Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage Preview

Anime Info

Synonyms: Black Lagoon 2nd Season, Black Lagoon Second Season

Japanese Title: BLACK LAGOON the Second Barrage

Type: TV

Episodes: 12

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Oct 3, 2006 to Dec 19, 2006

Producers: Madhouse Studios, Geneon Universal Entertainment, Front Line, FUNimation Entertainment

Genres: Action, Seinen

Duration: 24 min. per episode

Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)

Synopsis:

Okajima Rokuro - now known almost exclusively as 'Rock' - was once a typical, put-upon Japanese businessman. Then, on a routine business trip, he was kidnapped and ransomed by the Lagoon Company: a band of mercenary pirates operating out of the crime-riddled city of Roanapur. Abandoned by his bosses, he joined the Lagoon Company. Now he must try and stay afloat amongst the ever-shifting politics of the criminal underworld, while simultaneously avoiding death at the hands of his quick-tempered, gun-toting co-worker, 'Two Hand' Revy.

Review:

Less episodic than the first “Black Lagoon” season, “The Second Barrage” features only three story arcs, the first two are three episodes long each and the final, closing story arc spans six episodes.

Filled with crazy gun-toting babes, wild shoot-outs, mob wars and non-stop action “Black Lagoon” as it's a roller-coaster ride that rarely slows down the pace.

When it does slow down, it finds time to have the characters take a look at the insane, rotten world they live in, walking a fine line between idolizing and condemning that criminal world, depending on which character's view is being explored. This is an interesting element; as it makes the series more realistic, as for humans, right and wrong still do depend on their personal outlook in life.

Especially the first plot arc, featuring child assassins that were severely abused as children who left them mentally scarred and severely psychotic, handles some very heavy ethic themes. But it does so well, not shying from showing sickening things, they make you stop and think at how such events can affect people and twist their lives and personalities into misery you do not even want to imagine.

Most character development is seen in Revy and Rock, although their personalities and positions at the end of the series may not seem very different than before, they both have changed significantly.

Rock remains an interesting character since he never truly delves into the criminal world of his comrades of the Lagoon crew. This is even a pivotal plot point in the final arc, where he is quite accurately accused of remaining in the twilight, not choosing to either return to a normal life or to fully accept a criminal life like the others.

In the end Rock acknowledges he hasn't chosen a life like Revy's, but he has said goodbye to his past in Japan. He consciously remains in the twilight because he feels it gives him a unique vantage point on everything, a view and insight the others can no longer have because they are lost in the criminal world. So while his position remains roughly the same, Rock does change as he was forced to reflect on his life and the choices he made, motivating them with renewed reasons.

Revy still is as foul mouthed and short tempered as ever, but we see she suffers an internal struggle. She wants to push Rock away and send him back to the normal world because she feels he cannot really live in her criminal world. Yet we also see signs of her humanity, wanting to hold onto Rock and perhaps change her own life, to finally escape from the world of death and despair she has always lived in.

Revy also begins to show surprisingly humane and soft expressions around Rock, and it seems being around him has had a positive, soothing influence on her. This may be something she sought herself, as she was the one who originally invited Rock into the Lagoon crew, into her world. No matter how much she may state he doesn't belong there, she was the one who brought him in and Rock chooses to stay there.

No matter how much their personalities may be opposites and collide, Rock and Revy's own bond continually grows, showing a deep trust has formed between them.

Even when Revy gets frustrated because she does not understand what Rock is thinking or what he wants to achieve, she eventually tries and comes to understand him, something she would not do for another person. Rock too seems to become better at handling Revy, and while he may never fully understand her, he doesn't pity her because of her past and accepts her for who she is.

We also get some surprising new insights into Balalaika, no doubt to make her look more sympathetic to the viewer's eye or perhaps to make the juxtaposition between her innocent youth years a stark contrast to her blood lust as a capable leader of her former Russian army troops, part of the Russian Mafia group 'Hotel Moscow'.

Only Dutch and Benny do not get much more character development and end up barely appearing in the closing story arc which takes place largely in Japan.

Animation in “Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage” is good, all the characters are distinguishable and well animated in most scenes, this goes for the action as well. However dips in the animation can be seen here and there, but never to the point where it bothered me.

The soundtrack is fine, with typical guitar and fast beats to accentuate the action, though this second season also featured a mellower ballad for the child assassin arc. The eclectic opener 'Red Faction' by Mell is used this second season as well, which is fine with me as it's a catchy tune with raw guitar chords.