I did it, I rewatched another trashy anime and actually paid attention and this time it is Diabolik Lovers. I think I might eventually need to get my hands on the light novel, the manga or the games to get some of the answers. Since I do not have access to these at the moment and have not looked at them, I am unsure if the anime was just adapted assuming these key points were already known, or if the explanations did not make the cut due to time constraints. Either way, some points left me confused.

• Genre: Harem, School, Vampire, Shoujo
• Type: Series
• Episodes: 13
• Duration to watch: +/- 3 Hours 30 Minutes
• Age restriction: R – 17+ (violence & profanity)
• Release date: 2013
• Animation Studio: Zexcs
• Does it have a manga: Yes, but it is based on a visual novel

About Diabolik Lovers:

Yui Komori is sent to live with the Sakamaki brothers, a vampire family, at the insistence of her father. The six Sakamaki brothers are Shuu, Reiji, Ayato, Kanato, Laito, and Subaru, and they dwell in a remote mansion on the outskirts of town. The siblings are initially perplexed as to why the girl has shown up; nevertheless, they soon learn that she is to be their new “sacrificial wife,” not to mention their other, more sexual intents for her. Yui rapidly begins to doubt why her father would have sent her here, as well as why she is experiencing a strange, new pain in her chest, after first seeing the brothers. Each of Yui’s brothers is more vicious than the previous one, and her life as a slave takes a horrific turn in her new environment. Yui’s days evolve into interminable nights, and each brother promises to claim her as his own, as she descends deeper and deeper into madness and ecstasy, until she is no longer herself.

My Thoughts:

I recently rewatched this and actually paid attention this time around. During my first watch through, I tried so hard to like it. So much so that I watched season one in a single sitting and now with this rewatch I once again binged season 1 in a single sitting.

The first thing I noticed with the rewatch is that the lines are so cringe and grimace educing. I was left wondering what forlorn teenager wrote them. There are some lines I did appreciate but on the whole, I do wonder how did this script pass and I pitied and admire the voice actors for pulling through decently.

The second thing I noticed was we were not given certain information that is kind of critical for the plot to make sense. Like why was it Yui? Why was she chosen specifically? What was with the diary and photo? Why had she been sent to the house of vampires? Okay, this one we do get a brief answer from Laito, but how true his answer remains unknown. He claimed the church had sent her there knowing she would be a sacrifice. Although he does this to cause Yui mental anguish. Later it is revealed that her dad (who works in the church) does not know.

This also makes me question, so at what point in Yui’s life did she get Cordelia’s heart implanted into her? I am sure heart surgery would have been brought up at some point. So was it magic? But just because they are vampires, does not mean they can use magic. Which brings me to my next question, why is Cordelia’s heart so impactful and unique? Why will her heart specifically impact vampire politics and what was so special about Cordelia’s dress, or was it her blood on the dress that was vital? Also, when had the dress been saved? Cordelia had her heart cut out and then she was set on fire. I presume she was not naked. The anime showed her dressed when Kanato set her alight. Did Richter have time to change her clothes, I highly doubt this.

I do want to know why the triplets ultimately killed their mother. She was abusive yes and controlling and overall a pretty crappy parent. What was the final straw though? What made them say enough? Because from what I gather from season one, to kill a vampire is to show that vampire that you love them. Death equals love it would seem. Yet the triplets clearly do not love their mother. I know the relationship is complicated and I need more information. A few flashbacks as they are tormenting Yui is not enough.

Getting back to Yui, at what point did Stockholm set in? Where is she not afraid of the brothers and when did she start to care about them in any way? I am so confused. The whole time she is begging the guys to not drink her blood is trying to contact her father but not really trying to run away. There are so many scenes where she is scared of them and the poof she is not scared of them and cares for them. To the point, she is willing to kill herself. It is not just her, the guys also randomly start caring for her. Ayato is the only one who starts to see her as a person while the others view her as their favourite snack and entertainment device or have very little interest in her outside of her blood.

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I see the guys working to stop Cordelia’s plan mainly because they do not want to deal with her instead of actually trying to save Yui. Except for Ayato, he seems to actually want his living doll Yui back. I do enjoy that the vampire brothers are actual vampires which is partially why I rewatch this. They enjoy tormenting Yui while treating her as their personal snack.

There is a severe lack of character development, instead, it is more a ‘this is how I am now’ approach. I can see the potential for their relationships to deepen and develop over time and through interaction which didn’t happen in the show. It seemed as if every interaction with the brothers that Yui had ended with her begging them to stop.

Honestly, I liked the brothers and the vastly different personalities and enjoyed watching the way they toyed with Yui (I am strange I know). I will be watching season two again to see if I get any answers but I doubt it.

Favourite Character: Reiji Sakamaki

Reiji’s switch makes me so happy and it has no right to and I realise it makes me sound insane.

Least Favourite Character:  Yui Komori

Just do something, don’t just try to make a phone call and then give up. Fight, kick scream, manipulate I do not care, jJust do something, don’t just try to make a phone call and then give up. Fight, kick scream, manipulate I do not care, just fight back somehow. Do not just cry and beg them to stop – take some action and not in the form of stabbing yourself to save your abusers…Just ugh do SOMETHING!

Would I recommend Diabolik Lovers? I can not ignore that this anime is trash. However, it does appeal to me and I use it as a ‘pallet cleanser’ at times between anime. You don’t need to think your way through. The show had potential but they kind of failed on delivery and I am disappointed each time I watch it. Thus, no I would not recommend it however if it is a fellow fan with similar trash tastes to my own, oh you know I have already recommended this to them.

What do you think of Anime, Diabolik Lovers?