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Year: 2006
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller
Episodes: 24
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
Have you ever had a job you just absolutely hated? A job that you went to every single day, and life seemed to be passing you by. It’s like that 2009 CareerBuilder Super Bowl commercial. The one where they give points about when you need a new job. The best part is when the narrator states, “so you daydream punching small animals?” Oh, that was a great and funny commercial. Type it into YouTube, and it will come up.
When did you know when you should leave the monotonous life and find a new career? How did you get to that point? Did you simply walk away, or did your boss fire you? What was your next job? Was it one where bullets are fired after you? Did you have a very insane co-worker that just loved to fight, curse, and was extremely violent? Did you start to wonder how you ended up in the current world you are now?
Black Lagoon shows what happens when a corporate person ends up in a world unlike he has ever been a part of.
Overview
On the outskirts of Thailand, lies the city of Roanapur. A city where crime is king and authorities have little power against corruption and greed. Roanapur is the perfect place where the bottom of the barrel resides from pickpockets, thugs, mercenaries, thieves, prostitutes, assassins, and gunmen. Also, the city is home to the likes of the Chinese Triad, the Russian mafia, the Colombian cartel, and the Italian mafia.
Rokurou Okajima or Rock, as he likes to be called, is an average Japanese businessman whose life is pretty lame and pathetic. Day in and day out, he goes about his day, dying inside from the corporate world and experience that he lives. Things suddenly change when on a business trip to Southeast Asia, Rock is suddenly captured by a mercenary group operating in Roanapur, called Black Lagoon. During the pandemonium, the group devises a plan to use him as a bargaining chip in their negotiations. After his company leaves him literally for dead and with no place to go, Rock decides to join Black Lagoon.
Rock quickly learns that his new life is filled with firefights, bloodshed, and back deals. He quickly learns that he must adapt to his new environment or perish.
Review:
There are some anime series that come along and will leave you amazed. Some would leave you scratching your head. Then there are the anime series that are straight up in a category of their own, and Black Lagoon has its own category. If Michael Bay and John Woo made a movie and had Samuel L. Jackson as the screenwriter, you will get Black Lagoon. An excellent, action anime series that would make Samuel L. Jackson stand up, clap his mutha*f****n hands, and say, “THAT’S A MUTHAF****N ANIME, YOU MUTHAF*****RS!!” Black Lagoon is an all-time anime not because of the story but from the sheer violence, foul language, and the characters.
Story-wise this anime is pretty straight forward with a few added episodes to make things move smoothly. First off, the location where the anime takes place is actually excellent and truly sets the tone. Rather than Japan, this anime takes place on a beautiful, little, summery island in the South China Sea in a city called Roanapur. A tropical paradise with one exception. The area is a haven for all things, evil and criminal. Think of Hawaii and put the toughest town in it. Maybe Oakland or Detroit but without all the high buildings.
The story pretty much starts off with a businessman, Rock, who gets abandon by his workplace when he gets abducted. Some pretty cold-blooded stuff right there. I highly doubt my workplace would save my ass if I was ever captured. After that, Rock joins the crew of the Black Lagoon because he has nowhere else to go. This begins his splendid descent into the world of corruption and dealing with crime lords. Each episode, there is something that happens to make you think Rock isn’t going to make it.
What makes the story go and be worthwhile to watch are the action scenes. Whether it is boats flying through the air, gunfights that would make John Wick blush, or just the missions themselves. This anime has it all! Looking for Russian Mafia? Check. Looking for the Triad? Check. Looking for Nazi sympathizers? Check. Looking for foul mouth people who drink and corrupt cops? Check and check. The action is by far some of the most insane and intense in any series.
What makes any anime worthwhile to watch are the characters. Great characters can make and break an anime. First, this anime does a great job of having such a diverse group of characters. The leader of the Black Lagoon is Dutch. Dutch is an African-American who looks like he has been in the military. Dude always has a vest on and shades. Then there is Benny, the Jewish-American, who is the computer geek. Any computer system you have and he can break into it. Now the story follows Rock, who is the typical straight-laced Japanese businessman. Rock is a crybaby at the beginning; that means well, but dude has a dark side to him. His alcohol tolerance is exceptionally high, and he is a great person that can read the situation and talk it out i.e., when he sits down with Yolanda. Balalaika (that is a mouthful) is also an excellent character. The boss of Hotel Moscow, she is a character you wouldn’t want to meet. Her presence alone is terrifying, and that is what makes her a great character. Almost the boss of everyone.
The star of the whole show is Revy. A character that shines like no other. A woman that you wouldn’t want to take home to mom or your family. Revy is a straight-up hot-temper, gun-slinging, cold-blooded badass. She straight-up scares me. Revy gives ZERO f**ks about anyone. She is willing to have a gunfight with anyone. She can join any squad. You know you will survive somehow with her around.
The English dub for this anime is fantastic and should be applauded. The characters had distinct accents and reliable voices that made the characters believable. Dutch had that Barry White voice while Rock has that scrawny annoying voice. Voice actress, Maryke Hendrikse, should be applauded for her work as Revy. You can hear the fun and joy in her voice with this character. I will even give
Black Lagoon is that anime that you have to strap in for. It is an intense ride that is filled with a ton of action, foul mouth women, crime, and destruction. The anime is a one of a kind thrill ride that is definitely worth watching. The English dub version is one of the best versions around. Almost on par with Cowboy Bebop. Give this great anime a try and enjoy a ride on the Black Lagoon.
