DRRR!! is a prime example of something done right. Awesome doesn’t begin to describe this anime. From the amazing cast of characters, to the mass amounts of epic going down in this here episode, DRRR!! does not disappoint. As always, captions for the pictures can be found by rolling over them with your mouse.Episode 2: Highly Unpredictable

We start off with DRRR!!’s badass OP once more, and it takes after Baccano! even more. Episode recap is in the OP. Great stuff. On to the episode, now. We’re at the school, at the welcoming. Seems pretty light for a welcoming. Pretty classy. Then, we’re forwarded to the classroom for introductions. Mikado, Kida, and the girl rescued by the Headless Rider last episode, Rio, introduce themselves to the rest of the class. In comes Yagiri. He steps in, late, and leaves. Seems he’s got something more important to take care of, and he has no time for school. Now, it’s time for Rio’s story. It goes back to her middle school days, where she received an envelope containing pictures of her father cheating on her mother. She also receives a text from someone about disappearing without anyone knowing. She could only take this thought for about six months. Her mother’s cooking and father’s lame jokes remained the same, though, and they were sweet. She decided, however, to disappear. Her conversations via text continued, though. She learned more and more about the man, and he discovered more about her through their conversations. A surprising question comes up. He wants to know if she’ll commit suicide with him. She is actually very determined, and shortly, walks down the street. This is where the epic storytelling that made Baccano! so awesome comes in. She walks by, and Kida and Mikado pass her, and she’s asked if she’s Ms. Magenta by a man. She says that she is, and the two are off. Turns out, they are indeed being watched. Rio’s kidnapped, and the person watching them steps on the cigarette. While she’s out, things still go on, including the Headless Rider talking to someone giving her a job of sorts.

Now this next scene is just fantastic. The way it’s done, the music, everything. DRRR!! knows how to deliver a slice of awesome. The scene starts off with a man on the ground, looking up at someone very angry, who grabs a nearby vending machine, and tosses it up in the air. “Another person you should watch out for is…” The Headless Rider continues along the streets. She gets a call on her badass phone that comes out of her arm, and it’s the guy who saw Rio being kidnapped. He tells the Headless Rider to deal with “them”, in reference to the kidnappers. She appears in front of them, and kills them off, one by one. Then, she opens the van’s trunk to find Rio inside. Communicating via text, the Headless Rider conveys the message that she’s been asked to deliver Rio somewhere. She takes Rio on the bike, and to a new place. Someone’s waiting for her on the rooftop. The Rider’s job ends here. Rio walks up. Nakura appears. Her suicide partner, the one watching the kidnappers… the one contacting the Rider. He asks her if the experience of being kidnapped was scary. She replies “Yes,”, but then proceeds t ask how he even knows this. Turns out, he organized the kidnapping AND the saving. He says that she was thinking about dying, yet got kidnapped, and that she was mad at herself for getting scared. She was gonna die anyway, so she was scared, but she was going to accept it as destiny. However, she’s relieved to be saved. He just wanted to see the face that contained all these emotions. She asks, “Why,”, and he says the answer may be a bit philosophical. Seems our new character is just fascinated with humans in general. He takes Rio to a place where people have committed suicide before. He continues on about Ms. Magenta having a few secrets of her own, and his words hurt her inside, so she tries to slap him, but Mr. Nakura achieves the unachievable, and dodges an anime girl’s slap. Badass. He now has her hand, and hangs her over the edge. She’s staring down at blood now. Blood that’s a long fall away. He asks her if she wants him to let go, but her actions speak for her. She pulls herself back up, and Mr. Nakura leaves saying that he was happy to see her unsightly feelings. What a douche, yet very awesome. All her actions were according to his plan, and he knew that she didn’t want to die as well. This guy sure pulls strings like a pro. She thought she could hurt him by jumping off now, and she does it, but a shadow saves her from death. It’s the Rider. Did Nakura call on her this time, too? Either way, she asks the Rider why she saved her, and the writer replies via text that the world isn’t as cruel as Rio takes it. As she goes home, she decides to forgive her loved ones. The current day is back, and she seems much happier. Mikado and Kida walk around the school, and see the girl with glasses asking Yagiri if something was wrong, since he’s skipping class on the first day. He goes off, and Kida asks her if something’s wrong. She bows, though, and runs off, then Kida says that she must’ve fallen for him. I swear, Kida and myself are one in the same. He tells Mikado a joke in English, that Mikado can’t understand, the girl continues to chase Yagiri, and Rio walks down hoping she can tell someone else the Rider’s message someday. Back to the Rider, who’s coming to a stop in front of Mr. Nakura. She questions as to if he’s responsible for the other death there, but he says, “Of course not,”, and that he’s not nice enough, however to keep someone from dying if they want to die. With that, the Rider’s off, and the episode draws to a close.

Next Time: Episode 3: Rampant

A second episode that outdoes the first in every way, by flawlessly developing Rio. It also gave some great insight into this Mr. Nakura guy. Plus, the guy with epic strength was given a bit of spotlight for a few seconds. It’s obvious he’s gonna be badass. Looks like he’s in the Episode 3 preview as well! Also, there was the professor-looking guy who was with the rider before she went to save Rio. So much happening in a single episode, it’s fantastic. Another 5/5 for this episode. Next week, we’ll see Erika and Walker again, the guy with epic strength, some random girls, and a certain girl talking with Mikado. Nothing’s stopping this show. Geass, here comes your worst nightmare.