About Jack and Rowe
Jack Hofner (the elegant blonde) is the smooth-talking member of Cloud 7's famed agent duo. Always cool-headed, he's got excellent shooting skills for those times when he can't talk his way out of trouble.
Rowe Rickenbacker (the casual brunette) is the other half of Cloud 7's L/R agent pair. Rowe tends to be easygoing but can be a bit impulsive at times. He's the ultimate master of disguise, able to transform himself into just about anyone. (Info from the official English L/R site, which is now defunct.)
L/R (Licensed by Royalty)
This 13-episode series aired in Japan in 2003 and is licensed for US release by Geneon. The official blurb describes the series:
"The royal family often has 'special' jobs that require intervention that can't be directly linked to the government. For these impossible missions, they often call upon their most trusted agents in the private sector: Cloud7. No job is too big, no danger is too great, and no fiend is too difficult for them to handle with their customary style and wit! They are sometimes known as 'L/R' -- Licensed by Royalty -- but they will never admit which one is 'L' and which is 'R'...
Action oriented anime in the 'kiss-kiss, bang-bang' style of James Bond, the series features opening music by Billy Preston (Let it Be) and was directed by Itsuro Kawasaki (Arc the Lad, Please Save My Earth, Wild Arms) and produced by Akihiro Matsuda (Strawberry Eggs, Hand-Maid May, Dual)."
It's certainly over-the-top like a James Bond film, and the homage to the Bond genre is obvious. I have a soft spot for buddy stories, and L/R's Jack and Rowe provide a great buddy-vibe. For the most part, it's light-hearted, but when it gets serious, it's pretty serious. There are a few surprises, too, starting in the episode where Rowe points a gun at Jack's head and says flatly, "We're not like that..."
If you're a fan of any aspect of the relationship between Jack and Rowe, I hope you'll add your name to this list.