Darker than Black asked more questions than it reasonably answered so a second season is welcomed not simply for the chance to tie up loose ends. Lamentably, as so far this sequel is as obtuse as the first and omits an overview of the first season in favour of a cryptic flashback, some light romantic drama followed by some out-of-character fan service. The first three episodes present a haggard, visibly scarred Hei with ill-explored traumas inflicted in the intervening period between seasons; an incessantly annoying teenage girl with a flying squirrel sidekick and a selection of Contractors with a variety of outlandish remunerations. So far so Darker than Black.
It diverges little in both pace and atmosphere of the first series with the animosity between humans and Contractors still prevalent and mention of a shadowy organisation that seems to exist only to be enigmatic rather than any pragmatic reason. The two episode per story is dropped in favour of a more straightforward linear narrative that sees the teenage girl witness her home destroyed by a number of groups searching for (what else) a meteor fragment; through this she meets Hei and experiences a number of her friends either killed or turned into glassy eyed Contractors. Were it not for the shadow cast by the first season this could well be an intriguing genesis for a new series, there is however an all too present fear that BONES will be miring the already labyrinthine mythos and the conclusion will perhaps give a character but not a story ending.
If western shows such as Lost or X-Files have taught producers anything, it's that mystery only carries a show so far before significant exposition and development has to take place; continuously deepening mysteries without reprieve is frustrating. Giving Hei longer hair and a drinking problem is somewhat believable but is a sloppy way of indicating the passage of time between the two series. The schedule for the DVDs and BluRay indicates that four original episodes recounting this gap will be included but not televised, resulting in twelve effective episodes for the new material. A satisfying conclusion is not impossible given the calibre of the studio but all indications point to a franchise rather than self-containment which is disappointing.
It is excellent to have more Darker than Black to consume, characters such as Misaki, Mao and Hei still have plenty of mileage in them and new additions look set to present new favourites if they can avoid untimely deaths. Even without Yoko Kanno providing auditory pleasure, the presentation is flawless: Russian tundras and snow scattered towns are wonderfully atmospheric and a welcome change of locale, while action is swift, tight and brutal. Apprehension threatens to cloud what is otherwise a satisfying opening three episodes; however faith will likely be the deciding factor on how much of a returning audience this attracts.