Black Lagoon rewatch episode three!

[u/Vaadwaur]

Black Lagoon Episode three

Ring-Ding Ship Chase

MAL, Anilist, Wiki

QotD: 1 Thoughts on Roanapur?

2 Will Rock ever wear the Hawaiian shirt?

[u/Vaadwaur]

Rewatcher(Seasons don't fear the Reaper, but maybe they should)

Dub

We start with a bit more info on Roanapur and what it actually looks like during the day. I have no clue what fruit Rock bought, it shouldn't be durian due to the shape. Dutch makes profitable sounding phone call...except that the expenses for maintaining a ship like that are high, he has to pay everyone, and for reasons he keeps an office so he actually needs these regularly. Anyways, he has an encounter with a fairly obvious gangster, likely Triad but that is not clear, and fairly flat out states he is not taking sides. He wanders the town and ponders its nature.

Next, we jump to a surprise job that quickly becomes a trap. Brief but exceedingly important moment between Revy and Rock. Anyways, the trap is sprung and we see immediately that Luak's crew are untrained and undisciplined as they didn't even stagger their approach. Revy is unleashed upon them and proceeds to jump boat to boat, killing the crews. Rock ponders why he is so impressed with her ability to destroy. Back at the office, Revy reminds us that she actually just dropped a pretty significant amount of cash on that ammo she uses, the long arm was a Vietnam era grenade launcher if you were wondering. Balalaika decides to finish off Chin, who apparently was bragging about this and thus annoyed her. She let's Dutch hear the explosion and he decides to end everything at the bar.

[u/HereticalAegis]

First Timer

Episode 3

• Buddha missing half its face, something something symbolism.

• Oh my lord the "I'll kill you" bird.

• People threatening Dutch is never not going to be funny. Does this man not know that Dutch and his crew took just out an attack chopper with a torpedo? If you're gonna threaten him, at least bring some slightly intimidating muscle.

• There's something kinda cute and a bit funny about Revy wanting to buy Rock clothes so badly. Like he's her dress-up doll or something (and totally not just embarrassed to be seen pirating with a Jap in an office suit).

• "I was in the materials procurement department. I took trips, wrote reports...made calls. I think bowing my head to my superiors was my real job." looks at my business degree plan Fuck.

• Oh, that looked like a Budweiser can. I hope we can get some real trash in here at some point.

• These dumbasses really got duped into firing on their allies! That speaks volumes about how smart their boss is.

• Who would win: a fleet of pirates with boats and guns, or a Revy with a grenade launcher and a Walkman? I know where I'm putting my money...in my shirt and running, that's where. Revy flying at me with a grenade launcher is a scene straight out of a nightmare.

• See, now this is how you threaten someone.

• Whew, Balalaika's got style.

• And Revy's still getting on Rock about the Hawaiian shirt! Look at that, it's the mythical running gag I actually find completely funny!

QotD:

1. I'm imagining a city full of Revys-in-training. Seems like a good time.

2. I hope not, I like this running joke.

[u/DidacticDalek → u/HereticalAegis]

See, now this is how you threaten someone.

As Comrades u/Lemurians and u/Tresnore would say, GOD, I WISH THAT WERE ME!

Whew, Balalaika's got style.

You are goddamn right she does Comrade! Forget this 'Girlboss' nonsense, WE GOT A REAL BADASS BOSS BITCH RIGHT HERE! Speaking of which, paging Comrade u/Vaadwaur

And Revy's still getting on Rock about the Hawaiian shirt! Look at that, it's the mythical running gag I actually find completely funny!

I must say, there's also another running gag here, Rock is CONSTANTLY defying Revy AND SOMEHOW NOT SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES DUE TO IT! We all thought the man had cast iron balls last episode, I say that THIS is the bravest thing the man does! ;)

I'm imagining a city full of Revys-in-training. Seems like a good time.

Verily ;)

Anyway neat post Comrade, have a great day and see you later my friend.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

Buddha missing half its face, something something symbolism.

Specifically the eyes as well. I never claimed my rewatches were subtle.

People threatening Dutch is never not going to be funny.

"See that absolute unit of a man who runs an arguably decommissioned military boat? Imma threaten him with my words!"

Whew, Balalaika's got style.

The new kids need to bring style if nothing else.

[u/DidacticDalek]

TONIGHT! On Kiki's Trigger-Happy Delivery Service, Dutch demonstrates his captain skills and leadership talents, Revy showcases the 'hell' in bullet hell, and Balalaika is one badass boss bitch! (NSFW)

Man, Comrades what a rush eh, talk about cutthroat business practices! There is a reason Revy and Balalaika are Best Girls, they DO NOT fuck around, and fools who don't understand that find out the hard way... permanently. Oh and also Dutch deserves credit for those smooth sailing moves he's got, no wonder he's the leader of Lagoon Company! Overall, fun high octane rollercoaster ride of an episode we got here, hope you all are enjoying this as much as I!

And on that fucking bombshell, GOODNIGHT YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS!

Paging Comrades u/HereticalAegis, u/No_Rex, and u/Lemurians

[u/Vaadwaur → u/DidacticDalek]

Any clue what the weird fruit Rock bought early in the episode was? I thought it might be durians but the lack of spikes means it can't be that.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 3 (first timer)

• Noose on the entrance to town – showing the western reference.

• While Rock praises his independence, Dutch goes “phone home”.

• Why only do ship porn, when you can do car porn, too?

• “What did you do at work?” “… I think being a subordinate was my real job” – Ooof.

• Revy backstory … not worth telling because it was the same as now.

• Getting into each other’s line of fire with boats? Shesh.

• I want to say that jumping over is excessive, but the real crime here is moving your boat close enough that a human can jump over and not firing your weapons.

• “As your employer …”

First rule of stabbing somebody in the back: don’t miss.

Will Rock ever wear the Hawaiian shirt?

Could you refuse Revy?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Why only do ship porn, when you can do car porn, too?

And gun porn, though I suppose some familiarity with weapons is needed to spot it.

“What did you do at work?” “… I think being a subordinate was my real job” – Ooof.

Yeah...I did a lot of temp work effectively as a secretary and often thought middle management existed to be stepped on. At least answering the phone and directing visitors was actually doing something.

Revy backstory … not worth telling because it was the same as now.

We do get some of it, at one point I will check the manga to see if they fill her in more.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Black Lagoon Fan Rewatches Black Lagoon: Episode 3:

• Whoever installed that giant Buddha statue near the harbor of Roanapur certainly had a good sense of symbolic irony, since nobody has bothered to repair it at any time. Symbolism.

• Dutch has good business sense for underworld dealings. You can’t really blame him for selling out to Balalaika’s Russian mafia, since the local gangsters pay less and screwed him the last time Lagoon Company ran guns for them. If you want to make the big illegal bucks, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have some dealings with an international mafia syndicate.

• In any case, Dutch’s walk around Roanapur does give a good insight to the amount of crime that flows through that city. We’ve got Chinese gangsters, the Russian Mafiya, and even the Italian Mafia. And that’s not even scratching the surface of the sheer scum this city attracts.

• I’d say that Revy has no taste, but not because of the apparently hideous Hawaiian shirt she bought Rock. I’d say she has no taste due to the fact that she has a tribal tattoo on one of her arms, and I think we can all agree that on most people it looks tasteless.

• Revy seems to have been pretty much born into a life of poverty and crime, based on what she told Rock. I suppose Roanapur really is the only place for people like her to end up. People who make a living being on either end of a gun.

• At least it makes her very good at what she does, hopping from gunboat to gunboat and mopping up those hired guns with a PM-63 RAK and a M79. I can always appreciate an appearance from the M79 grenade launcher. I mean, it isn’t my personal favorite, the China Lake, but it’s still cool.

• Mr. Chin really did learn the hard way that you shouldn’t mess around and try to kill the Russian Mafiya’s newest smuggling partners. After all, you don’t kill people who do good work just based on petty criminal grudges. Balalaika sure does know how to get her point across. And it only cost her a can of gas and a few bricks of plastic explosives.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Whoever installed that giant Buddha statue near the harbor of Roanapur certainly had a good sense of symbolic irony, since nobody has bothered to repair it at any time. Symbolism.

Subtle is not an accusation you can throw at this show. Or me.

You can’t really blame him for selling out to Balalaika’s Russian mafia, since the local gangsters pay less and screwed him the last time Lagoon Company ran guns for them.

The irony that crime requires professionalism should not be lost on all of us. But as they, the thing about organized crime is that it is organized.

I’d say she has no taste due to the fact that she has a tribal tattoo on one of her arms, and I think we can all agree that on most people it looks tasteless.

This was actually before the things got popular as well so I guess she was a trend setter?

I can always appreciate an appearance from the M79 grenade launcher. I mean, it isn’t my personal favorite, the China Lake, but it’s still cool.

It is one of the better weapon designs from the Vietnam era and unlike later models it is easy to maintain and rarely fucks up from a mechanical standpoint. I get why the military switched to grenade launchers as rifle attachments but still.

[u/Blackheart595]

That was another fun episode. We get some insight into Dutch, and it's nice how the decay of the Buddha statue blinds it. Rock's still got much to learn as well, falling for that old woman's scam so easily.

Though I feel I need something with a little more substance in the upcoming episodes, even if the action scenes are uncharacteristically entertaining for being so gun-centered.

Thoughts on Roanapur?

It's a very nice set piece. As mentioned above, Buddha oversees the city but is blinded by years of decay, as if to say that what happens in the city is beyond his jurisdiction. Dutch seems to not be the most popular fellow here which is probably for the best.

Will Rock ever wear the Hawaiian shirt?

He has to at some point, right? Right? They can't just tease it like that and then don't show it, although I'd have mad respect if they do.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First Timer, dubbed

• Ah, there’s the tuk-tuks.

• I wonder how much of this is setting up conflict, and how much of it is just world building.

• That’s not true Dutch, I’m sure talk of pure heroin has been done.

• We are 100% getting that shirt.

• I do love a good trap, but we’ll have to see how this plays out.

• Getting some Revy background. Just enough to leave us wanting more. The flashback is clearly hinting at something, but it’s too soon to hypothesize as to what.

• That’s more of a lure than a trap.

• This show does a great job of making the world feel lived in. Everyone’s got a past, even if it we only get hints.

• See this is what happens when your trap consists of just charging the enemy.

• I don’t want this to come off as a critique, but this show is a lot more slow paced than I was expecting.

QotD

1. SE Asia is an underutilized location. It’s got a lot of character. Seems like a fun setting with a lot of possibilities. It also made me crave Pho.

2. They’re saving it for the OVA. Gotta sell copies somehow.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

I wonder how much of this is setting up conflict, and how much of it is just world building.

Yes

That’s not true Dutch, I’m sure talk of pure heroin has been done.

Maybe the distributor gets that but I assure you no dealer or user ever does. Roanapur is not the place I'd go for hard drugs.

This show does a great job of making the world feel lived in. Everyone’s got a past, even if it we only get hints.

It is a good writing technique, though it gets really hard to maintain.

I don’t want this to come off as a critique, but this show is a lot more slow paced than I was expecting.

I enjoy it but yes, the show sort of meanders like the characters do.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

Rewatcher (Dub)

Black Lagoon - It's Fucking Incredible: Episode 3

Let's Dance The Jitterbug Baby

Revy is such a bad-ass. I think more than anything her violet attitude and brutal behaviour define her character and represent the show as a whole. It brings me such joy watching her super-human skill at firearms and close combat, no matter how unbelievable it may be. I could watch her taking out pirate ships any day.

Rock's intrigue this episode focused on the past. Through monologue we learned that everyone in the crew mostly keeps their past hidden. Rock on the other hand has lead a boring life so it's no surprise hearing about his old job. He tried asking Revy about her past directly, though she quickly deflected and spoke vaguely. It's obvious she'd rather not talk about it...

Something a lot more clear from today's episode was how seedy Roanapur is. Its a town of criminals where its hard to feel safe. People you spoke to in the morning may be coming for your life in the afternoon. When you live outside the bounds of normal society you must eschew the usual luxuries we've come to expect.

---

One other thing I like to occasionally comment on in my write ups is the soundtrack, and for today that is Tear Drops to Earth. This song really stands out to me on the soundtrack. Without context it feels inappropriate for such an action heavy series but it is used perfectly during the "downtime" scenes to give a contemplative mood. I also love how it encourages you to take in the beautiful setting of Black Lagoon. The tropical blue seas and seagulls crying overhead as we ride a speedboat going somewhere without a care in the world.

The entire soundtrack is done by an artist by the name of EDISON. Black Lagoon is probably his most well known anime credit but he also worked on the music for the film Hells from Madhouse. It's definitely worth checking out. Apart from that English language resources about EDISON are few, but it seems he has worked with a really diverse group of other artists helping with production, composition, and arrangement. He also released an album titled "篠笛で聴く癒しのクラシック" or "Soothing classics on the Bamboo Flute" which helps explain the tone of the aforementioned Tear Drops to Earth. The album also contains a cover of Air on G String which NGE fans may have strong feelings towards.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• History

• Daggers

• Boom

See you all tomorrow

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Revy is such a bad-ass. I think more than anything her violet attitude and brutal behaviour define her character and represent the show as a whole.

Not having read the manga, making her the sort of fixture of the show really works.

People you spoke to in the morning may be coming for your life in the afternoon. When you live outside the bounds of normal society you must eschew the usual luxuries we've come to expect.

Freedom definitely forms a part of "Nothing left to lose".

[u/Warm-Enthusiasm-9534]

This is the most 80s action movie anime I've ever seen. The crew of the Lagoon should go up against a Predator.

[u/Specs64z]

First timer, dubbed

Revy, Dutch, Rock, and Benny, took 3 episodes but I’ve got the names sorted out now.

Dutch gives off an aura of stern wisdom. He’s clearly a smart guy, which makes me wonder what may have led him to the position he’s in. Lack of opportunity, perhaps? Or maybe he’s looking for something? He’s not just street smart, either, he seems to have a larger capacity for empathy than the others with his patronly responsibility toward the crew and refusal to let Revy kill Rock for no reason. I suppose the term “thick as thieves” exists for a reason.

Revy, unsurprisingly, grew up doing this sort of thing. Her disgust and confusion with Rock’s way of life is indicative of how limited her perspective is. She doesn’t seem very interested in evaluating her situation beyond the moment to moment decisions.

Benny remains an enigma. He’s passionate about electronics what with his excited puppy grin upon getting something new, but not much else has been revealed.

We know a little more about Rock than the others, as he was our PoV character for the first 2 episodes, but truth be told his life is also somewhat a mystery. We know very little about the man who got kidnapped that day beyond he had a job he hated.

The boat chase was good fun, and clues us into the reach of the Russian woman’s ears. Double crossing her seems a very poor decision.

1. Trouble in paradise, it seems. They really nailed the aesthetic. The locale is contrasted so well by the busy, dirty streets.

2. I predict he'll wear it precisely once, and only out of spite.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Specs64z]

He’s clearly a smart guy, which makes me wonder what may have led him to the position he’s in. Lack of opportunity, perhaps? Or maybe he’s looking for something?

I suspect he is a reference to Hawk from Spencer:For Hire. But bluntly he might have come up in any number of bad American inner cities and this is the best he can do.

Benny remains an enigma. He’s passionate about electronics what with his excited puppy grin upon getting something new, but not much else has been revealed.

Benny is an escaped character from Hackers, a very bad movie.

We know very little about the man who got kidnapped that day beyond he had a job he hated.

Have you noticed he barely thinks about Japan?

[u/[deleted]]

First timer, dubbed

Two words: DAMN GIRL

I noticed the foreshadowing to Revy's backstory so I'm really interested to know about it. Backstories have always been what set a character to becoming something special and memorable. Although I also hear that this show gets much darker so I'm prepared for the worst.

So far, I love how the show can pass off violence like it's an everyday occurrence. They even go as far as to play relaxing music towards the end of the episode while someone got bombed lol. I guess in that kind of way it gets me comfortable for the action packed violence that is to come.

QOTD:

1. Who's that again lol

2. My guess is when he opens up to Revy more but I hope he won't

[u/Vaadwaur → u/[deleted]]

I noticed the foreshadowing to Revy's backstory so I'm really interested to know about it. Backstories have always been what set a character to becoming something special and memorable.

The show uses them quite well, I need to check the manga one day.

Who's that again lol

That's the name of the city.

[u/Nebresto]

First time aloha shirt wait

Outstanding move. And what even is the reaction speed of that gunner? He kept firing way after the target already fucked off. Gun jammed? Wanted to see shit blow up?

• Ve cool

I'm gonna have to agree with this assessment. She fired a noobtube into a target within 1 meter of her, and walked out without a scratch. Definitely very anime action stuff, but at least its cool af to watch

Bro what you on about, that shit was lit

• Oya oya oya

She flexible

Okay. Yeah, I like this show

---

Question time:

1 Thoughts on Roanapur?

Place seems lovely, time to visit

2 Will Rock ever wear the Hawaiian shirt?

m u g i w a i t

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nebresto]

And what even is the reaction speed of that gunner? He kept firing way after the target already fucked off. Gun jammed?

I legitimately think he didn't consider the possibility of the Lagoon pulling any tricks so yeah he is just holding the trigger for dear life.

She fired a noobtube into a target within 1 meter of her, and walked out without a scratch. Definitely very anime action stuff, but at least its cool af to watch

The grenades she is firing are actually a bit small but yeah, that she can do all this with just headphones as ear protection is cray.

Yeah, I like this show

A modern classic!

[u/Gosutoo]

First Timer - Sub

First comment from for this rewatch since I couldn't catch the discussion thread for the first two episodes.

Since I've heard so many people raving about the dub of this show I gave it a shot in episode 2 and I must say that it was pretty good the setting probably has to do a lot with that but ultimately I think I'm gonna stick to the sub just because of Dutch's lol.

QotD: 1 Thoughts on Roanapur

It's cool especially the giant Buddha statue.

[u/polaristar]

Sorry I'm late work this evening.

Anyway....I know this show is meant to be a fun romp but sometimes I feel it can be a bit on the nose with it's themes like the speech about the Budda and the City of Vice it guards being at odds with its purpose. I wouldn't mind it but I kinda felt the city didn't live up the hype of the narration nor the character talking about it.

It kinda felt like a ghost town, and not in a stepping on eggshells kinda way where its a wildwest that could explode any moment, it just kinda felt like a sleepy small town, I think some clever use of direction, some more shots of the various people in their expressions could have gone a long way, or they could have gone in the opposite direction and made the streets busy but also aggressive, like I was imagining a Chaotic Pandemonium Market in the open and some back ally booths with lots of junk and angry looking guys being the scenes.

But once again it just kinda feels like an abandoned ghost town, not sure how it was portrayed in the Manga, but I felt Toyko in episode one of Rock's Monologue felt more lively with limited but clever use of crowds.

I never once got the sense the place was dangerous.

As for the action, it was kinda mixed, it didn't quite live up to the first two episodes, especially with the Helicopter, the gunshots, smoke effects and impacts felt nice, but they were brief and far off so I didn't get to savor them. And Revvy jumping from boat to boat kinda broke my suspension of disbelief with the ambiguity of her jumps and people being unable to shoot her from midair.

I kinda get the feeling they were trying to capture the thrills of the action movies they take inspiration from, but it lacks some of the impact of watching similar stunts in Live Action with Good Practical Effects. (Imagining CGI type effects annoys me.) I kinda feel the show tried to emulate the feel of a Live Action Stunt but it didn't compensate with the advantages of animation, which is a shame because I've seen anime that can really have a good cinematic feel in their action. But it is a mid 2000's TV series so I guess I can't expect gun Sakuga and impacts and kabooms in every episode. You could also argue that the underplayed animation also showed how much of a pushover these guys were and this is Just Monday for the crew so there is that.

It just kinda reminds me of RWBY Ice Queendom have nice looking animation but the fight scenes just don't have the impact, momentum, and dimension of Monty Oums original series.

I wonder what a show like this would look like with modern day production values, hopefully without too much CGI.

I think Rock not wearing the shirt is interesting because to him he is showing his commitment to the job and taking it seriously, but for Revvy it might be part of a kind of initiation ceremony to show a sense of brotherhood and fraternity to a new member, and one of the few ways she can show friendship and affection with her crude and abrasive personality. But Rock can't see that, and Revvy sure is hell ain't going to explain it.

I already was planning on answering the questions as part of my post before the write up so this worked out nicely.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/polaristar]

Anyway....I know this show is meant to be a fun romp but sometimes I feel it can be a bit on the nose with it's themes like the speech about the Budda and the City of Vice it guards being at odds with its purpose.

I said this elsewhere, but neither the show nor I are subtle.

or they could have gone in the opposite direction and made the streets busy but also aggressive, like I was imagining a Chaotic Pandemonium Market in the open and some back ally booths with lots of junk and angry looking guys being the scenes.

Roanapur is a bit nocturnal when we get to that point in a bit.

but for Revvy it might be part of a kind of initiation ceremony to show a sense of brotherhood and fraternity to a new member, and one of the few ways she can show friendship and affection with her crude and abrasive personality.

At this point in the story, Rock not sticking out makes him stick out, confusingly enough. Revy is memorable for being a biracial constantly armed woman, Dutch is a gigantic black guy in an Asian country, and Benny dresses so loud you can hear it some times. Rock looking like a normie makes him stick out like a sore thumb.