A blood pumping story of revenge, presenting just how low humanity can go via the crime-ridden streets of Roanapur. · Waifora

- Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail Analysis -

Name: A blood pumping story of revenge, presenting just how low humanity can go via the crime-ridden streets of Roanapur.
Item: Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail
Rating: 70
Author: Zedlin

This analysis contains spoilers

___ Ah shit, who released the killing machine bloodhound Roberta? After the assassination of her master the Lovelace family figure head via the US Secret Service, Roberta reverts to her blood covered past and burrows into hell to avenge her master. Young Fernando Garcia Lovelace won't take this though, especially after seeing what Roberta turned into earlier in the series, Garcia wants nothing more for Roberta to stay by his side and is willing to stop for nothing to get it. Though naive, Garcia ventures back into troubled waters in Roanapur asking the Lagoon Company to snuff out Roberta's warpath. As a premise this final season of Black Lagoon is thrilling, getting to see one of if not the most petrifying demi-human track and slaughter everyone in sight is beyond adrenaline-pumping, it's superb. At times the story can be hard to follow in my humble opinion, some parts are more convoluted than necessary. ___ The scene that pops in my head whenever I think of this season is the pinnacle of Roberta's descent into madness. Garcia catches up with Roberta and hides behind a wall to hear something traumatizing, completely demolishing Garcia's final hopes of saving Roberta... After the Bloodhound gets cornered by one of the commanders Roberta seemingly gives in and listens to his words. He gives Roberta a tantalizing offer of rejoining the resistance and Roberta attempts to fool him with sex appeal, and things go down if you know what I mean. All while Garcia has to listen to her moaning in the background he crumples, biting his lip till he bleeds... So haunting, love it. But we're not done it gets worse. I love that Black Lagoon doesn't hesitate throughout the series to show how grim humanity can be. As Roberta is taking off her pants to have some more fun, the belt turned out to be a freaking gun! Killing him on the spot. Roberta cackles in glee getting up and begins pounding his head into mush. Garcia knowing he can't listen to this one second longer jumps out to confront Roberta. This is Garcia's final naive moment in the series, he grows up fast. Roberta the psychotic bloodhound she is, believes the Garcia she's seeing is just another illusion, just like the one she has following her all times reminding her of past misery. It's gut-wrenching to see Roberta stoop to such lows, unable to see Garcia as nothing more than a hallucination from the overdose on pain meds or regret, Roberta tries to shoot Garica with a smile on her face. Garcia is saved by the US military, yes how ironic, and the hunt continues but man. This scene will stay dormant in my mind for years to come, the catastrophic lows of Roberta with Garcia's facade of Roberta disappearing is simply tragic, yet impossible to remove your eyes from. One of Black Lagoons greatest peaks. ___ Each episode was 30 minutes at the minimum meaning each episode was jam-packed full of developments, no filler here! One such development is the series long plunge into depravity for Rock. He's no longer the Japanese business man who stumbled onto the lagoon full of fear. Using his largest asset, strategy, Rock conducts an evil master-plan of sorts that comes with a large gamble. The only way to "save" Roberta from this endless nightmare of revenge is with that massive gamble. Garcia with the plan in hand realizes just how dastardly Rock has become but understands that there's no other option available. He confronts Roberta once more at the Golden Triangle, (an area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet and is highly dangerous) this time gun in hand. A tense meetup to say the least as Garcia is flanked by the person Roberta wants the most revenge on, the captain of the US Secret Service. Garcia fires a blank shot at both the US captain and Roberta, as such of course Garcia get lit up by US soldiers... As Garcia bleeds out Roberta and the US captain quickly find out that those shots were secretly blank rounds. Garcia falls into Roberta blood covered destroyed body and kisses her, Roberta doesn't resist after that. Rocks plan worked out, Garcia survived, Roberta though dismembered of an arm a leg, an eye, and fingers survived, and so did the US captain. I don't think anyone could have anticipated this arc concluding with the majority of the cast alive. With Roberta's self-destructive ways, all things considered Rock found the singular path, a harrowing alleyway, in which the US Captain, Garica, and Roberta remained alive. Next level strategizing, it was badass to see everything fold into place. ___ Roberta's Blood Trail is brimming with content, never a dull moment in sight! Action packed as Roberta tracks and slaughters anyone on her warpath to insanity. It was hard to follow at times being a tad convoluted, but who cares, this final season of Black Lagoon delivers in just about every category. Having one of my personal favorite scenes with Garcia's facade of Roberta slipping away after hearing some of the most soul-haunting stuff a kid could endure. Plus we got to see some of my favorite side characters like, Shenhua the Chinese badass, Frederica the emotional cleaner (best girl), and Lotton a deadass chuunibyou comedy relief. Glad to see them, though it was limited in terms of screen time sadly. ___ I wish Madhouse finished the adaptation of Black Lagoon. Though Madhouse and uncomplete go hand-and-hand sadly. Starting amazing series simply to let them wither away with false hopes, just ask No Game No Life fans lmao. Nevertheless Black Lagoon was brutal at times presenting the grisly lows of humanity via Roanapur. The Lagoon Company still sails the blood stained seas doing the bidding for crime-ridden souls throughout Roanapur, it was a thrilling journey to embark on.