If word spreads that the original author's version is much better according to a number of viewers, wouldn't that result in more sales of the manga tankoubons? I think it might be a pretty smart strategy after all.


The only thing that has really bothered me is the amnesia and the Monster of the Week vampire transformations. Two essentially no-name vampires suddenly turning into giant spiders and chameleons. No explanation for why that is, no basis for it (wouldn't a bat be more appropriate?), and not much point to it either.

The two humans disguised as police officers were a far more interesting set of villains for this episode. There is an organized group of vampire hunters or hired goons attempting to kill Mina, and they are savvy enough to obtain specialized weaponry including a helicopter with guided missiles as well as convincing uniforms. Who are they working for? Other vampires, a secret society, a foreign government? They also served to show how powerful Mina was. Akira didn't really do a whole hell of a lot besides warn her. Mina took care of them quite deftly, and rather brutally. Her last line to that woman indicated that she would use her as some kind of thrall to get the information out about who sent them.

On the other hand, we have a one-shot transforming spider that fits more into Rosario to Vampire or Omamori Himari as some random monster. We would only know the chameleon and the spider were actually vampires because they told us. They come off more like other monsters from traditional Asian myths and horror stories. They were both killed rather easily, almost comically so for how strong Mina is. Although they did show another vampire before the spider one went out, the implications that came with the two humans are not as prominent. Both of them have seemed far more like some kind of rogues, rather than an organized effort. The chameleon guy certainly was, since they said as much.

There was even an interesting contrast between the two. Mina said that in the first episode she is the Queen of all vampires, and as such all of them must obey her. And so, Chameleon guy did. He couldn't touch her. Then spider guy somehow just happens to have powers that nullify that all powerful dominance that Mina should possess. He's not someone of equal stature to her, he's just some pathetic wuss that Akira takes out three minutes later with a single slash. Where was continuity between the two episodes?