This is the sequel to the original series “Darker Than Black” and the story revolve around protagonist Hei who works for a mysterious organization known only as “syndicate” to gather information and material related to the radiation cause by the meteor crash. Due to the meteor crash causes some of the people on to have special ability and power. Those who have that ability are known as “Contractor”. Hei who is a contractor is known by Messier Code “BK-201” and in this sequel he left the syndicate organization after betraying them in at the end of the first series together with Yin.  The sequel will take place 2 years later after the first series and on the run from the organization that they used to serve. They left Tokyo and end up in Russia to encounter Suou Pavlichenko whose family was pull into a war with several government intelligent agency due to their research into contractors.

For those who haven’t watch the first series it is recommended to so in order to follow the second series and think of it like your TV series “Heroes” with a bigger conspiracy and need to some sort of contract payment to use their special power. At the moment the second series is plan to run on 16 episodes only and currently broadcasting in Japan since 8 of October 2009.

Back to the future in the “Ethics Committee” meeting and Masaki’s father was chairing the meeting. The agenda of the meeting was regarding the increasing report of excessive human-robot interaction in over 1400 areas and claim all areas identify do not violate robot laws and it must be grey zone due to the limitation of the laws implementation. The committee plan to eliminate such places but first they need to investigate this places further and pick the targets for full investigation. After the eliminations are done then only they will hand over the news to the media. Acknowledging the scope of the investigation is too huge for their current resources to do, Masaki’s father orders the use of large number of android investigators to help out with the investigation. Those suspected android that has excessive interaction with human will be reported to Ethics Committee who works in the police force and have them make the arrest. They are also aware of the group call APC (Android Promotion Committee) which is a group that has conflicting objectives with the Ethics Committee and caution that APC might take this event against them due to that the Ethics Committee will order their android investigator to keep their ties secret from the Ethics Committee. The meeting maybe secret but Dr. Ashimori was listening in secret from her office with a hidden microphone in the Ethics Committee meeting room.

At the Time of Eve, the TV was turn on, Akiko and Rikuo watching the interview with Chief Information Officer Masaki of the Ethics Committee (aka Masaki’s father) giving a press statement about Ethics Committee raising the alarm about robot infiltration into human lives and this relationship with robot are not healthy for humans. Akiko ask Rikuo why Masaki doesn’t come to the café anymore and he explains that a lot have happened and the biggest reason was the person on TV. Regarding the Ethics Committee group on the TV, Setoro decide to give a brief history lesson regarding that group. According Setoro the Ethics Committee started more than 10 years ago since android was first used in household but also known as a radical anti-robot organization but they have been keeping low profile the last few years due to their extreme anti movement that cause an injury in the Tokisaka incident. The group was heavily criticized and the head resign since then they have been keeping quiet until recently. Akiko then come to realize that the person on TV which is the CIO of Ethics Committee was Masaki’s father.

In Masaki room he talks to the Tex knowing that Tex does not talk back. So Masaki share to Tex the café called Time of Eve and also share that Rikuo go there very frequent where humans and robots talk to each other. His father then step into his room and check on him whether he got any issues since now he spend more time at home and Masaki explain to his father there was no issues. So his father orders Tex to prepare the minutes for his meeting today. 

Focus back at the Time of Eve, Rikuo leave the café then quietly Sammy came out from hiding in the café. Nagi talk to Sammy that her impression on Rikuo that he doesn’t not mind seeing Sammy at the café but Sammy claim that Nagi don’t understand Rikuo because she know him longer. Sammy certain that Rikuo doesn’t want to see her in the café yet. When Akiko about to leave the café she also told Nagi she also worried that Masaki might report Time of Eve to the Ethics Committee. Nagi explained if that were to happened she is alright with that and the place will be close because she explain that people who come to Time of Eve knew it from some who actually been there and it is only matter of time where some of those Ethics Committee people will know about it. She said that this café brings everyone hearts together as one and wanted to see through how big the circle can grow. Back at Rikuo’s home at night Sammy seems to have the courage to asking Rikuo about Masaki coming to Time of Eve and it seems to cheer Rikuo to try to bring Masaki to the café. There is a scene where Tex was preparing the meeting minutes it realize the things that the Ethics Committee plan to do.

At school Rikuo wait for Masaki to turn up and to try to encourage him to go Time of Eve. Masaki did turn up and his reply to Rikuo invitation was “not going” even Rikuo persuaded him that there are people like Nagi and Sammy who wants him to be there also. This action actually made Masaki more angry as he felt betray by android due to his childhood experience with Tex and thinks that Tex do not wish to talk to him and relate to Time of Eve made him hate the place and wish that place never exist. Masaki then when home and wanted to report Time of Eve to his father but found out from his father that Tex was missing instead. His father question him whether he give the order to Tex to leave but Masaki said no. His father fearing the security of the information of Ethics Committee that Tex know about, he wanted Tex to be found and get rid off before becoming a bigger issues. After that his father left the room and Masaki receive a phone call, at first he was reluctant to take the call but in the end he takes the call. The phone call is from Rikuo asking Masaki for help at the Time of Eve because there is an ancient THX robot at Time of Eve that won’t talk and it is sounding the alarm to close the place because the ancient THX model resemble his Tex, Masaki quickly rush to Time of Eve.

In the café Masaki saw Tex and requested it to stop the closure alarm. Masaki thinks the folks in the café are trying come out a plan to lure him to go back to the café by bring Tex to Time of Eve; he got a bad impression with that plan. Well since he is already there with Tex and decided to tell the folks there about his story with Tex. Masaki and Tex were very close together and had help brought him up since child. They were best friend until one day it stop talking to him and felt betray because Tex did not talk him. He also knew the reason why Tex did not talk to him because his father order Tex not to talk to anyone not matter what happen because his father try to split his relationship with Tex and as parent have higher priority over their children order. He did not realize it when he was very young and no matter what he do Tex just won’t talk and felt hurt by that and concluded that robot cannot understand human hearts.  Moments later a new person walk into the café, Tex having the information about the android investigator identity knew that person is one of them. Tex tried to hand signal to Masaki about it because if the android investigator to report Masaki was there he could be arrested and Tex trying to protect Masaki. Suddenly, Tex talks again and reported the identity of the person; Masaki was stun to hear Tex talking again. Masaki think back how can Tex break the robot rules unless the 1st rules to protect human in danger is engage. Having figured out that his life is in danger from Tex reaction he grabs the android investigator from leaving the café and at the same time tries to get what was Tex thinking all these years. After a moment of struggle there Tex finally talks and tells Masaki it could not speak to Masaki but it will always be there with him. With that confirmation finally Masaki realize that Tex actually cared for Masaki all these year and Masaki drop to his knee and let go the android investigator. Free from Masaki hold the android investigator takes the opportunity to escape. Since the dangers have passed Tex is bound by his father command and can no longer talk. Rikuo tries to cheer up Masaki and said for now it is impossible for it to talk but someday it will talk for sure. With that statement Masaki accepted what Rikuo try to tell him and he will follow that path. So Masaki is going to tell his father that he orders Tex to go out then hold Tex hand to go home. But unfortunately for Masaki since Tex have no legs to walk he have carry Tex up the stair case but earlier coming down was help by Koji and Setoro.

In the office of Dr. Ashimori, Setoro warn Dr. Ashimori that the tragic event from Tokisaka could happened again at the Time of Eve café but Dr. Ashimori said that she is sure that Shiotsuki understand that much. She then shows him the real article of Tokisaka incident from the newspaper before being replaced. In the newspaper report there was actually a victim in the event and it was a little girl. Then the status of operation from Ethics Committee to shutdown places where human-robot robot interaction took place being updated on the screen shows that Time of Eve closure in pending status.

In this final episode most of the mysteries that are expected to be reveal was not done so as if they are planning another new series. Well let start with Masaki’s father who now we know is the head of Ethics Committee supposedly an organization of the government. So this group objective is to eliminate android relationship with humans and directly don’t support anything done by android in human lives. But as the head of the Ethics Committee he should role model by not using houseroid and worst order the houseroid to document important meeting data so he is contradicting the objective of the organization he lead. Masaki finally reveal his childhood feelings and get it resolve at the Time of Eve. This clears up the flashback he was having the in earlier episodes. Until this episode Sammy do have the courage to voice out her opinion in front of Rikuo even at home but still shy away from revealing herself in the café. The last part is that it is interesting to know that Setoro and Dr. Ashimori are working together in the experiment of robot-human interaction at the Time of Eve. I suspect that they are from APC (Android Promotion Committee) and too bad Shiotsuki still remain a mystery. But the closure of Time of Eve was pending and probably Dr. Ashimori had her hands involved to protect the place. Overall this last episode manages to wrap up all the character development and conclude the purpose of the Time of Eve cafe.

Episode Rating: 4.5 out of 5

At school and after lesson Rikuo feeling sleepy due to lack of sleep at night was disturbed by Masaki. Masaki want to share what he have found on in his father’s computer that reveal that there is a new prototype android model that are made for to become a foster father for human child and already testing in secret. He also comment that machine seem to be butting into everything that human does and then leave.

The sleepy Rikuo return back to Time of Eve to find out that Chie was alone and Nagi seems to be taking care of Chie instead of Shimei. In the café Nagi question Rikuo where is Masaki as she thought that they were are always together but Rikuo said it is not always the case. Rikuo realize that the Shimei is not together with Chie but he commented to Chie that her father should be back soon and Chie was upset with that then Chie told Rikuo that Shimei is not her father but a foster father. Nagi then reveal that it is not the first time that she have to take care of Chie but actually every once a month she have to help Shimei take care of Chie as Shimei got other things to do. To ease off Chie upset Akiko bud into the conversation to make Chie happy then also ask Rikuo where is Masaki and thought that they are always together. Those questions again have struck Rikuo temper and a loud response that she is wrong about that. Then later having realized that Chie was there on the same table Rikuo should not done  that in front of a child. To divert that attention away to from Chie, Akiko convinced Chie to move away to read to her a story book instead. Nagi question Rikuo whether he is alright but Rikuo said he just did not get enough sleep but that is not what Nagi referring to but rather his bad mood. So he walk away and said that what the matter since they all hated him any way.

Rikuo decide join the other corner conversion there as the rest of the customer trying make Chie happy by story from a story book and he decided to sit next to Chie then started to query Chie about her relationship with Shimei and these are hard questions for a child to answer and Akiko reminded Rikuo about that than take Chie away to the restroom. Setoro inform Rikuo that Shimei bring Chie to this café because she like it here. Knowing that he have cloud a bad impression Rikuo said he did not mean to bully Chie. But Setoro decide to make Rikuo realize that human sometimes hurt each other and robot don’t really because it is not easy to understand the pain of other. Feeling terrible he decided to leave them and go upstairs of the café to be alone and was approach by Rina to try to cheer him saying that he actually saved her but Rikuo only response “is that so” then decided to take a nap on the table. In his sleep he dream that what Masaki have ask him about his piano profession but Rikuo said that machine are getting very good at it and there is no place for him. Masaki disagree with that, where can a machine play as good as human and ask Rikuo to listen to it and was wake up by amateur playing piano tunes.

The freshly wake up Rikuo found out that the piano was played by Sammy to entertain the everyone in the café particular for Chie and was quite angry at first then he found the blanket that covering him while he was sleeping was on the floor. So he pickup the blanket to see that the word “Are You Enjoying the Time of Eve?” written on it. The rules of the café causes Rikuo to think back the times where Sammy actually take care of him and also remembering times of relationship with the folks in the cafe and realize that he have not been treating her right and take it for granted. The flash back also reveal what actually happen on the 1st  episode why Sammy was wet at home because Rikuo did not share the umbrella with Sammy because he felt embarrass to have other school girls seeing him with a female android holding umbrella and to take him home. He goes down to return the blanket to Nagi and go to see Sammy. Sammy was caught by surprise to see Rikuo and have the courage to face his master to explain to him why she is playing the piano then said sorry. But Rikuo announce to everyone that he don’t play the piano in front of people and because of that he stop playing it and he also hate it if other people were good at playing it. He decides to change his mind about that and started playing the piano in the café and stuns his great performance to everyone. Finishing his performance the audience applaud for it especially Chie who is extremely happy about it. Shimei turn up and inform Rikuo that he was happy about it and have not seen Chie so happy before. So Rikuo question why he did not bring Chie with her, it because Shimei don’t want to reveal it to her in his reply. So this has hinted to Rikuo that Shimei is prototype android that Masaki had told him about. With that great performance Shimei congratulate Rikuo and then Akiko turn up to ask both of them where is Sammy gone to but to only know from Shimei that she had left the café. Back at the counter Nagi treat Rikuo with a cup of coffee and Rikuo told her that Sammy had a lot of friends here. That guilt sense from Rikuo causes Nagi to be empathy toward Rikuo and she tried to give Rikuo a moral support to touch him but she held back in the last seconds but she commented he was great. Rikuo decide with voice out to Nagi that he like it here in the Time of Eve.

This episode have sum up the relationship between Sammy and Rikuo that have long expect but it is also good to know there are some character development between Shimei and Chie. Let’s start with Chie that in this episode she don’t go and simply take other people stuff and also reveal that she is quite attach to Shimei as she quite sad when Shimei is not around with her and also know she loves music. Now it also confirm that Shimei is prototype foster father android that needs to go for monthly maintenance and will not reveal to Chie that he is an android. But this can only be made possible when Masaki inform Rikuo about foster father android test in secret and imply that Masaki father could be a high ranking officer in some sort of android related group. Finally the relationship between Sammy and Rikuo have been resolve as now Rikuo realize and have accepted Sammy as friend and not angry at her for have her own personalities. This will foster greater relationship between them but not sure whether Naoko will find out about Sammy hidden personalities.

Episode Rating: 4 out of 5

Back at Time of Eve, Masaki and Rikuo are hanging out there and were having a discussion with Nagi. In the café there are no other customers around except the 2 of them and Nagi who manages the café. So they ask Nagi why she work in the cafe and Nagi reply that she like it here in the Time of Eve and also like the customer there as well but sad recently because she did not see her favorite customer around. Then Nagi left to the store room to get new a tin of coffee bean to make refill coffee for Rikuo. A nameless android then makes an appearance and step into the Time of Eve cafe like a fragile android with terminator style entry. Rikuo said that it is an old LUH model that used to have a lot complains and it hard to use. The old LUH model decided to sit on the same table with Rikuo and Masaki. Being nice to the nameless android Masaki and Rikuo decide to introduce themselves to the nameless android. Since the nameless robot have corrupted memories of its name it pronounce its corrupted name which is a very high pitch noise that are screeching to human hearing. So Rikuo and Masaki have to cover their ears but due fail logic reason the nameless robot keeps repeating its name because they keep covering their ears. After failing to reason with it Rikuo and Masaki accepted to hear its screeching name with their ears not cover. But later the nameless android head could not stay straight up and bend to the left side and then request to excuse itself to go to the restroom to amend it. After the nameless android when to the restroom both Rikuo and Masaki take laugh because of the nameless head issues and was notice by Nagi. So Nagi was not happy about that then reminded both of them again the rules of the place.

The nameless android came back from the restroom with the bend head fixed and back to its seat and decided to order a cup of coffee after looking at what Rikuo drinking which is a cup of coffee. Masaki realize that android cannot drink coffee and share it with Rikuo and they think it will explode after drink it. But too late Nagi just served the nameless its coffee, so Rikuo and Masaki tried to stall the nameless from drinking the coffee by keep questioning the nameless like its age, job and other stuff to stall it from drinking the coffee. To no avail to stop it the nameless from drink it, Rikuo and Masaki try to dock for cover and the nameless did drink the coffee. To their surprise the coffee did not make the nameless explode as they thought it would and notice that it drinks into the radiator inside the nameless body. With their fear of explosion relieved Chie and her care taker the old man appear. As usual with Chie appearance there will her fooling around making commotion of everything and causes the nameless to confuse to process anything. She even removed the right foot of the nameless and causes the nameless to fall when standing up. With so many things happening Masaki take back the nameless right foot back from Chie and ask the old man and Chie to leave the café.

Unable to do anything with removed foot they seated the nameless in on the chair. Nagi try to have a nice conversion with the nameless together with Rikuo and Masaki to get to know the nameless more. In the conversation they know that the nameless was a childcare android and since the child that it looks after was 8 years ago and now grow up and no long require its service anymore. Rikuo ask about the name of the child that it was taking care of but only get a tone of corrupted data. Rikuo also realize the label on the nameless body also have been torn up and then ask about the name, address and contact information of its owner. Since the data was to delete or corrupted by the owner the nameless unable to process to reply Rikuo questions then short circuited itself. Nagi feeling emotional then hug the nameless and the nameless which is already short circuit by processing only to say please don’t forget its name and in the nameless HUD display show its name “Katoran” is shown then fail to process to function and just die of short circuits. Rikuo and Masaki came to realize that the nameless was an abandon robot because of the owner doesn’t want to pay the price of disposing and decide to erase the memory and dump it. Nagi commented that the nameless was trying run away from the “Ethics Committee” a group responsible for disposing android because it was trying remember its name. Even they don’t know the name of the nameless but the nameless knows it in its heart. Masaki got emotional after a few flash back during this episode said that machine don’t have heart and don’t try to pretend that they have then pushes Nagi away from hugging the nameless then left the café.

This episode started the first half more of a typical anime dubious comical with the terminator like style entry and get quite emotional at the end. The thing that are not making sense here is the nameless android which from my point of view does not really serve any objective other than being a victim of abandon by its owner. Its appearance presented in a way that does not really contribute to the plot development of the story other than making Masaki flashback his memories and rather than doing any good the nameless becomes a laughing stock and just die. Also note that the nameless can drink coffee because it have radiator built in, alright lets quiz a bit, what kind of design electronic design that need so much cooling power? Is it the CPU I think not because even today the world most advance android Asimo made by Honda also don’t have a radiator because of that I think this idea is rubbish. Other thing that does not make sense is how can Chie be so strong that she can rip off the nameless foot which is metal joint when she just about an 8 years old child or is she is another machine? Step all those stuff aside we know that in this episode Rikuo father work for a company that manufacture android and also get to see the emotional side of Nagi and Masaki on how different their opinion oppose each other and get a sense that there are more to be explain about Masaki flashback. 

Episode Rating: 2 out of 5

Nagi decided to dim the light in the rest of the café and left the area where 4 of them could have a conversation. Akiko also inching to bud into the conversation but was stop by Setoro the mysteries person whom only read books in the café that Masaki fail to follow in the 2nd episode. So the conversation between the 4 started by Rina who introduce herself and also Koji then Masaki introduce Rikuo and himself. During the introduction Masaki decide the slap Rikuo in the head every time Rikuo was looking at Rina assets. The conversation started quite dully as both side don’t really have any topics to talk about. Rikuo notice that Koji have a “Cinema Tide” camera and ask if he could take a look at it, Rina tell Masaki that Koji likes gadget but Masaki reply that Rikuo probably making a conversation. Rikuo decided to test the M-Link features of the camera that have the ability to slide show images from the camera on to the 3D projector on the table. In the thumbnail pictures display above the table show pictures that Koji took in the café then Rina suddenly notice a pictures showing Koji with another women. While Koji try to explain to Rina but she stare at Koji with a disappointing angry look. Rina said that Koji heart is so distant no matter how often they actually meet. She then has abnormal shaking on her right leg and Koji grab hold of her to prevent her from losing her balance. Rina then tell Koji not to leave her on her own and walk away. After that drama Rikuo realize that it was partly his fault that causes the drama between Rina and Koji. Nagi who suddenly turn up to check on them did not notice the drama and Rikuo decided to go talk to Rina.

At the waiting area to the restroom Rina raise her leg to rest on the chair and pull up her skirt revealing her damage thigh, she then notice that Rikuo was observing her. She then explains to Rikuo that her damage thigh is because she have to protect her master. A clip showing gun shots and she was rushing to protect her master Mr. X from assassination attempt but did not told this info to Rikuo. Rikuo then got the assumption that he thought that Koji was Rina master. Rina also explain that her emergency repair on her thigh was incomplete that was sometimes causing her leg to shake abnormally and explain she can’t go to the official manufacturer to repair her thigh as it would endanger her master life. Due to this incident she want to spend more time at Time of Eve and realize that she acts least human like because she did not want to use her learning function to become more human because she know that some day that she will be destroy protecting her master. She claims that Koji is treating her like a human female and was happy to be at Time of Eve. Regarding the photos of Koji with another woman, Rina said it is alright with that as she knows that Koji kindness would not change then walk back. Rikuo attempt to interrupt her and said it is like his coffee experience with Sammy although the coffee taste has change which at first make him angry but later he was happy with the changes of the coffee taste and should tell them how they feel even though it is to a human being. Rina question Rikuo why he thinks that, is it because he understands how they feel and Rikuo then talk to himself that he can’t believe it that he is saying such things.

While on the other side of the conversation between Masaki and Koji, Masaki glance through the pictures taken be Koji and realize none of his picture taken got Rina and Koji together in it. Masaki comment that if people found out about this it would make Koji a make believer lover and question Koji the picture of the women is robot. Koji reply that the women in that picture is not a robot and she was a human but Masaka counter then why Koji is here in the café. Koji counter argue back that he is not a make believer lover and Masaki aggressively react and question is there really love? Koji explain that the woman in that picture was really his master and that Rina actually represent similarity with his master. His master dependant on Koji for love which Koji did not want as Koji prefers his master to look for a human partner. Koji did not know what to do about his master until he meet Rina and try to understand Rina in order to understand his master and to help his master. Koji want Masaki to keep this info from Rina. Masaki then turn off the image thumbnails when Rina turn up with Rikuo and then Rikuo with Masaki left to give space for Rina and Koji to talk it out.

The following day in the café both Rikuo and Masaki decided to share their info about Rina and Koji, just to get a surprising shock to realize that they both have seriously misunderstood Rina and Koji. Rikuo thinks that Koji is Rina Master and Masaki think that Rina is a human but to find out that they are both wrong that Koji and Rina are both android in love without knowing each other is an android due to the rules in the café.

This is a good episode to know there are some character development and also interesting play of deceiving. Yet the mysterious man Setoro is still there in the café but not sure whether he is an android or human and not sure whether is he working for Dr. Ashimori same goes for Nagi as well. It good know the background of Rina and Koji and how they got together that love is really blind that they thought they are in love with human. Rina master seems to be a VIP mobster but not much is known about Mr. X but already hint that she will not stay long in the series. Despite her damage leg she still unable to seek repairs that can help reveal her master and also due to android rules to protect the master but this show does not portray her as a fugitive but more of an unfortunate working relationship with her master. Note I suspect that Rina is a sexroid from the way she dress and TV news hinted sexroid is not legal thus she is not willing send for repairs as she was a modified android for sex purpose and would reveal her master illegal modification. My guess is that Koji must have known something suspicious about Rina as from the photos taken by Koji does not have any pictures of Rina in it which could mean that Rina is avoiding taking photos. It is also interesting to see Rikuo development to realize that he is not doing the right thing to understand and treat Sammy properly. This episode was funny know that both Rikuo and Masaki did not ask the correct question and get themselves confuse.

Episode Rating: 4 out of 5

At school Rikuo still in the disappointing mood and keen to digging out the truth and accidentally slip out his house android name Sammy to Masaki as if he don’t want Masaki to know about it. Masaki then recap Rikuo about the 3 law of an android (robots). 1st Law “Robots do not inflict harm to humans”. 2nd Law “Robots cannot disobey commands from human”. 3rd “Robots must engage in self preservation”. Masaki make a point that there are not law to prevent robots from lying and but he said that does not mean Rikuo cannot trust Sammy. Since Rikuo know that Sammy is going shopping in the afternoon, Masaki suggest that they go back to the café and wait if Sammy will turn up.

Both Rikuo and Masaki return back to the Time of Eve café and find a spot in the café to sneak out to find the truth and wait for Sammy to turn up. But their spying mission was disturb by Chie as small little girl who wants to play with Rikuo then they try to socialize with the other customer in the Café, to know that Chie care taker was an old man. While Rikuo waiting nervously for Sammy appearance but instead Akiko turn up in the café. So Rikuo then decided to have a conversation with Akiko but later was disturb by Chie who later took Rikuo glasses for the fun of it and run away with it. Mean while Masaki was hinted by a stranger in the café that his surveillance effort is noticeable and advice Masaki not to break the rules of the café or else he won’t enjoy it. Akiko and Rikuo chase after Chie for Rikuo’s glasses but fail to find it and don’t know where Chie had hid it. After that fooling around with the glasses Masaki got bored and decided to leave the café to follow the stranger he meet moments ago that have just left the cafe. Masaki then realize that he is unable to open the door to follow the stranger and then inform by Nagi the door will be lock for a few minutes to give privacy for its customer. So Masaki waited until the door is unlock then he rushed out. While in the café Rikuo also notice that Akiko also kept secret and the old man told Rikuo that some secret are meant to be kept as to benefit other people. Then Rikuo realize it is in conjunction with the 1st law of robots not to harm human and so they lie. The old man then told Rikuo that Chie had give his glasses to someone else. This actually triggers Rikuo that someone else is Nagi. Then Rikuo went to the counter get back his glasses from Nagi only find that Sammy is also at the counter talking to Nagi. At first glance after putting on his glasses Rikuo notice Sammy but still not certain then decide to pull Sammy hair ribbon off to confirm her face without the hair ribbon. Sammy and Rikuo are in a state of shocking surprise then Sammy run off and out of the café. Rikuo tried to chase of after Sammy but fail due to the privacy system door lock timer of the Cafe. Nagi then told Rikuo to get back to the counter to have a one to one pat talk and treat Rikuo with a cup of coffee. She explains the situation about Sammy while in the Time of Eve and told Rikuo that Sammy is worry about Rikuo and not sure whether she is doing the right thing or not.

Back at home Rikuo have a telephone conversation with Masaki and was told that he failed to find the stranger who left the café to find out whether he got a digital ring above his head. Rikuo try to ask Sammy about the café but to no conclusion then feedback that Sammy’s coffees in these few days are good.

The last scene is a conversation between Dr. Ashimori with an unknown person over the phone talking about android started developing individual personality and also mentioning the restraining circuit issues. The conversations also hint another person with the name of Shiotsuki who also have hand in it.

Chie a new character introduce in this episode which I find her annoying because she does not have any role other than making fun of people. It was only matter of time when Rikuo will find out that Sammy hang out at the Time of Eve, so not surprising but it was interesting see their reaction. Since Rikuo knew about Sammy secret activity and the truth about her concern, Rikuo also have learn to change his character to be nicer to Sammy which will develop their relationship in the future. It is very clever idea to have a door exit lock timer concept of privacy, I like the ideaJ. Finally the mysterious Dr. Ashimori seems to be responsible to enable android to have individual personalities and by having a restraining circuit to prevent the android from developing individual personalities. What this mean that most of the android comes with the ability to poses individual personalities but it is just disabled by the restraining circuit. Also note that there seems of have issues with the restraining circuit and not sure whether Dr. Ashimori purposely disable it to for social experiment or not, all that and unknown character Shiotsuki will be reveal in further episode to come.

Episode Rating: 3.5 out of 5

While at school Rikuo still view the strange log from Sammy with curiosity then his friend Masaki interrupted him and explain the first android programming logic rules. The first rule is “Don’t allow humans to be harmed. Protect humans.  After school Rikuo then invites Masaki to tag along with him to trace the movement log from Sammy which led them to a door in the back alley in the city. They notice an android with the digital turning ring above its head enter that door. With curiosity they enter the door as well and found out that is a café. The name of the café is “Time of Eve” and the rule of the café is “No discrimination between humans and robots. Obey the rules and enjoy yourself!” stated at the entrance of the café.

 They were greeted by Nagi who manages in the café and then seated themselves on an empty table in the café. Both Rikuo and Masaki notice that the android who entered earlier in the café no longer have any digital circulating ring above it. They were suspicions about the rules of the café over the law of the android that they must show their digital ring over their head and suspect that there is grey areas over the android rules to allow them to hide their digital ring in conjunction with the rules of the café. Then they (Rikuo and Masaki) ordered 2 cups of coffee from the Nagi. During Rikuo and Masaki conversation they were interrupted by Akiko who wants to meet both Rikuo and Masaki because they are newcomers to the café. Akiko then introduce the people who are usual to the café and explain both humans and android are same in the café. As for Nagi who manages in the café don’t like people who use word that differentiate between humans and androids.

 The following day after school hours it was raining heavily and there were several houseroid awaiting at the school with umbrella to walk the humans owner children back home. Rikuo and Masaki was having a conversation in the class and notice Akiko with digital ring above appear with an umbrella at school and passes to its master then grab its bag and function like a machine. This actually shock both Rikuo and Masaki as they was expecting Akiko to be a human as they just meet Akiko yesterday in the Time of Eve cafe whom appear to have personalities of a human rather than a machine. Then later Sammy appears get Rikuo back home with an umbrella.

 While back at home Sammy was soaking wet while making coffee for Rikuo and also as if Rikuo did not share the umbrella with Sammy while walking back home in the rain. Rikuo drinks the coffee and notice that it is the same taste from coffee at Time of Eve café. But Sammy inform Rikuo that she change the way  she makes the coffee and then Rikuo got his temper up and that he did not give her any order to change the way she makes the coffee. Sammy reply that that she thought Rikuo be might pleased and then Rikuo question Sammy why she did that? And also question her if she is trying to imitate humans. Well Sammy said that she is android and not a human. Then Rikuo recalls back what have Akiko mention to him that human and android are the same outside but different inside and that is why both humans and android were family want to understand them better. Rikuo just gazed at Sammy after he recalled what  Akiko have said.

 Time of Eve concept about android or robot to have individual IA humanlike personalities is nothing new in the sci-fi world as the famed A.I. movie from Steven Spielberg have showcase. But Time of Eve maybe using that concept but it came with twist and a different objective instead which make it quite out of the box stuff.  First of all is the mysterious café that somehow enable android to have individual IA personalities which is quite interesting as it allow android to express their own expression and see the other side of the story rather than a smart talking machine. Even Nagi is mysterious person whom seems who seem to have her own agenda which I think she does not only manages the café but there could be something else behind. In this episode is still uncertain whether Nagi is an android or not. Akiko is also another abnormal android that can eat sugar cubes that defies the logic of machine only consume electricity. This episode certainly caught Rikuo and Masaki by surprise and changes the way they think about android machine when they discover Time of Eve café.

Episode Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Time of Eve is a Sci-fi anime series that portray a distant future in Japan where human like robots (androids) are commonly use to work as servant for humans. The androids are use by human to do all sort of chores like making coffee, cleaning the house, groceries shopping, carrying bags and etc… Androids are so human looks alike that are so real that humans cannot distinguish them from other human, the only way to notice these androids is the digital circulating ring projected above their head.

The story is about a high school student Rikuo who has house maid android at home name Sammy and notice an unknown log from Sammy’s activity log. The log titled “Are you enjoying the Time of Eve?”  Have prompted Rikuo curiosity to investigate together with his friend Masaki about the mysterious log and lead them to a mysterious café where the rules is “Human and robots are to be treated the same”. In this café they notice androids go there and their behavior changes become like normal human character with the digital circulation ring above their head off as if these androids have their owned IA personalities.

This is a 6 episodes anime are done using 3D background and using 2D characters in it and directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura. The anime was first release in 31 July 2008 in Japan and the last episode was plan to release on 16 September 2009 which not long from now. Time of Eve is an interesting anime that have comedy and drama that involves a life of a teenager accepting androids are not just mere tools but to respect it like another human life.

Episode List

• Act 1 – Akiko
• Act 2 – Sammy
• Act 3 – Koji & Rina
• Act 4 – Nameless
• Act 5 – Chie & Shimei
• Act 6 – Masaki