It’s the climactic conclusion we’ve been famished for here at Epic Win, and might I say that few words other than “epic” can adequately describe the ending of Darker than Black. With the impending demise of all the contractors will it be Li or the Black Reaper that has the final say?

The final episode was excellent; I felt that the true essence of the story and the question that it asks was brought forth in poetic fashion. That question being, “Is there hope for peace, and do differences only bring about conflict and war, or is it those differences that make us unique, shape our experiences, and define our lives?”

I thought it very fitting that the final climactic scene took place at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. It was a bit strange, though - the temple area is normally so crowded that it was a bit unnerving to see it completely desolate.

There’s a lot of fascinating symbolism in that choice as the location of the center of the gate region. Asakusa is often referred to as the “spiritual heart of Tokyo”, and Sensoji is the most popular temple in the city, drawing over 30 million visitors every year.

The entrance to the temple area is the Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate, a very appropriate place for Hei to enter the final stage from. It is believed that Sensoji is a place where wishes can be granted, and many people come to pray for the safety of their families and loved ones. The temple itself is dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon, often described as a goddess of mercy.

There are many ways one could interpret it all, but it’s clear that the setting parallels Hei’s inner conflict, as well as the path he eventually decides to follow.

When Amber began speaking to Hei, initially I was struck by the serene calm of the situation, especially considering, you know, the impending doom of the massive particle accelerator firing up. The endless cascade of the falling stars and the final conflict also set up an interesting juxtaposition. It’s the same kind of feeling you get with a film like 2001: A Space Odyssey. You understand the rational motives behind something, but also realize that something greater must be sacrificed for true resolution.

Finally, the mystery behind Hei’s enigmatic nature is revealed…he is not a true Contractor. His sister Pai lives on inside of him, granting him his Contractor abilities; she is the real Contractor.

We see now that the dichotomy between Hei’s human side and his Contractor side really serves as the focal point around which the philosophy of the entire show is built. He illustrates the larger conflict between Contractors and humans, between reason and emotion, and between fate and free will.

As we saw in the flashback to South America, even as a human he was already a completely badass killer, a soldier who could easily discard his emotions in order to focus on his mission. With his Contractor side, he is able to suppress those feelings even further. Yet unlike true Contractors, he is not immune to his emotions, not exercising complete control over them.

Thus he is vulnerable to acting rashly or becoming angry, and yet at the same time that gives him a great deal of power. He is able to make decisions which seem illogical to the other Contractors, but which allow him to follow his own moral compass unwaveringly. He throws away the fear and hesitation, but holds firmly to his desire to protect those dear to him.

When the world was enveloped in white, I thought that we were getting a repeat of the gate incident, but somehow I knew it seemed too easy for things to end on such an indecisive note. Deus ex machina endings are definitely beneath the storytelling prowess we’ve seen so far in Darker than Black.

It was awesome to see a sort of spectral reunion among the many fallen comrades throughout the series. Apparently even as a ghost Huang is as cantankerous as ever.

It was nice to see Havoc again, as well. She’s still high on my list of “cool characters that didn’t get nearly enough screen time.”

The reunion between Hei and Pai was so beautiful and bittersweet; the sadness in his heart was well articulated. In times of war, people are often forced to commit horrible violence to protect what they hold dear. Again the theme was very strong here - violence begets violence, but is it “within the stars, or within ourselves?” Yeah, that’s right…a Julius Caesar reference in an anime blog.

When the choice was left up to Hei, at first I thought he was going to sacrifice everything, to give up the contractors in order to prevent all the people in Japan from disappearing, but then I realized that Hei himself was emblematic of what the decision was. Hei was the solution: a human, but attempting to live as a contractor, attempting to strike a balance between the two worlds, giving hope for a future of peace.

It was really touching to see Hei say farewell to Amber, and her self sacrifice for the greater good was also quite poignant. Throughout the series I had a fundamental distrust of her character, but in this final episode her ulterior (good) motives showed through. Again, the characters are so powerful in this series.

Hei! Watashi wo hitori ni shinai de!

Despite having watched this episode four times already, hearing Yin’s final line, “Watashi wo hitori ni shinai de! Don’t leave me alone!” still sends chills down my spine every time. After 25 episodes of her flat, expressionless delivery, it was stunning to hear her voice calling out with such intense passion and desperation.

The subtle relationship between Hei and Yin has been developed little by little throughout the series. As kindred spirits, the two have a somewhat unique bond.

Hei and Yin share the same struggle as supposedly emotionless beings trying to come to grips with their true emotions, trying to reconcile their past experience of loss with their present desire to move forward, and trying to find the correct path for themselves in the future.

I loved how Yin is able to bring Hei back, how she is able to change and feel. The message was so subtly communicated through the characters that the greater theme just exudes from them. The Contractors were a brilliant story device because they portrayed, in an interesting way, the great struggle between fate and free will.

It’s funny, because Kirihara’s boss is so typical of people who justify their genocide in ploy for greater world peace, harmony, order, etc. It was the same with Hitler and Stalin: you believe a certain group or a certain ideology poisons society so you murder in the name of peace. Sadly ironic, really.

It is exactly because of that kind of attitude that the final fight scene of the series was so immensely rewarding.

He goes in for the grab.

“No no dawg, you’re doing it wrong.”

“Here, let me know show you how it works.”

OWNED!

Sorry toolbox, Hei ain’t havin’ none of that! That was so cleansing, to have him save the day one last time. Takin’ care of business, and with the Kuro no Shinigami mask intact even!

“Li to iu otoko wa mo inai.”

At the line, “The man called Li no longer exists,” I couldn’t help but wonder if the smallest bit of doubt remained within Hei. Even when you make the right decision, sometimes it takes time before you realize all the consequences.

The ending was rather bittersweet. The ramen shop lady waits patiently for Mao, not knowing that he’ll never return.

Walking alone, Hei seems a little bit lonely. Having been cut loose from the Syndicate, and having lost almost everyone important to him, it truly seems as though the man called Li Shenshun might as well no longer exist.

I loved how the series gave an honest illustration of the epilogue. The contractors still exist and some still abuse their power. But power is neutral, neither inherently good nor wicked. It is people who manipulate it that causes violence and conflict. In short, the show ended brilliantly - the world still isn’t perfect, but there remains a glimmer of hope that shines like the distant stars.