This final installation of the series gracefully tidies up all the mysteries opened by previous episodes, and largely focuses on Hei (also known as the Black Reaper, or BK-201) and how the conflict in South America centered on Heaven’s Gate changed him, especially after the sudden disappearance of his younger sister, Pai. We also gain a final understanding of his contactor abilities, and how Amber was involved in his life before he became a Contractor. All the loose threads are tied together in the final confrontation, and everyone’s life and abilities are on the line and there’ll be no second chances. As rumor swirls among the normal population about the possible appearance of the original stars for a nighttime view not seen for decades, it seems all the major characters are having their last encounters with the opposite side. Police Chief Kirihara is determined to uncover the mystery behind the strange behavior of the government concerning the Gate, while Hei, Huang, Mao, and even Yin throw all their talents together in preparation for an end run that could mean their deaths even if they succeed. Action packed and melancholy, this final disc spells the end for a fantastic and intriguing series (unless, by the grace of studio Bones, we are granted a surprise second season). Moving and electrifying, these last few episodes gracefully wind every major mystery to a close, though as life will inevitably go on, there are some answers we may never discover.
With its signature art style and the amazing music I’ve come to depend on, this disc continues to exemplify the amazing work of each and every one of its contributors, from the brilliant planning and execution of Studio Bones, to the emotional and characteristic music of Yoko Kanno. If I have one complaint aside from the inevitable separation anxiety, it lies only with the chronological possibility of the last episode, which did nothing to assuage my sadness that the series had reached completion.
Episodes included on this disc:
EP-023: God is in His Heaven…
EP-024: Meteor Shower…
EP-025: Does the Reaper Dream of Darkness Darker Than Black?
EP-026: Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom… *
*EP-026 never aired in Japan, and was included as an extra only on the DVD.