Review of Black Lagoon

Black Lagoon is the template for a great action anime. I love this show, and with good reason. You won't very many other anime that can go up against Black Lagoon when it comes down to the rule of cool. So let's break down just what makes this show so amazing, and why you should watch it. (This review contains my full thoughts for the entire series) STORY I often call Black Lagoon the modern Cowboy Bebop, and with good reason. These two shows may not appear similar on the surface, but when you look closer, the similarities begin to emerge. The premise is of a fourman crew of colorful characters, on a ship, taking random jobs for other colorful characters. Unlike Cowboy Bebop, the episodic nature of Black Lagoon's story has more time devoted to each arc.

Each arc lasts between 4-6 episodes, and are all interconnected to make one overarching narrative. Some arcs are better than others, but each and every one is, at the very least, a blast to watch. I especially like the arc involving the Neo-Nazis and the U-boat salvage. The vampire twins arc in the second arc is also a blast, with a surprisingly chilling atmosphere surrounding the Twins themselves.

One thing I'd like to say is that it seems to me that many people tend to overlook how intelligent Black Lagoon really is. When I first heard about Black Lagoon, most people dismissed it as just aneed action series with little else to offer. I find this to be an underestimation of Black Lagoon's cleverness.

Black Lagoon does a great job at portraying a very grounded and cynical world,where no one cares about each other (except for the main character) and we see how the corruption of the criminal underworld affects all those whours come to Roanapur, which is like the most wretched hive of scum and villainy.

And we see how this corruption affects the MC, who is a man that tries to help others, and see the best in them. And how he slowly also gets corrupted by the seedy streets of the city s that shows no mercy.

So yeah, more depth than people give it credit for.

CHARACTERS
This is where I think Black Lagoon truly shines. I've only seen a handful of anime with a cast so densely populated with cool and interesting characters. The crew of Black Lagoon consist of Rock, Revy, Dutch, and Benny.

Rock, the main character, is at odds with the world he now inhabits. He's very out of place in the city of Roanapur. This is what makes him so fun to watch. A former business man from Japan, Rokuro Okajima was suddenly thrust into a world of drugs, gang violence, and death. Watching him adjust to this brutal new life as a pirate is one of the most interesting aspects of Black Lagoon; but what makes Rock a truly awesome character is how he doesn't wield a gun, yet manages to survive everything thrown at him through pure wit and a silver tongue. He doesn't need a gun, because his words will do more damage in his possession.

Revy is the other main character. An explosive and dangerous woman with a short temper and violent tendancies, Revy is just so badass. I don't have as much to say, but what I will say is that Revy's relationship with Rock is better than some of the best Romance anime I've seen. Her affection for him is VERY subtle and a lot of the information surrounding her true feelings are implied, making her a hard character to figure out.

Dutch and Benny are probably the most neglected characters in the entire show, which is a shame, considering that they are just as inTeresa in as Rock and Revy. This is mostly because we know so little about them, yet they are just as fun to watch. Dutch is the cool level-headed leader of the Lagoon Company, and Benny is the computer whiz and Tech guy of the crew. These two characters represent the "look the other way" mentality better than a y other character in the series, and since they are the only ones that do this, it has me begging for more of them.

The roster of supporting characters is equally impressive. Balalaika has got to be one of the coolest and most intimidating mob bosses ever, and I just love her dub voice. Hansel and Gretel are both tragic, and terrifying. Roberta is INTENSE AND UNSTOPPABLE, especially in the OVA. And everyone else is pretty much a stone-cold badass.

ART/ANIMATION
Studio Madhouse made this anime. So you know this shit be good. The action is beautifully animated, not as beautiful as HOTD, but pretty close. Animation is smooth and pretty, so standard by what we should expect from Studio Madhouse.

The art for Black Lagoon is both grounded and colorful. I very much enjoyed the use of color in this show. Character designs are iconic and gritty. Roberta's made attire is sinister and unassuming, Revy's outfit is iconic and savage (just like her), Balalaika looks amazing in a Red suit, and I cannot imagine her wearing anything else (plus I love women in red).

SOUND
Dub or Sub? Dub, without a doubt, the dub is better. I simply cannot envision these characters being voiced by any other cast. Not to mention that it fits more with the setting, and has better dialogue (btw the dialogue is very well written). Though admittedly, I prefer the Japanese performance of Revy.

The opening is GODLY. It fits well with Revy's character, and the song is just great. The remixed version used for the OVA was also really awesome. The Black Lagoon opening is one of my favorites, and I find myself listening to it every time I watch the next episode.

The soundtrack is also great, if a little short. One track in particular, Don't Look Behind, perfectly embodies the dark nature of Black Lagoon. The World of Midnight track is also worth kentioning, as it is basically the theme song of the vampire twins, and is thus already awesome based off of that fact alone.

ENJOYMENT/CONCLUSION
Ironically, in an action show, the action is the least interesting topic. Everything else is just a juicier topic. Black Lagoon is a fun, badass show with great characters, a very entertaining story, clever writing, and dialogue just as witty as Rokuro Okajima himself.

I give this series a 9/10. With a definite recommendation. WATCH THIS SERIES. WATCH IT NOW. DO IT! You do yourself a disservice if you don't.