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「等価の書 / 連理の書」 (Tōka no Sho / Renri no Sho)
“Book of Equivalence / Book of Connectionr”
Well, there’s no denying that this was a pretty lightweight pair of stories for Dantalian no Shoka this week. But you know, I think this is a face that the series wears well – I find the series quite charmer when it shows its warmer, funnier side.
For openers, it’s the return of the flapper/cowgirl Camille – only this time she’s in a topcoat ‘n tails with a very unconvincing fake mustache. Camille is a character type I can easily see rubbing some people the wrong way, but I quite like her. She’s ditzy and a bit daft without being stupid, and she’s cute and charming without trying too hard. She seems pretty sweet on Dalian as well, though there’s no chemistry with Huey whatsoever, for some reason.
Her phantom book is an interesting one – The Book of Equivalency, which allows the owner to trade anything with anyone for something of equal or lesser value. I like the deceptively dangerous nature of this one, as Dalian points out. Value is subjective for starters, and what if the bearer of the book wants something they’d give their life for? There’s also a nice bit of historical trivia, as Dalian has fallen for a teddy bear – newly in demand due to the popularity of American ex-President Teddy Roosevelt – made by the great German bear maker Steiff. The trail of trades that forms behind Camille and ends with Dalian getting her bear is amusing, though I do wonder about the wisdom of leaving the book with the cutthroat trader Camille swapped it to in exchange for the bear.
The second story features the return of romantic doofus and Bertie Wooster wannabe Armand, who’s managed to land his hands on a phantom book called The Book of Connection (which, for a change, Huey has never heard of). The two with each half of this one are soul mates, and destined to be together forever – and for Armand, that’s Lianna Scholes (Kuwashima Houko). Alas she turns out to be a yandere who’s consumed with jealousy every time Armand talks with a woman, and the only way out of their lifetime bond is for him to die. This being Dantalian we have to have at least one in the body count, so Dalian proposes that they allow Lianna to kill him in flames and then resurrect him using another phantom book after her departure. It isn’t a pleasant experience for Armand, but he learns a valuable lesson – phantom books and women are very dangerous. And also, big breasts are nice, too.
I’m not sure the series was advanced in any meaningful way here, but it’s getting pretty late in the game for the development of any kind of overarching plot (though we do have the KanaHana pink-haired yomihime showing up every few weeks). At this point I’m pretty satisfied with an entertaining stand-alone episode, because I’m not sure we’re going to get anything more than that, and I think this was the most entertaining episode since the Lennie Lents storyline. Dalian and Camille have a nice chemistry, Armand was good for a few years, and the overall tone was pleasing. As for the unbelievably confusing chapter and episode numbering GAINAX is throwing at us, I’ve given up – I’m not even going to try and make sense of it.
Preview
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I liked the episode and i think we can find always a little bit more of character development each week. I don’t really get what is all the fuss about the numbering, really. We just have to watch each episode every week and that’s it. And for every ‘mini-story’ they number it, this week we had 2 of those ‘mini-stories’. We should always refer to the actual episode number and not to the number of each story. Simple and no worries.
Isn’t the trading of paperclip to a larger value the same as what happened to Kyle MacDonald?
yea its most likely a homage to it
Hooray, Camille’s getting more screen time than Gosick’s Avril 😀
I think Dantalian no Shoka is at its best when the show doesn’t take things too seriously.
You know, this was only the second ep she’s appeared in. When she’s there she plays a major role – but I’d actually like to see more of her. I like the chemistry when she’s around – things can sometimes feel a little cold and flat with this show. Camille adds a spark and some welcome warmth.
Dalian is really cute in this episode as always if not more so, and she said her “yesu” XD. Other than that, the stories was pretty good. Though a little rushed. Fun nonetheless.
The man died, went to the underworld, came back and learned that “big beasts are nice.” I got a kick out of that one. Armand is trully a ridiculous, over the top character that constantly reminds me of some sort of Shakespearian actor whenever I see him. He’s very amusing, and I enjoy his screen time.
As for Camile… I never really noticed the size of her breasts until now, but damn! O_o How’s she been hiding those from me? I guess anime brainwashes my ideas of breast proportions or something.
I thought I wasn’t going to like Camille, but this episode proved me wrong. As Huey said, she’s foolish, but in a good way. I also like how she sees Dalian as a sister rather than a rival in love, yet there doesn’t really seem to be any romance between anyone here (except maybe Armand now).
And wow, what is with all the yanderes??
But anyways, I really hope they give us something great for the last few episodes to wrap up with!
All I gotta say is that there are A LOT of yanderes in this series…
Looking at this screenshot –> https://randomc.net/image/Dantalian%20no%20Shoka/Dantalian%20no%20Shoka%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2034.jpg, I noticed it is written incorectly XD It should be Ελευσίνα and not Ελεύσινα. But who cares anyway I guess 😛
Nice, i was wondering what she would trade for something that was more impoartant than his life. The second story was amusing though from the obvious nonchalant attitude of the 2, there was already a plan.
Book of equivalence… Hmmm, a man with such a book and a horse at a right time and place could have get a kingdom…
Amusingly enough, people are making barters of such nature pretty much all the time, starting with western made industrial goods for middle eastern oil, for example. Of course there is money invovlved, but it is only a measure of valus someone attaches to something, right?