The Bottom Line
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage is a powerful, explicit albeit freaky show. Because most of the character development occurred in the first season, the focus has now shifted to the agenda of the Lagoon Company and what a bloody massacre of an agenda it is. I gave this one four and a half stars instead of five for one reason only -- I wanted more. The action moves so quickly that just as you're sinking down into the latest bizarre event, it's been "handled" and you're onto to something else. But even so, if you like your anime to have a little more "bite" to it, this series is definitely it.
Pros
- Fast-moving, in-your-face action
- Not a dull moment in the DVD
- Exceptional animation
Cons
- Heavy language and violence - not for the kiddos
- I wanted "more"
Description
- Rating: Mature - Learn more about anime age ratings
- Genres: Action, drama, psychological, horror - Learn more about anime genres and themes
- Release date: August 19, 2008
- Studios: FUNimation, Geneon, Madhouse
Guide Review - Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage Volume 1
Black Lagoon kicks off its second season with The Second Barrage and volume 1 provides us with four grisly episodes as its debut.We're immediately reunited with our favorite characters from season 1 -- "Two-hand" Revy, Rock, Benny and Dutch, along with Balilika and her Russian mobsters from Hotel Moscow. Apparently, there's been a recent string of murders and, while this wouldn't normally be unusual for this series, the young twins happily committing the murders make for an interesting twist.
The animation is exceptionally done -- vivid, fluid and certainly bewitching -- and while you may find yourself flinching (or not) at some of the brutal gun play, you'll also find that you just can't walk away.
FUNimation graciously released two version of Volume 1; the first is your everyday run-of-the-mill DVD and the second is a Limited Edition complete with a second disc full of extras and enclosed in a sexy steelbook tin.
See all the Black Lagoon DVDs
Busty chicks with guns? Yes, but oh so much more than that. Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage kicks it from start to finish, and while it's definitely darker than the first season, it's still some of the best anime entertainment I've seen in a while.
