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Impressions:

Another great episode, good action, good story and good cliff-hanger, although I already know what happens next…About the manga, I have decided, for now at least, to not go too far ahead of the anime. I am currently only a few chapters ahead so I won’t be spoilt for anything. The anime is going at standard speed compared to the manga, as it is a shounen series with lots of action scenes. This episode it covered chapters 9 and 10, though I’m pretty sure they left out a few facts and details. Also, we get a glimpse of Lala this episode, as well as another one in the preview of the next episode. We see an evolved Akuma for the first time in the anime, and of course with an Akuma level up Allen has to get one too…I like Allen more as a character now, as he does look pretty imposing when his fired up – green flame crackling on his monster arm, as well as that evil red eye. I’m also glad he’s being depicted to be pretty strong this early in the anime, as many others make the main character really weak and useless in the beginning.

One problem I encountered while watching this show was the major fight scene in the end was pitch black! I could hardly see anything. Why do all fights have to happen at night now? Not that the fight should’ve taken place during the day, but I think that’s a trap a lot of shounen shows are falling into, as there is no problem with day fights. Fights like this episode’s, which is against monsters and such, should be fought in the dark as it is only natural, but I see shows where every fight is during the night (almost), where the lighter-hearted ones should definitely be in the day. The two give off different feels so it’s good to mix them up. Anyway, going back to D.Gray-man and talking about action scenes, I have yet to see Linali fight in the manga, so there’s gonna be a bit of a wait in the anime. She’s the one character I really want to see in action – in order to satisfy my curiosity as to whether she will be on par with the guys or another drop-out side character (like Chad, Ishida and Inoue from Bleach, though this is resolved later on…whew!)

In previous posts I had been saying the comedy wasn’t getting any funnier, but this episode introduces the new tactic of surprise humour. The episode had the tendency to throw in laughing material at the most inappropriate of moments, such as during the (very serious) fight near the end, we see Timcanpy get a shoutout bubble when he sees an Akuma below him. That had me cracking up. The show’s ability to mix emotions like that is quite good and gives the show an edge. Kanda’s cold personality is a nice contrast to everyone else’s cheeriness, though it is quite obvious (even though this hasn’t really happened to where I have read up to in the manga), Kanda will befriend Allen eventually and although they may act like brats to each other on the outside, they’ll be friends at heart…I personally like Kanda the way he is now as he still thinks Allen is weak, but oh is he gonna be surprised. This is one thing I love about shounen action shows; the characters surprise at the main character for improving whatever skills he has in ridiculous amounts of time and surpassing everyone.

Plot Outline:

- In the morning at headquarters, Kanda gets into a fight with one of the finders (or rather, he starts strangling one)
- Allen steps in and stops Kanda
- The two are then called for a mission to locate some innocence
- Although reluctant to work together, they have no choice but to obey instructions
- Along with a guide, they take the train to where they believe the innocence is
- On the train ride, the Ghost of Martel is explained (not really, at least not as much as in the manga)
- The finders who found the innocence are killed by Akuma
- When they arrive at their destination, Allen sees some explosions in the distance

- This must mean there is at least one finder still alive
- He goes to help but the last survivor is killed by the Akuma
- Allen gets pissed and cuts the Akuma in half
- Meanwhile, Kanda locates the Ghost of Martel, which is their target of the mission
- Kanda and Allen then engage in their individual battles
- Kanda destroys his enemy quickly
- Allen’s evolves and develops a consciousness as well as a special ability
- Kanda decides to leave Allen to fight and posts the guide to watch over the evolved Akuma
- It seems like Allen has the upper hand against the evolved Akuma
- However, it reveals its special ability, which is copying
- The Akuma copies Allen’s form and meets him face to face, shocking Allen quite deeply

Preview:

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