Black Lagoon

[Macabre]

A lot happened in episodes 19 to 21. Of course not action scene wise.

They did a considerable amount of characterisation and development of older characters, who are in the latest arc. They also had to introduced and went into depth for the new ones for this arc. The story, which I could analysis and type out would probally be wasted upon you.

They also carefully constructed the stage for the upcoming gun battles so that they are not just meaningless.

Obviously you don't care about these angles, that I think make the series so good. I am sorry, but I have said it before, if they did not put time into the things you find boring, this series would be crap and the classic cookie cutter lame action series.

It has not been an hour stretched over 3 episodes, it has been several days stretched over 3 episodes.

[VivisQueen]

Okay, you wanker. Had you read my past few posts, you'd know I'm as big a fan as you. I'm the first to be in favour of characterisation-over-action, but frankly, there wasn't much of it in episode 21. I was happy with everything up till now, but episode 21 was a downer. From the opening, I presumed it'd go into more depth with Balalaika. Then it moved onto that young girl, and then it moved onto Rock/Revy. It didn't FOCUS on anyone in particular for long enough to say anything NEW. THE CHARACTERISATION was not effective and the PACE of the episode was FLAT/EVEN/MONOTONOUS. It was a transition episode, an episode used to ROUND UP characterisation, a summary, an episode that is the end of the character development arc but without giving us a sufficiently satisfying climax to the characterisation. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Seriously, you literally leap from trying to critique my criticism to personally insulting my intelligence in the space of a few sentences. I think the only thing I got wrong was the timespan, and that was because I wasn't sure of the exact time so I went with exageration to make my point.

I hold a different opinion to you. Like it or fuck off.

EDIT: Hmmmm. I see where my previous post wasn't so clear. I liked episode 19 and 20 (as shown by my previous posts) but disliked episode 21 (and think it detracted a little from the previous two). My criticism is of episode 21. Still didn't warrant your tone, though.

PS. To anyone who cares, I'm also interested in how this will affect the opening for the 22nd episode. Can you start an episode with so much bang-bang (which they obviously must deliver based on the build-up of this one) and continue it throughout without tiring the audience? Without tiring yourself as the creator? Without losing hold of the story for 25 minutes? Or will they switch to more characterisation (e.g. of Balalaika) before showing Revy/Rock's inevitable battle?

[Macabre]

I take and took into consideration most of your posting habits and what I see as your preferences. So my tone of my post is how I have reacted to your posting, mostly from other threads.

You also managed to reinforce my opinion of most of the regular posters here.

btw: episode 21 reuses used the themes that seem to be the main recurring theme in the 2nd season. There was a slight shift from the first season; however, it was brought back by Rock's return home.

For this arc, it choose to show us the young girl's story. Episode 21 will be most critical for remander of the arc. As it will be interesting to see how she reacts from the situation. As this episode 21 was the episode we saw her decision, which is most important. Also, her protector will act based upon her wishes. As episode 21, solidified his credentials as a genuine badass.


as for your question of how episode 22 will open, it will probally be a flashback. Most likely for the japanese sword guy (name escapes me now).

[VivisQueen]

Okay, I have no idea what you mean by taking my preferences into consideration. Frankly, it all sounds a bit disturbing to me, so I'll ignore it. And your predictions lack some sentence structure, but I got your point, and still disagree e.g. so the girl makes a decision - who cares? It's hardly a highlight, more of a footnote. A decision takes two seconds to make, no need to drag it out over an entire episode. Have her make a decision and then get the hell on with telling the story.

I sincerely hope episode 22 is not a flashback... but maybe you've read the manga and are going by that (... there... is a manga, right?) Anyway, flashback is my idea of a worst nightmare when all I want is for the damned PLOT to come back.

[Macabre]

Yes there is a manga, no I have not read it.

Could you define plot please.

Dunno, it might be more disturbing that you post enough for me to take note of you. From a fangirl thread for Revi, to you think realist are morons, to your views from shitlist anime thread.

fyi: I never performed well in my English classes.

[VivisQueen]

There are a few definitions of plot, but the one I mean is: 'plan or interrelationship of main events of a tale, play, etc' (Oxford English Dictionary).

It means the progression of the story. A series of scenes, making the beginning, middle and end... that's plot. So if I asked you 'What's the plot of Black Lagoon?' you'd reply 'It's about a man called Rock who accidentally finds himself part of a group of pirates and tries to adjust to their way of life.' Or something like that.

You could have checked up the word yourself in any dictionary or at www.dictionary.com.

Stuff like characterisation, flashbacks, exposition (description) etc, they interfere with the plot. They stop plot happening by focusing on something that's not got to do with the main series of events. It doesn't mean characterisation etc are bad, it just means they better be vital to the plot, and done well, or else viewers/readers lose interest. Like who likes to read a good story and then find the author suddenly going off on a tangent to describe a cathedral for an entire chapter (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Lol. Awesome book, but modern day writers would be asked to cut that damned stuff quick.

ANYWAY, characterisation via flashbacks and atmospheric chats (what's been happening in Black Lagoon) is interference with plot. The best way is to characterise your characters WHILST they are getting on with their normal events in the story. So the author does not go 'This character is mean' or in the case of anime, you don't get a character sitting with another character and talking about how they think they are mean. Instead, you have the character ACT in a way that's mean e.g. killing little children, and the reader/viewer finds out that way. It's hard to do in many cases e.g. how do you have a character act in a way that says 'my dad abused me as a kid and that's why I've become a psychopath'?

Black Lagoon, for the past three episodes, has been doing a lot of flashbacking, chatting, philosophising, foreshadowing etc. Fine, but God, not when you're going to waste the third episode of this characterisation period wrapping things up. And if they start episode 22 with a flashback about this katana guy (like you're predicting), I'll rip my hair out. He's the least important person around right now. Get back to Revy and Rock or Balalaika!

[Macabre]

I see...

I have no more reason to engage in this thread, and will do my utmost to avoid any other threads you post in.

[VivisQueen]

Episode 22:

Totally adored the confrontation between Yukio and Rock in the locker room. It was tense and full of insights into Rock's psychology. That theme of light and dark was brought off very well. When I rewatch these episode I'll see if there are other subliminal cues I missed the first time around to do with light/dark.

Overall, a very good episode. Revy was at her best...

I laughed when she spooked the gang into running, thus making themselves easier targets... hah!

That katana guy was good too, if a tad predictable.

That blond guy's death was gorgeously done, though. Morbid humiliation is definitely two thumbs up.

Anyway, my faith is restored, but plot is still crawling. I think I'm at this stage where I just want to know how it's going to end. I just want it to be over, in the sense that I want fully-realised personalities and some concrete answers. It's odd that before, arcs spanned about one or two episodes (three at most). And, presuming it's taking us right to the end, this current arc will be 8 or 9 episodes long or something. *shrug*

Anyway, yes, just more of the same so far.

[Aydan]

Man ep 22 already.
sigh... I really should make some time to watch one of my favorite shows.

[VivisQueen]

Lol. What's keeping you?