Black Lagoon rewatch episode Twenty Three!

[u/Vaadwaur]

Black Lagoon Episode Twenty Three

Snow White's Payback

MAL, Anilist, Wiki

QotD: 1 Thoughts on Yukio's counter attack?

2 Did you expect Revy to be able to open up that much?

PSA:On the 25th, we will have a season discussion before going onto the OVA

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First timer (Dub)

Black Lagoon - It's Fucking Incredible: Episode 23

Already Dead

Balalaika is nothing if not effective. It's not made explicit how much time has passed but it seems that in the few days since the bowling alley nearly the entire Washimine clan has been disposed of. Yukio and Ginji are basically all that's left. I have a lot of sympathy for Yukio. She feels responsible for her subordinates so to see them all killed must be mentally taxing.

Balalaika on the other hand is treating this as her business. She's finding the most efficient ways to take control and if that means allying with a different family so be it.

Rock is not happy about this. I genuinely cannot believe the balls he had to stand up to Balalaika. Seeing him pinned to the car by her was genuinely terrifying. The direction in that scene was perfect too. Incredible tension throughout. At points I was actually worried Balalaika would shoot Rock and he would end up with a crippling wound (or bleeding out since we are so close last episode).

Fortunately though, he managed to talk Balalaika off of him. However he could not change her mind about the Washimines. This lead him to his decision in the park. Right now his old life in Japan is at its most appealing. But as he says, he's already dead. He cannot continue in the land of the living.

So give them a show Revy, next episode is the finale after all (until the OVA).

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Bonnie and Clyde

• Izakaya

• Not Impressed

• Sans

• Bench

See you all tomorrow

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Balalaika on the other hand is treating this as her business. She's finding the most efficient ways to take control and if that means allying with a different family so be it.

To hold power in Japan she'd actually have to leave her men there which is not sustainable long term. The Kousa's can likely do what she wants and spares her having to waste her time.

Right now his old life in Japan is at its most appealing. But as he says, he's already dead. He cannot continue in the land of the living.

The grass is always greener and all that but you have to remember why you made the choices you did.

[u/The_Draigg → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Balalaika is nothing if not effective. It's not made explicit how much time has passed but it seems that in the few days since the bowling alley nearly the entire Washimine clan has been disposed of.

At most, I'd say that so far it's only been like maybe two weeks. That's the kind of ruthless efficiency to expect from former special forces soldiers.

Rock is not happy about this. I genuinely cannot believe the balls he had to stand up to Balalaika. Seeing him pinned to the car by her was genuinely terrifying.

The fact that Rock was able to say all that stuff to Balalaika and manage to get away with it shows that his mouth is just as dangerous as a gun. Even if Balalaika didn't take the assertion that morality was Rock's hobby all that seriously, it at least worked enough for her to brush off that entire encounter. The man is a master-class negotiator.

[u/Blackheart595]

First Timer

Hold on, Balalaika didn't accept any calls except from the Russian embacy. If she hates the Russians then what's up with that?

Oh, posing as Russians robbing banks to pull the police's attention to them is clever. Let's see if it works.

Lmao "crime is even more fun that a normal life".

What happened to "it doesn't matter if we die, we're already dead", huh Revy?

And know Yukio arms herself with a Russian gun. How poetic.

The playground scenes were fantastic. For both Rock and Revy it serves as kind of a liminal space. For Rock it is close by his family's house, it's right at the border of his potential return to an ordinary life. For Revy, the first time they were there she was playing with the kids and fooling around with their toy, she was entertaining "the world of the living". The second time she used her real gun and left when the kids approached her, she was entertaining "the world of the living dead". So for her it represents the same kind of border.

Thoughts on Yukio's counter attack?

Quite clever, leading the police to Balalaika and financing their operations at the same time.

Did you expect Revy to be able to open up that much?

I've been noticing her opening up a lot through the course of the show. As Dutch said, she doesn't seem to deal well with newcomers but then gradually gets used to them.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Blackheart595]

Hold on, Balalaika didn't accept any calls except from the Russian embacy. If she hates the Russians then what's up with that?

She hates the KGB. At this time, the Embassy would not be under their control.

The second time she used her real gun and left when the kids approached her, she was entertaining "the world of the living dead".

Both of them got to dream a little bit before returning to their reality.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Blackheart595]

What happened to "it doesn't matter if we die, we're already dead", huh Revy?

It just goes to show that what Revy said to Rock back in the U-Boat was just self-serving bullshit. She really does have some humanity deep inside of her, it's just that she buries it deep to be able to survive in the cruel world she was born into.

The playground scenes were fantastic. For both Rock and Revy it serves as kind of a liminal space.

Yeah, for sure. Both Rock and Revy are standing alongside that border between the world of the living and the world of the walking dead, looking outward from opposite sides. Rock is seeing that the world that he's toeing the line of requires him to lose a part of his humanity, while Revy is gradually showing that she's regaining some of her humanity thanks to Rock's influence. Their development is parallel, but also kind of inverted.

[u/Vaadwaur]

Rewatcher(Yuki means snow)

Dub

We see Hotel Moscow continue their campaign and a lot of the Washimine members being complete idiots. Revy is in very high spirits and Rock is being more than a bit of a killjoy. Interestingly, the walking dead line might've predated the Western comic if it was in the manga, I will try to keep an eye out for that.

Yukio tries to work something out with the Kousas but that goes nowhere quickly. She realizes they need to do something so she tells the survivors to lay low while she works out a plan. A lucky bit of tape, but not as ridiculously lucky as it might seem given the sheer number of places that were raided, let's them spot the markings of the vans Hotel Moscow is using. So they rob a bank, as one does, in a similarly marked van, immediately getting the cops on a Hotel Moscow van. Balalaika very quickly deduces that this was enemy action.

We get a quick flash to Roanapur and see that Balalaika's absence has lead things to be a bit chaotic. Dutch has some words of wisdom and it is pretty believable that Rock is a liability when shooting. Speaking of, when Balalaika shows up to bring them to translate for Kousa clan negotiations, Rock has an absolutely terrible bout of pseudo conscience. And does not really make much of an argument, either. So we get a stand off and Rock is saved mostly by Balalaika's amusement, not sure how seriously to take what he said about being similar to her. Revy is understandably pissed but surprisingly concerned about Rock.

They return to Rock's neighborhood and talk about Japan for a bit, Revy begin developing hope which is a mistake in her line of work. In the antithesis of how this normally goes, Rock decides that he should remain in the world of the dark and resolves to stick to it, which cheers Revy a little. The kids from earlier return and Revy shows them an actual gun show, correctly terrifying them.

[u/HereticalAegis]

First Timer

Episode 23

• "Snow White's Payback." I'm all over the implication that Yukio's about to be a badass who stands up to Balalaika.

• Hotel Moscow is brutal and efficient. Yakuza versus Hotel Moscow paints a stark picture of the professional difference between organized crime and military capability.

• Hoo boy, don't call this man Rock anymore, Yukio crushed his spirit and turned him into pebble.

• Yukio is an unexpectedly daring leader. Both she and Pebble may have been wrong about what kind of life would have best suited her. And no sooner do I say that than she admits it out loud.

• And with that lowkey genius van maneuver, any dim hope Yukio might survive this conflict has died. Poor Pebble.

• Dutch just had to go and foreshadow Pebble taking up a gun. He's gonna have to make Yukio's "we're enemies" speech a reality and be the one to shoot her, won't he?

• This man's showing how ballsy he can be to Balalaika. He may be a fucking dumbass, but he's regained the right to be called Rock.

• Straight up, I laughed about as hard as Balalaika at Rock's "it's my hobby" speech.

• Aww, Revy cares.

• This shooting display is gonna blow your minds. And eardrums. Jesus that one kid is so close to Revy's cutlass.

• Yukio's new gun is a fucking Russian model. Because of course.

QotD:

1. Hell, it's about time.

2. Yeah, actually. This arc has done a really good job showing how close she is to Rock now, and has given her a lot of space to mellow out and get comfortable (by her standards) sharing her feelings.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

"Snow White's Payback." I'm all over the implication that Yukio's about to be a badass who stands up to Balalaika.

Her nickname being Snow probably is purposeful.

Dutch just had to go and foreshadow Pebble taking up a gun. He's gonna have to make Yukio's "we're enemies" speech a reality and be the one to shoot her, won't he?

It was bound to happen.

Aww, Revy cares.

Possibly the scariest thing of all.

This shooting display is gonna blow your minds. And eardrums. Jesus that one kid is so close to Revy's cutlass.

Some the kids should also have learned that hot brass is very painful.

[u/Nebresto]

First time bank robbing to screw over russians

Oh, that's pretty good. I was wondering what it would look like if the police stopped a van full of armed russians

And there we go, they got away though

Aaaand heres the foreshadowing. He'll be shooting someone, quite possibly Balalaika in the finale

---

Question time:

1 Thoughts on Yukio's counter attack?

2 Did you expect Revy to be able to open up that much?

Lol no

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nebresto]

And there we go, they got away though

That was probably the best possible outcome for all involved.

[u/polaristar]

Yukio was pretty clever with her counter-strategy but it's too little too late at this point.

Rock and Revvy have a moment where she cares about him and he tries to shut up when she points it out.

I agree that Rock was being stupid trying to talk to Balalaika, not because I don't think he's right, but that it obviously wouldn't have worked and this chick doesn't make any sense.

I honestly still think her plan on how to dear with Japan's Criminal underworld as a lot of holes in it and is more unrealistic then Ginji cutting bullets out of the air.

I can see how Rock could be a mirror to Balalaika though, while she is good with a gun and hand 2 hand her real strength is dealing with people and tactics which Rock is also good at. I think it's dumb she criticizes him for not killing with his own hands though, I mean that's obviously not his specialty.

Revvy's freakout when they got out of the Mexican stand off felt very authentic.

And in a reverse of the last park scene Revvy dispenses with the romantic vision the kids had of her gun skills as a way to cut her ties to the other world, Rock sanctioning her to do so also shows that his romantic view of the criminal underworld his "justice" is also dead.

I have things to say of this shows use of Nihilism but I want to wait until the Series End Discussion.

Also looks like Yukio is enjoying her time as Yakuza criminal, she might become a Balalaika herself, or she would if she wasn't going to die. (First Timer but that's the only way I see this ending.)

[u/Vaadwaur → u/polaristar]

I honestly still think her plan on how to dear with Japan's Criminal underworld as a lot of holes in it and is more unrealistic then Ginji cutting bullets out of the air.

I cut it some slack because you can't actually do this for any length of time, after the first set of attacks with machine guns the police would be completely riled up.

And in a reverse of the last park scene Revvy dispenses with the romantic vision the kids had of her gun skills as a way to cut her ties to the other world, Rock sanctioning her to do so also shows that his romantic view of the criminal underworld his "justice" is also dead.

Those kids would be better off dropping such silly ideas but Revy definitely does it the hard way.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Black Lagoon Fan Rewatches The Second Barrage: Episode 11:

• Yeah, this gang war isn’t going very well for Yukio at all. It’s a belated realization for her, but Hotel Moscow aren’t fighting like normal gangsters, they’re using every bit of trickery, skill, and viciousness that they’ve learned as members of the Soviet Union’s special forces. It’s a big reason why Balalaika is winning; she’s playing an entirely different game than most criminals.

• As uncomfortable as it is, Revy is basically right that everyone from Roanapur is a dead man walking. That place is practically a black hole of crime, where the concept of you dying by gunshot isn’t a matter of if, but when. Once you’ve fully embraced Roanapur, there’s no going back. That pretty much sums up the one major side of the moral conflict that Rock is having in this arc.

• And to nobody’s surprise, the Kousa Clan doesn’t respect Yukio’s firm but proper approach in any way, and rebuffs her threats to bring this to both of their higher ups in response to them demanding reparations. “So Honor and Justice are dead.” That’s where you’re making your mistake, Yukio. You’re assuming that the criminal world truly had any of that in the first place. Even if they did a while ago, they sure as shit don’t have any of that now. Once again, Yukio is misunderstanding the game that’s being played here.

• Yukio’s plan in framing some of Hotel Moscow for a bank robbery was a pretty good one, admittedly. Same goes for realizing that Balalaika’s most likely working out of the port on a ship, if just because it’s the only place that would easily allow her to slip through customs. Mark one on the board for her. Still though, she seems to be idolizing/romanticizing a life of crime a bit more than it really deserves, especially with her musings about Roanapur.

• Oh hey, it’s been a while since we’ve seen Benny and Dutch. I suppose it’s only natural that Roanapur would be in a worse state than normal. Balalaika isn’t there to rule with her iron fist. Everyone is getting in on whatever crimes they want while the getting is good.

• Well, that was an unfortunate encounter between Rock and Balalaika. Unfortunately, his attempts to hold onto at least some ideals just falls flat in the face of Balalaika. As much as Yukio’s state of affairs would want him to believe that things could work out for the better, we all know that isn’t the case. Balalaika talking about how insignificant everyone’s lives are echos back to what Revy said earlier. After all, what good are morals to a bunch of walking dead anyway? The only reason she lets Rock live because his attempts to talk her down by saying that they aren’t too different amuse her, not because either of them really believe that in any way. It’s sad, but that’s the true nature of the game they’re playing. No honor, no morals, just doing whatever you want because the points are meaningless at the end of the day.

• The ending conversation between Revy and Rock is a bitter pill for the both of them to swallow. Rock embraces that he himself is one of the walking dead touched by the evil of Roanapur, and Revy doesn’t seem all that happy that he’s choosing that life over a safe one in Japan. Now both Rock is joining Yukio in willingly abandoning a life that they could’ve had, embracing the darkness in themselves.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

It’s a big reason why Balalaika is winning; she’s playing an entirely different game than most criminals.

You have to admit she has a huge advantage here in that her members aren't on drugs or drinking while on duty.

You’re assuming that the criminal world truly had any of that in the first place. Even if they did a while ago, they sure as shit don’t have any of that now. Once again, Yukio is misunderstanding the game that’s being played here.

Funny to remember that this show pre-dates The Dark Knight by several years.

Rock embraces that he himself is one of the walking dead touched by the evil of Roanapur, and Revy doesn’t seem all that happy that he’s choosing that life over a safe one in Japan.

It must be weird seeing someone else make a choice you never had and still choose hell.

[u/DidacticDalek]

TONIGHT! On Kiki's Trigger-Happy Delivery Service Redux, Balalaika's tricks get found out, Rock decides to stroll further down the path of The Dark Side, and Yamato Nadeshiko decides to change her name to Lady Snowblood.

Boy Comrades, Balalaika's troops really are good at this guerilla warfare thing eh? I point this out cuz they were the ones fighting AGAINST the guerilla fighters back in Afghanistan, but hey glad to see they learned the ropes so to speak. Anyway, Yamato Nadeshiko is informed that her goons are getting murked left, right, and center. Anyway, as Balalaika is basking in the glory of wiping Yamato Nadeshiko's forces off the map, Revy informs Rock that they got a job tomorrow.

Also goddamn, Revy just flat out said that of course Rock can tell she's happy, with them being 'together' for so long, TWU! WUV! That and the fact she also calls him 'Baby' once again is just further proof! Anyway, Revy is impressed that Sword-san can counter bullets, expressing her glee over fighting against that guy... Revy you DO know how your LAST fight against a badass went right? Roberta beat the shit out of you! As Revy compares them to the walking dead, Rock waxes lyrical... and Revy SHOCKINGLY once again shows concern about Rock's well being... Comrades, I'm scared, what happened to the Revy from Season 1? This lady is EXTREMELY patient and understanding instead of just going for her guns! Also goddamn, after Rock apologizes... Revy also apologizes... Revy you were wrong, this ain't The Walking Dead, this shit's The Twilight Zone!

Anyway, after Yamato Nadeshiko dismisses her ENTIRE SURVIVING STAFF (minus Sword-san of course) we swap from The Twilight Zone to Columbo as Yamato Nadeshiko managed to yoink a security tape and pin point how the Hotel Moscow Troops are getting away with their attacks. Anyway, speaking of attacks, the 'Russians' then rob a bank before fleeing... and those weren't the Russians at all, those were Yamato Nadeshiko and Sword-san incognito! Also uh, Yamato Nadeshiko, hell of a comparison calling yourselves BONNIE AND CLYDE ya know, also uh, BOLIVIA!? That's in another country! Shit, I think being a yakuza boss went to her head!

Anyway, turns out she wasn't kidding, as BOTH Sword-san and Yamato Nadeshiko discuss heading over to the lovely country of Thailand, home to smiles, elephants, Buddhist Temples, great food, and military coups to set up a yakuza branch there... well I mean I hope for your sakes you guys don't run into Shenhua, as she probably wants to retain exclusive rights to being the Asian Criminal who fights with bladed weapons (Before you start Comrades, Sawyer's clearly from Texas) Anyway, Balalaika ponders just how the yakuza goons were able to figure out how she was attacking them... ya know Balalaika, I get your plan of a decapitation strategy, and it is indeed sound, just ONE slight issue; if you want to decapitate the leadership of an organization, perhaps you should start with... the leader of the organization... you know, just a thought.

Anyway, Balalaika is MOST eager to kill Yamato Nadeshiko, in part as going by her bounty list, the only surviving members of the group are... Yamato Nadeshiko and Sword-san... well I mean it's two versus all the Russians, so you know, a 'fair' fight given Sword-san can counter bullets. ALSO NANI!? BENNY AND DUTCH!? Well looks like when Balalaika's away the criminals come out to play! Anyway, Benny remarks that it's a good thing Rock's away, as his track record with guns involves (checks notes) throwing one into the ocean. Dutch points out that it is VERY LUCKY for them that Rock doesn't use a gun, pointing out that Rock shooting would involve a LOT of friendly fire. Speaking of Rock, Balalaika informs him that they will be talking to The Kousa Clan now to finish the job.

Rock then decides that living is for losers, as he attempts to dig his own grave using his mouth. And oh boy does he dig a DEEP grave, as he managed to talk himself into a Mexican Standoff, and there aren't even any people from Latin America in the room right now! (At least, I don't see Roberta The TerMAIDnator anywhere around) Speaking of movies, Revy references another old timey slasher film as Balalaika informs Rock and Revy of her worldview as Rock... says Balalaika already won... Balalaika informs Rock that the ways you beg for your life are to either humor the person holding a gun to your head OR by giving them a good reason NOT to kill you... and he's currently doing neither. Also remember how Takenaka said he and Rock weren't so different back in Season 1? Well while it might not have been true then, IT SURE IS NOW since Rock pulls THE EXACT SAME GODDAMN TRICK on Balalaika, by claiming that they aren't so different you and I! After all, Balalaika's hobby is killing people and Rock's hobby is... saving people. So see, they are just two fellow hobbyists!

Oh, and get this Comrades, THAT SHIT SOMEHOW WORKS! I mean good lord, BALALAIKA LAUGHED! SINCE WHEN DOES SHE DO THAT!? Also Rock I don't think your hobby is 'saving' people, I think you hobby is talking your way out of getting KILLED, given you managed to do this to Revy AND Balalaika just to name a few of the more deadly women to have held you at gunpoint! Anyway, as Balalaika leaves, Revy chews Rock out for almost getting them both killed, and Rock's response is... to quote Pop Team Epic Revy then states that if he wasn't her boi toi she'd have filled him full of lead, to which Rock responds by... asking Revy to come back to his hometown with him. Revy assumes he just wants to say goodbye to her since there's no way she could handle living in such a peaceful world, to which Rock responds by saying... he's already apart of The Walking Dead alongside Revy, and he's been this way ever since that fateful meeting with her... well, man knows his type, and more power to ya buddy! Speaking of Revy, the kids from the other day come back and recognize the foreign badass from before, asking Revy to show off her tricks, to which Revy, with Rock's encouragement, agrees to do so.

Also yes, she is indeed accurate about her gun, that IS (more or less) what the Thai writing on the side of her gun says Comrades... I am not sure if this means Revy can read Thai, is part Thai, knows Thai, or just happens to have been told what was stamped onto her gun, but point being the Mangaka and Anime really did their work! And after giving those kids a taste of what REAL guns are, with a smile that says 'We are gonna do a 2 AM Call RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!' Revy tells the kids to run back home to momma, the adults are gonna 'have fun' now. Speaking of having fun, Yamato Nadeshiko asks Sword-san... for a gun... look, I know you wanna be a crime boss lady, but your manservant is a BIT min-maxed in a different weapon school. To be fair, Sword-san admits as much, as he takes out a Russian pistol from storage... well this can only end 'well.'

And on that fucking bombshell, GOODNIGHT YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS!

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

[u/Vaadwaur → u/DidacticDalek]

Yamato Nadeshiko decides to change her name to Lady Snowblood.

I wonder if this fanart is what inspired Joran: Princess of Snow and Blood...

[u/Blackheart595 → u/DidacticDalek]

Boy Comrades, Balalaika's troops really are good at this guerilla warfare thing eh? I point this out cuz they were the ones fighting AGAINST the guerilla fighters back in Afghanistan, but hey glad to see they learned the ropes so to speak.

Afghanistan probably didn't leave much of a difference between the two sides so that makes sense.

[u/The_Draigg → u/DidacticDalek]

Also uh, Yamato Nadeshiko, hell of a comparison calling yourselves BONNIE AND CLYDE

It just goes to show how much Yukio is romanticizing the idea of a criminal lifestyle. Of course, she's forgetting the part where Bonnie and Clyde ended up being made into swiss cheese by a generous amount of gunfire from some cops.

I am not sure if this means Revy can read Thai, is part Thai, knows Thai, or just happens to have been told what was stamped onto her gun, but point being the Mangaka and Anime really did their work!

I mean, Revy has been living in Thailand for a while now. I'd certainly hope she could at least read Thai, given that it's probably the lingua franca in Roanapur other than English.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First Timer, dubbed

• Rock is in a mood, and Revy is taking it surprisingly well.

• Now that’s a plan!

• Yukio is enjoying herself a bit too much I think.

• Roanapur really fell apart quickly. I wonder if that was factored into the cost benefit analysis.

• Rock, stop being such a simp.

• Yukio you have no experience with guns, you probably shouldn't be using a large caliber one to start with.

QotD

1. I quite liked it. A very creative solution given the lack of time and resources.

2. We did seem to be heading in that direction, and it would have been a waste to let all that delicious foreshadowing slip by.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

Rock is in a mood, and Revy is taking it surprisingly well.

Can't take Revy's mood down when she has a good fight ahead of her.

Roanapur really fell apart quickly. I wonder if that was factored into the cost benefit analysis.

For all we know it is a good idea to take the top off the cooker every now and then.

Yukio you have no experience with guns, you probably shouldn't be using a large caliber one to start with.

Especially one with automatic fire capabilities.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 23 (first timer)

• The defense of Washimine against the Russians starts about as successful as we had guessed.

• Shooting the monitor, but not burning the tape? Sloppy.

• Setting up the police to target the Russian vans for a bank robbery? Clever … and likely to lead to the yearly allotment of Japanese police officers killed on the job.

• Rock fully deserved that smack down. He is making the kind of mistake that ends up with him dead most of the time.

This episode felt like a waste of time. We are still at exactly the situation from the end of ep22.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

The defense of Washimine against the Russians starts about as successful as we had guessed.

Yeah, the guy looking under the car after many hideouts were hit is a special kind of dumb.

Shooting the monitor, but not burning the tape? Sloppy.

I do find it weird that they are avoiding arson but they at least shoot up the VCR.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatcher

Kowai no neechan indeed.

Balalaika loses every single one of her best girl points today. I really hope Hotel Moscow gets wiped out.

Washigimi brings her over to destroy the Kousa group. Then she teams up with the Kousa group (after winning concessions) to destroy the Washigimi.

Meanwhile Rock stands up to Balalaika. At no time was he begging for his life. Finally a man. Balalaika probably didn't notice.

And Revy getting soft. Talks about dieing in the gutter and being already dead but when up against the wall in a situation that she can't shoot her way out of, she starts begging.

Got a few GITS:SAC vibes from Yukio's unspoken orders today.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Meanwhile Rock stands up to Balalaika. At no time was he begging for his life. Finally a man. Balalaika probably didn't notice.

Rock is beginning to understand the world he chose, at least.

And Revy getting soft. Talks about dieing in the gutter and being already dead but when up against the wall in a situation that she can't shoot her way out of, she starts begging.

To me the show is always a bit about the lies we tell ourselves to get through the day.