Dutch deliberately sends Revy and Rock on errands together despite/because of their simmering tension from the submarine episode. We get more impressions of the Black Lagoon underworld with Pimp Daddy Blaxploitation, Larry Flint Balalaika and the Sisters of Battle. Rock skillfully salvages the negotiations with the nuns but the tension boils over during dinner. Revy nearly kills Rock but he fights back effectively and gives her a piece of his mind. Revy finally realizes that she’s been too harsh on him and has a certain responsibility towards him as she was the one who forcibly dragged him into her world. They smoke the peace pipe, quite romantically, in the back of a police car.
A GREAT episode IMHO. Rock displays the quick thinking that saved the Lagoon crew in Ep 2, tactful diplomacy and negotiation skills (in addition to general administration) thus adding real value to the gang and plenty of spine without spite to stand up to Revy’s constant bullying. So many anime series feature whiny male leads (the classic example being Shinji Ikari; current numba wan irritant, Vincent Law, who is totally ruining Ergo Proxy for me) who would not even warrant an episode of time if not for the fact they have some kind of special ability. Sometimes I wonder if the anime studios are creating self-inserts that the audience can empathise with, thus perpetuating the stereotype that (male) anime fans are all losers? It is *so* good to see an ordinary-type male lead not being pathetic, making useful contributions to his group and standing up for himself. About 70 large screencaps and specific scene comments follow:
Angry smoking. Wonderful things it does for the chest. :P
I was really really shocked to discover that Revy’s proper name is “Rebecca” - which actually makes sense but just doesn’t suit her at all.
I was rather hoping that one of the girls would glomp Revy and complain about why Revy doesn’t come to see her so often anymore. LOL
More Balalaika, hurrah!
Well, a job’s a job… whatever brings in the moolah…
Revy’s morbid fascination with the pr0n was just hilarous especially when contrasted with Balalaika’s bored distaste and Rock’s horror.
Ah, I had a happy spine tingle when Revy addressed Balalaika as “anego” (An expression used by shady organizations to mean Big Sis). (;^_^)
The Althena Soldats Sisters.
The sunglasses just remind me of Harima though.
Should have drawn Revy with abs. But it’s nosebleed inducing enough as it is. :)
Though I didn’t all of it, I loved how Rock got the One-Eyed Sister’s attention by showing his appreciation for her tea. M&W or Fortnum and Masons? He then laid out the changed context of the smuggling business due to the shifting control over smuggling routes and his final point was about the special relationship between Balalaika’s Hotel Moscow and the Lagoon company. He seems to have a knack for impressing older women - the senior sister basically extended him an invitation to drop by again in the future, echoing Balalaika’s asylum offer in Ep 2.
Unfortunately Revy also gets teased about Rock as a result.
Revy’s shocked that Rock isn’t sorry for what he said to her in the sub. Boy is she shocked.
Even more shocked that he repeats himself very very loudly.
That was a close one…
And this was totally unexpected.
For some reason, I almost expected Revy to start stamping her feet on the ground. Rock has quite effectively neutralized one of Revy’s favourite rhetorical trump cards - her terrible life history. So what are you going to do about the here and now?
Damn, what a waste - those noodles look delicious.
Revy’s OMFG moment as the realization sinks in that…
“You’ve made me pregnant! Now take responsibility!” Or something similar in impact as Rock brings home to Revy how much his current life, even his name, is a result of her actions and that he’s been putting up with all of it and her bitchin’ all this time. [Edit: See comments for post-sub discussion.]
Seems that Revy has this habit of touching one side of her head and looking away when she’s feeling sheepish. She was doing similar after being told off by Dutch in the previous episode.
Interestingly, cops that I’ve seen in Thailand actually do look something like this…
Ah, the sea, setting sun, a cold beer.
Damn, this scene was luuurvely… but are they going to become lovers or something!?
Episode preview for Rasta Blasta. I expect much miaoing about the meido.
… eh, it’s a meido with sunglasses, in a series which has a female with guns as a main star, and he’s Miaoing about Levi/Revy - I expect him to have some good words about this one too. ;)
Now I need to figure out whose sub to get…
I’ve been watching Shinsen as they’re the fastest (Ep 4). As far I know Maboroshi is the only other group subbing this series in English.
Rock is the MAN!
Yeah! I am glad I have chosen to root for him. He is beginning to exceed the gung-ho coolness of Rentarou from Futakoi Alternative. Just too bad that his harem mojo is attracting older women( albeit powerful older women)…
I found it interesting that Sister Eda could draw her gun out faster than Revy, the first sign in this series that Revy is not THE all-almighty gunslinger. Rock also owned the Sisters by blackmailing them, and while he did mention Hotel Moscow, it was not because of their company’s relation to Hotel Moscow that the Sisters capitulated( he mentioned it to emphasise something). Since you have not watched the subs yet, I will avoid spoiling the details of this scene.
It is just too good. It has to be watched in order to fully appreciate the “I’m the man now, and I can make you my bitches” aura Rock exudes.
Likewise for the explosive confrontation between Rock and Revy. Rock’s finishing move on Revy was not that she needed to take responsibility for him, but something else. Revy’s reaction was most probably because Rock is one of the few people who is genuinely sincere about it( and before anybody get wild ideas, Hell no, not a confession).
If there is only one thing I must complaint about this episode, it is that there should be a disclaimer over the ill-effects of smoking. :P I am an ardent opposer of smoking, but even I found the cigarette scene touching.
PS: Not since Noir have I had a chance to chant this…
“Nuns with guns under the sun are tons of fun!” x4
;)
Cheers.
Just watched the subs. I’m even happier with this episode now that the gaps of my listening (in)comprehension have been filled in!
I completely missed out the drugs connection from the tail end of Balalaika’s conversation, the significance of the laundry delivery and the true nature of the threat that Rock was making. Rock’s finishing move on Revy was great. I think it was for maximum impact as probably no one has told her how they owe a lot to, admire and care for her. With PPD fresh on my mind, I couldn’t help parallel Revy’s embarrassment with Rebecca Miyamoto’s sheepish “Iya, Iya…” reaction to her students’ praise.
I’m against smoking as well but that last scene was a really effective way for Revy for bury the hatchet and show that she’s made her peace with Rock.
Is this the fabled Mad Dog Meido that I have been hearing about?
Go Rock show them how much spine blue collar folk have. I am a bit confused is Balalaika a former general or captain and where did she get them scars?
“You’ve made me pregnant! Now take responsibility!†Or something similar in impact as Rock brings home to Revy how much his current life, even his name, is a result of her actions and that he’s been putting up with all of it and her bitchin’ all this time.
LOL!!!!! Nuff said.
BTW, SHE has appeared!!!!!!!!!!!! OMGBBQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crusader, yep, she\’s the one.
Balalaika\’s rank. In ep 9, one of Balalaika\’s men adddresses her as \”tai-i-dono\” (大尉殿) plus the Soviet Army insignia on her epaulettes - that makes her a captain, not a general. We\’ll probably get backstory on her scars in ep 10.
As for Rock, he\’s definitely white collar (office worker), not blue (industrial proletariat).
grss1982, Revy\’s just got the look of the groom at a shotgun wedding. :P