Main characters Revy and RockWhile on a business trip in Southeast Asia, Japanese businessman Rokurou Okajima is captured by mercenary company Black Lagoon to be used as a bargaining chip. However after being abandoned by his employers, Rokurou has no choice but to join his captors.Black Lagoon is set in Roanapur, a fictional city in Thailand home to an international motley of criminal organizations. Crime is rampant and the police are corrupt. Rokurou, now nicknamed as "Rock", struggles to keep his values despite the nature of being a mercenary and the immoral city Roanapur that is his new home.Black Lagoon consists of two seasons and an OVA series- Black Lagoon, Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage, and Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail- but they are functionally one entire season.STORYBlack Lagoon's story is told in arcs, each arc focusing on a different job Black Lagoon takes up. It's mostly brainless fun involving big gunfights and heavy handed action movie physics, but you'd be damned to find someone who doesn't enjoy that every now and then. For example, the first arc's finale involves launching a ship off a ramp in order to fire its torpedos at an enemy helicopter (following video has no sound).There is no overarching plot, but the real story of the show is that of Rock's journey as a mercenary in Black Lagoon. Can Rock's ideals survive in a world that requires you to be ruthless and amoral? Will Rock cling onto his old life or embrace his new one? Will he be able to save other people from the cesspool that is Roanapur? Those are the questions within the show that are explored.While Black Lagoon's story is characterized by entertaining gunfights and badassery there are really powerful tragic moments which punctuate the story that highlight how the cruelty and darkness of the world has changed the characters. I enjoy these moments just as much as the action and it's a welcome change of tone every now and then.SPOILER For example:EP5: The nihilism in Revy's speech to Rock inside the old submarine. We see how she has stripped everything of sentimental meaning- something that has been lost to her because of her rough childhood. Now the only thing left is her greed, the only thing that gives things any value is how much money they are worth.EP15: The death of the female twin in the end of the vampire twins arc is shocking and tragic. But it can also be viewed as a release from the past that has shaped the twins into monsters, dying as she gazes into the blue sky she has longed to see. EP24: Yukio, a girl who was born into a Yakuza family, has forced herself into thinking that she has an obligation to ensure her clan's survival, even tricking herself into believing she wants to be a criminal like them. Ultimately when her clan is crushed by Balalaika, she feels responsible for the deaths at her hands and commits suicide. CHARACTERSThe crew of Black Lagoon: Benny, Rock, Revy, DutchThe real stars of Black Lagoon are its two main characters Rock and Revy, another mercenary in the Black Lagoon company. It's their dynamic that is one of the best parts of the show. Rock and Revy are the antithesis of each other. Rock has no fighting capability, but his intellect allows him to negotiate himself out of hostile situations. Revy relies on her instincts and combat ability over words. Rock retains a sense of right and wrong, despising the criminal underworld that is Roanapur, but Revy has come to accept what she does for a living. They start on a rough note- both despising the other. But eventually they come to terms, even influencing each other, and watching that happen is very satisfying. SPOILER At the start of the story, Revy is very willing to kill Rock because of how he questions her immoral actions fueled by her greed for money- like when she loots the corpses in the submarine. She thinks that he has no right to question her because she had a rough upbringing. However after standing up for himself in episode 7, Rock shows Revy that both of them have been abused by people in power (the police who beat Revy versus the employers abandoning Rock) and they reach an understanding.The characters grow closer to each other over the story, with Revy protecting Rock in volatile situations and being very possessive of him. Rock acknowledges that he needs Revy by likening her as the gun to his bullet. Even their influence begins to rub off on each other. Rock is willing to lie and manipulate in order to get what he wants (to save people from Roanapur), and even enjoys gambling with people's lives such as during Roberta's Blood Trail. Revy's trigger happy nature is kept under check by Rock. If I have any complaint, is that it's very obvious that Revy loves Rock romantically and damn they should've kissed. An extra bit about Rock: I really liked the way Rock's character played out. I loved his resolve and his ability to standup to people who mock him like Revy and Balalaika. Even though he is unable to fight, he is a badass. I loved how he started being unable to save the vampire twins and Yukio, perhaps because he had not fully embraced Roanapur yet and was still clinging onto his normal life in Japan. Then when he embraces the darkness of Roanapur- when he starts to manipulate and lie to people and gamble with their lives then he is able to save them, which manifests in Roberta's Blood Trail. Perhaps he is not the honest Rock that we knew at the start of the story, but he's achieved his goal of being able to save people. That's character progression. The other characters in the story are great too- and when I mean "great", I actually just mean they're great because they're badass and demand presence whenever they are on screen- like Russian mafia boss Balalaika, bodyguard-maid Roberta, or assassin Shenhua. If anything else is to be said about the characters, it's that the rest of Black Lagoon company, Dutch and Benny, get the short end of the stick in terms of characterization. While we get to see the stories of Balalaika and Roberta at length, who aren't even part of the company, we know very little other than a short self exposition for Dutch and Benny. Given the long runtime of Black Lagoon, I'm sure it would've been possible to fit an episode or arc centered on them. THE DUBWhile it might be blasphemous to not watch an anime in its original "intended" form, I am a strong believer that some anime are better off watched in dub. For example, anime that are set in western settings or have western characters typically are better suited to be watched in dub. And turns out that the dub for Black Lagoon is excellent.Put aside the fact that the English voices fit each character's personality well- the most basic of things a good English dub should do- I love how the dub isn't afraid to use vulgarities. Actually, part of what makes the dialogue in Black Lagoon so great is the swearing! It makes perfect sense for the cast to run their mouths when they're constantly in life and death shootouts. It's also what makes the banter between characters so damn hilarious. Take this for example. REVY: "My partner has the fucking documents. Do you follow? Understand you? Yes? You got that, Chinglish?" SHENHUA: "My English not very good because I am pure Taiwanese, maybe you like for me to skin your ass, bitch?"Also, the English dub allows for foreign accents that you might not pick up when watching the sub. It makes sense to have different accents, considering the show isn't set in Japan but rather the international crime hub Roanapur. Dutch's African-American accent, Shenhua's Chinese accent, Leigharch's Scottish accent, are just some of the accents the show does well. It truly brings the characters to life.CONCLUSIONBlack Lagoon is a damn fun ride. The action is thrilling, but there are also powerful tragic moments in the show which are equally as great. The main characters of Rock and Revy are well developed- their relationship being one of the biggest parts of the show, but it's a shame that the other Black Lagoon crew of Dutch and Benny get little development. I would highly recommend watching the dub, as its obscenities make the banter between characters hilarious and its foreign accents bring the characters to life. 8/10.Honestly it's such a shame that Black Lagoon had to end. While the ending concludes Rock's character arc well, it feels like the show could've gone on for the sake of its other characters. But the manga isn't finished, so we'll see what the future holds.-GaryMuffuginOak
Oct 4, 2019 • Subscribe
More like this
Black Lagoon: The Best 90s anime from 2006.
Being in my 30s, I have seen the anime landscape transform not just once in my time in this fandom. When looking back at old shows, it can…
Black Lagoon
By Andrew Osmond. Choose life. Choose a Japanese office job. Choose a neat tie, a pressed white shirt. Choose a daily oblivion of getting on the train, getting…
Black Lagoon
Sex. Guns. Revy. Did I mention Revy? While I watched the opening and ending (every episode, very unusual for me) and I kept noting that Revy was so…
Is Black Lagoon still one of my favourite anime of all time?
Madhouse was killing it in the late 2000’s. Death Note, Nana, Kaiji, Dennou Coil, One Outs, Kaiba. One of their most highly regarded anime from the that period…
The Lie of Freedom | Black Lagoon
Leaving behind everything you know for a life of danger, but with true freedom; is this true, or just our romanticized idea crafted to avoid the myth of…
Black Lagoon review – Anime Xchange
This is my Black Lagoon review for the first season. I watched the dubbed version which may have been a mistake.
Anime & History | Fabiola | Black Lagoon
An anime video essay analyzing Fabiola from Black Lagoon, and her ties to the history of Venezuela and Capoeira. Black Lagoon, the 2006 anime from Hiroe’s manga by the…
Anime Series Like Black Lagoon
Average business man Rokurou Okajima found his life turned upside down when he was captured and held hostage by a mercenary group in Thailand called Black Lagoon. In…
![Featured image for Black Lagoon – 1/2 [The Black Lagoon/Mangrove Heaven] – Throwback Thursday](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240113/1705178170.77219.114718.jpg)
Black Lagoon – 1/2 [The Black Lagoon/Mangrove Heaven] – Throwback Thursday
Welcome all, to the next season of Throwback Thursday and the first post of Winter 2024! As you can see, we’re covering Black Lagoon! We have a fair…
Black Lagoon (Burakku Ragūn)
Black Lagoon (Burakku Ragūn) 2006
Killer Ending: Black Lagoon
The ending of a narrative is supposed to do two things, resolve the central conflict and wrap up the loose ends. A good ending gets those two jobs…
A Timeless Classic: Black Lagoon
Hello and welcome back to another video today we will be going over an anime I consider to be a classic that anime is Black Lagoon. Black Lagoon…
#shorts Black Lagoon Scene Analysis.
Check out my Video on Black Lagoon and how a conversation can be a Fight scene.
Black Clover's Latest Fight Was One of The Best Anime Fights of 2023 #shorts #anime #blackclover
If you like the video please like and share. This list is just my opinion, so feel free to comment your list below. For more Top 10's and…
Who is BALALAIKA from Black Lagoon?
🎵 Music: Red Army - Katyusha 🖼️ Image Sources (in chronological order): https://www.pinterest.com/pin/801851908635940827/ https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/71023180373814304 https://wallpx.com/wallpaper/rifle-balalaika-black-lagoon-military-uniform-scar/ http://www.absoluteanime.com/black_lagoon/balalaika.h https://aminoapps.com/c/anime/page/item/balalaika/qzt3_I1nW1BkJoMjw4GQx1Z01X2Wb https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/NY39THzlR8HRYZ58GNcz7q/the-godfather-speaks-marlon-brando-in-his-own-words https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/roanap https://www.pinterest.com/pin/39533167352667164 http://seikha.deviantart.com/art/balalaika-955519 https://quotesgram.com/colonel-kurtz-apocalypse-now-quote https://psychologycorner.com/10-psychological-reasons-why-we-like-michael-corleone/ http://www.deviantart.com/tag/balalai https://vintagenewsdaily.com/i-know-it-was-you-fredo-the-kiss-of-death-scene-from-the-godfather-part-ii-197 https://chiangmaiplaces.net/how-is-jay-gatsby-a-morally-ambiguous-character-the-11-top-answers/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/80185190863594083 https://openloading.com/movie/the-great-gatsby-2013-123movie https://quotesgram.com/colonel-kurtz-quote https://ptanime.com/black-lagoon-primeira-temporada-analise/ #blacklagoon #blacklagoonedit #balalaika #animereview #revy
Black Lagoon: Roberta’s Blood Trail deculture!
The Bloodhound of Florencia returns.
Who is REVY from Black Lagoon?
🖼️ Image Sources (in chronological order): https://www.pinterest.com/pin/801851908635940693/ https://wall.alphacoders.com/big.php?i=5814 https://www.deviantart.com/strunton/art/Revy-Violates-DEATH-BATTLE-8050447 https://wallpx.com/wallpaper/revy-black-lagoo https://aminoapps.com/c/anime/page/item/revy/70tN_IalrD5qeQD4BKQglgwrMjV6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGzZBKiUR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbykMJzTtcg https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/black-lagoon/picks/show/1261994/who-needs-who-more-revy-x-ro https://www.hierarchystructure.com/gif-police-k.ht https://wallpapercave.com/revy-wallpap https://www.pinterest.com/pin/361132463870684163/ https://formrisorm.github.io/post/black-lagoon-revy-pf https://anime.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/198406 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/51861833192741803/ https://www.aullidos.com/noticia/34323/amazon-serie-lisbeth-salander/ https://yourstory.com/herstory/2019/06/10-women-heroines-fiction-hermoine-granger-daener https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/35156231463993830 https://www.pinterest.jp/pin/3419927840027154 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/54929848578112925 #blacklagoon #blacklagoonedit #revy #animereview
Top 10 Best New Action Anime of 2023
Let's review ten of my favorite action titles debuting this 2023. If you like the video please like and share. This list is just my opinion, so feel…
Best Action R-Rated Anime of All Time
If you like the video please like and share. This list is just my opinion, so feel free to comment your list below. For more Top 10's and…
Gen 5 Is The Best One – Pokemon Black Review
Gen 5 is the best one; all other opinions are invalid (jk)
![Featured image for How BLACK LAGOON hides a FIGHT SCENE [ANIME SCENE ANALYSIS]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220717/1658076537.39778.69281.jpg)
How BLACK LAGOON hides a FIGHT SCENE [ANIME SCENE ANALYSIS]
REUPLOADED What do Naruto vs Sasuke, L's Conversation with Light Yagami and Gogeta vs Broly all have in common? These are all fight scenes. In this video I analyze…
Black Lagoon (Limited Edition Blu-ray) Unboxing
Black Lagoon is another KAZE title returning to the UK from Anime Limited. This set covers both seasons and the OVA series altogether.
EP 60: Return & Reflection with Black Lagoon
Dad Needs To Talk revisits Black Lagoon, Better Call Saul mid season finale and the return of hunter x hunter. Plus what Im reading & playing.
Bi-Weekly Booty: Revy from Black Lagoon!
God lord is there so many ass shots in this show. No doubt I will return to this well in due time! The Bi-Weekly booty is Revy from…
20 Best Action Romance Anime Series
While some may not readily admit it, a little romance in your action anime can be a great addition. You root for the hero, and you also root…
Absolute Duo, Naruto, Shakugan no Shana, Beyond the Boundary, Btooom!
Top 20 Best Action Shonen Anime of All Time
Here are Twenty of my favorite action shounen that was adapted from the manga. You heard that right. It’s the biggest ViniiTube video yet, and we will have…
Revy And Rock’s Argument (Black Lagoon Episode 7)
black lagoon, black lagoon discussion, black lagoon episode 7
Spy x Family | Anime Review: One of the best.
Corrupt politicians, frenzied nationalists, and other warmongering forces constantly jeopardize the thin veneer of peace between neighboring countries Ostania and Westalis. In spite of their plots, renowned spy…
Bungo Stray Dogs is The One of The Best Anime
No post summary was provided.
![Featured image for Top 30 Best ACTION Anime of This Century [2000 - 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240207/1707320169.78834.116599.jpg)
Top 30 Best ACTION Anime of This Century [2000 - 2024]
Let’s try something a bit different because today, I will be sharing my top 30 (!) top action anime of this century. If you like the video please…
Top 20 Best Action R-Rated Anime of All Time
🎁 Use Code "VINII" to get $5 off for your first #Sakuraco box through this link: https://team.sakura.co/vinii-SC2301 or #TokyoTreat box through this link: https://team.tokyotreat.com/vinii-TT2301. It would be…
Lycoris Recoil | One of the best.
Not only was episode thirteen was the best episode of the bunch (no surprise), but it is also one of the best final episodes I've seen in a…
The Double-Edged Sword of One Piece Live Action
Netflix's One Piece Live Action looks true to the source material... maybe a little too true? Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/PhenomSage Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhenomSage MyAnimeList: https://myanimelist.net/profile/PhenomSage 00:00 - One Piece Live Action Trailer Is…
![Featured image for Black Lagoon – 23/24 [Snow White’s Payback/The Gunslingers] – Throwback Thursday](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240330/1711767370.81747.120375.jpg)
Black Lagoon – 23/24 [Snow White’s Payback/The Gunslingers] – Throwback Thursday
Welcome all, to the grand finale of Black Lagoon! While there is an OVA after this, I’ll be watching/writing about that separately on my own time if it…
![Featured image for Black Lagoon – 19/20 [Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise/The Succession] – Throwback Thursday](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240316/1710553570.80983.119439.jpg)
Black Lagoon – 19/20 [Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise/The Succession] – Throwback Thursday
Welcome all, to another 2 episodes of Black Lagoon! This week kicks of the final arc of the series, taking us to a land we haven’t visited since…
Why Gunbuster has one of the best anime endings ever
Here be spoilers. I’m not doing a deep dive into the whole show here, because better minds than mine (I’m looking at you, Jonathan Clements, and I recommend anyone…
![Featured image for Top 10 Best New Action Anime [2020 - 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220726/1658822943.40480.70281.jpg)
Top 10 Best New Action Anime [2020 - 2022]
Download Refantasia: Charm and Conquer for free using my link: https://app.adjust.com/go15xsw?campaign=ViniiTube and get special rewards using my code: 1LUVRF Here are what I think are the top 10 most…
![Featured image for Top 10 Best Action Shonen Anime [2020 - 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230810/1691679520.66375.101524.jpg)
Top 10 Best Action Shonen Anime [2020 - 2023]
In this video, I will be listing what I feel ended up being my top 10 favourite action shounen from the year 2020 till now. If you like…
Kiznaiver: Trigger's Mature Love Story | Anime Discussion
Kiznaiver is Studio Trigger's 2016 release, not making many people's favorites or top list as their smash hit Kill la Kill a couple years prior. But, like it's…
One Piece Live Action vs YYH Live Action
Clip taken from my full video on the topic, here on the channel. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/totallynotmark FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/totallynotmark FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@totallynotmark
ONE-INCH - The Best of Asian Cinema
'Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.' This is how director Bong Joon-ho, director of 2019s acclaimed…
One Piece Live Action, Sea of Stars, Under the Waves
This episode I share my thoughts on the One Piece Live Action series on Netflix. Also talk about a couple games Sea of Star, Under the Waves. Timestamps…
![Featured image for Black Lagoon – 13/14 [The Vampire Twins Comen/Bloodsport Fairytale] – Throwback Thursday](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240224/1708817770.79862.117824.jpg)
Black Lagoon – 13/14 [The Vampire Twins Comen/Bloodsport Fairytale] – Throwback Thursday
Welcome all, to another week of Black Lagoon! This week marks the halfway point of this watch, as well as the beginning of a new season for Black…
![Featured image for Black Lagoon – 9/10 [Maid to Kill/The Unstoppable Chambermaid] – Throwback Thursday](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240209/1707518173.78960.116740.jpg)
Black Lagoon – 9/10 [Maid to Kill/The Unstoppable Chambermaid] – Throwback Thursday
Welcome all, to another week of Black Lagoon! We’re almost done with the first season, only two episodes left. That means shit’s starting to go down, and I…
Just Finished: The One Piece Live Action
I have finished watching and reacting to all 8 episodes of One Piece's Live Action Adaptation. How was it? Did it live up to our expectations? Become a…
Why the League of Villains is One of The Best Groups of Villains in Anime #myheroacademia #anime
I used to think it was impossible to eat a whole can of baked beans. Whenever I would cook them, I would only manage to eat around 2/3rds…
One Piece is NOT The Best Anime Ever
One Piece is not the best anime ever, too often people will say one piece is the greatest anime of all time and this is just not true. If…
![Featured image for Top 10 Best New Action Isekai Anime [2020 - 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230920/1695219002.68743.104369.jpg)
Top 10 Best New Action Isekai Anime [2020 - 2023]
For in-game rewards: Sakuradite x300, Pizza (L) x1, use code: ViniiTube at https://loststories-en.komoejoy.com/exchange/ Download Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Lost Stories for free here: https://loststoriesen.onelink.me/OQCn/umvmue7d And don't hesitate…
Don’t @ Me: Six of my Anime Opinions: Live Action One Piece Edition
It’s Monday, which means it is time for this! Welcome back to Don’t @ Me! The place where, like the cast of That 70s Show. I sit in…
20 Adult Anime Exploring Mature Themes (Not Ecchi)
But what makes adult anime “adult”?
Jormungand, Serial Experiments Lain, Space Brothers, Attack on Titan, Berserk