Aggretsuko (ONA) 5th Season

y8man★ 9

This was a much-needed part for the series. As a finale, however? I would disagree with the basic idea. The series has tackled many topics across its different seasons: work-place ethics and environments, social relationships, complacency and ambition, peer pressure and fitting in, adulting and depression, and so many more. Ending a series with politics? It will certainly be a point of concern and debate. However, Aggretsuko had always been about its mix of mundanity and absurdism, hilariously jarring segments and wild chaotic additions to scenes and characters, which get to be rounded up fairly well and under their own spotlights. That was mostly whatthe seasonal arcs were more, after all. This season, however, chose an interesting way to juxtapose another of its strange conflict. People and politics. The season started off rather slowly. While it was clearly an integral part to Haida's own character arc, it was also a setup for the final encircling plot for the series. In hindsight, there was a charm to that absurd change of pace, however. And is it really that absurd compared to what is actually happening in real-life, even outside the sphere of Japan? Is it merely laughable as a concept at this point? Maybe. Perhaps the execution could have been more compelling, especially for the grand scheme of "politics". But Aggretsuko has presented itself very well as somehwat of a reality show that had always been about the common person. Politics to conclude the series? Definitely sounded horrible as a premise. But in the worldbuilding of Aggretsuko and everything absurd and realistic it has mixed for its runtime, the idea bore fruit to an interesting product that is laughably imperfect, but has always retained its charisma. Great show. For all the side-eyes it could have gotten for its cutesy aesthetic, let it be known that this is another book where you don't instantly judge its cover. Give it a shot. Have your own take-away.

CrimsonKing25★ 7

Aggretsuko was an anime that I really loved when it first premiered. I thought the first season was really great and seasons 2 and 3 are in my opinion, the strongest seasons of the bunch. Then season 4 happened and it kind of disappointed me even though I liked it. For my thoughts on season 5: I liked it better than season 4 but as a whole, it was just fine. Which sucks because as far as series finales go, this one didn't end with a bang. What carried Aggretsuko was it's commentary on social issues that affect not only the people in Japan but everyoneas a whole who are struggling with their work and persona lives. Season 5 is no exception and it painfully showed just how difficult it is to get jobs after quitting or getting fired, the predatory aspects of gacha, and not knowing what to do with your life when you feel like nothing is going your way. It was great, near perfect even. But then the political campaign stuff came out of nowhere and that's where the show lost me. It came out of left field that I wasn't sure what to think of it. In hindsight, it kind of makes sense given what this season deals with but the execution of it was so weird. Why in any way shape or form would it be a good idea for Retsuko to be a politician? I know with anime you kind of have to throw your sense of disbelief out the window 80% of the time but in this case it didn't mesh well with the story. It was there to add something to the plot but it wasn't done in the best way. Even though it didn't end on a high not, I still think that it was a good decent story and the ending really made me feel hopeful and happy for Retsuko and Haida. Aside from the strange turn of events, the characters thankfully were the saving grace. Haida was a character I felt mixed about because the previous season didn't do him much justice but here he really went above and beyond with his approach to life and I was cheering him on through everything. Retsuko herself is still my favorite and I got to give props to her for being a well rounded character through and through. And of course the supporting cast is still funny as every. Season 5 of Aggretsuko was fairly decent. Had I wish it was better? Definitely. Toss away the political campaign stuff and done something different, I would've rated it higher. But I still enjoyed my time with it.