Review of Durarara!!

Do you like Guy Ritchie movies? If you do, then just watch Durarara. You'll definitely like it. If someone had said the exact same thing to me before I started watching this anime, I would've been able to appreciate it much more. It would've been a 9/10 show for me. Unfortunately, that was not the case and I went in with a bunch of different expectations and was disappointed in that regard. Based on the description, I got only two pieces of information. That there was this legendary headless rider and there was this new clueless kid in the city who saw this legendary rideron his first day in the city. Going in with this, I was expecting events to revolve around these two. But boy was I wrong. And this is where Durarararara shines. It has so many amazing characters. Each one could be an MC in their own show. And the interactions between them is so darn good.

But this was also where it was a letdown. Typically, when you go into a show, you tend to relate and empathize more with the main character than the rest. You also tend to root for them more because they, I don't know how to put it, because they are a representation of yourself in that world. It's like playing an RPG - one you can't control. So naturally, I was looking at this show through the MC, Mikado's perspective. And from there, this show was not satisfying to watch at all. His role was overshadowed by a lot of other characters, including the other two characters in his own small group.

I think I sound like a petulant child who is throwing a tantrum because Mommy won't tend to me as much as she does to little sis. But that's exactly how I felt. I was okay with Celty taking the spotlight. I liked her character. I was okay with Izaya, Shizuo, the Russian dude, the crazy doc and the van gang as well. But what really bugged me was that his two other friends in his trio got much more attention and importance from the perspective of the plot. The MC actually felt unneeded which was made very clear in the final episode. It also didn't help that the MC didn't have any balls.

Apart from the Monogatari series, I don't think I've watched a show with these many strong and well-written characters. They make this show definitely worth the watch. But Monogatari on the other hand, treats the MC, like it is supposed to. That's where this show loses out.

Here's my recommendation to you, watch this anime expecting that it is going to be like a Guy Ritchie movie with so single central main character. If this hasn't convinced you yet, just watch it for Celty's voice actor Miyuki Sawashiro. That voice is pure fantasy.

Durararararararara!!