by Kyla Sanchez ’22

Netflix’s Aggretsuko is one of the truly bizarre but shining gems of the streaming service’s original animated series. The show stars title character Retsuko, a mid 20s red panda, who works as an overburdened accountant by day, and releases her anger through metal screaming sessions at a private karaoke bar by night. Throughout the series she grapples with relatable issues like a sparse dating life, annoying bosses, and more but also deals with pressures of fame and being stalked, making for a captivating show.

While this season of Aggretsuko’s highs are certainly high, the overall weak structure and repetitiveness prevents it from being an overall exceptional season. Season 4 starts almost immediately to where season 3 left off, with Retsuko and Haida, a love interest that expressed his feelings in the finale, seemingly about to bring their relationship to a new level. From here, the first half of the season centers on the slow advances Haida makes on Retsuko, and him losing his confidence again mid season. This romance, which has barely even been developed besides some previous pining from Haida, is often frustrating and very slow paced, and severely brings down the stakes from the events of last season.

This meandering romance also regresses Haida’s character, who had last season greatly increased his emotional communication skills but suddenly this season cannot be direct at all with Retsuko. While there is nothing wrong with re-examining a completed arc and making Haida build more on his wavering confidence skills, it makes the show more about Haida, and not in a very compelling way.

Retsuko herself does not grow or change much this season with this more limited screen time, along with most of the other characters unfortunately. The other major event of this season, a new mysterious CEO named Himura taking over with shady means of advancing the business, does lead to some highlights like Retsuko swinging in Mission Impossible style with her team of co-workers to retrieve a confidential hard drive but also some low points like a new trio of annoying comic-relief businessmen.

Ton, Retsuko’s pig accountant boss and previously villainous character, also undergoes an interesting arc through this plotline. He is forced to quit his job by Himura through a loophole and learns to work with Retsuko (who he had previously been awful to) when she recruits him to be lead accountant for her metal screaming career. His confrontation with his actions and transformation are refreshing next to Haida’s passive season arc and is another highlight.

While Aggretsuko Season 4 is underwhelming, its funny and emotionally moving moments make it captivating enough to glaze over some of its more boring plot choices and make it an average, but enjoyable season.

Grade: C+