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Darker than Black Watch Order
4 entries · · community-maintained
Also known as Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha, Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor, Darker than Black: Ryuusei no Gemini, Darker than Black: Gaiden, Darker than Black: Origins, DTB
Where to start Darker than Black: begin with Season 1, episode 1 (2007), then the Gaiden OVA (2010) and Season 2, Gemini of the Meteor (2009). This Darker than Black watch order is in story order. Season 1 (Episodes 1-25) follows Hei, a Contractor working for the Syndicate in a Tokyo changed by Hell's Gate. Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom is an optional bonus episode from the last Season 1 DVD, often called episode 26. Darker than Black: Gaiden (Episodes 1-4) is set between the two seasons and shows Hei and Yin on the run after Season 1. It came out on the Gemini of the Meteor discs, so in release order it comes last, but watching it before Gemini of the Meteor (Episodes 1-12) explains why Hei has changed when Season 2 starts.
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Start with Season 1 (25 episodes), then the Gaiden OVA (4 episodes), then Gemini of the Meteor (12).
Checked November 2026
Chronological order
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Darker than Black
#1 · 1 entry
- 1Episodes 1-25
Start here. Season 1 (25 episodes, 2007): Hei, a Contractor working for the Syndicate in Tokyo, near Hell's Gate.
0/25
Episode 26
#2 · 1 entry
- 2Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full BloomOptional
Optional bonus episode (2008) from the last DVD: Hei's team hunts a Contractor's buried secret. Watch after episode 25.
Special
Darker than Black: Gaiden
#3 · 1 entry
- 3Darker than Black: Gaiden
Gaiden OVA (4 episodes, 2010): set between the seasons; Hei and Yin on the run. Explains how Season 2 begins.
OVA
Gemini of the Meteor
#4 · 1 entry
- 4Episodes 1-12
Gemini of the Meteor (12 episodes, 2009): in Russia, Hei meets Suo, a girl searching for her twin brother.
0/12
More on where to start
Checked November 2026
Gaiden is set between the seasons; release order puts it after Gemini of the Meteor.
Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom is an optional bonus episode after Season 1.
What to skip
- Watch first
- Start with Episodes 1-25 (Darker than Black).
- What to skip
- 1 entry is optional: Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom (Episode 26). The story still tracks without them.
- Filler notes
- Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom (Episode 26). Optional bonus episode (2008) from the last DVD: Hei's team hunts a Contractor's buried secret.
The correct order to watch Darker than Black, as one listShowHide
Watch Darker than Black in this order. 4 entries, chronological.
- Darker than Black: Episodes 1-25
- Episode 26: Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom (special) — optional
- Darker than Black: Gaiden (OVA)
- Gemini of the Meteor: Episodes 1-12
How this order works
AnimeChrono watch orders put every season, movie, OVA, ONA and special for a franchise in chronological story order, the order the events happen. When an OVA or movie takes place partway through a season, the episode range is split so it sits where it belongs. Entries you can skip are marked optional, and each order says where to start. Release order, sorted by air date, is a secondary view once every entry has a date. The orders began as a hand-curated set, and episode counts and air dates come from AniList. Fans maintain the orders from there. Any signed-in user can edit one. Edits from trusted contributors go live right away and the rest are reviewed first. Every change is versioned and can be reverted, and each order shows when it was last updated and last checked.
Something wrong or missing?
This order is maintained by the community. Report a problem, or sign in to fix it yourself.
Darker than Black watch order FAQ
What order should I watch Darker than Black in?
Start with Season 1 (25 episodes), then the Gaiden OVA (4 episodes), then Gemini of the Meteor (12). Gaiden is set between the seasons; release order puts it after Gemini of the Meteor. Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom is an optional bonus episode after Season 1.
Where should I start Darker than Black?
Start with Season 1, episode 1 (2007). Watch all 25 episodes, then the Gaiden OVA, then Gemini of the Meteor.
Should I watch Darker than Black: Gaiden before Season 2?
Yes, in story order. Gaiden is set between the seasons and explains Hei's change and what happened to Yin. It was released after Gemini of the Meteor, so watching it last also works, as a flashback.
What is Darker than Black episode 26?
Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom, a bonus side-story episode from the last Season 1 DVD. It is optional; watch it after episode 25.
What is the chronological order of Darker than Black?
Start with Episodes 1-25 (Darker than Black), then continue with Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom (Episode 26), Darker than Black: Gaiden, and Episodes 1-12 (Gemini of the Meteor). The full Darker than Black watch order on this page has 4 entries across 4 series, listed in chronological viewing order.
What is the release order of Darker than Black?
In the order they aired, start with Episodes 1-25 (Darker than Black), then Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom (Episode 26), Episodes 1-12 (Gemini of the Meteor), and Darker than Black: Gaiden. Release order follows air dates and is not the recommended chronological order.
How many episodes is Darker than Black?
Darker than Black has 37 TV episodes in this order, plus 1 OVA and 1 special.
Can I skip anything in Darker than Black?
Yes. 1 entry is marked optional: Beneath Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom (Episode 26). Everything else is part of the main story.
Is Darker than Black finished?
Yes. Darker than Black has finished airing, and this order covers everything released so far in chronological viewing order.
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