Most of this review will be on the actual 5 episode OVA while the last few paragraphs are my overall cumulative feelings toward all of Black Lagoon. A 2in1 deal. As per usual expect to see spoilers Robertas Blood Trail brings the series back to a close on another explosive middlefingersintheair emotional dour gutpunch of an ending. I went in expecting it to be a bit more lighthearted akin to the earlier episodes seeing the word OVA to me implies itll be like a bonus side adventure or something but that only proves I learned nothing from the series final arc involving Yukio. I dont drink but that arc was probably the most sobering experience Ive had watching anime all year. Stonecold maid Roberta is back and on a sadistic rampage throughout Roanapur to avenge her masters. Though the pills sure as hell arent making it any less safe than it already is. Garcia tries to deny it but he finally sees the ugly dirty side of her shes deathly afraid of showing a boy like him. Despite what your inside feelings tell you you sometimes cant help but lash out in blind almost delusional rage. It couldve been sunshine and rainbows for them and even Yukio. Hell at times it certainly was. But alas life is not known for being fair. And you can point it to your screwed up past making you the son of a bitch you are now. As much as Roberta prays the idea of forgiveness is downright laughable by now. Even if you could just quit your decidedly fucked up lifestyle cold turkey that simply wouldnt feel right. That simply wouldnt feel enough. Looking at Revy you see a woman who already sold her soul but her past involving a grape scene that made my skin crawl and eyes burn seems to ensure shed always turn out like this. Its the most obvious least surprising thing ever but that still doesnt make it any less tragic. As the show says its like things never change. And the only ones with a chance at escape are those stuck in the middle those who were just thrown into this life like some kids and a certain Japanese businessman we all know and love.... In the case of Rock one notable criticism I have is his brush with the dark side here felt......a little too abrupt? Now look: Im not saying it comes out of left field or anything. As the series progressed its undeniably established that Rock is at a crossroads in his life. Going from a pencilpushing deadbeat noname office employee to being thrown into the rough and rowdy criminal underworld that he grows to embrace but still keeping his sanity morals intact. Roanapur however is where your innocence goes to die. A bloody gross dirty death no less. Being stuck for so long in a hell like that is bound to get you someday. But during the end of Oversaturation Kill Box I felt that smirk came in a bit too abruptly for me to process it all. Like it was a switch someone flipped on. It wasnt a surprise and it fits perfectly within what BL is going for but I wished there was more time to make it feel even more natural. Like if Rock starts plotting and gambling more and before he knows it hes already smirking like Revy and has a brief moment where he realizes how hes become. A more gradual buildup. You could say that still technically happens except for the realization. And while expected the givingin felt a little toothless once the actual moment came. Hes lamenting the situation in his car one minute and during his call to Dutch the switch gets flipped and Rocks bad side is in a display. Not unhinged but its clear to see. The pieces are all there and the picture still comes out nice but they needed to be moved into place better. In art the how is a huge deal. Ill admit however that Im fixated on this because Rocks fate of giving in got a bit spoiled for me blame Google and because I found him to be a very compelling protagonist the more the series progressed. Either the series ended with him converting to the lifestyle completely or keeps him in his twilight hellto which it settles more on the latter. And for disclosure that big ass paragraph alone should be proof of how much of an impression the guy left on me and the new layers I find the more I think on it. Hell an argument the abruptness was the point crossed my mind too like it was an impulsive expression. To go off on a quick tangent keep in mind my reviews tend to be my best first impressions. I try to block out any outside insight and opinions as much as possible until the reviews finished. What you read is as unfiltered as my thoughts can get. And any possible insight and fuller stronger understanding only truly comes from revisiting and ruminating the material more. I believe in trying to soak everything in on a deeper level for better and/or for worse and a part of mes always chasing that precious pure full knowledge you cant get in a day. Tangent over. Dont let this make you think where Rock ends up was a botchjob or something. Even in the final scene hes as cold and melancholic as ever. Him taking a crack at his evil side still doesnt feel complete if you catch my drift. And again: hey maybe that was the point. And so the OVA closes off on Garcia Roberta finally back together though part of me thought they were in the afterlife or something idk and Rock looking over the shithole city contemplating his joke of a life in crime. Stuck in the middle of it all as always. And being in the middle doesnt necessarily mean its gonna be fun. Looking into it the ending wasnt as dour as I remembered it being considering Garcia Robertas reunion. But at that point the violence and nihilism got to me where at worst it felt too little too late. Even that felt like the show was going to pull the rug from under me again at some moment. Still it fortunately didnt feel leftfield either. Black Lagoon is at least understanding of the audience. It pins you down and harasses you but you can tell through the dementedness and buck wild violence that theres a tragedy behind it all. A sad sobering look of yeah. We know. And we dont blame you kid. Even a part of Revy doesnt like to see Rock in the same light as them. Like hes the closest she has to a conscience or somethingthe one person she cant imagine living without. The person who annoys her but also can never fully hate. The hope he wont end up like her. Black Lagoon is all fun and games until it snaps you back to its reality of crime and corruption. It lures you in with being a fun zero fks given actionadventure anime but that notion gets almost as equally shattered especially as the episodes wind down. Placing Rock as the P.O.V. character was a great move. Embodying the everyman who sees the thrills and soulcrush of what being a pirate is. My face may have been a blank frown watching most of it but my brain and heart was being assaulted. The action scenes are an utter spectacle and ep. 1618 is the show at its most heightened insane overloaded jawdroppingly ridiculous in terms of gunplay. And who am I to kid?: It rules. Tarantino would cream his pants if he watched it. The hardcore music mixed with some electronica matches the rough but slightly stealthy tone of the series perfectly. And nearly every character has a distinct air to them always brimming with personality. Twisted and sad as they are except Benny hes a cutie boi = Dutch too I guess in a way. Hard to recommend and I cant promise youll wanna rewatch it take it from me but emotionally draining as it can be its worth watching. If anything so you can sober up soak it all in and reflect on your upbringing and feel blessed for hopefully not ending up like any of these characters. But also with a sense of guilt and heavy depressing sympathy. Not for the faint of heart doesnt begin to cut it once youve finished it. At least for me. Black Lagoon: if the F bomb was an anime. In all its various uses. The dub was incredible. It always makes me happy to see the Canadian VAs get more love. I still cant wrap my head around how Mike Adamthwaite can pull off a big tough deep yakuza swordsman voice but then sound unrecognizable as a lighthearted blue lightning ninja. Mans got actual range. Also two Madhouse anime where Brad Swaile voices the lead? Then again Steve Blums a lead in two Shinichiro Watanabe joints so thats not really a surprise. Insert the two nickels meme here. Also Roberta is a talking dog from my childhood thats surreal. cough cough IwantRevytosteponme cough cough Songs the night I finished the series: Letters to God and Elevator by Box Car Racer and Wanna Be by Triple Fast Action. Song of the day: Yeah by Triple Fast Action. Soooooooo does this mean Im ready to watch Gantz or something?