Anime Review: Black Lagoon, Season 1

[WendelI]

Season 2 is hard to judge. Black Lagoon is at it's best with witty one-liners amidst explosions and all around goofy craziness and the bulk of season 2 is very much not that. It does have the Greenback Jane arc which is by far my favorite plot in the series. But, it's sandwiched between two dark and sombre arcs that, while still good, aren't nearly as entertaining as most of season one.

Interestingly, I found that the dark and somber arcs presented more character progression than most of the traditional Black Lagoon arcs, making them equally entertaining for me. I have a soft spot for the dark and brutal. Not that I didn't love the Greenback Jane arc; it was like a Who's Who of sub-par villainy!

I'm all for characterization. They certainly didn't leave that out in either of season 2's serious arcs and I applaud them for it. But the first arc was a bit too creepy for my taste with not nearly enough of Revy swearing and shooting people in the balls. Instead it was mostly everyone running and hiding from Balalaika. The third arc was one long tag-team pity-fest between Rock and a loli and left out Dutch and Benny altogether. On top of that its main villain was grossly unsatisfying. I'm not saying it didn't have good points. But, they were outweighed by too drastic a deviation from the series' regular tone.

As well minded and masterfully superior your point might be i still must disagree, because season 1 of black lagoon was absolutely my thing. Maids riding on the back of a car then crashing into a building and living through that? yeah i love that. Yes the plot of the cross dressing twins was interesting and all but gritty reality is being over done now days. and black lagoon had allot of gritty reality during its early episodes but only during exposition time. Season 2 became a grit fest, exactly the same way that GTA went from cartoon wacky fun to: "Ugh, my life sucks." In my opinion the second season felt less entertaining without ever dropping the quality of the show. But yet again to all his world because I might be complaining about what you liked from the show.

 

[geezer_man]

one correction...revy's guns are desert eagles (no wimpy beretta! oy!). on another point: the tension between revy, the loose cannon, and rock, the uptight salaryman, is really one of the high points of the series. she even buys him an hawaiian shirt, which he refuses to wear, and their argument over "loosening up" is really to the point. the fight at the end "SPOILERS" with gin is also interesting from the point of view of japanese culture. lots to love with this series. oh, don't listen to subs, they suck big time! you'll miss revy speaking "english"!

 

[wewontdie11]

This was a decent review. I think that you covered most of the things I'd point out about the series. I saw the character development as stronger than you did. But then, I've seen both seasons. In season two there is a growing, subtle chemistry between Revy and Rock, which is done very well.

True there is a greater "will they won't they" undercurrent in the second series. I enjoyed Black Lagoon and this review, although I think the second series is a bit better because it gives a little more insight into the characters and does deviate from the delivery boy style missions on occasion.

 

[MDSnowman]

one correction...revy's guns are desert eagles (no wimpy beretta! oy!). on another point: the tension between revy, the loose cannon, and rock, the uptight salaryman, is really one of the high points of the series. she even buys him an hawaiian shirt, which he refuses to wear, and their argument over "loosening up" is really to the point. the fight at the end "SPOILERS" with gin is also interesting from the point of view of japanese culture. lots to love with this series. oh, don't listen to subs, they suck big time! you'll miss revy speaking "english"!

Um no, she uses Beretta M92s. If you read the gun closely during the title credits it even says M92 on the side (you know before the Tai writing anyway). The barrels have been extended that's all. Yolanda from the church, she uses a Desert Eagle, a gold plated one. You can tell it's a Desert Eagle because of the distinctive delta shape.

 

[Sneaklemming]

Can anyone recommend anime similar to Black Lagoon. I tend to be very hit and miss with anime.