One rainy night, high school student Sakura Sakurakoji sees people being burned alive in blue flames, with a boy standing in their midst - although by the time she calls for help, there's no evidence at the spot she shaw the incident. At school the next day, she meets new transfer student Rei Ogami, the boy she believes was responsible. Sakura then resolves to uncover Rei's involvement... So, it seems that Sakura has a fairly major gruge against a local gangster group, while Ogami's in town apparently on a mission from the Prime Minister himself. If it weren't for the small detail that Sakura's also on his hitlist, they'd be ideal together. Quite what she did to deserve it is yet to be revealed, but whatever the reason, Ogami doesn't take long to get down to business. On top of being tasered and potentially on the receiving end of an attempted rape, it's turning out to be a rather bad day for Sakura. Strange, as she's otherwise portrayed as the strong, confident, and perfectly-capable-of-taking-care-of-herself type. This episode tells you enough to ge a feel for the characters (Sakura's over-curiosity, Ogami's ruthlessness when it comes to his "work", classmate Aoba's bouncy chest), but it steers well clear of actually explaining anything. It spends its first half trying to be funny but falling flat, and its second half proving Ogami's badass credentials before leaving us on something of a cliffhanger. It's nothing particularly original, and as yet it's not really setting out any sort of unique selling point, either. THE GOOD: I do quite like Sakura and Aoba, although it's purely for aesthetic reasons. THE BAD: Really doesn't do a very good job of selling itself or its idea. Another one for the 3-ep-rule pile, then, and I'm intending to be ruthless this season. Code:Breaker has some work to do to prove itself. Code:Breaker is streamed by FUNimation (North America only).
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