hontou ni sou omou?

The gang are in home port at what seems to be a South Vietnam seaside town. Dutch is greeted by quite a few towns people before the local bigwig gangster Chin pulls up for a word. He’s unhappy about the Russian mafia muscling in heroin smuggling (courtesy of the deal with Asahi Heavy Industries in the previous episode) and tells Dutch not to work for Balalaika. Black Batou refuses and Chin warns him that he will regret it.

As the crew put out to sea, six boats try to attack them in a scissor movement. Two of them are taken out by their own crossfire due to Dutch’s deft manoeuvring and the rest are dispatched by ZGMF-X20A Strike Levy wielding a grenade launcher and submachine gun. I thought they should have played Vestige during that fabulous fight scene. :P Later Balalaika and her goons show up to show Chin who’s boss.

I have no idea what to expect of this series (haven’t seen the manga) but I do hope it keeps this up. Great action again. There’s also some nice, short character development of Levy as she talks a bit about her very unpleasant childhood with Rock. If Levy continues to be developed, perhaps she won’t be so one-dimensional by the end? Wishlist: A girlfriend for Levy or at least someone who wants to be her girlfriend - I just can’t get the thought of my head after she teased Rock about putting him into a dress, ribbons and taking him that way to a dance party. LOL

Also liked the larger gang politics - there’s continuity as we see the (failed) backlash against Balalaika’s expansion of her power after her deal with Kageyama and this element looks set to develop with Balalaika striking back at the Lagoon company’s attackers without being asked and keeping them on retainer.

While there’s no question that Levy holds the series together but I love Balalaika and her character design. A great blend of charm and menace, quite like her looks - the scars (and the military overcoat) contrast with and thus paradoxically accentuate her womanly charms. At the same time, we are reminded us that she’s the head of a crime gang and displays that mettle with being a hands-on heavyhitter (she initially beats up Chin herself) and cold-bloodedly ruthlessness in eliminating enemies. At the same time, she displays a playful sort of affection for Rock and what seems to be sincere appreciation for Dutch’s work.