DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ActionBLACK LAGOON: The Second Barrage
MANGA ActionBLACK LAGOON

REVIEWS

• 

  Zedlin

  70/100
  A blood pumping story of revenge, presenting just how low humanity can go via the crime-ridden streets of Roanapur.

  ---

  - Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail Analysis -

  This analysis contains spoilers

  

  ---

  Ah shit, who released the killing machine bloodhound Roberta? After the assassination of her master the Lovelace family figure head via the US Secret Service, Roberta reverts to her blood covered past and burrows into hell to avenge her master. Young Fernando Garcia Lovelace won't take this though, especially after seeing what Roberta turned into earlier in the series, Garcia wants nothing more for Roberta to stay by his side and is willing to stop for nothing to get it. Though naive, Garcia ventures back into troubled waters in Roanapur asking the Lagoon Company to snuff out Roberta's warpath. As a premise this final season of Black Lagoon is thrilling, getting to see one of if not the most petrifying demi-human track and slaughter everyone in sight is beyond adrenaline-pumping, it's superb. At times the story can be hard to follow in my humble opinion, some parts are more convoluted than necessary.

  ---

  The scene that pops in my head whenever I think of this season is the pinnacle of Roberta's descent into madness. Garcia catches up with Roberta and hides behind a wall to hear something traumatizing, completely demolishing Garcia's final hopes of saving Roberta... After the Bloodhound gets cornered by one of the commanders Roberta seemingly gives in and listens to his words. He gives Roberta a tantalizing offer of rejoining the resistance and Roberta attempts to fool him with sex appeal, and things go down if you know what I mean. All while Garcia has to listen to her moaning in the background he crumples, biting his lip till he bleeds... So haunting, love it. But we're not done it gets worse. I love that Black Lagoon doesn't hesitate throughout the series to show how grim humanity can be. As Roberta is taking off her pants to have some more fun, the belt turned out to be a freaking gun! Killing him on the spot. Roberta cackles in glee getting up and begins pounding his head into mush. Garcia knowing he can't listen to this one second longer jumps out to confront Roberta. This is Garcia's final naive moment in the series, he grows up fast. Roberta the psychotic bloodhound she is, believes the Garcia she's seeing is just another illusion, just like the one she has following her all times reminding her of past misery. It's gut-wrenching to see Roberta stoop to such lows, unable to see Garcia as nothing more than a hallucination from the overdose on pain meds or regret, Roberta tries to shoot Garica with a smile on her face. Garcia is saved by the US military, yes how ironic, and the hunt continues but man. This scene will stay dormant in my mind for years to come, the catastrophic lows of Roberta with Garcia's facade of Roberta disappearing is simply tragic, yet impossible to remove your eyes from. One of Black Lagoons greatest peaks.

  ---

  Each episode was 30 minutes at the minimum meaning each episode was jam-packed full of developments, no filler here! One such development is the series long plunge into depravity for Rock. He's no longer the Japanese business man who stumbled onto the lagoon full of fear. Using his largest asset, strategy, Rock conducts an evil master-plan of sorts that comes with a large gamble. The only way to "save" Roberta from this endless nightmare of revenge is with that massive gamble. Garcia with the plan in hand realizes just how dastardly Rock has become but understands that there's no other option available. He confronts Roberta once more at the Golden Triangle, (an area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet and is highly dangerous) this time gun in hand. A tense meetup to say the least as Garcia is flanked by the person Roberta wants the most revenge on, the captain of the US Secret Service. Garcia fires a blank shot at both the US captain and Roberta, as such of course Garcia get lit up by US soldiers... As Garcia bleeds out Roberta and the US captain quickly find out that those shots were secretly blank rounds. Garcia falls into Roberta blood covered destroyed body and kisses her, Roberta doesn't resist after that. Rocks plan worked out, Garcia survived, Roberta though dismembered of an arm a leg, an eye, and fingers survived, and so did the US captain. I don't think anyone could have anticipated this arc concluding with the majority of the cast alive. With Roberta's self-destructive ways, all things considered Rock found the singular path, a harrowing alleyway, in which the US Captain, Garica, and Roberta remained alive. Next level strategizing, it was badass to see everything fold into place.

  ---

  Roberta's Blood Trail is brimming with content, never a dull moment in sight! Action packed as Roberta tracks and slaughters anyone on her warpath to insanity. It was hard to follow at times being a tad convoluted, but who cares, this final season of Black Lagoon delivers in just about every category. Having one of my personal favorite scenes with Garcia's facade of Roberta slipping away after hearing some of the most soul-haunting stuff a kid could endure. Plus we got to see some of my favorite side characters like, Shenhua the Chinese badass, Frederica the emotional cleaner (best girl), and Lotton a deadass chuunibyou comedy relief. Glad to see them, though it was limited in terms of screen time sadly.

  ---

  I wish Madhouse finished the adaptation of Black Lagoon. Though Madhouse and uncomplete go hand-and-hand sadly. Starting amazing series simply to let them wither away with false hopes, just ask No Game No Life fans lmao. Nevertheless Black Lagoon was brutal at times presenting the grisly lows of humanity via Roanapur. The Lagoon Company still sails the blood stained seas doing the bidding for crime-ridden souls throughout Roanapur, it was a thrilling journey to embark on.

  Continue on AniList
• 

  Entrylevelweebfrom22

  75/100
  Kiss your innocence goodbye, asshole...

  Most of this review will be on the actual 5 episode OVA, while the last few paragraphs are my overall, cumulative feelings toward all of Black Lagoon. A 2-in-1 deal.

  As per usual, expect to see spoilers

  Roberta's Blood Trail brings the series back to a close on another explosive, middle-fingers-in-the-air, emotional, dour gutpunch of an ending. I went in expecting it to be a bit more light-hearted, akin to the earlier episodes (seeing the word "OVA" to me implies it'll be like a bonus, side adventure or something), but that only proves I learned nothing from the series' final arc involving Yukio. I don't drink, but that arc was probably the most sobering experience I've had watching anime all year.

  Stone-cold maid Roberta is back, and on a sadistic rampage throughout Roanapur to avenge her masters. Though the pills sure as hell aren't making it any less safe than it already is. Garcia tries to deny it, but he finally sees the ugly, dirty side of her she's deathly afraid of showing a boy like him. Despite what your inside feelings tell you, you sometimes can't help but lash out in blind, almost delusional rage.

  It could've been sunshine and rainbows for them, and even Yukio. Hell, at times, it certainly was. But alas, life is not known for being fair. And you can point it to your screwed up past making you the son of a bitch you are now. As much as Roberta prays, the idea of forgiveness is downright laughable by now. Even if you could just quit your decidedly fucked up lifestyle cold turkey, that simply wouldn't feel right. That simply wouldn't feel enough. Looking at Revy, you see a woman who already sold her soul, but her past (involving a grape scene that made my skin crawl, and eyes burn) seems to ensure she'd always turn out like this. It's the most obvious, least surprising thing ever, but that still doesn't make it any less tragic. As the show says, it's like things never change. And the only ones with a chance at escape are those stuck in the middle; those who were just thrown into this life, like some kids and a certain Japanese businessman we all know and love....

  In the case of Rock, one notable criticism I have is his brush with the dark side here felt......a little too abrupt? Now, look: I'm not saying it comes out of left field or anything. As the series progressed, it's undeniably established that Rock is at a crossroads in his life. Going from a pencil-pushing, deadbeat, no-name office employee, to being thrown into the rough and rowdy criminal underworld that he grows to embrace, but still keeping his sanity & morals intact. Roanapur however is where your innocence goes to die. A bloody, gross, dirty death, no less. Being stuck for so long in a hell like that is bound to get you someday. But during the end of "Oversaturation Kill Box," I felt that smirk came in a bit too abruptly for me to process it all. Like it was a switch someone flipped on. It wasn't a surprise and it fits perfectly within what BL is going for, but I wished there was more time to make it feel even more natural. Like if Rock starts plotting and gambling more, and before he knows it, he's already smirking like Revy and has a brief moment where he realizes how he's become. A more gradual buildup. You could say that still technically happens, except for the realization. And while expected, the giving-in felt a little toothless once the actual moment came. He's lamenting the situation in his car one minute, and during his call to Dutch, the switch gets flipped and Rock's bad side is in a display. Not unhinged, but it's clear to see. The pieces are all there, and the picture still comes out nice, but they needed to be moved into place better. In art, the how is a huge deal.

  I'll admit however, that I'm fixated on this because Rock's fate of giving in got a bit spoiled for me (blame Google), and because I found him to be a very compelling protagonist the more the series progressed. Either the series ended with him converting to the lifestyle completely, or keeps him in his twilight hell-to which it settles more on the latter.

  And for disclosure, that big ass paragraph alone should be proof of how much of an impression the guy left on me, and the new layers I find the more I think on it. Hell, an argument the abruptness was the point crossed my mind too (like it was an impulsive expression). To go off on a quick tangent, keep in mind my reviews tend to be my best first impressions. I try to block out any outside insight and opinions as much as possible until the review's finished. What you read is as unfiltered as my thoughts can get. And any possible insight and fuller, stronger understanding only truly comes from revisiting and ruminating the material more. I believe in trying to soak everything in on a deeper level, for better and/or for worse, and a part of me's always chasing that precious, pure, full knowledge you can't get in a day. -Tangent over.-

  Don't let this make you think where Rock ends up was a botchjob or something. Even in the final scene, he's as cold and melancholic as ever. Him taking a crack at his evil side still doesn't feel "complete" if you catch my drift. And again: hey, maybe that was the point.

  And so, the OVA closes off on Garcia & Roberta finally back together, (though part of me thought they were in the afterlife or something, idk), and Rock looking over the shithole city, contemplating his joke of a life in crime. Stuck in the middle of it all, as always. And being in the middle doesn't necessarily mean it's gonna be fun. Looking into it, the ending wasn't as dour as I remembered it being, considering Garcia & Roberta's reunion. But at that point, the violence and nihilism got to me where at worst, it felt too little too late. Even that felt like the show was going to pull the rug from under me again, at some moment. Still, it fortunately didn't feel left-field either. Black Lagoon is at least understanding of the audience. It pins you down and harasses you, but you can tell through the dementedness and buck wild violence, that there's a tragedy behind it all. A sad, sobering look of "yeah. We know. And we don't blame you, kid." Even a part of Revy doesn't like to see Rock in the same light as them. Like he's the closest she has to a conscience or something-the one person she can't imagine living without. The person who annoys her, but also can never fully hate. The hope he won't end up like her.

  ---

  Black Lagoon is all fun and games until it snaps you back to its reality of crime and corruption. It lures you in with being a fun, zero f**ks given action-adventure anime, but that notion gets almost as equally shattered, especially as the episodes wind down. Placing Rock as the P.O.V. character was a great move. Embodying the everyman, who sees the thrills and soulcrush of what being a pirate is. My face may have been a blank frown watching most of it, but my brain and heart was being assaulted.

  The action scenes are an utter spectacle, and ep. 16-18 is the show at its most heightened, insane, overloaded, jaw-droppingly ridiculous in terms of gunplay. And who am I to kid?: It rules. Tarantino would cream his pants if he watched it. The hardcore music mixed with some electronica matches the rough, but slightly stealthy tone of the series perfectly. And nearly every character has a distinct air to them, always brimming with personality. Twisted and sad as they are (except Benny, he's a cutie boi =) (Dutch too, I guess, in a way).

  Hard to recommend, and I can't promise you'll wanna rewatch it (take it from me), but emotionally draining as it can be, it's worth watching. If anything, so you can sober up, soak it all in, and reflect on your upbringing and feel blessed for (hopefully) not ending up like any of these characters. But also with a sense of guilt and heavy, depressing sympathy. "Not for the faint of heart" doesn't begin to cut it once you've finished it. At least, for me.

  Black Lagoon: if the F bomb was an anime. In all its various uses.

  The dub was incredible. It always makes me happy to see the Canadian VAs get more love. I still can't wrap my head around how Mike Adamthwaite can pull off a big, tough, deep yakuza swordsman voice, but then sound unrecognizable as a light-hearted blue lightning ninja. Man's got actual range. Also, two Madhouse anime where Brad Swaile voices the lead? Then again, Steve Blum's a lead in two Shinichiro Watanabe joints, so that's not really a surprise. [Insert the two nickels meme here]. Also Roberta is a talking dog from my childhood, that's surreal.

  (cough cough IwantRevytosteponme cough cough)

  Songs the night I finished the series: "Letters to God," and "Elevator" by Box Car Racer, and "Wanna Be" by Triple Fast Action.

  Song of the day: "Yeah" by Triple Fast Action.

  Soooooooo does this mean I'm ready to watch Gantz or something?

  Continue on AniList

SIMILAR ANIMES YOU MAY LIKE

• ANIME

  ActionJormungand
• ANIME

  ActionJormungand: PERFECT ORDER
• OVA

  ActionHELLSING OVA
• SPECIAL

  ComedyBlack Lagoon Omake
• ONA

  ActionCyberpunk: Edgerunners
• ONA

  ActionFLAG
• ANIME

  ActionPumpkin Scissors
• ANIME

  ActionCanaan
• ANIME

  ComedyKimi wa Meido-sama.