Tsubasa Chronicle S2 40! is the first and last episode of Kurogane's all-too-predictable background story. I skipped last 2 episodes for fear of tainting my impression of the series as a whole. Bee Train saved up some time and money to make this episode not-so-bad. Like in the first season when they made the Seishirou story look like a real action series. As for Kurogane's background story, his ma and pa were killed by grizzly bears and in a fit of grief and rage, Kuro kills the whole town...or something like that. The slicing of his hand by Tomoyo was cut from the anime. Why? hell if I know. There was also a bout of bad Zorro background music in this episode. Beneath all my cynicism, I did enjoy it...even if that pretty scene with Kurogane and Tomoyo was omitted.
Nana 19! Ren and Nana make up and 'play' around...since babies aren't supposed to show until the last ten episodes or so. It wasn't that hot since naked, these characters look very chopstick thin and awkward. Hachi's thoughts about Yasu were amusing, as was the smoking bit with Shin. This episode covered the last bit of the live-action movie as Hachi meets Takumi for the first time. There was a new ending song, Starless Night, by Olivia insp. Reira. ann.com reports that Olivia will also do the opening from 23 on. I'm not into Olivia's music that much, so I hope Anna returns and does another Nana/Blackstone song. Rumorwise- read that the actress who played Hachi-Nana in the first movie didn't want to do the smut parts in the second, so will not be returning. Sounds like a bad career move on her part considering how popular the first was. Also,
everyone wants L'arc~en~Ciel to do the theme song for the 2nd movie. so do I! even if a male-led band has nothing to do with Nana.