Black Lagoon is a rare action show that manages to hit the perfect balance of character development and over-the-top gunplay. There is no cohesive plot to speak of. Nobody’s trying to save the world, nor is anybody out to preach the virtues of good hygiene, friendship, or the American way. The crew of the Black Lagoon are pirates. They loot, they fight, and they’re not above racking up a body count to get their job done.
The town of Roanapur is best described as a shit hole. It’s a place where the gorgeous tropical vistas hide a den of skullduggery, in which backdoor dealings and illegal work are common. Trust is unheard of; to depend on the locals means that one is either stupid, or has a death wish. A number of mafia branches, from the Chinese Triads to the Russian Mafya, battle for supremacy over the valuable trade routes that pass through the region. It’s in this world of sleaze and filth that the Lagoon Company makes its home.
The Black Lagoon’s crew consists of four members: Dutch, Revy, Rock, and Benny. Dutch is the stalwart captain of the crew. While he prefers to stay out of the firefights, he isn’t above heading into action with a trusty 12-gauge. Benny is the crew’s technical end. He’s never seen active combat, and loves it that way. However, his expertise with tools and computers makes Benny a valuable asset as the Lagoon Company’s mechanic and information expert. Rock is the Lagoon’s newest member. Like Benny, Rock can’t kill in cold blood. However, his skill with words, as well as his business background make Rock a vital accountant and negotiator.
Finally, there’s Revy. She’s not particularly good with words, nor does she have the patience to fix things. Instead, Revy’s skill set rests firmly on the battlefield. Revy is a master markswoman, able to fire a clean shot with either hand. She rushes into battle with an almost childish glee, as she wields her dual 9mm Sword Cutlass custom pistols. Revy’s love of the fight, combined with an almost inhuman agility, leads to elegant bouts of bullet ballet, as she flips, dodges, and dives her way through firefights. Outside of battle, Revy is a fairly nihilistic bitch, who isn’t above looting corpses or putting a bullet in her comrades at point blank if it serves her needs – most of which revolve around the almighty dollar.
The Lagoon Company is a bit of a rarity through the town of Roanapur. They don’t make alliances with the local mafia branches but, at the same time, they are not opposed to doing runs for any of them either. Obviously, this does not sit well with Lagoon’s competition, which aren’t above the occasional act of grisly violence to get what they want. It’s these encounters that drive the series through five multi-episodes arcs, which take the Lagoon company from the jungles of China to the innards of a sunken U-Boat. Through these stories, a different side to the cast begins to surface. Personality quirks, and stories that were obviously meant to remain hidden come to light, as the cast struggles to justify their increasingly despicable actions, or face the demons of their past.
It’s only a matter of time until the shit hits the fan, and the action kicks into overdrive. Bullets fly, blood is spilled, and anything that can explode does explode. All of the mayhem is tied together with slick animation, a thumping electronic score, and a level of detail that is difficult to match.
While it can be said in a number of ways, sometimes the direct approach is best: Black Lagoon kicks ass. Everything just comes together to create an experience that just doesn’t let go until the final episode’s credits roll. Episodes fly by, and the series feels like it ends far too quickly. However, as with any great series, Black Lagoon follows the first rule of show business: “Always keep them wanting more.”
