Black Lagoon

SeekerDarksteel · Yari Ashigaru Joined: Oct 20, 2004 Posts: 220

Anyone else get the feeling that they're deliberately targeting this anime at american audiences? I mean how many Japanese would really understand the references to Oprah Winfrey or NYPD Blue in the latest episode, or the Terminator references with Roberta? I swear every episode has an obligatory reference to some element of American culture that just seems out of place in a Japanese anime.

Melancoholic · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject:

I think you underestimate the global power of American 'culture'. I doubt there'd be many people, even in Japan, that haven't heard of Oprah or the Terminator.

I think it's all part of the character creation. The show is extremely cosmopoliton, (only Rock is Japanese) therefore, the cultural references are going to be as cosmopoliton as the cast. Plus, you have to remember that Japan, just like many other countries, has absorbed vast amounts of Americana since the war. I have no problem with these references (I'm English, and before you say it, our repective cultures are NOT the same) and I doubt a Japanese person would either.

Rantista · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 65

That's a really good point. I've been trying to pinpoint why this show was so different. I really like the way all the cultures mingle in the city, and i think its defintely one of the big draws this show has. That.....and the gunfire and savagery. Always a fan of needless violence.

Kidder · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:20 am Post subject:

Martin_G · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Posts: 53

On the surface this show is about guns and massacres, but It seems like the philosophical undertones run pretty deep and I'm haveing trouble trying anylizing it all. My background in philosophy is pretty limited.

It seems like different characters are meant to represent different philosophies or moral themes. Through the process of story telling the writers occasionally imply that the better philosophy/character is the one that either prevails or is held in higher esteem. On several occasions philosophy is talked about directly, usually with the more valued opinion given by Dutch.

So listing out some of the characters I will make a guess on the kind of philosophy and/or morality they have, but I probably don't know what the terms are for them. So if you can clarify, or elaborate, or contradict, please do.

Revy:

She kind of represents the executioner of the flawed philosophies in the show(in the writer's opinion). In the beginning She is sort of a hedonistic realist, valueing utility over sentimentalism and pleasure over morality. She is fatalistic in that she seems to feels that she deserves death, but rather than seeking any kind of atonement she instead distracts her self with whatever thrills her world can offer. As the show progresses her stance on things doesn't change much, but she begins to become dedicated to protecting rock, who's philosophy couldn't be more opposite from hers. The fact that the show subordinates her to Rock later suggests her views to be of lesser value than Rock's.

Dutch:

His views are held probably in the highest esteem by the show, but because he doesn't get a lot of screen time I don't undertand him very well. His comments are made out to be inteligent, and to the point. Perhaps he is Truth, to the extent that the writers believe there is such a thing. His pursuits and his leadership suggest a kind of pragmatic thinking. He sort of debunks existentialism and he also suggests that Rock's pursuit of justice is dangerous and that it can backfire easily.

Rock:

He generally represents the 'highest' sense of morality in the show. His character provides the source of conflict between idealism and realism. because of the ending:

his conquest in trying save the innocence of the young 'princess' results in her committing a very sad suicide

I think the show is saying that his hobby for justice is flawed. They seem to portray him as loseing a measure of his idealistic thinking by his melancholy at the end.

Balalakai:

like Dutch her character's philosophy is also difficulf for me to understand. Might makes right? She represents power, but does not seem overly corrupt as she shows mercy in more than one occasion. I'm not sure if the show was trying to make a parrallel between her thinking and Rock's but I didn't really get it if they were. (at one point rock claims that she is just like him which she laughs off.)

anyway this show certainly isn't meant to be a strong case for or against any of the philosophies it portrays, but since I enjoyed it, I'd like to have a better understanding of what everyone was talking about.

Sw1ft · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:12 pm Post subject:

Ahh... was really hoping Rock would snap again and do something similar to what happened on the first epsiode before the series end Sad

basha54 · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject:

another season is over i hope it come back better than ever
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sakib · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:32 am Post subject:

Martin> huh that was really thought out

i think the season was mostly 'discover' what side rock was gonna choose and in the end he's still in the twilight. another thing that might be a reason is to show the flaw of justice in this modern day and age. the world has become a place for capitalism and corruption is widespread and Rock tries to make sense of it. truth be told, i think this version of the world holds the most amount of truth than anything, no ones innocent in this world, not even the "princess" and the mangaka is trying to express that. this series has the 'loss of innocence' theme going for it like the book Catcher In The Rye by Salinger. The anime has exaggerated violence in it but it wasn't a flop because the underlying truth of the 'loss of innocence' hits very close to home no matter who the person is.
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Martin_G · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Posts: 53

Sakib> You make a lot of good points and I agree with your thinking.
While I still think that the show was playing around with some philosophy here and there, this was probably not as significant I was was makeing it out to be.

I hope that this anime gets licensed, because I find that the dubbed versions sometimes add clarity. That and I don't like to watch a subbed version more than once. Even though I support the industry plenty by purchasing my share DVDs that come out, I still feel a little guilty if I treat a fansub like it is my property and watch it over and over. Is anyone else like that?

As for the next season, I look forward to seeing just how Rock's experiences have changed him, if at all. That and weather or not his and Revy's relationship becomes romantic or not. Personally I think they make better 'true friends' than anything else. The CIA plot hole didn't really interest me much but it looks like it will be part of the next season.

Anyone know how well recieved this anime is in japan? I doesn't seem to be a blockbuster, so I wouldn't be suprised if the second barrage was the last of it.

sakib · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:45 am Post subject:

no such reservations for me, dvd or fansub i'll treat it like it was my own. I won't obviously take credit for 'em, that's just wrong.

not sure how well received it was in japan but if there is a new season then i'll totally lost on the story line. I'm not quite sure on Rock's experience, seemed to me that he's not gonna change all that much and i'm not quite sure what the big conflict is gonna be on. It could be the triads actually, well them against Balalaika and Hotel Moscow would be pretty tight but if that happened, the Black Lagoon Company will have no business
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ValkyrieZeroZeroOne · Conscript Joined: Nov 25, 2004 Posts: 107