Arguably the greatest action anime ever made,Black lagoon is the very definition of badassery.Now it's very hard to review this show because of the fact it's nothing special as an anime.It's story is almost non-existent but it's one of the most entertaining experience anime has to offer.
Black Lagoon is about a group of mercenary called the Lagoon company living in the criminal shithole known as Roanapur.Okajima is an average japanese person who gets caught with the lagoon company's affair and after being betrayed by his company decided to join them.Honestly that's about it.Just as I've said before the story is non-existent.Although there are 2 story arcs that shines through.The Incest twin sibling arc and the final arc of Washimine clan.On to the positive note,Black Lagoon has some of the most enjoyable and memorable cast I've seen in an anime.This anime absolutely thrives on it's characters.The main cast includes the Mr.Nice Guy Okajima(rock),The Black Muscle Man Dutch,The Computer Genius Benny and of course the most badass chick in the galaxy Revy the Two Hand.Even outside the main cast the supporting casts are just as memorable and enjoyable as the main one.Balalaika is one of them and she has a very unique and well rounded personality,making her one of the most memorable character in the anime.Not only the people who work as really good cast,this anime uses object or an entire location as it's character as well.Kind of like,The Shining did with the elevator.It creates a very unique and well set up crime underworld called Roanapur.Which serves almost as a character part of this anime.Hoestly,Roanapur might be the best city set up in any anime.Black Lagoon is a very stylistic anime which depends on it's characters.The story just isn't there.So,the characters needed to be spot on and they striked gold on that department.It is hugely considered one of the best action anime ever mad if not the best.Honestly,the standard of action in this series is yet to be matched by any other anime.The action is total in your face badassery.This series is filled with tons of action and blowing shit up.Literally,this series blows up just about everything it sees.If you don't wanna watch a series that is only about action and nothing more than it's not for you.The sound track for the most part isn't anything special but it does it's job.The opening and ending however were great.The ending specially is very well used.My favorite moment in the entire series is the end to the twin incest sibling arc.After that story ends,the show changes it's ending song into a very peaceful track and we see the girl walking beside the shore and meeting with the boy in the end of the darkness.The writer changed their ending song and the video to add a perfect ending to that story arc.I know most of the viewers will never notice it but it's the subtle things that makes this series special.This series has surprising amount of subtle character weighting.The animation is extremely well done.Madhouse have done an excellent job.
In the end,Black Lagoon is an extremely well done action series.It is filled with cliches and tropes and the story does nothing but create endless amount of chances only to have action and explosions.But that kind of works for this series.You don't always need a great story as long as you have incredible amount of badass characters and action to support your show.
