While these four prepare to defend themselves, it turns out that they don't have to as, out of nowhere, a civil war erupts between the Yellow Scarves/Blue Square members... except they aren't all members of that group at all, as we soon see that Kadota and a number of Dollars members have infiltrated the meeting, and make the most of this opportunity to make their presence felt.
This gives us a bit of time for Masaomi, Mikado and Anri to apologise for their various secrets and find that their friendship has endured regardless of these problems, giving us the first of what proves to be numerous warm and fuzzy "awww" moments. While Izaya escapes Anri's clutches, he fails to avoid having a hefty punch landed upon him by Simon as punishment for his part in proceedings, while he also loses Saki who finally disobeys him to set herself up for a life with Masaomi - an opportunity he also takes by leaving for pastures new with her. Even Selty seems to have forgotten about her head issues as she finally seems to settle down with Shinra.
While this is all good and well, and I can't begrudge the series a happy ending, this finale does leave far, far more questions than it does answers - in short, it's resolved very little. For starters, has the Izaya that has proved to be an expert judge of character and behaviour really just suddenly lost his touch at a pivotal moment? Certainly, the much-touted all-out war in Ikebukuro never emerged, and what of Selty's head? Both Izaya and Selty no longer seem quite so interested. While I'm in a questioning mood, what about Shingen Kishitani, who disappeared as quickly as he arrived? And how about Anri's future, continuing to hold Saika's being as she does?
Perhaps this all means there's room for a second series, but I can't pretend to be anything but a bit disappointed with the way everything has been wrapped up here, precisely because virtually nothing has been - It's an ending that gave me the odd smile, but hasn't left me ultimately satisfied (even in terms of animation quality which seemed to take a drop here), and that's a little tough to swallow after twenty-four episodes. Then again, the montage of great scenes which accompany the closing credits to Durarara!! reminds me that I've had a fantastic number of great moments during the course of the series - I've laughed, I'm shaken my head at outrageous excess, I've been fascinated and I've been turned this way and that by the series. When I start thinking back to all those moments, my disappointment is assuaged quite heavily, which I imagine is exactly what the producers wanted - You may not have given me my ideal ending Durarara!!, but you did give me one hell of a ride.
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Anon