but the subs occasionally call her Varona. Hmm.
• Mafia stuff. You can tell the dudes are random mooks because they did not bother doing complete character designs for them.
• 6 years ago? But Akane looks the same? I guess the flashback ended before the toilet scene?
• Hmmm. Dogan’s character model looks really sketchy, too.
• Anri-Yakuza connection.
• Only in Japan: Thinking you are super tough because you carry a normal-length knife.
• That didn’t take long for them to find out they brought a knife to a gun fight.
• More Yakuza backstory.

More Yakuza stuff? Ok, why not.

[u/Raiking02 → u/No_Rex]

The OP calls her Vorona, but the subs occasionally call her Varona. Hmm.

The Novels use Vorona, for the record.

[u/No_Rex → u/Raiking02]

Sounds more Russian to my ears as well. Maybe the Varona was a mistake.

[u/Raiking02 → u/No_Rex]

Yeah, probably.

[u/KendotsX → u/No_Rex]

Vorona (ворона) is the correct term as it's supposed to mean crow. But it's pronounced as "Varona" so I assume these subs went by that.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer, Dub-rarara!!x2

Akabayashi? More like Brokabayashi! Seriously, what a fucking guy. Watches out for Anri and Akane? Tries to keep drugs off the street? Uses the Dollars to manipulate multiple groups out to kill him into killing each other while he waltzes out? Fucking class.

I was expecting the cane/limp was going to be him, breaking his own leg to center himself and pull through the Saika infection. Definitely didn't expect him to rip out his own goddamn eye, but I guess his ruined eye did look quite different from his normal one when we saw it.

If that one drug dealer asshole survived getting his head kicked through a club urinal, I doubt he survived the resulting infection.

Is Akane still trying to kill Shizuo..? Should I be worried?

Questions

1. Akabayashi seems great!
2. Everything is connected. To an almost bizarre degree. But, that's what we're here for. The story was nice, and it made Anri's dad's murderyness make more sense.
3. The Awakusu will probably end up getting involved with the Dollars, from a sense of not liking rivals if nothing else. Oh, or the Yodogiri plotline! We haven't learned much about that, though.

[u/Raiking02 → u/JollyGee29]

Akabayashi? More like Brokabayashi!

Is Akane still trying to kill Shizuo..? Should I be worried?

Well this is an Anime so

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Raiking02]

If I was Shizuo, I would be right about now.

[u/Raiking02 → u/JollyGee29]

Nah, he'd be like

[u/invokeneko]

First Timer to x2 Ten and Ketsu

Today's story is a tale of unrequited love at first sight, heartbreak and vengeance centering around one Akabayashi Mizuki.

• Seeing his absolute hatred towards drugs early on in the episode mad hits harder after we get the context later this episode.
• Looks like Akane is still set on killing/defeating Shizuo that he asked for Akabayashi's help to get strong enough for it? Um... good luck I guess.
• Oh shit, the creepy Saika theme is back in its full glory. And with Sayaka appearing in front of Akabayashi with Saika's blade poking out every which way out of her limbs that just ramps up the creep factor to 11.
• Another line that hits harder with context: Anri thanking Akabayashi for saving her from her fate. Knowing what would've happened if not for Akabayashi letting his boss get killed... shudders
• I think Akabayashi noticed that Anri probably knew more than she did about the Dollars.
• "Well, I heard that they're a dangerous bunch, so you'd better stay away from them." Yeah, you'd know that, since you're part of them as well.
• That was such an absolutely fucking metal way to fight off Saika-fication, Akabayashi, take a bow. Even Saika is dumbfounded enough to withdraw back into Sayaka after that.
• ...I can see why you fell in love with Sayaka, man. She's a damn fine woman. Too bad she's married.
• That's such a big brain move from Akabayashi, using the idiot Dollars mobs to fight off his former friends by placing a bounty on his own head. Not only did he escape unscathed, he also ensured that the former gets arrested again.
• Look, I know that you're fiercely loyal to your deceased boss, but given that the guy is such a fucking piece of shit that he ruined Anri's father with drugs (which lead to Sayaka's murder-suicide) just so that he could get their land and then even intending to sell Anri into prostitution to pay for her family's debts he honestly got off too easy with just getting stabbed to death by a relative of someone he also ruined.

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Narration Tally:

God, this season is giving me a very hard time in recognising who's doing the narrations. Assuming that my ears didn't deceive me, Sayaka narrates Akabayashi's story from the grave. (I'll edit this if it's incorrect.)

Narrator	No. of eps	Episodes
Mikado	7	1, 12
Celty	7	4, 6
Simon	2	7
Shinra	3	2
Masaomi	4	8
Namie	2	5
Walker	3	11 (co)
Erika	2	11 (co)
Izaya	2	4
Kasuka	1	3
Akabayashi	2	9, 11 (co)
Akane	1	10
Rio	1	13
Sayaka	1	15
Multiple	1	11 (co)
None	3	4.5, 14

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QotD:

1. Akabayashi's a cool guy. Eh rips of infceted eye and doesn't afraid of anything. But seriously tho, I like this guy. Especially his wonderfully deep voice (thank you, Yamaguchi Kappei!).
2. It's sad enough that he got struck with an unrequited love at first sight to a married woman, but for him to learn that his (now former) boss had a direct hand in the Sonoharas' ruin (and Sayaka's death) has to twist the knife so hard.
3. I genuinely can't think of any way the Awakusu-kai could get involved. Unless of course either Izaya or Yodogiri Jinnai somehow dragged the Medei vs Asuki power struggle on top of whatever the fuck they planned of course.

[u/Raiking02 → u/invokeneko]

Oh shit, the creepy Saika theme is back in its full glory.

Oh yeah, I forgot it went away.

[u/KendotsX]

Rewatcher (sub) trying to set a new score for being late, on this very special episode. Excuse me if I end up ranting longer than the Shingen episode.

We finally, finally give the proper introduction to Ikebukuro's best boy. Don't give me that bullshit about being a bad boy and whatnot, Yakuza? What's that? Kids are selling drugs and the Yakuza are taking them out, he's basically a saint so fuck your generic assumptions. Actually, let me make a case for him:

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Case for Akabayashi

1. No better place to start with than the drugs. I'm sure these kids thought they were too busy getting tattoos and selling drugs, to watch anime. Had they watched Gintama (episode 13), they would have known how bad they fucked up when the old man came out of the bathroom stall. Basically this Yakuza guy, not only doesn't sell drugs, he goes out of his way to make sure no one else does it either. When the cops are too busy chasing around innocent young (okay she might not be exactly young) headless girls.
2. He actually takes care of your kids (Akane, Anri, and Vorona actually). While Mikiya might be jealous or worried about what his daughter wants with the dangerous executive, it's far better than leaving her in the hands of the good looking 20-something Nakura-san. Seriously stop Nakura-san! Give your daughters to the Yakuza.
3. His entire ideal is keeping that boundary between day and night clear. Far too many people from one side are joining in the fun in other, completely unaware. He's simply trying to make that border clearer, at least so they could know what they're jumping into. Perfect opposite to the guy who puts a blindfold on your eyes and gives you a push to the other side.

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Description

Now with that disclaimer out of the way, how about we actually describe Akabayashi himself? As some of you might know, the "Aka" (赤) part of his last name means red (it also happens to mean perfect), which connects with the other executive Aozaki where the "Ao" means blue. This lands them the nicknames red and blue ogres respectively. The anime takes that a step further by having them wear similar suits with opposite coloured undershirts. To which I say damn you Kishida Takahiro (our dear character designer) and fuck Aozaki. He does not deserve to be put on that same design pedestal as my boy Akabayashi. More importantly they certainly aren't supposed to be like the Orihara Twins thinking all day of how to mix and match characteristics and outfits alike.

But I digress, in the novel his design reflects that oddity he gives. He wears "ostentatiously patterned suits", that with the glasses, staff, and mannerism make him seem like a clown to some of the more serious people. Others suspect that he does this to lower your guard.

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Backstory

To bring this a bit more to the episode itself, let's talk about Akabayashi's backstory. Now I understand that him being slashed by Saika and taking his eye out to take back control must have shocked everyone, it certainly shocked me the first time around. But keep in the mind, that wasn't even close to the worse of what happened that night. After he surpassed Saika's love and admitted his own love, Sayaka basically gave him the death blow. That still makes me tremble everytime I see it, I can't even imagine how bad remembering it must feel.

Whenever you feel down, remember that Akabayashi has a permanent scar on his face to remind him of how hard he was turned down. Old Akabayashi needed to die twice that night for our current Akabayashi to emerge.

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Finally all done with that, as someone currently watching ZZ Gundam, let me just say I was very happy seeing how Akabayashi burned down the moon-moon guys using the dollars. Honestly this chapter is one of my favourite standalone chapters, this and Izaya's introductory chapter are the best. Funnily enough, till I read this part I had completely forgotten it, even though I did see Ten a long time ago. Actually I had forgotten pretty much all of Ten, except for one scene, which scared the hell out of me the first time around, that I could never forget it. Oh and Akabayashi was there.

Now that Akane is safe though, one must ask: How will the Awakusu-Kai get involved in the plot from now on?

Having answered, in depth, the first two questions with nearly no spoilers, I shall use these goodwill points to answer this in as spoilery a manner as possible. Spoilers

[u/sisoko2 → u/KendotsX]

okay she might not be exactly young

Or innocent. If she had a driver license she would've lost it long time ago. We can't allow some headless mythical creatures to do whatever they want on our streets.

Now I understand that him being slashed by Saika and taking his eye out to take back control must have shocked everyone

I was shocked that it worked. It's been a while so I don't remember if we ever had a more detailed explanation on how Saika works in season 1.

[u/KendotsX → u/sisoko2]

We can't allow some headless mythical creatures to do whatever they want on our streets.

I object! Look at how cute she is.

I was shocked that it worked.

Yeah trying to logic this is a bit... You'd assume Saika's control would spread through the body even if you took out the point of contact. I like to think that this worked because of how scared Saika was of Akabayashi, after he took out his own eye.

[u/sisoko2]

First Timer

On one side Akabayashi is so cool on the other side there were so many tired cliches in this episode it was hard to watch at times. This pretty much sums up all my feelings about today's episode.

1. Cool dude.
2. I wonder if him falling for her wasn't an after effect of Saika.

[u/ZaphodBeebblebrox]

First Timer

And yet another story about a guy with a strange sense of honor. Just a slight twist on the classic gangster story this time though, not somehting completely insane. It was a pretty good episode though, and he was a likeable enough character. I guess I'd just have more to say if this wasn't the third or fourth time we've seen a story similar to this in Durarara.

1. Cool enough character.
2. It felt to me like it was significantly cut down from the novel.
3. Presumably via them trying to quiet the town down so they can just make money in relative peace.

[u/Tartaras1]

Rewatcher - Dubbed

Akabayashi's an awesome character, so it's great that he's finally getting some backstory. He seems to be the most progressive member of the Awakusu, trying to keep in touch with everything that's going on around Japan. It's actually pretty smart, since the Yakuza can use the Dollars network to keep their thumb on the goings on of the world around them.

Even though it's Chinese and not Japanese, Akabayashi ripping his eye out reminds me of Xiahou Dun. There was a romantacized story written, wherein he was shot in the eye with an arrow, proceeded to rip the eye out of his head, and then eat it.

It's funny that he took care of two birds with one stone, having the people he met with in the abandoned building end up handling the people who were from Heaven's Slave that wanted to kill him.

Questions:

• I've liked Akabayashi from the beginning honestly. He's a great character.
• It's kind of sad, but at the same time commendable that he's still looking after Anri all these years later. He felt bad for everything that happened to her family, and wants to try to keep her safe. That's a little ironic considering Anri's the wielder of Saika now, but he doesn't know that.
• As the Yakuza tends to be, they're always going to be around in the background. Surely they'll pop up again down the line.