Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage
The underbelly of society, where even good people are bad is where you will find the city of Roanapur. It is a city controlled by Pirates, Mercenaries and the Mafia. In the midst of this is a small organization, The Lagoon Company, are doing what ever it takes to survive. This leads to some rather unforgettable stories, and I do mean unforgettable. Black Lagoon is a hard hitting saga that does not fear to take on the real issues in the criminal world, from child abuse and torture to Honouring the Family name. This dark series of events will make you think twice about the romantic ideal of the Criminal world that is often portrayed in Anime and Film alike.
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage covers the second season or episodes 12-24 in the Black Lagoon series. The major characters are Revy, Rock, Dutch and Benny. Together they are The Lagoon Company. Along with a large cast of others in Roanapur every day is a lesson in the futility of life. The essence of this series has to be the question of what is right or what is wrong. Black Lagoon does not make any high moral stance but instead posses the question of how grey is the grey area they live in. There is a code of conduct and it is as simple as the idea that they are all the walking dead, it is just a matter of time before they meet their bloody end.
This existential question is at the heart of each of the 3 episodes stories. You will even find characters referring to the likes of Sartre and veiled reference to Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. In one of the episodes Revy talks to Rock about their existence and about how they and everyone else in Roanapur are nothing more than the walking dead. She clearly believes that there is no such thing as fate and that life is meaningless, but at the same time she does care about those around her, but is afraid to get to close.
The Second Barrage is much more about what the Lagoon Company does for a living as opposed to the first season that got more into character development. This made the series more fun and at the same time just a little more depressing and dark. I found this set of 12 episodes at fast and furious ride and also disturbing with its hard hitting reality.
EPISODES:
Disc One: "The Vampire Twins Comen", "Bloodsport Fairytale", "Swan Song at Dawn" and "Greenback Jane"
Disc Two: "The Roanapur Freakshow Circus", "Mr. Benny's Good Fortune", "Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise" and "The Succession"
Disc Three: "Two Father's Little Soldier Girls", "The Dark Tower", "Snow White's Payback" and "The Gunslingers"
Disc Four: Extras
I am not sure why this disc in provided, it only contains text less songs and the Japanese opening and closing. All together a full 6 minutes of material.
Over all Black Lagoon promises to provide the Adult viewer a full line of entertainment and thought provoking stories worth every minute spent. Be ready for an eye full. The recommended viewer is 17 + due to violence and strong language.
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage was Directed By Sunao Katabuichi, Produced by Madhouse Studio and will be released in English Dub on 04/24/2009 by FUNimation .
ComicsOnline gives Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage a solid 4.5 out of 5 Shots to the Head.
