Maid to Kill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Maid to Kill” | |
|---|---|
| Black Lagoon episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 9 |
| Written by | |
| Directed by | Sunao Katabuchi |
| Original airdate | June 03, 2006 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Rasta Blasta" | "The Unstoppable Chambermaid" |
| List of Black Lagoon episodes | |
Maid to Kill is the ninth episode in season 1 of the Japanese anime Black Lagoon. It was first broadcast in Japan on June 3, 2006 and lasts for about 23 minutes.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The episode picks up right before the climax and end of the previous episode, where the Lagoon Company entered the Yellow Flag bar just as Roberta attacked a group of Colombian drug cartel members.
The episode begins with a flashback in Garcia’s mind, where he reminisces about his happy life with his father and their housemaid Roberta. The flashback reveals that Garcia and Roberta were good friends and obviously cared for each other. The flashback then ends, showing Garcia in the real world in the hands of Lagoon Company, who are driving in to the town to visit the Yellow Flag. Garcia notices how Roanapur differs from his home, spotting crime and prostitution roaming the streets. Rock apologies to Garcia for having him to observe Roanapur at night and then asks Garcia if he still believes that Roberta will come to save him. Defiantly he confirms this and Rock seems satisfied, stating he envies him for having someone to believe in so much. Revy cuts short their conservation, and the rest of the travel goes in silence.
Next, we are back at the climax of the previous episode and we see Roberta pointing her umbrella against the laughing Colombian gangsters, just as the Lagoon Company enters the bar.
Garcia recognises her just as she fires the “umbrella”, killing one of the gangsters. The shocked and enraged gangsters immediately pull their guns and attempt to shoot her, but by using acrobatics, her umbrella and the seemingly bulletproof suitcase she carries, she dodges their bullets and retaliates. The situation erupts into a violently shootout between the gangsters and Roberta, while the Lagoon Company, (who still has gone unnoticed by both combatants) hides and discusses how to escape. They eventually decide to leave Garcia behind (knowing Roberta is looking for him) and leave the bar unnoticed. Rock urges a terrified Garcia to stay in hiding until the gunfire stops and then go home with Roberta. Nevertheless, just as Lagoon Company prepares to leave, they are spotted by the bar’s bartender, who has taken cover behind the bar counter. Furiously he blames them for tearing up his bar and their rather noisy argument abruptly makes the combatants aware of the Company’s presence. The furious gangsters are revealed to be Lagoon Company’s employers, thereby responsible for Garcia’s kidnapping. They are enraged at why they have not brought Garcia to the “designated point” as they were supposed to. At this moment, Roberta finally spots Garcia, and the two of them exchanges a long gaze with each other. However, she also spots Rock, crouching beside Garcia. Believing Rock to be Garcia’s captor she raises her “umbrella” and prepares to shoot him, but Garcia hastily blocks the way, only to be grabbed by Revy. She holds him at gunpoint and orders Roberta to stand back or watch Garcia die.
A long, tense moment ensues where the two of them stand facing each other. Roberta breaks the tension by stating the Loveless family creed, finishing it by promising to deal a “hammer blow to all injustice”. Revy realises Roberta will not hold back and hastily rushes away. Roberta strikes and simultaneously reveals that the suitcase she carries is a concealed machine gun. Revy quickly dashes toward the bar counter for cover while Roberta fires the machine gun and quickly follows up with a powerful explosive missile, also concealed inside the suitcase. The explosion knocks Revy unconscious and the Lagoon Company is now in grave danger. However, a horrified Garcia asks Rock to take him with him, saying he does not like this Roberta. Roberta hears him in mid-battle with the gangsters, freezes and drops her weapons, apparently in shock. The Lagoon Company flees the bar without anyone trying to stop them, while a now seemingly paralysed Roberta is surrounded by the remaining gangsters. Thanks to the family creed which Roberta stated earlier, their boss now knows who she is, and calls her “The Hunting Dog from Florencia”. He reveals a price of 40 000 dollar has been put on her head and the gloating gangsters prepare to kill her. Roberta, however, finally reacts, by turning around and making a curtsy to the astounded gangsters. As she does, several hand grenades falls out from her skirt, and the following explosion destroys the entire bar.
Outside the now burning and ruined bar, the Lagoon Company boards a car to escape the scene, Revy still unconscious and with a concussion. Rock expresses his doubt that Roberta was killed in the explosion while an angry Dutch blames him for bringing Garcia with him. They then take off the scene, while growing more and more anxious that Roberta may still be alive.
Back at the ruined bar, an unharmed Roberta is seen stepping out of the burning ruins. She steals a car and pursues the Lagoon Company. A wild car chase ensues, where the Company desperately attempts to escape their formidable pursuer.
Meanwhile, Balalaika has uncovered more on Roberta’s background and summons a team of dedicated followers to save the Lagoon Company. She is informed that they are heading for Roanapur’s dock, hoping to escape on the sea with their torpedo boat, the “Black Lagoon”.
The Lagoon Company is being pursued by Roberta, and as she overtakes them, Dutch tries to shoot her through the front window. She dodges him and assaults Dutch himself by grabbing his arm through the front window. Dutch is nearly pulled completely out of the car, but manages to incapacitate Roberta’s car before she succeeds. However, she does not give up, and in a striking resemblance with the Terminator, she sprints after their car on foot with astounding speed. She overtakes the car, and using a pair of spiked brass knuckles, grabs onto the car body. She is now straight behind the backseat where Garcia and Rock are sitting, and once again they gaze into each other's eyes. Dutch points his gun at her, but Garcia is sitting right in the line of fire. The episode ends as Dutch commands him to duck.
[edit] About the episode
This is part 2 of the three episode arc feauturing Roberta.
The episode focuses on Roberta’s formidable fighting skills, so honed they could even outsmart Revy. Roberta is portrayed as an unstoppable Terminator, much like the protagonist played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is able to blow up a building and leave the area unharmed, punch through car windows and overtake a car at full speed on foot. A memorable scene takes place when Roberta nearly pulls Dutch out through his car window. He is seen to be at least twice as large and heavy as she is, but is still unable to tear up her grip, even when furiously punching her grabbing arm with his fist.
There are very few moments where Roberta’s emotions are expressed, but when they are, it solemnly goes through her eyes, as they are shown several times during the episode and they greatly contribute to the idea that although she is seen like a killer robot, she still is a human being and thereby also having feelings. The flashback shown at the beginning of the episode hints that Roberta cares very much for Garcia. When Garcia asks Rock to take him with him because he does not like this violent Roberta, she stiffens, exlaims the words "Little master" (she always calls Garcia this) and her eyes are shown. They are revealed to be quite surprised and the hard features of her face softenes at this moment. This indicates that she indeed cares for Garcia.
This episode is also a good example of the powerful depictions of gunfights featured in the anime series. While the previous episode contained nearly no gun fights and focused more on the character’s emotions, this displays almost the exact opposite.
[edit] The Loveless Family Creed
The family creed is stated by Roberta as Revy threatens to kill Garcia, and is in Spanish. A translation is written beneath.
Una bendicion por los vivos
Una rama de flor por los muertos
Can una espada por de justice
Un castigo de muerte para los malvados
As Ilegamos en el altar de los santos
However, we will not join the line of saints (this line is said by Garcia in Japanese/English)
[edit] English translation
"A blessing for the living
A flower branch for the dead
With a sword of justice
A punishment of death for the wicked
Like this we arrive at the altar of the saints
However, we will not join the line of saints" (said by Garcia)
[edit] Notable Quotes
- Stand back, maid. Everyone here would rather be alive than dead ... As long as you don't start shooting, you'll get the young master home in one piece
(Revy while threatening Roberta of killing Garcia)
- I know I can't hear anything, but I feel something. Like her footsteps are getting closer and her black maid's outfit is about to appear from that fiery exit
(Rock expressing his doubt that Roberta has been killed in the explosion which destroyed the Yellow Flag)
- That's a killer robot from the future. The only thing different from the movies is that Shwarzenegger isn't here
(Rock describing Roberta. Notice that he refers to "the Terminator" movies)
[edit] Cast
- Daisuke Namikawa - Rock
- Tsutomu Isobe - Dutch
- Megumi Toyoguchi - Revy
- Hiroaki Hirata - Benny
- Michie Tomizawa - Roberta
- Mami Koyama - Balalaika
[edit] References
- [1]; Description and review of the episode
- Episode 9, Maid to Kill; Quotes and plot
[edit] Trivia
- When the Lagoon Company takes cover during the violent shootout between Roberta and the Colombian gangsters in the Yellow Flag, Dutch states that the gunfight is worse than the Battle of Khe Sanh, suggesting that he was a US Marine there during the siege.
| Black Lagoon | |
|---|---|
| Episodes: | Black Lagoon (Season 1) | Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage (Season 2) |
| Characters: | Revy | Rock | Dutch | Benny Hotel Moscow | Roanapur Gangsters | The Church of Violence | Citizens of Roanapur | Bounty Hunters/Mercenaries | U-1234 Crew and Passengers | Neo Nazis | Terrorists | Yakuza | Lovelace Family | Other Characters |
| Media: | Manga | Music |
| Other: | Rei Hiroe |
