Darker than Black 2 explained: did Hei kill Yin?
This is neither official nor sanctioned, but another interpretation from the arcana of the final episode of Darker than Black: Ryuusei no Gemini. I will not be like others, however, that will execrate BONES for their trolling, or curse them for what they have done to the franchise. I will simply try to explain things the way I understood them.
I personally saw the ending as decent: it wasn’t great or awesome, but it was quite solidly done. The episode affirmed, in a subtle way, that Hei loved Yin and vice versa. The point of contention is really whether Hei killed Yin. I personally don’t think that he did, primarily because in the final scenes there was a bifurcation of personalities: one Yin was black, and another was white. The White Yin was the one who asked Hei to kill him, whereas the black Yin stayed in the background. This made me personally reflect on Izanami as just a personality that branched off from Yin, especially because I just finished watching the particularly moving Kara no Kyoukai. The black Yin may be a male personality of Yin, and the white Yin is the Yin that Hei knew and loved all along. It is said that in the gate one gains something in exchange for something equally precious, and the return of female Yin to her own body and to Hei is paid off by the loss of her Izanami personality to another body, the male doll eerily similar to Yin and armed with her contractor-killing powers, as well. Hei’s gain of Yin is accompanied by his loss of Suou, a person who has grown valuable to him. With Shion’s ‘flawed’ world he lost his life; with Suou’s loss of memories she gained a new life in another world. The same can be said with July, who has once again become human in the world Shion tailored. It’s quite allusive to Fullmetal Alchemist with its idea of equivalent exchange, but it’s not altogether illogical.
All in all, it’s a decent ending.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:44 am
I’m not sure I can go along completely with the bifurcation thesis because, in the gate, black Yin and white Yin are speaking as if still one person – black Yin says “It’s not too late,” and white Yin finishes off the sentence with “kill me”. Anyway, I’m afraid I’ve ended up in the group who feel that Bones was trolling them – not just killing Suou but destroying her personality memory by memory, and then after all that, pulling a “lol eva reset c/w toast” ending so she can live on in some planetary-scale Truman Show with Shion as the posthumous author.
But just because I thought it was a terrible way to end the series, I still felt somehow that it was a marvellous piece of anime because of what it said about memories (not just this episode but both series) and how they define who we are. Our memories are so much more than just “a miserable little pile of secrets”. I know that my memories can be such a deep source of pain, and I’ve spent years in therapy trying to come to terms with them, but I’ve got to the stage now that I would not be without them even if someone with an ME offered to rid me of them. They’re part of me, part of who I am, and I would be diminished as a person if I were to lose them.
December 28th, 2009 at 4:26 am
I personally am not mad or felt like I was trolled by Bones at all, but I do think that the ending suffered from very bad pacing, which enhanced the outlandish nature of the ending. If we had at least two more episodes to help flesh out the ending, I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be such wild backlash from so many viewers. All in all, I feel that DtB2 is a fine anime only marred by a rushed WTF ending. However, the promise of an S3 due to the events of S2′s ending may provide redemption, at least for many viewers out there.
As for the specifics of the ending, exactly what happened to Yin is questionable. Hei could have reunited Izanami (Black Yin) and normal Yin (White), or killed only Izanami, or reunited them and then killed them. What I do know is that Izanami and Shion (Izanagi) meeting ripped open Hell’s Gate to create Boy Yin seen at the end, and that he is pretty much what one would see as the Antichrist seeing as how the Mitaka documents say the being born from this will bring suffering and calamity.
However, your interpretation makes a lot of sense as well, given how Hei smiled when Yin asked him to kill her. The fact is, until we get S3, this particular part of the ending will remain up to speculation since a lot of evidence points one way or another.
December 28th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Me too. I don’t actually believe that Hei kills Yin. His smile shows that it wasn’t meant to be that way. Although I am not fully understand this season 2, I know there’s something mystery when white Yin ask him to kill her. It must be Hei’s wish to gain Yin back and as an exchange, he’ll lose July and Suou. I believe that Hei didn’t kill her. At the last scene, we all see that only a bright purple light is somehow absorbed by Yin’s body, right? I know it must be Yin returns to her own body and being carried by Hei to another place where nobody can disturb them again.
Sorry to say but this is the most disappointing season for DTB, because there’s not much scene about Yin.
I hope that if BONES decided to give way for season 3, I don’t care how the story move along, but I just want it has to be Hei and Yin moment all times. Without Yin, there’s no reason for me to watch DTB.
Whoever post this explanation, thank you for making Yin’s supporter a bit relieve. And know, we’re all believe that she’s not dead. She’s just unconscious from exhausted and now Hei will take care of her.
December 28th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Me too. I don’t actually believe that Hei kills Yin. His smile shows that it wasn’t meant to be that way. Although I am not fully understand this season 2, I know there’s something mystery when white Yin ask him to kill her. It must be Hei’s wish to gain Yin back and as an exchange, he’ll lose July and Suou. I believe that Hei didn’t kill her. At the last scene, we all see that only a bright purple light is somehow absorbed by Yin’s body, right? I know it must be Yin returns to her own body and being carried by Hei to another place where nobody can disturb them again.
Sorry to say but this is the most disappointing season for DTB, because there’s not much scene about Yin.
I hope that if BONES decided to give way for season 3, I don’t care how the story move along, but I just want it has to be Hei and Yin moment all times. Without Yin, there’s no reason for me to watch DTB.
Whoever post this explanation, thank you for making Yin’s supporter a bit relieve. And now, we’re all believe that she’s not dead. She’s just unconscious from exhausted and now Hei will take care of her.
December 28th, 2009 at 11:28 am
After I did a bit of reading on some of the alluded mythology I came to a similar interpretation as you. I’ll be looking forward to the next season.
Looking at all the bitter and cynical comments over at anime-suki, I can’t help but feel they all need a Suou in their life too. She was an excellent character and was essential in eliciting the humanity in Hei after the hell he went through.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Yes, I agree. FFVIIKnight and I chatted it out in crazy, and some of the main conclusion points were that Yin is alive, and Hei is with her… at least that would make the most sense.
The ending, what actually happened, was a bit oversized for the series imo, which is why it is tough to deal with as a fan. I did enjoy it though, and Suou’s place in everything was really special for me. Do wish Yin had a different part in this storyline.
Another season would be good speculation.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I’ve watched the season finale too and I agree that it ended quite soon. Now we’re all left with more questions than answers. I mean, did Hei REALLY kill Yin? (Hopefully NO) Who’s the Yin-look-a-like? and What happened to Hazuki?
=The first question really MUST be answered ‘coz a lot of fans are confused w/ HOW that can even happen. Did Hei get his powers back and used it against Yin?
=The second question is quite the enigma since apparently Yin (boy version) has the ability to rip the spectre (souls) of normal human beings like Mr. Smith.
=The third question is a personal one since I’m also a fan of Hazuki-kun… seeing as how Genma got what was coming to him, I can only assume that she might make an appearance on the next season… hmmm, a Hazuki & Hei partnership would be something to see (since both of ‘em are awesome assassins) ^^
=As for Suou, her ending is bittersweet ‘coz she got the normal life she deserved but lost the man she loved. But at least July is happy (finally)…:)
=Overall, the DTB 2 ending is begging for a Season 3… since the upcoming OVA would only show how Hei and Yin lived and got separated… HeiXYin forever!!!
December 29th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
The second season was just a promo for season three, I assume.
January 6th, 2010 at 5:48 am
The fact that Yin says “it’s not too late” and then “kill me” and then the fact that The new being is still crated and the gate is opened means Hei did not kill Yin. Because if he did the new being would not have been made. Hei simply used the other side of his power, the side that alters things. My guess is he some how put the “good” Yin back into her body or something of the sort.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:59 am
I love these speculations because all of them make a lot of sense. I think I might be able to re-watch the ending without cringing this time. The first time I saw the finale, I was thinking it was going to be this huge moment that would explain everything, but it left out the answers I wanted and gave me more questions instead. I am in particular favor of this theory. It made me feel like there was hope after all (which I think was intended in that last screen shot).
You know, it’s funny. While all of your guys were saying how you thought that the boy Yin was the Izanami persona, my initial reaction was, “What the heck? This thing looks like Hei and Yin smooshed together. Did Hei use his molecular-changing abilities to merge them?” Which, now that I think about it, is really rather creepy. Still, that last shot of Hei and Yin walking away screwed me up. Especially when Misaki said that she felt like Hei was still out there and alive shortly after the boy Yin was introduced. For the fandom’s sake, I really hope you guys are right.
As for Suou’s little speech at the end, she said she believed she would meet Hei again (without knowing who he was, of course). I’m a little fuzzy on the whole second Earth thing and am a tiny bit put off with it because until they do something with it other than make people happy (although July smiling was adorable), I feel as if it left a lot of doors open. Then there was the whole thing with the second Earth moving farther away and those Doll twins mentioning a new Gate…Really, the root problem is that there was just so much packed into that ending. There’s a ton of new material to work with. A third season would be more than appropriate.
February 21st, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I think Yin is still alive. In the final episode Yin told Hei that it is not too late to kill her. Maybe, the prophecy (Amber memory of the future) will not be fulfilled if Izanami died. But in the end we can see that the future that was written in the Mitaka document became true (The birth of boy yin look alike and the creation of another earth). In my opinion this is the proof that Hei did not kill Yin, if he did kill her both of the events would not happen.
The future itself would probably be the price that Hei must pay to get Yin back. For choosing not to kill Yin, Hei would carry the responsibility of killing the yin look alike (which probably be the main antagonist in S3 imho).
I hope that there will be S3 in which Yin is alive and have more screen time than in S1 and S2. Yin x Hei forever
June 30th, 2010 at 5:34 am
After reading all your theories I could think up an explanation that would answer all my questions and put me at ease till a season 3 (hopefully) is released. So personally i think that hei did not kill yin , he put the good yin and bad yin (i guess u could call her yang?) back together therefore not altering the prophecy.hei must of wished for suou to live in a happy world thats why she was sent to that other world that was created by shion.July wished something similar and was sent to that world also.that boy is the being that was born from the meeting of Izanami and Izanagi propably the main enemy if there is a season 3.this is in my opinion the explanation that makes the most sense.Although I didn’t like the idea of erasing suou’s memories and sending her into a fake world…I’m hoping that she and hei meet up again because it just felt wrong.Overall i think the ending was rushed up and lacked any real answers leaving us with more questions than we can handle.
Excuse my horrible grammar I tried typing this as quickly as I could
lol goes to show nothing decent can be done when rushing.
July 26th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
i reli agree wif all of the commet above ,well if there is going to be a season 3 i hope it will take away all our question marks n btw hapi ending would be nice too
July 30th, 2010 at 1:03 am
Aren’t you all forgetting that there’s more to Hei’s power then electricity? i.e, the power to alter particles at a molecular level (remember S1 when he changed the molecular structure of the anti-gate particles?)
And his star did shine as f*ck, so he must have done something with his powers… Right? (when and how did his powers return btw? Did they return when the meteor shard was destroyed?)
Ah well, I’m just bursting with questions… Looking forward to a thirds Season.
August 27th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Well after watching the OVA 4 Gaiden I have been obsessed with DTB. Season 2 ending was quite disappointing, although I’m a bit confused I wanted to know the real truth. I strongly assume there will be a Season 3 if not I will be very depressed. I just don’t know why some people would disagree that, perhaps they haven’t seen S2? Or Gaiden. But Hei is only suitable for Yin be far due to OVA 4. I just don’t get why in the end Hei will agree to kill Yin with a smile in the end of S2. Maybe I missed a point? Help me out
January 31st, 2011 at 11:12 am
In one episode of RnG, one of the earlier ones, when Hei was on the boat with Mao, July and Suou, didn’t Mao ask where Yin was? And Hei responded “I’ll ‘kill’ her”…?
Maybe that’s what Yin was referring to at the end, when she said “kill me”?
But then what did they mean by “kill”?
I really don’t know.
That ending left me confused. :\
Season 1 pwned!
Season 2 tried to explain what happened in season 1 but failed? (It just made fans more confused! :$)
There better be an awesome season 3 in the making! D:
And I believe Hei walking away with a naked Yin in his arms, and his star shining in the sky proves that he is not dead! He is now living somewhere with Yin!
HEI x YIN FOREVER! xD
~Sharmayne April Cassino
January 31st, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I found a VERY good answer to my question above, as well as the ending of Ryuusei No Gemini!
http://bleachasylum.com/threads/13037-I-ll-Never-Leave-You-Alone-The-Hei-%E2%99%A5-Yin-FC-V1/page74
It states that Hei felt obliged to kill the “Izanami” part of Yin, not the original Yin, since Hei felt like he was the one who changed her, stated by Mao.
I found the essay post interpretation by that person to be very well thought out, and that’s why it could be the actual meaning….
Well, it made sense to me because I am a HEIxYIN fan! xD
~Sharmayne April Cassino