Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Review – a familiar formula that delivers yet again

By Nubia Brice - January 25, 2023 (Last updated: May 12, 2023)
bungo-stray-dogs-season-4-review
By Nubia Brice - January 25, 2023 (Last updated: May 12, 2023)
3.5

Summary

Like past seasons, this one starts with a series of flashbacks but somehow never feels boring or overdone. Focusing on different characters not only helps to flesh out the cast and plot simultaneously but allows viewers to form connections with them that will carry throughout the season and surely pay off at its climax.

We review the Crunchyroll anime series Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4, which does not contain spoilers.

Once again, Bungo Stray Dogs has proven its ability to blend the past and present seamlessly into an enthralling narrative that leaves fans constantly guessing what will happen next. Seeing how the founding of the Armed Detective Agency came to be has been a wild saga with plenty of payoffs in terms of both story and character development. Now seeing how all of that will affect the present will surely be filled with just as many twists and surprises. After 4 seasons, this series continues to deliver quality episodes that are exciting to watch and keep viewers interested in the characters.

Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Review and Plot Summary

In the first few episodes of season 4, fans get a glimpse into the past, seeing how Yukichi (Rikiya Koyama) and Ranpo (Hiroshi Kamiya) first came into one another’s lives. While working as a bodyguard, Yukichi runs into a young man named Ranpo with an alarming amount of talent but no family or guidance. The two develop a father-and-son-type relationship as they solve an elaborate theater mystery together, inspiring Yukichi to found the Armed Detective Agency so that they can work together to help other Gifted.

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However, the flashback only lasts a few episodes before returning to the present, where Kunikida (Yoshimasa Hosoya) sits in prison, accused of murder. Although Ranpo vows to free him, it’s clear that Kunikida is being framed as part of a larger plot, likely by Fyodor (Akira Ishida). Considering this part seems to pick up around where season 3 left off, it will be nice for viewers to get a chance to see the aftermath of the last arc while tying up some loose ends.

Is Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 good?

This season of Bungo Stray Dogs has been quite entertaining, with all the same mystery and twists that made the first few seasons exciting. What helps to set this series apart is the supernatural spin on the characters and plots. It always adds extra depth, elevating this from just a detective anime to an interesting look at organized crime, morality, and the importance of forming human connections.

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Season 4 is finally giving viewers a deeper look into the backstories of two fascinating characters as well. Yukichi and Ranpo have always been involved in the storylines, with Ranpo often helping to solve various mysteries throughout the series. However, seeing them in these flashbacks paints them in a bit of a different light. We always knew they were close, but seeing it illustrated for yourself is different. Season 4 has done an excellent job of getting viewers invested in the characters early, feeling for them, and resonating with them in a way that makes you want to continue watching to see where this all leads. Anytime a show has you guessing and excited for what’s to come next, it’s usually one worth sticking with.

What did you think of the anime series Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4? Comment below.

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