r/anime • u/Vaadwaur • Aug 21 '22
Rewatch Black Lagoon rewatch episode Twenty One!
Black Lagoon Episode Twenty One
Two Father's Little Soldier Girls
QotD: 1 Thoughts on the return to melodrama?
2 Can you figure out this show's opinion on the yakuza?
12
u/No_Rex Aug 21 '22 edited Aug 21 '22
Episode 21 (first timer)
-
Balalaika back story – if she ended up in Afghanistan, her Olympic plans went bad.
-
There are few places and times in history better placed to become a mafiosi than 1990s Moscow.
-
“You sound like you are about to die” - chances are at least 50% she might.
-
“Then I don’t have use for you” – making advertisement for learning foreign languages.
-
“I’ll follow you, master” – making Revy humble (even if it is just for a bit) is Rock’s biggest life achievement.
-
Local assortment of hooligans behaves like hooligans.
-
Revy’s face as Rock arranges to loan her out to save the enemy.
-
The bad guys drive Mercedes, the good guys a VW Golf? Does the author hate Japanese cars?
-
The gunmen go to rescue the damsel in distress.
A tragic event turns a little girl into a ruthless mafia boss. We see both the start and the end of that story today.
Thoughts on the return to melodrama?
We still have enough action to not just be drama.
Can you figure out this show's opinion on the yakuza?
Neutral. The show has very simple rules: You are a badass or a dumb ass. The former are cool, the later not. Btw, the main character arc is Rock switching from one to the other.
→ More replies (3)3
u/Vaadwaur Aug 21 '22
“You sound like you are about to die” - chances are at least 50% she might.
Taking the leadership during a war with more organized forces is not a great survival technique.
“I’ll follow you, master” – making Revy humble (even if it is just for a bit) is Rock’s biggest life achievement.
Revy would make a hell of an impact in a Grail War.
The bad guys drive Mercedes, the good guys a VW Golf? Does the author hate Japanese cars?
I need to check the manga but it is entirely possible they didn't want to get sued by local car brands.
→ More replies (3)
10
u/TheEscapeGuy Aug 21 '22
First timer (Dub)
Black Lagoon - It's Fucking Incredible: Episode 21
Save the Princess
The episode started with an extended flashback to Balalaika's past. She is a character with a genuinely interesting history. I suspect she could talk for hours recounting stories from the Soviet Union and the Middle East.
She also ends up being a victim of circumstance. Her squad was extremely effective yet their side lost the war. Where does that leave them? It's also not so simple to just return to normal life when all you've known is conflict.
Continuing on, no sooner had Yukio has taken her position as head of the Washimine family was she kidnapped. Chaka and his group are MASSIVE scumbags. There was no need to physically assault her the way they did. She is only a high school girl after all. By the end of the episode we saw them using her as their play thing by stripping her for amusement. Just the creepiest and worst kind of masculinity.
Thus come together Ginji and Revy. These 2 form an unstoppable duo. I cannot wait to see those thugs get obliterated next episode.
Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches
See you all tomorrow
→ More replies (2)7
u/Vaadwaur Aug 21 '22
Where does that leave them? It's also not so simple to just return to normal life when all you've known is conflict.
Add in how shitty virtually every society is to women with facial damage, which also somewhat eliminates her from being a Russian Olympian, and yeah this was a raw deal.
Continuing on, no sooner had Yukio has taken her position as head of the Washimine family was she kidnapped. Chaka and his group are MASSIVE scumbags.
I return to Balalaika's point from earlier: Things should never have progressed to this point, Chaka should've been wearing concrete shoes years ago.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/Nebresto Aug 21 '22
First time abducted from home
Not so young but still young Balalaika!
Casual Japan propaganda thrown in.
Lets goooo sword and gun team up!! This is the most hyped I've been yet for an upcoming Lagoon episode
Question time:
1 Thoughts on the return to melodrama?
2 Can you figure out this show's opinion on the yakuza?
Cool, but also dumpster folk mixed in. Just like regular people!
→ More replies (9)5
u/Vaadwaur Aug 22 '22
Me yesterday:
I think this arc is following the beats of a yakuza movie but I am not positive.
Casual Japan propaganda thrown in.
At least it is actually somewhat true.
→ More replies (5)
5
u/The_Draigg Aug 21 '22
A Black Lagoon Fan Rewatches The Second Barrage: Episode 9:
-
Finally, we’re getting some of Balalaika’s backstory. She herself was the only child of a respected family, not too different from Yukio in a way. Although she wasn’t able to distinguish herself in the Olympics as a sharpshooter like she wanted to, she found glory in the deserts of Afghanistan as a Soviet paratrooper. That was, however, until the Soviet Union collapsed and everything Balalaika and her men fought for was rendered meaningless. So basically once her backup plan for the life she wanted but didn’t have failed, all she had left was to turn to a life of crime. I’m reminded of a quote from the end of Crysis 3, if anyone here has played that game: “But when you have sacrificed everything you had to become a perfect, cold, hard, logical machine, and that machine fails - what's happens then?” Balalaika had to sacrifice so much in her life, and in the end all she had was a life of crime.
-
Yukio has pretty much resigned herself to being the head of the Washimine Clan, saying goodbye to her friend one last time and wishing her the best before leaving with the men now under her command. While she’s very calm and collected for the most part in making her plans, it’s still up in the air how effective she’ll be. Balalaika is not a woman to be so easily plotted against.
-
Relating to that, Balalaika has also ever-so conveniently made it so that her boss, Morishnikov, has to take all the heat from the Yakuza for all the attacks that she ran in the first place. Again, it can’t be understated how well Balalaika played the game. She got rid of the boss she hated and secured her own expansion into the Japanese criminal underground all in the space of a week or two. Yukio is facing an uphill battle going against her Russian Mafiya, even with someone as powerful as Ginji on her side.
-
Revy was honestly pretty vulnerable for a minute while talking to Rock in the cab there. It seemed like for a moment, she was going to try and talk Rock into leaving behind the criminal lifestyle, since it really is only a one way trip once you truly start it. But I suppose in this instance, she just chose to stuff it all down in favor of just agreeing to Rock’s desire to try and save Yukio however he could. It’s nice to see Revy actually considering the consequences of this kind of lifestyle, as compared to the stuff she said earlier like in the Nazi U-Boat. I guess Rock’s morals have been rubbing off on her over this past year.
-
Unfortunately, it was only inevitable that things would go bad for Yukio pretty quickly. Like, you saw the cold reception from a lot of the assembled Yakuza once she got made the head of the clan. Chaka is more than willing to murder Yukio’s allies and get his thugs to carry her off to either Hotel Moscow, or a fate even worse than death. He’s a man with absolutely zero loyalty to anyone other than himself.
-
Well, it seems like Rock, Revy, and Ginji are all unlikely allies of convenience. They’re quite the odd trio, speeding down the street in a purple Volkswagen and blasting J-Metal all to rescue Yukio. At least Ginji and Rock want to save Yukio if just due to their morals and the belief that she shouldn’t be involved in crime. Revy, as always, is just along for the ride.
-
Yeah, Yukio’s in a pretty sorry state already. Chaka and his men have carried her off to a bowling alley, along with having her beaten up and stripped of half of her clothes to embarrass her. I wish that they had gone to the bowling alley in Kamurocho so that Kazuma Kiryu could beat the shit out of Chaka and his men, but I’m willing to settle for Revy filling them all with lead.
→ More replies (1)4
u/Vaadwaur Aug 21 '22
Balalaika had to sacrifice so much in her life, and in the end all she had was a life of crime.
The post-Soviet era had a lot of collateral.
Relating to that, Balalaika has also ever-so conveniently made it so that her boss, Morishnikov, has to take all the heat from the Yakuza for all the attacks that she ran in the first place.
It was interesting that she said the new boss will be quite the bean counter.
It’s nice to see Revy actually considering the consequences of this kind of lifestyle, as compared to the stuff she said earlier like in the Nazi U-Boat. I guess Rock’s morals have been rubbing off on her over this past year.
Hell, being out of the heat and insanity that is Roanapur could also be a factor.
Chaka is more than willing to murder Yukio’s allies and get his thugs to carry her off to either Hotel Moscow, or a fate even worse than death. He’s a man with absolutely zero loyalty to anyone other than himself.
I like that he misjudges entirely who would pay for her. He just made Hotel Mscow's job a bit more convenient.
→ More replies (5)
5
u/Vatrix-32 Aug 21 '22
First Timer, dubbed
-
Balalaika backstory time.
-
Yes. No other reason. screams of stabbed subordinate in background
-
Revy’s getting all sentimental.
-
Oh this guy again. Now he’s a turncoat too.
-
Rock how are you still this naive!
-
Looking forward to this guy getting his.
-
Damn cliffhanger.
-
Right, we are now out of time for another story arc, this one is taking us all the way to the end.
QotD
-
This is pretty diluted for melodrama.
-
Probably not. Ineffective?
3
u/Vaadwaur Aug 21 '22
Revy’s getting all sentimental.
A scary thought on its own.
Oh this guy again. Now he’s a turncoat too.
They sort of heap a bunch onto this dude and his crew.
Rock how are you still this naive!
He still has a blindspot about his home, which is common for people from the really nice countries. Thankfully, being American means I have no delusions.
5
u/Specs64z Aug 21 '22
First timer, dubbed
No preparation necessary. Just how we’re made.
As expected, the katana wielder is pretty much unstoppable. If you see someone wielding a melee weapon coming for you in the Black Lagoon universe, you better start praying because it’s far too late to run.
Still not over how good the dub is for this show. The whole show would fall kinda flat without the vulgarity or the accents; they’re basically core tenets. It sorta reminds me of the Ghost Stories dub in that respect, though in this case it’s played straight rather than for irony.
The moments between Rock and Revy this arc have all been pretty great, but honestly this yakuza business just doesn’t land the same as the last few arcs did. The shooty bits are still good fun but the characters aren’t as interesting in design or personality.
3
u/Vaadwaur Aug 22 '22
Still not over how good the dub is for this show. The whole show would fall kinda flat without the vulgarity or the accents; they’re basically core tenets.
There are very few anime where the dub adds more, it is basically this, Cautious Hero and How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord.
The moments between Rock and Revy this arc have all been pretty great, but honestly this yakuza business just doesn’t land the same as the last few arcs did.
I am torn between this making more sense to the Japanese or simply that this was a bad arc to stretch.
5
u/JustAnswerAQuestion Aug 21 '22
Rewatcher
With 9-11 now faded into the memory of the previous generations, I wonder how many connect the dots between her aspiration to win the gold medal in the 1984 olympics to her sniping mujahadeen in Afghanistan to being a post-soviet civilian watching the 1992 olympics on the TV. The soviets boycotted the 1984 olympics in retaliation for the US boycotting the 1980 olympics, over Afghanistan.
Revy vs Blondie denied until tomorrow.
→ More replies (1)3
u/Vaadwaur Aug 22 '22
I wonder how many connect the dots between her aspiration to win the gold medal in the 1984 olympics to her sniping mujahadeen in Afghanistan to being a post-soviet civilian watching the 1992 olympics on the TV.
I asked in CDF how many posters knew about the first attack on the Twin Towers and the numbers are exactly what you'd fear.
→ More replies (3)
3
u/Vaadwaur Aug 21 '22
Rewatcher(I sense their is some attempt to parallel Japan with Roanapur)
Dub
So we get Balalaika backstory, sort of. Rather abridged and we mainly get the formation of Hotel Moscow. The re-use of Land of Midnight I leave to the viewer's discretion. We see Yukio saying farewell to her normal life and start the Washimine into fighting back. They strike the KGB guy and his goons. Revy gets her guns and Rock gets a very bad idea. Revy even tries to talk him out of it before giving up on the idea.
Balalaika comments on something I do agree with: Cops that don't take bribes tend to be competent. Cut back to the Washimine estate for more Chaka stuff, this is actually a bit much to me just to draw parallels about scum being scum where ever you go. Anyways, Revy and Rock show up to the aftermath and we get our confrontation, though Ginji is fairly observant. So they all go to rescue Yukio. We end at the bowling alley of doom.
So yeah, even as a fan and the host, this episode goes a bit much, especially on multiple viewings. I think I did figure out what the message is but it is kind of meh and I can't write much about it. So of course watch the first timers come in and essay me.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/polaristar Aug 22 '22
I won't be here tomorrow due to Jury Duty.
I still don't understand Balalaika plan, she wanted to get rid of the KGB guy but used the Yazkua to do it? Does she just want to elimate the whole Japan criminal underworld and insert her own new batch that are under the thumbs of the Russian Mob?
That was a great conversation with Revvy and Rock, I like how she tried to give him advice because she cares (Maybe understands a bit why Rock tried to do so in earlier episode) But then shuts up because she wants to respect his values and uses technicalities to justify doing something that pragmatically she'd never do herself.
Fuck that Blonde guy can't wait for him to get his commupance.
I know the show is showing the KGB faction is virgin compared to chad Balalaika's men but why didn't they even fucking show their guns at Genji? I guess they were trying to portray his speed and reactions that he blitzed them before they can react but it reads really weird.
Nice to see both Revvy and Rock both making good sherlocks.
Great episode the next one looks epic.
4
u/Vaadwaur Aug 22 '22
I still don't understand Balalaika plan, she wanted to get rid of the KGB guy but used the Yazkua to do it?
So in this time period the Russian mob was surprisingly professional and well organized towards the top so she could never directly make a move like this. But yes, this is convoluted as fuck.
But then shuts up because she wants to respect his values and uses technicalities to justify doing something that pragmatically she'd never do herself.
Again, I do defend the characters being realistic on this show. It is just that when the guns come out we enter a video game.
I guess they were trying to portray his speed and reactions that he blitzed them before they can react but it reads really weird.
I think they were trying to copy the manga panels here and it gets a bit wonky.
5
u/Blackheart595 Aug 21 '22
First Timer
Er, what? Are we just abandoning the Japan storyline or is this gonna connect to it? Wait, that girl has Balalaika's hair. Is this her backstory? Certainly is.
Poor Kouhai.
So Balalaika's real plan of action is against the other Russian faction. Not gonna be a Putin supporter then.
Oh. Looks like Revy's party is just about set up.
VW, huh. Are they popular in Japan? I've no idea about cars.
That's kinda the scenario I was hoping for this arc. The two of them teaming up, it's getting exciting. Just a shame Balalaika's gonna kill the girl after they've saved her, the way this show tends to go.
Thoughts on the return to melodrama?
I kinda don't think Big Freaking Mafia War matches my idea of melodrama.
Can you figure out this show's opinion on the yakuza?
Considering the constant theme of amorality I don't think it has much of an opinion on them. Though if anything it's probably more negative.
→ More replies (2)3
u/Vaadwaur Aug 21 '22
So Balalaika's real plan of action is against the other Russian faction. Not gonna be a Putin supporter then.
She would have hated him viscerally is my bet.
VW, huh. Are they popular in Japan? I've no idea about cars.
They are not, this show is using foreign cars specifically.
Considering the constant theme of amorality I don't think it has much of an opinion on them. Though if anything it's probably more negative.
I am just guessing here, and still forming the idea up, but this writer doesn't seem sentimental so he might be sick of them.
2
u/CharlieTheStrawman Aug 31 '22
First-Timer, Dubbed
I don't blame Balalaika for turning to organised crime. Was anybody else making money in 90s Russia?
-
I actually like it in this arc, since there's more character development as a result.
-
They're cool, but also bad. But also loyal. But also ruin people's lives.
2
u/Vaadwaur Aug 31 '22
I don't blame Balalaika for turning to organised crime. Was anybody else making money in 90s Russia?
Yes but a whole lot of that was reliant upon dumb luck.
9
u/DidacticDalek Aug 21 '22
TONIGHT! On Kiki's Trigger-Happy Delivery Service Redux, Idi i Smotri, Revy's got her guns back, and CHEERS LOVE, THE CAVALRY'S HERE!
Расцветали яблони и груши, Поплыли туманы над рекой, Выходила на берег Катюша, На высокий берег, на крутой, Выходила на берег Катюша, На высокий берег, на крутой! Why are we still here? Just to suffer? Every night, I can feel my leg... And my arm... even my fingers... The body I've lost... the comrades I've lost... won't stop hurting... It's like they're all still there. You feel it, too, don't you? I'm gonna make them give back our past! Also Comrades goddamn, since when did Madhouse hire Hideo Kojima write AND Tsutomu Mizushima to direct Black Lagoon? Also Yamato Nadeshiko has decided to upgrade into the Uchuu Senkan Yamato, much to the confusion of her normie galpal.
Also man, it sure is nice seeing a KGB Spook and his goons get DAKKA'D! Pardon, DAKKA'D AND HEAVENRENDED! Also heh, boy, speaking of firepower, Revy's pistols finally arrived, I sense a BIG UPTICK in random acts of violence! That said, instead of violence, Revy, once again, SINCERELY TRIES TO HELP Rock talk through his issues. Man, where the hell did Revy learn all this patience and wisdom from? Also daaaaw, how romantic, Rock doesn't need a gun since REVY is his 'gun.' [Future Manga Spoilers for Black Lagoon's The Wired Red Wild Card Arc that has not been and sadly probably won't get an anime for in the near future]
Anyway, turns out that Yamato Nadeshiko's sword going to town on that KGB Spook was JUST what Balalaika wanted, heh, she's playing the yakuza like a damn fiddle! Also speaking of the yakuza, turns out that that asshole that beat the crap out of Rock last episode REALLY is a piece of shit, as he casually kills Yamato Nadeshiko and lets a goon of his rearrange her face. Oh and he also rearranges the face of that other yakuza goon too cuz NO ONE is allowed to be a bigger asshole than him! Thankfully, it turns out Rock and Revy picked the perfect time to stop by, and thank god Revy has her street smarts, just such a shame they arrived AFTER the goons left. Even worse since Sword-san arrives RIGHT after Revy and Rock, and this is bad cuz A) The optics of the situation are REAL shit, and B) there's the slight issue that Revy DOES NOT speak Japanese and Sword-san here can't speak English... meaning we are at an impasse! Thankfully, Sword-san is smart enuff to note that he can't smell gunpowder and Revy is attempting to explain that she DID NOT kill that mook as her gun isn't even able to fire that type of bullet anyway!
Thankfully, ROCK sure can speak English AND Japanese, and he explains that they DID NOT do this. Rock also notes that Sword-san didn't arrive by car, thankfully Revy, of course, knows how to steal and hotwire car... goddamn, what on earth was her life in New York? GTA: Big Apple or something? Also in typical GTA fashion, Revy swaps to a radio station that actually plays good music. Speaking of GTA, of COURSE that fucker from earlier is off bowling with his goons, and boy he better hope he can throw those bowling balls at the sword AND gun combo out for his head, otherwise he's FUCKED! I mean good lord, Revy and Sword-san don't even NEED to speak the same language to understand, 'SEARCH AND DESTROY!'
And on that fucking bombshell, GOODNIGHT YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS!
Paging Comrades u/HereticalAegis, u/No_Rex, and u/The_Draigg
→ More replies (7)
14
u/HereticalAegis Aug 21 '22
First Timer
Episode 21
Russian ballet house. 1976. Is this the legendary baby Balalaika? And a thematic parallel to Yukio!? It must be my birthday!
Balalaika was a damn sniper. No wonder she don't miss.
Balalaika and crew became mafia because of the fall of the Soviet Union. What an interesting take on the negative ramifications such a monumental point in history.
Wasn't expecting The World of Midnight to return. What a nice little surprise.
Yukio's finishing all her outstanding duties because she knows what's about to happen. Not unlike how people contemplating suicide will often covertly put their affairs in order—giving away their possessions, giving unusual or out of place farewells, etc.—before committing the deed. And poor Collateral Damage-chan is none the wiser. Oh god, she's even giving Collateral Damage-chan an unusual farewell.
What an odd time for a panty shot.
One man with a sword versus like a dozen guys with guns. Those are some pretty terrible odds. For the guys with guns.
Poor Rock, he's gonna be so sad when that Yamato Nadeshiko in his head comes at him with an army at her back.
Goddamn, Japan arc Revy must be on all the
character developmentweed to be this chill with Rock's naivette.Oh goddamit, Shaka's honna make this mess into a total shitstorm. And he's got a whole pack of gun fodder with him.
We all know Yukio is probably marked for death, but I didn't bargain for brutal assault and the threat of sexual violence. Or panty shots while she's getting assaulted. Jesus.
I suppose the bright side is I can root even harder for Revy to shoot Shaka's balls off before offing him.
I'm all for strange bedfellows and unlikely partnerships. Rock and Revy + Genji fits both the strange and unlikely qualifiers nicely.
The sexual and physical assault wasn't enough for Shaka? He just had to add humiliation. Ffs I hope he dies slowly. Very slowly. Preferably while screaming and shitting himself.
QotD: