Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage – A Bullet-Fueled Return
Title: Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage
Original Title: ブラック・ラグーン (Burakku Ragūn: The Second Barrage)
MyAnimeList Rating: 8.13
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Director: Sunao Katabuchi
Writer: Eiichi Sekine
Studio: Madhouse
Format: Anime (TV Series – Sequel)
Episodes: 12
Premiered: Fall 2006
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Trailer:
Story(Spoiler Free):
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage continues where the original series left off. Revy, Dutch, Benny, and Rock, the hesitant ex-salaryman, have returned to the dangerous seas of Southeast Asia’s criminal underworld as the Lagoon Company.
This season delves deeper into the crew’s histories and the intricate relationships between them. They face new hurdles, including deadly rival gangs, dangerous new players, and even homicidal twins.
The series maintains its episodic pattern, sending the Lagoon Company on a series of high-octane escapades. They could be conveying a mystery gift, dealing with a hostage crisis, or caught up in a mafia turf fight.
While there is no overall narrative, the episodes provide insights into the characters’ development and the changing dynamics of the crew. Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage preserves the series’ distinctive blend of action, brutality, dark humour, and moral investigation in a chaotic universe.
To properly grasp the characters’ relationships, motivations, and overall world-building, watch the original Black Lagoon series first.
Review:
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage brings us back to the infamous Lagoon Company for another spectacular season of action and dark humour. While it builds on the previous series, let us see how its sequel measures up.
Story:
The action is consistently fierce, with thrilling shootouts and high-stakes escapades. The deeper investigation of the individuals’ histories and ongoing relationships gives a new dimension to the story. Viewers expecting a continuous tale may find the episodic approach tedious. The main story arc is less important than in the first season.
Animation and sound:
The animation follows the original style, effectively depicting the gritty setting and powerful action sequences. The soundtrack remains a fantastic combination of electronic music and atmospheric pieces, boosting the suspense and thrill. As with the previous season, the animation style may appear obsolete to those viewers used to modern aesthetics. However, it retains the series’ distinctive appeal.
Voice Acting:
The voice acting is still superb in both Japanese and English versions. The cast continues to produce outstanding performances that bring the characters’ personalities and emotions to life. In the voice acting field, there are no obvious weaknesses.
Overall Review:
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage is a rewarding sequel for lovers of the first series. While it lacks a great overarching story, the emphasis on character development, exciting action sequences, and dark humour keep things interesting.
However, viewers unfamiliar with the first season may miss out on important nuances and deeper ties between the characters.