Durarara Plotholes, and why I can't like it [SPOILERS]

[Kazetori]

So, I just finished watching the Durarara Anime.

Here's why I can't bring myself to like it:

 

1: Shingen, Traffic Cop, and Kasuka were all pretty much pointless characters - which would have been O.K. were they not featured in the intro. Seriously, Kasuka doesn't even make an appearance in the second part, yet he's in the intro. I don't get it.

2: No resolution on the Dullahan = Valkyrie plotline whatsoever. It's not even referenced again after it's established. And that was the basis for sparking the whole gang war. The purpose of the events of the entire series doesn't get a resolution. Even if they did somehow thwart Izaya's plot with no knowledge that it even existed - he just gives up? Someone as clever and resourceful, not to mention maniacal as him just gives up?

3: In the final fight, all the Dollars members hang around doing nothing until Kida is half dead before they bust out hero mode - and over half the group there were thralls to Saika, but she doesn't care enough to give them an order? Not to mention the super-convenience given to Celty dragging them together and telling them how to solve their problems. Anyone with basic story structure know-how knows that's poor writing.

4: Kida - OUT! I really don't get this ending. Kida had finally come of age as a character and faced himself and his guilt, which were brought about by his "Running away" when his lady needed him - but then in the end he leaves without saying goodbye to his friends. There's only one reason he wouldn't be able to say anything to them, and then be staking their chatroom trying to be secretive - and that would be him feeling guilty. So... after just having his epiphany, he remakes the same mistake? So as a character, he did zero development?

There's a lot of other things that made me go "oh well isn't THAT convenient" but I can usually overlook those - but for a series that had such vibrant characters and such a strong exposition, the conclusion just felt like such a kick in the nuts.

What do you think? I know the light novels are ongoing, but I think they could have tied this off better than they did (Or they shouldn't have started work on such a great story concept until the source was complete.)

[Gjallarhorn]

To start off, you didn't list any plotholes. You listed that it was inconclusive. Now why would that be? You answered it yourself.

I know the light novels are ongoing

Now why would they stay completely with the novels, to the point that they introduce seemingly pointless characters and leave threads of the plot hanging? Because they're a planning to continue the animation - the way the last ~10 episodes were handled is a clear sign of a set-up for a second season, the most obvious being the introduction of Shingen and the ambiguous revelation of Izaya's plans for Celty's head.

In light of this, your four points are moot.

[Kazetori]

The fact that the purpose behind orchestrating the gang war gets no resolution and isn't referenced beyond the episode where it's explained isn't a plot hole?

So you're saying you can accept garbage storytelling because it's indicative of a second season? What of the gang war Izaya needs for his plan? It's not going to happen without some Retconning of this existing story : Unless he's totally thrown out that plan - which I could buy if there was any mention of it - but it's never even mentioned in the end.

I don't care how closely the anime follows the light novels, if at all - I'm just saying there's been no news of a season two and the existing story has a horrible resolution.


EDIT: The ending reeks of a D Grayman or FMA style treatment where the anime got the "good enough" and deviated from the complete story.

It's not that there wasn't a resolution - there definitely was for every character - My issue is that several of the plot threads that led to that resolution either get left out of the conclusion(Valkyrie), or are rendered pointless in the way they're portrayed(Kida's ending)

[Gjallarhorn]

EDIT: The ending reeks of a D Grayman or FMA style treatment where the anime got the "good enough" and deviated from the complete story.

But this is contrary to what you said before. They didn't deviate at all from the novels' story. They basically got to the end of the first major arc and cut it off, instead of sewing together loose ends that the novels ties together later or making up an ending altogether.

It's not that there wasn't a resolution - there definitely was for every character - My issue is that several of the plot threads that led to that resolution either get left out of the conclusion(Valkyrie), or are rendered pointless in the way they're portrayed(Kida's ending)

That's because they're meant to be continued. They're done, but only for now. You're looking at this is though it were a complete segment - but it's not. It's much more similar to the ending of the original Code Geass series, where some things were resolved, some were put aside for the time being, and then it just cut off.

[Masakisu]

Celty's Head plot wasn't unresolved - she realised that she simply didn't care about it anymore, as her friends (and Shinra) had accepted her the way she was. Certainly there is still a big mystery regarding exactly what Izaya plans to do with it. but that's being saved for later seasons (assuming there are any).

Or you could, you know, read the novels? They clear up a lot, because they're, you know, the next part of the story. And let's not forget that this is a Ryohgo Narita series - he never makes things simple.

[Vanilla Tsundere]

Or you could, you know, read the novels? They clear up a lot, because they're, you know, the next part of the story.

It's a good suggestion. I've ran into a few series where the novel cleared stuff up about the series. NGE being one of them.

[Kazetori]

THANK YOU! Those ranting posts were made by my boyfriend, who after me showing him the series, was extremely angry and didn't want to like it at all because of well.. the points he gave. He doesn't have an account here and I'm not so good at arguing, nor have I read the novels (yet ^.~), so I let him borrow my account to get some answers. He's not going to respond because he says "it's like if the Harry Potter movies never touched on any of the main plot and everyone had to wait for the final movie for a final wrap up". Well anyway, thank you everyone, I love the series despite the obvious loose ends that he found so annoying and will hopefully be addressed in a second season, but for now, I'm going to go track down the novels. ^_^

[Masakisu]

They haven't been officially translated, but there are some fan translations. The anime covers novels 1-3 btw.

[viesto]

Durarara a great show but if you miss a episode your ptetty much lost

[Arrisu]

Am I the only one who doesn't believe the boyfriend excuse? u_u