Allen Walker's finally back!
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
Thanks to an eight-year gap and a 52-episode arc that currently isn't easily accessible outside of Japan (though it’s soon coming to Funimation), the return of D.Gray-man has a few hurdles to overcome. As such, the premiere of the new series D.Gray-man Hallow, dubbed "The Fourteenth," attempts to get viewers up to speed on what came before while swiftly continuing the story, and is mostly successful in doing so.
It's been a long time since I've watched the series, so it was great to see Allen Walker and his pals taking down some Akuma during the episode's well-animated opening moments. After drawing me in with that fun bit of action, "The Fourteenth" shifts to a boat sequence, as Allen and his friends from the Black Order make their way to their new headquarters. I really appreciated the time taken to slow down the pace so that I could reacquaint myself with D.Gray-man's colorful cast of characters. I especially enjoyed a bit of lighthearted joking with Lavi as the group approached their destination.
Lavi, Lenalee and Allen making their way to the new HQ
Just as Allen and company make their way into the headquarters, "The Fourteenth" switches gears to drop a few minutes of exposition, providing some backstory on the "Holy War" against the Akuma and the villainous Millennium Earl. I appreciated the info dump and the context it provided on the Black Order's battle against the Noah Clan and the ultimate collapse of the Order's former headquarters.
Immediately following the brief bit of backstory, the episode transitions back to the group as they enter the HQ reconnect with the rest of the Order at which point I was reminded why I love this series so much. Despite D.Gray-man's heavy subject matter, Allen's relationships with the rest of the cast keep things from ever feeling too dark. Watching as his restlessness and excitement annoyed Kanda was great, as it resulted in a fun bit of banter and an intense stare between the two that only a quick distraction with the promise of candy could break.
Kanda and Allen locked in an intense stare
I especially appreciated these moments of levity after being thrust deep into the dark and serious second half of the episode, during which we get a better understanding of the Central Agency's suspicion of Allen and see the long-awaited reunion of the exorcist and his master General Cross Marian. It's at this point the episode delivers yet another info dump regarding the backstory of the fourteenth member of the Noah Clan, his relationship to Mana Walker and the fact that The Fourteenth's memories have been implanted in Allen.
General Cross Marian
I had to watch this sequence a few times to fully digest all of the information that was delivered, and was still left a bit confused. During the exposition there’s a flashback with The Fourteenth during which I had a bit of difficulty initially determining who was who. Part of that is likely due to the fact that it has been so long since the original series aired and only compounded by the episode’s attempt to fill in for that arc that wasn't licensed. Those who have never seen D.Gray-man will almost certainly find themselves lost in the series' pre-established lore.
That said, I was able to come away from the sequence with a good overall sense of what was going on and the implications this will have on Allen going forward. He clearly has a dark road ahead of him, and the bloody fate that awaited General Cross Marian just before the credits rolled left me eager to see how things will play out in the next episode.
The Verdict
While a bit heavy on exposition, "The Fourteenth" does a great job at balancing fun and lighthearted character moments with its otherwise dark overarching plot. It may not be the best entry point for newcomers to D.Gray-man and may require a re-watch or two for those returning after the eight-year wait, but the premiere of Hallow manages to squeeze in fast-paced action, slower character beats and enough backstory to have me excited to find out what lies ahead for Allen and the Black Order.
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