When An Anime Sequel Switches Demographics

Darker Than Black is a cult classic, but its sequel has historically been divisive. Why did it change, and was it for the best?

For those who remember Darker than Black fondly, the second season, Gemini of the Meteor, is a divisive one, despite the surprisingly positive reception from critics at the time of its release. In the time since it's been regarded as either a disappointment or an improvement, but it is undeniably a huge departure resulting from a big creative and demographic shift.

Gemini came out in 2009, two years after the first season, directed again by Tensai Okamura, but with half the number of episodes, and a renewed perspective on the kind of story he wanted to tell. Citing Season 1's somewhat unwieldy storytelling as a major reason for the changes, he set out to make something very different.

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While not as popular, Darker than Black is often paired with cool classics like Cowboy Bebop or Samurai Champloo, typically because of its story structure and music. The score was done by the legendary Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain, and so many others), and it imbued this slick and sexy noir thriller with a fitting soundtrack full of jazz, rock, and more.

It wore its most alluring attributes proudly on its sleeve. Hei, the protagonist, wore a ridiculously cool suit and mask, carried around a pair of frightening daggers, and swung around Tokyo with grappling hooks accompanied by a sickeningly satisfying sound effect. It was as if Batman had the power to harness electricity but also killed people. He was a mysterious character whose coolness made audiences want to learn more about him.

And given the way the show was written, the question of "who is he?" was a pressing one indeed. Darker Than Black was episodic - often split into two-part adventures that slowly revealed information about the world. The ground rules were set, but the rest of the audience had to discover for themselves. It's no surprise that this might have deterred some viewers.

But by the end, it accomplished its goals. There was fun action, the characters did eventually get fleshed out, and it all culminated in a satisfying climax that left the door open for more. But when it did continue, it was quite different. All the more fascinating that Okamura returned as director, where other divisive sequels might have switched creative minds completely.

First and foremost, Season 2 ditched Yoko Kanno as a composer in exchange for the music of Yasushi Ishii, which sounds like a sacrilegious choice at first. However, Ishii's score might be one of the best parts of the sequel, and it's a shame that they haven't composed more anime. Their work on the original Hellsing alone blows the music of Hellsing Ultimate out of the water, despite how much better received Ultimate is as a whole.

The moment that Hei makes their debut on screen, atop a roof with a tattered coat, the music hits with such a heavy percussive impact, like something out of a grungy nightclub. It's such a strong introduction that instantly proves why Ishii was the perfect man for this sequel. If season one reminded people of Batman, then Season 2 sounds like Batman Beyond.

But music was far from the only thing that made Darker Than Black memorable. The general vibe of the show and how it told its story was a huge part of what made the series almost like "comfort tv" for lovers of superhuman action. Season 2 isn't episodic at all, following a linear narrative that puts Hei in the role of supporting character next to a new protagonist: a young girl named Suou.

Something that fans often point to when putting to words the disconnect between the two seasons is an objective to make the series appeal to a female demographic to boost sales. Viewed cynically, this comes off as a compromise of the creative vision for the sake of marketability, but it's not as if Okamura didn't himself have an interest in pursuing a female lead.

In fact, a big part of Suou's inspiration came from Okamura being drawn to the idea of a young girl who wielded a large weapon. Thus, Suou became a contractor whose ability let them summon an anti-tank rifle. In turn, Hei became her alcoholic mentor. Yeah, in the interim between seasons, Hei turned into a much darker character, a decision that fans either loved or hated.

Plus, it wasn't as if they picked just any screenwriter to helm this new approach to an established IP. Shoutarou Suga didn't return as a screenwriter, but Shinsuke Oonishi did, joined by none other than Mari Okada, a screenwriter of far too many works to count. While her reputation can be somewhat divisive with such a large body of work, her involvement definitely helped sell this new story - Suou's story - to audiences.

On paper, this change worked. Season 2 not only sold well but was well received by critics who praised Suou, the storytelling, and the action of the season, the last of which we'll touch upon soon. All things considered, Darker Than Black's sequel appears to have been a success. But in that case, why was it considered a disappointment among fans, and does it even deserve that?

First and foremost, trying to target a wider demographic was not a problem in the slightest, and judging from the reception, it helped get more people invested in the story. Okamura even expressed that he hoped that Season 2's story would help new viewers feel enticed to check out the original, which frankly could work better as a viewing order.

To be fair to disgruntled fans, however, Gemini of the Meteor's story certainly had flaws. While the writing was overall good, there were some characters that felt like afterthoughts, like one antagonist whose only personality trait seemed to be that they were a pedophile. This ends up being played for awkward humor rather than an attempt at drama.

Gemini continues threads from Season 1 without necessarily tying them up. It hinders Suou's story yet simultaneously forces Hei's closure into the background, with the relationship between both of them feeling underdeveloped by the end, to say nothing of the returning cast from Season 1 like Misaki or Yin. Hell, even the new cast could have had more time in the spotlight.

However, the most disappointing pill for any Darker Than Black fan to swallow is that the action in Season 2 is way better than the first. Thanks to some great work from animators like Yutaka Nakamura, the fight scenes are gorgeous, well-paced, and surprisingly brutal at times. For those for whom the action was the biggest draw, there isn't much to complain about here.

The truth is, Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor wasn't the wrong direction to take the series. It's just far too short and held back by a few of its weirder storytelling choices. However, what ultimately makes fans of the original dislike it is that it is so different from what came before, that even the overall competence of its construction can't quite erase this feeling that the charm of the original was gone.

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Source: Anime News Network

Matthew Magnus Lundeen is a writer, critic, podcast host, and aspiring cinephile trying way too hard and simultaneously not enough. He writes anime features for GameRant when he isn't trying to write his novel series.