Generally, I like to keep my YouTube feed pretty locked down. I don’t branch out too much from my usual content creators and, when the algorithm recommends me something, I am quick to hit the not interested button and preserve the sanctity of my feed from outside interference. One thing I do click on quite liberally though are random anime clips. Often times those are my only peeks into the outside world as well as key elements to finding out what the hell showing up in the current season’s offerings. So, there I was, binging random anime clips while lying on my floor (a highly sophisticated activity I’ll have you know) when I stumbled upon a series of clips from this show called Darker Than Black. Initially I was put off by the edgy name, but it’s hard to deny a good clip when you see one. After exhausting YouTube’s clip library about this show, I finally made my way over to the usual sites to catch up on what I assumed was a seasonal show that I didn’t notice. And miss it I did. Way back in 2007 when I didn’t even know what anime was.
Darker Than Black oozes that old school anime style (which begs the question, why didn’t I have it pegged an old show right away? Am I stupid?). It’s slow and methodical in the way it builds its characters but doesn’t hold back on the flashy fights with crazy powers. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of Cowboy Bebop. Both in the way the story plays out and in the portrayal of the main character, Kei. Sadly, the comparison does not carry over to the OP end ED of the show though, I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the bookend songs offered up. The episodic short stories, the weaving of different characters throughout the show, the subtle themes and blurry lines between good and evil, it was all just so good. I’m honestly surprised I had never heard of it before cause it really was excellent show. It’s the kind of show where a minor character from an earlier episode can die a cold death near the end and that lack of acknowledgement feels like it means something. I think I’ll always be a sucker for old shows like this but I’m confident that one was at the very least totally sick as fuck.