Farscape 4.4-4.13

The problem with this show is that it only has two settings. The first is really good/entertaining. The second is really bad/annoying. Sometimes it mixes the two, but I can usually tell from the first couple of minutes which it will be. Sadly, most of these episodes were not on the positive end of the spectrum.

( a spoilery rant )

manga: Black Lagoon Vol 4-6

I think I was warned that the yakuza arc was boring and overcomplicated, and it really was. Granted, I think some of my thought process was that Eda is a sensible followup to Roberta and Shenhua is a sensible followup to Eda. This is just maintaining the high standard of quality established early on. But following up Shenhua with a fairly standard yakuza story in which men talk about honor a lot? Does not compute.

There were elements I liked, such as Revy playing with kids, Ginju, Yukio, their relationship, and Balalaika in the field, as well as her joy at trying to corrupt Rock. I just wish those parts had been in a more interesting storyline. Not to mention that some parts, IMO, were more skeevy than was necessary.

Then there’s the “Greenback Jane” arc. I stopped following what was going on past “counterfeiter everyone wants to get their hands on.” I’ve realized that the less I understand what’s going on in terms of plot in an arc, the more entertained I am. Naturally, I understood the yakuza arc perfectly, and this one almost not as all. We got almost every living character but one from previous arcs, hints about Eda and Revy’s pasts, and Benny may have gotten some action. Not to mention the most manga-looking character to show up in the series who ends up looking out of place for it.

The new arc beginning at the end of volume 6 is off to an excellent start, and brings back one of the characters who made me realize I’d probably love this series forever. And wouldn’t you know, I have a review copy of volume 7 waiting for me.