Lolilaika orz. Jason gets full credit for coming up with the nickname. Obviously also the consequences if the Russian mafia comes after him. -_-;;
So we’ve got more background. So Balalaika looks like a grade schooler in 1976, a lieutenant in Afghanistan in 1987 and down and out in Moscow in 1992. There’s a hint about her father’s honour, probably some kind of military defeat or failure. We also learn that she’s a great sniper, probably Olympic calibre. Still would like to know how she got her scars - burns?
Of course I couldn’t miss this scene out. Yukio’s junior has definitely got akogare for her at the very least. So nice to see her realize that something’s very very wrong after her endless yakking about her trivial problems while Yukio is thinking about Yakuza power struggles and rampaging Russian ex-Spetsnaz.
Revy surprises again by backing Rock to the hilt. She’s his gun and even calls him "Master". Rock could, of course, ruin everything by asking her to wear Roberta’s outfit. :P More seriously, she’s putting his interests, opinions, future above hers and trusting him completely in this. I dunno but, in other contexts, this might be call luuurve.
Anego’s comment about the cuteness of the bellboy was just so funny, especially when it elicits only the stony-faced silence of Beria and the rest of her men. I guess that’s one of those things that gives Rock a positive buff to his verbal sparring with her. And what an obscenely huge tip too, that thick wad of JPY 10,000s. Think of the number of figures he could get!
Chaka is an arse. I’m sure even Harima could take him down.
Revy’s fallen so hard for Rock…it’s almost painful (in a good way). Can you not see how he tames the wild ones around him? Eda’s (patiently) waiting for her turn at ‘em and that alone would deserve an episode.
I almost thought it strange that no pictures of everybody’s fave ‘to die for’ thug wasn’t showing up on the screencaps… XD I trust that at least there will be a pictorial of his final moments, right?
Dang, Fry Face was owning it up with the sniper rifle (SVD?). It’s no wonder her men idolize her phat l33t skillz. Definitely interested in learning about the scars, and undoubtedly it will be disturbing and heartwrenching.
Black Lagoon 22-24 are even better; both for Rock and for Revy. Especially for Rock, though - Revy’s concerned enough for his mental well-being that she even tells him to look away from a gruesome scene, and earlier (23) backs him up against some heavy-hitters who want him dead… then chews him out for not being concerned enough for his own life.
Oh, and the end of 24 is a classic one. Eda’s just the best, when it comes to needling Revy. :D The cute “Bang!” face Revy makes is… well, let’s just say there’s much love here.
Still, I’ll be honest - I like second season more than the first; the Hansel & Gretel arc, plus the Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise ones are the best to date; only Greenback Jane was a bit of a letdown… but it made up for it by giving Dutch some action. Look for her photo in the Fujiyama arc.
By the way - if you get a chance, buy Black Lagoon OST: it has the ED for Ep’s 15 and 24 on it, plus a bunch of other music which makes it… well, you’ll want to rock like Revy afterwards. Or at least, I did. I just love this show - the characters all have their quirks, and it doesn’t feel TOO horribly contrived outside of the obvious cliches.
Balilaika pretty much framed rock in 24 though, with the whole fingerprint thing
At this point, he isn’t going to back to Japan… and having it sit in the water for any length of time (especially flowing water, like that in the pool) will kill most fingerprints. Plus, for DNA evidence they’d have to have samples of his DNA somewhere - which isn’t likely to happen here, since they’d have to pull the ‘matching’ sample off him. And he’s in Roanapur.
Glad to see the OP posting again; happy new year! I thought it was a little weird using adult Balalaika’s VA do Lolilaika’s voice, just in a higher pitch to try to sound like a kid; didn’t really work for me. That side, the snippet’s of her past were very interesting, even if they continue to tease us with lack of info on how she got her distinctive scars.
The bellhop thing was amusing; I guess Balalaika is human too and has urges like everyone else, though it’s not something she’d ever likely indulge in if she wants to remain emotionally detached (aside from the fierce loyalty she shows her men, of course) while running a powerful criminal syndicate.
Ah, Revy. Pledging her loyalty and her guns to Rock (lucky bastid!); very yojimbo-ish of her, which, of course, mirrors Gin’s devotion in protecting Yukio. This episode sets up the kickassery that is episode 22 very nicely (Chaka, you poor sob).
Balalaika’s Afghanistan flash back was based on real Soviet water well poisoning and village gasing operation during their war there. Thus you see the hazard suite and chemical berrels.
Supposely Balalaika and her men were near the Pakistani boarder, which might be the reason she decided to leave behind the chemicals. Or it could be because of the women and children she spotted in her scope.