A year has passed since Rock first joined Lagoon Company, a delivery business
specializing in illegal goods.
Still trying to reside between the world of the living and the dead,
figuratively speaking, Rock cannot fully immerse himself into his new life. This is truly the least of his problems though.
Psycho killer children are running amuck, protecting a counterfeiter has
Lagoon Company up against a horde of assassins, and a mission to Japan could
mean the introduction of the Russian Mafia to the peaceful Japanese society.
This trip back home could mean big changes for Rock as he wrestles between his
past life as a Japanese businessman and his current life, as the man
facilitating the destruction of his homeland.
Review: Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage anime continues the story of Rock as a member of
Lagoon Company, a life he surely never saw himself being a part of.
Keeping most of its charm from the first season, we are again treated to an
action series with mature themes, a willingness to take things to the extreme,
and, while a little toned down, still carries a fair amount of attitude.
The stories have more meat and more emotional undertones this time around,
which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable sequel that propels itself past its
predecessor in overall quality.
Much of the cast from the first season is back, but the focus has shifted
somewhat. While the first season did center much of its time on Rock and Revy, the
second season does so to an even larger extent.
This results in decreased interaction with Dutch and Benny, which move into
much more supportive positions than their previous level of involvement.
Balalaika takes a much more fundamental role in this season, and is thoroughly
entrenched in two of the three story arcs.
Having the series focus on Balalaika is a very strong point for this season,
as it keeps the stories with known characters and uses her entire mafia group
as a facilitator to larger operations that couldn't be happening with just
focusing on the jobs Lagoon Company gets.
Not much can be considered a disappointment in this release, but maybe in
relation to the previous season. Those who were drawn in by its action/comedy tagline may be a bit dismayed by
the lack of both.
As they move their focus more towards the stories and characters themselves,
there will naturally be a decrease in other areas, so it is certainly a
forgivable transgression.
The only other problem I really had was that the
"child assassins" aspect seemed a little ridiculous.
Not so much the use of child assassins, but that they would be able to survive
a huge gun battle with dozens of trained Mafioso for any length of time. They are still children after all.
The animation continues to be impressive, except for the same detail problems
that persisted in the last season (A lack of detail on characters marginally
far away).
I also noticed a few detail problems in a couple fight scenes, but it isn't
anything major.
Since there was only a four month time gap in production between seasons,
there really isn't much of a quality difference between them.
The same trend of fairly unique character designs continues, but to a slightly
lesser extent do to the Japanese location of half the season.
Also a result of production being so close, or because they were lazy, the
soundtrack is almost exactly the same as the first season.
They continue to use the same opening and ending themes as well, except on two
specific occasions.
At the end of episode 15 and 24 there's a new ending sequence and song
specifically to close off each story arc.
Given the downfall of Geneon, I was unable to listen to the Second Barrage in
English, as I had the first season.
While the Japanese language track succeeds in correctly casting everyone, as
per usual, it just doesn't have the same appeal as the Black Lagoon season 2 English dub.
It lacks the individuality that the accents in English brought to the table,
and continues to have hilarious English throughout.
But hey, no one should really have a problem with it, so until we get a
release with an English dub it will appease the dub fans and work great for
sub fans.
Black Lagoon the Second Barrage has all the qualities of the first season, but
with more character development, relationship growth, and above all, Revy
isn't such a bitch to Rock.
More of the same could have been the tagline for the second season, could have
been.
Luckily for us, Black Lagoon the Second Barrage deviates sufficiently from its
previous season in story and development that we are left with a
non-derivative continuation of a great first season.
So while the action and in your face attitude remain, the stories are more
sinister and in-depth this time around, purveying the message that Black
Lagoon season 2 is truly a series coming unto its own. Here's hoping for a third season!
Miscellanies: Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage
The Black Lagoon manga is still ongoing, and with the Second Barrage having
been produced in 2007, the possibility of another season is conceivable, if
nothing else.
Related Reviews: Black Lagoon
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage | |
| Genre | Action |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 12 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Oct 3, 2006 to Dec 19, 2006 |
| Producers | Geneon Universal Entertainment, Front Line |
| Studio | Madhouse |
| Rating | R - 17+ (violence & profanity) |
| Themes | Adult Cast, Organized Crime |
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