hontou ni
25Jun/0613

Black Lagoon 12

Revy and Shen Hoa rescue Rock from the jungle camp but he's been seriously unsettled by his conversation with Takenaka. After plenty of pushing and shoving, the two ladies deal with most of their pursuers and make it in time for the delivery to the CIA in the American base. 64 large screencaps and scene comments follow:













I loved how Rock immediately recognised the distinctive sound of Revy's Cutlasses and how smug Revy was when she showed up triumphant at his door, calling him "Baby" and saying that Mommy had come to deliver his cherry pie and asking him to continue to be a good boy for a while longer.















Rock tries to tell Revy about his conversation with Takenaka but she's much too absorbed by the prospect of fun (i.e. a fight).


So Zhang works for the CIA after all. I was going to make a snarky comment about him wearing sunglasses at night and indoors but then he's just too cool. Besides Dutch does that too.















Revy offers Rock a smoke (weed?) to help him calm down but he reacts badly to it, becoming completely depressed.







As to why the briefcase was empty at the end of the previous episode, Revy had hidden the contents - safe and sound between her breasts. Basically she's tricked Shen Hoa into saving Rock and putting the whole delivery mission at risk as a result. What a gal! Btw if Revy doesn't wear a bra, why aren't her nipples showing through her top?





Turns out that the CIA has dirt on Revy too. orz
Couldn't help but think of the two arseholes from the GITS:SAC episode Jungle Cruise









Rock finally thanks Revy for saving him. She responds by knocking him on the head, scolds him for being so stupid and incompetent and says that his pay should be cut. Rock smiles as he knows this is just her way of saying welcome back to the Lagoon Company. The current balance of heavy tsun-tsun and just the barest hint of dere-dere works well - too much of the latter and it would wreck Revy's tough and rough girl characterisation.

Thanks for Takenaka's survival instincts, he and Ibraha survived Shen Hoa and Revy's assaults. But Ibraha has gotten so riled up that he's ordered his men to pursue them all the way into the American base. Knowing that this would lead to the destruction of their unit and wider mission, Takenaka kills the over-emotional Ibraha and orders a retreat. The episode ends with Takenaka at the airport where he declares that his job is to be the enemy of imperialism. Takenaka's connection with the Lebanese Ibraha seems to recall those of the Japanese Red Army.

Bit of an abrupt ending. We are shown in no uncertain terms that Revy has accepted Rock as a full-fledged comrade and despite Revy's looking at the dawn, the way the episode ends with Takenaka's declaration had no closure. I can only assume and hope that it means a second season will pick up straight from here.

Related posts:

  1. Black Lagoon 5
  2. Black Lagoon 4
  3. Black Lagoon 17

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  1. robin
    June 25th, 2006 - 23:15

    The whole jungle scene reminds me of MADLAX for some reason – gee, I wonder why?
    Love the breast shot of Revy but I’d rather have her and Rock kiss, even if it’s just by accident or as a ruse. I keep hoping the cigarette kiss was just foreshadowing. Let’s hope there is a second season.

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  2. Haesslich
    June 26th, 2006 - 03:48

    Well, it’s a nice way to end off the arc and this season or series – with a hint of fanservice, and without removing the ‘tough girl’ image which really sells Revy (outside of the incredible figure) – which is better than when they cause the girl to melt completely after finding the guy she liked in danger, unlike SOME shows we could name….

    Mind you, I do like the fact that Revy DID care enough about Rock to get him rescued without telling anyone about what she’d hid in her cleavage… although I guess that the lack of nipples on the fabric either means she’s got none, or else has some other padding in there to keep them from showing. Of course, the fact we’re talking about this makes us more like Jason Miao’s readers than anything else…

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  3. Zyl
    June 26th, 2006 - 09:55

    Personally I’d prefer it if any Revy x Rock was kept off screen and with the barest hint on screen. There might be sexual tension but, the way I read it, the two of them have developed more of the camaraderie of the exclusive membership of an elite and close-knit unit than a boy meets girl relationship. There are elements of both but at this point the former factor (esprit de corp) is probably a better explanation for Revy’s (albeit mixed) motivations. Again, all this ambiguity in the characters (even the villians) has been a big plus point in my appreciation of this series.

    re: lack of nipples. It’s a weird thing how squeamish animators are about sex and anatomical correctness but are perfectly happy to show lots of violence and anti-social behaviour – implies that murder and mayhem are more ok than fully acknowledging that Revy is a woman. LOL

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  4. Arakan7
    June 27th, 2006 - 00:24

    It seems to be following the same format of Vandread (ie DEFINITELY a next season ^_^) so here’s to season 2!! I guess that as long as Rock gets kidnapped by guys with guns that Revy will forgive him as long as she gets to kick there arses and have fun doing it.

    I won’t be surprised if Revy starts stealing Rock’s white shirts and using them as pajama tops later on. Probably her way of making Rock wear her ahola shirts that she buys him.

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  5. Haesslich
    June 27th, 2006 - 03:02

    Zyl: I’m happy with the way things are – not every relationship between men and women has to end in romance; affection =/= love affair, after all. Besides, she gets to ride him for being a very staid salaryman, which gives their interactions the type of easy banter that came with a show like “Moonlighting” from the 1980′s; something that got completely tanked as a series because they let the main character become a couple rather than keeping up any sort of tension or allowing them verbal sparring. Heck, I love how casual Shen Hoa is… well, at least up till she finds out that Revy stuck the item in her cleavage. I have to wonder how tight her shirts are, to keep THAT from slipping out… o_O

    I guess that makes me more like one of the AoMM readers than anything. :D

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  6. Chris
    July 1st, 2006 - 12:37

    I agree that it was the right decision not to go the luvy duvy route which would have been a betrayal of the manga. It’s a pity it’s so short but as I said before this made an almost perfect series. I only found the nazi arc a little bit stretched especially b/c it had too little Revy screen time but that’s really the only negative point in my book. There are very few series which left such a downright positive expression on me. I almost feel like these morons who give everything they watch a 9/10. I can only say “I have it all” from the opening song was not a lie.

    Now that you mention it, it is a bit odd that her nipples didn’t show up but maybe her nipples are really really soft. ^_^ Maybe they just wanted to stay true to the manga
    Anyway, Black Lagoon was never about realism or talking with Madlax “There’s no reason for this war.” and the fighting was almost as surreal as in Madlax, just more action-packed, tougher and a little more believable but realistic? Hell no. Also I don’t think it ever send a merry can message like “Violence is OK, Sex is teh evil”. There was just enough skin and pr0n talk on the screen to make it not a ridiculous ecchi series. At least with a bit more, many people would have only approached it for that reason. Even Revy’s outfit fits her needs actually. It’s seemingly hot in those places and she needs a lot of flexibility in her moves. Maybe wearing a neoprene suit all the time would have been more appropriate but a little bit silly, right?
    I believe hiding those papers under her skirt was rather a joke than anything else.

    And I really loved the moment when calls Rock “Baby”. I didn’t understand it as a “Mommy has come to rescue you” although he might have said that (I only watched so raw so far and I don’t really understand Japanese beyond “Ore wa” and “tonikakun”). I found it funny b/c it looked like an inverse damsel in distress situation. Her posing then was just too cool to be true. I’m really curious for the subbed version to see what she said. Last but not least, you just have to love that scene where Revy touches Shen’s naked hips to get her out of her way.

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  7. Zyl
    July 1st, 2006 - 13:53

    Chris, spot on for the inverse damsel in distress.

    As for what Revy says, I don’t have much confidence but what I think it was:
    Baby, baby, have you been a good boy?
    I need you to be a good boy for a little while more, sweetie pie.
    Have bought (you) some liquorice candy, yo.
    Right, let’s get out of here.

    Shen Hoa: Oh, this is the idiot?
    Rock: Who the hell is that? (sounded like Kyon :P )

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  8. Chris
    July 4th, 2006 - 04:11

    Regarding nipples again, this shows that they really don’t show up necessarily:
    http://www.moviebadgirls.com/actionimage/actiongirlssylviasaintgberet004.jpg

    So if her shirt isn’t made of thin fabric, it’s not unrealistic. By the way, you didn’t see any sweat on her either.

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  9. Haesslich
    July 9th, 2006 - 22:48

    Hmm…. interesting to see the other roles that Revy’s seiyuu (Megumi Toyoguchi) has played in other anime: Mimiru from the .hack series, Yumi Oomura from Chobits, Winry from Full Metal Alchemist, Sei from Maria-sama ga Miteru, and the standard Gundam connection through Mirrilia Haww… and how none of these roles really sound like Revy, or act like Revy. :D

    I can’t wait for Geneon to release this, though – if they’re following the same route they’re going with Ichigo Mashimaro (releases every two months), I’ll be a very happy camper. Incidentally, anyone know how they’re handling the dub, since it IS going to be released in NA? I hope whoever gets Revy keeps that Bad Girl thing going, without taking it too far.

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  10. killacovertops
    August 2nd, 2006 - 06:25

    I personally like the luby duby stuff..and im a guy.. i would love to see them finally just get close and kiss. That would make me love this show even more. And my idea on the nipples would have to be either shes wearing some type of bra and she lifted it along with the shirt mabe..or mabe they just forgot women have nipples? or mabe she got em cut off in a fight? hahaha im sick.. anyways.. quit teasing me with the closeness possiblility!!! it drives me mad!

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  11. Skane
    August 18th, 2006 - 06:46

    Well, it finally happened. The last episode of Black Lagoon, and what a ride it has been. Pedal to the Metal action from start to finish.

    I especially like the nonchalant banter between Shenhua and Revy as they took turns to insult each other ‘affectionately’. Quite surreal as well, when they played games to see who gets to fight the rebels.

    Rock as usual, was a bundle of joy to watch as he takes stock of the absurd situation he is in. Normally, a guy would be screaming, “WTF is going on!” but Rock has been so imbued with the absurdity that he can just dismiss it with an “Oh, whatever…” attitude.

    Lots of hints that the story is not finished yet though… here’s hoping to a second season. :)
    ~~~~ ~~~~

    Fans of Revy can continue to hear her voice in Innocent Venus as a crack-squad officer named… Lenny.

    Minor Spoiler from Ep03 of Innocent Venus

    I love Jin, if only because he inflicts psychological trauma onto a little girl and induces Stockholm Syndrome into her.
    ~~~~ ~~~~

    Cheers.

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  12. Skane
    August 18th, 2006 - 12:29

    ADD] I didn’t notice it at first, since the sequence was blazing fast, but when I took the screenshots for the following .gif, I realised that they used a stunt double.

    Not Shenhua?

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  13. Decept
    October 1st, 2006 - 01:29

    There is gonna be a second season and they have said it will be released fall 2006 for your information can’t wait almost there :) “Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage” is the name of the sequel.

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