Black Lagoon Review — New series assumption, Why It Still Hits Hard

If you like your action messy, morally slippery, and delivered with a side of hitman adventure, Black Lagoon is still one of the best modern examples. It’s not subtle. It’s not wholesome. It is, however, savage, stylish, and frequently brilliant at making violence feel narratively meaningful rather than gratuitous. Here’s a friendly, honest breakdown of what works (and what doesn’t), plus where the franchise stands right now.

Studio / Director: Animated by Madhouse, directed and written by Sunao Katabuchi.
Seasons / Episodes: Two TV seasons (12 episodes each) aired in 2006 (24 episodes total) plus a five-episode OVA sequel Roberta’s Blood Trail (2010–2011).
Tone / Genre: Crime noir, action, “girls with guns,” and thriller — set in the corrupt, hyper-violent city of Roanapur.

Black Lagoon follows the Lagoon Company — Dutch, Revy, Benny, and the ex-salaryman-turned-freelancer Rock as they smuggle, shoot, and survive in Roanapur, a lawless Southeast Asian hub for gangs, mercenaries, and crooked politicians. The show is largely episodic: little arcs and standalone missions that let the world bleed into each story. This is perfect for a show that wants to showcase wild, high-stakes set pieces and moral collisions rather than a single, slowly-unfolding plot.

Characters

Revy (main attraction): Two-handed, ruthless, and emotionally complex — she’s the series’ beating heart even when she’s tearing through enemies. Her charisma and moral murkiness are the show’s magnet.
Rock: The point-of-view everyman who gets dragged into the world and slowly changes — his debates with Revy about right, wrong, and survival are the show’s subtle emotional core.
Dutch & Benny: The solid crew formation; informative, steady, and useful as grounding forces.

Madhouse gives Black Lagoon a crisp, gritty visual identity: hard shadows, realistic firearm choreography, and kinetic camera work. The OVA Roberta’s Blood Trail levels up the brutality and polish; reviewers called it a “return to form” and praised its animation and intensity. There are moments of near-cinematic staging (gunfights that feel like action-thriller set pieces). Sometimes, the animation cuts to stills or heavy framing to preserve budget, but those choices often read as stylistic rather than sloppy. The soundtrack favors tense, pulsing tracks with occasional rock/Latin flavors to suit Roanapur’s international sleaze. Voice acting (both Japanese and English dubs) is strong. Revy’s performance in particular is iconic. Sound design makes the gunplay feel visceral; bullets, ricochets, and explosions are mixed to emphasize impact. Many reviews praise the audio for helping sell scenes that would otherwise risk feeling hollow. Black Lagoon is fascinated by characters who are shaped by violence rather than reformed by it. The show asks: what happens when a “normal” person (Rock) is dropped into a world that rewards ruthlessness? Is freedom in lawlessness worth the cost? That existential questioning — wrapped inside pulp action — is where the series becomes interesting beyond the “guns and gore” label. Critics and long-time readers note the series’ surprising philosophical edge in dialogues between Revy and Rock.

Good news for fans: the manga has continued to publish sporadically and as of mid-2025 announcements show the manga returning from hiatus with new chapters, which keeps the door open for more anime adaptations in the future. No official new TV season has been announced yet, but the property remains active and beloved.

Watch Black Lagoon if you want: high-octane action, morally grey characters, and pulpy noir with philosophical seasoning.
Skip it if you want: a gentle or family-friendly anime, or careful moral reassurance.

Black Lagoon isn’t for everyone — it’s loud, rough, and deliberately messy, but when it hits, it hits hard. For viewers who crave action with emotional teeth and a world that refuses to soften consequences, Black Lagoon remains essential.