Black Lagoon - A Series Review

Yes, Rinrei is doing a review. Fear me. Anyway, this is about a recent favourite of mine. This is about the anime show Black Lagoon.
   Now normally I would be complaining about how bad the voice actors are in English and about how terrible the animation or music is. I am not going to be talking about that in this. (Because it's all bloody brilliant.)
   Black Lagoon stars a group of mercenaries that transport goods (usually illegal) across the seas around southeast Asia.
   The main characters of the show are: 

 - Rokuro "Rock" Okajima, dubbed by Brad Swaile (who surprisingly does the same voice as the third most evil villain of all time, Light Yagami; He also does the voice of the 'Bad Pony' from 'My Little Pony' *scary music*) who is a somewhat shy business man who gets forced into the Lagoon company after he is originally kidnapped for ransom.

 - Revy/Rebecca (okay, this is creepy), dubbed by Maryke Hendrikse. She is a Chinese-American who does most of the fighting (getting more creepy). She is extremely competitive, stubborn, impatient and ill-tempered. Unlike Rokuro, she uses brute force to get her way (even creepier). She is also a heavy smoker and drinker. Of all the characters in the series, Revy is recognised as the most foul-mouthed (this reminds me of something). She will kill without a shred of remorse, even massacring unarmed civilians if provoked. She has a bleak view on life (okay, this is just scary).

 - Dutch is dubbed by Dean Redman and the African-American leader of the group. Little is known about his past, although it is hinted that he worked in Vietnam. He is easy-going and friendly overall, although he sure as heck can fight.

- Benny is dubbed by Brian Drummond and works as the groups computer maniac who is clearly possessive of his computers. He is Jewish, easy-going and non-violent. (That's all I can say about him because I get bored of him after a while.)

   There are a bunch of other characters but I've gotten bored of talking about them and I want to get straight onto the review.


I cannot actually say what happens in the show, because I've been forbidden from giving away spoilers by Skald. What I can tell you is that the story starts with Rokuro getting kidnapped for ransom money in the first episode by Revy. 
   From the very start you can tell straight away the personalities of these characters and the way they will react to things in the nearby future. It's certainly fun to watch Revy go nuts with a gun and start shooting at people. As you go along, you can see more character development within the four main characters and you can guess how they used to live before the series started.
   The show is more for teenage boys or psycho girls, with its violent battles and constant swearing as well as its extremely dark humour. This dark humour is shown through many moments in the series including Shenhua and Revy playing a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who will kill first; Revy then whines like a child when she lose, also when a member of a Cartel is playing tug-o-war over a telephone while a violent gun battle is exploding just on the other side of the bar counter.
   The character concepts, gritty atmosphere and constant gun fights really make this something that real lovers of violence should watch.
   Although short and slightly rushed, you will hardly notice as the series puts in so much effort into developing a character or plot within three episodes that it makes you feel as though you've known them for their entire lives.
   The animation is probably the best I've seen in a long time and the music is so brilliant and suiting that you just want to listen to it over and over again. This is really a show that can make you laugh and cry within the same episode.
   If you want a good show full of gun fights, black comedy and amazing soundtracks then I suggest you watch this awesome show.


I give 'Black Lagoon' a 9/10.
   Now excuse me while I go and watch it again.


Signing off!
Rinrei