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R4 DVD Reviews
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Written by maehara
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Monday, 07 November 2005 00:00 |
 DNAngel takes a break from all things Dark (he
gets all of two lines in the whole disc, and isn't even on-screen for
them) to sort out Daisuke's love life. After pussy-footing around
his waning feelings for Risa and his growing love for Riku, it's
finally time for the two of them to get it together.
Awww. Only problem is, Mio's got her own plans for Daisuke, and
they don't involve a happy future...
17 - A Summer Without Dark
It's time for Daisuke's class trip - six days in the southern islands,
far away from any need to be a Phantom Thief, and from Dark, who hasn't
shown himself since breaking Risa's heart. Summer's also the time
for romance, but while Saehara's busy trying to get Mio's attention,
she's equally busy trying to get Daisuke's, or at least get her pendant
around his neck. Hiwatari warns Daisuke to be careful around her
- just what is she up to? Meanwhile, Daisuke realises that being
around Risa just doesn't give him the same buzz that it used to, while
Riku wonders just what's been bothering her sister. Later,
Daisuke, Risa and Riku head to some nearby caves - but on the way back,
some loose rock causes Riku to fall over a cliff...
18 - A Couple Under the Shooting Stars
Daisuke jumps after Riku - the fall leaves them stranded in a part of
the forest they don't know how to get out of, and Riku's unable to
climb back up the way they came as she's injured an ankle.
Daisuke eventually carries her back up piggy-back. The experience
more than ever helps Riku to realise that she's fallen in love with
Daisuke, and Daisuke's beginning to realise it too - but their feelings
seem to be playing into the hands of Mio, who's still trying to find a
way to get her pendant around Daisuke's neck. If the 'phonecalls
she's been having are anything to go by, the results of that happening
won't be good. Later, a misunderstanding has Riku running away in
tears - when Daisuke goes after her to try and explain himself, he's
finally able to confess his feelings...
19 - Beautiful Heroine
Riku's working up to giving Daisuke the pendant that Mio had given her -
every time she considers it, his father's Rutile gives off a reaction,
and it's beginning to worry his dad. Riku and Daisuke still
haven't gone public with their love, but Risa's beginning to figure it
out. She's also beginning to work through her own feelings for
Dark, after finding a letter her grandmother had once written to him
and realising that her own feelings couldn't match Rika's.
Meanwhile, Hiwatari tries to intervene in Mio's plan, but it seems
she's beginning to have her own doubts about whether to follow through
on it herself. Sadly, getting her pendant back from Riku is
easier said than done...
20 - Because I Wanted to See You
Hiwatari's father is beginning to lose patience with Mio's lack of
progress, and gives her a magical crystal that will "persuade" Riku to
give Daisuke the pendant. Mio's only too aware that her very
existence is at stake if she doesn't do as she's told, but she's not
prepared to sacrifice another life as the price for saving her
own. Meanwhile, preparations for the class play continue, and
Daisuke's still not at all sure about having to wear a dress and
makeup. Later, Riku gives Daisuke Mio's pendant before Mio's able
to find a way to stop her...
Talk about being left on a cliffhanger. It seems Mio's
overwhelming desire for Riku and Daisuke not to complete the ritual
with the pendant had some sort of effect - signified by the shattering
of her crystal - but quite what that effect is will have to wait for
the next volume. One good thing about Mio's change of heart is
that it's toned her personality down a lot, and made her a lot more
bearable than she originally was.
On the downside, after some really good animation quality on the last
disc, this one doesn't look quite so good, with the characters being a
bit off-model in places. It's not something that completely jumps
out at you, but it's noticeable.
The "beautiful heroine" in episode 19 refers to poor Daisuke being picked as the female
lead in the class play - with Hiwatari as his love interest. Now that
should be interesting! It certainly seems as though the girls in
the class - Riku included - would be quite happy to see some hot yaoi
action.
The play scenes are about as comic as these episodes get - while
there's a good buzz that comes from seeing Riku and Daisuke finally get
together, Mio's plan building up in the background acts as a dampener
on the whole disk. It's all been very well put together to drag a
reaction out of you, with out being too openly manipulative. DNAngel
impresses me more with each passing disc (yes, I know it's apparently
not as good as the manga, but I haven't read it to compare with
yet). It'll be a long month until the next volume arrives...
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