Summary
The suspense and unpredictability of this well-paced episode keep you on your toes until the last second, making the outcome that much more devastating.
We recap the Crunchyroll anime series Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Episode 6, “Tragic Sunday,” which contains spoilers.
In Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Episode 5, Ranpo (Hiroshi Kamiya) solved one murder, only to be dragged into an even larger conspiracy towards the end. With nothing but Mushitaro’s warning to go off of, he will have to make sure to try and keep the Armed Detective Agency from falling prey to a new terrorist organization with ties to Fyodor (voiced by Akira Ishida). While there is no doubt Ranpo is capable of saving his friends, how he will manage, especially when Fyodor also seems to be one step ahead, is a mystery only the world’s greatest detective will be able to solve.
Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Episode 6 recap
The episode opens with Yukichi receiving an award for the Armed Detective Agency’s part in helping during the Cannibalism arc. Even Tonan, The Vice Justice Minister, sings their praises.
After being presented with a new case from the government in which four victims were murdered in terrible ways, Ranpo immediately recognizes the pattern’s connection to the Decay of Angels, the terrorist organization mentioned in episode five, and says this is a message from the murderer.
Just then, Yukichi walks in and explains that the Decay of Angels “refers to the five signs that angels, at the pinnacle of the sixth path of existence, exhibit before their death”. Each of the four murders connects to one of these five signs, meaning there is still one sign left. Yukichi intends to prevent that murder from happening.
Remembering Mushitaro’s warning, Ranpo insists that they turn down this case, or it will be the end of the Armed Detective Agency. Yukichi reminds him that it is their job to help people, and decides to take it on anyway. He says that they will investigate the murders while Ranpo instead investigates the “Agency’s coming demise”.
Why does Ango call Atsushi?
When he cannot get a hold of Dazai, Ango calls Atsushi to tell relay some information he has on the murders they are investigating. He says that there is evidence that the government tampered with the itineraries of the victims, and he suspects that the Decay of Angels is also a part of an alternate government body as well. He warns Atsushi to be careful just as Tonan approaches him.
After his conversation with Ango, Atsushi is suspicious of Tonan and quickly finds an excuse to leave. Tonan seems unphased, knowing he has already sealed the after of the Armed Detective Agency.
What is Tonan’s plan?
At a horse race, Dazai is arrested by one of the Hunting Dogs for previous crimes committed during his time as a member of the Port Mafia. Tonan is immediately notified and relishes in this moment, knowing he is going to use Dazai’s arrest, as well as rumors about other members of the Detective Agency, to finally take them down and avenge his father. Suddenly, Tonan’s secretary shoots him, revealing himself to be Nikolai.
Dazai questions the Hunting Dog sent to arrest him, wondering why he has shown up now. The Hunting Dog reveals that the evidence just suddenly reappeared. We suddenly see a battered Mushitaro tied to a chair.
Nikolai Gogol’s Plan
Nikolai sends a video to the Armed Detective Agency showing them that he’s currently holding several government officials hostage, including Tonan. If members of the Agency do not arrive by 6:00, chainsaws wrapped around the men will cut them in half. Ranpo warns the group to be careful, as this is likely a trap, before telling them he has found a lead.
Tied up inside a building, Ranpo finds Taneda, director of the Special Division for Unusual Powers, bleeding out. He tells Ranpo the Decay of Angels is an organization made up of Nikolai, Fyodor, and three more special rank Gifted. One of the Gifted even has the ability to steal secret information but not without mutual exchange. While the Gifted used it to steal the memory of a book page that allows anything written in it to become reality, Taneda was able to learn the Decay of Angel’s plan to use the Armed Detective Agency in something destructive.
At the same time, The Armed Detective Agency attempts to save the hostages. Atsushi sneaks underground, only to run into Nikolai and his special ability that allows him to teleport matter. He stabs Atsushi several times before trapping him and escaping.
Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Episode 6 Ending Explained
As the Armed Detective Agency stands ready to enter and save the hostages, Military Police begin pulling up as well and set up a base to snipe the perpetrators in white hoods through the windows. Nikolai teleports to Tonan, releasing him from restraints and handing him a phone to call for help. As viewers, we begin to see the episode fade away to images of a mysterious hand writing the events as they occur on a book page, likely the one stolen from Taneda’s mind.
With the Armed Detective Agency right outside the door, Nikolai instructs that the remaining hostages be killed early. As the hostages are murdered, the book continues to update in the background. The Military Police prepare themselves, ready to see just who is behind the hoods, when suddenly, whoever is controlling the book page writes that the Armed Detective Agency members are the perpetrators, setting them up.
Sitting in a hostage chair himself, Nikolai demands Tonan call for help as he has himself cut in half. Just as Ranpo calls to warn his friends, Tonan calls the Military Police, telling them the Decay of Angels is actually the Armed Detective Agency.
There was a lot to follow in this episode, especially with all of the familiar characters back in the fold, but it was well worth it. This might just be the worst predicament we’ve ever seen the Armed Detective Agency in, and it seems fitting that they would save this mystery for a season where Ranpo seems to be the focus. The storytelling is compelling and easily keeps you on your toes, wondering what will happen next. It isn’t hard to find yourself invested in this mystery, wondering just how he will get them out of it.
I think the best part of this episode is how unpredictable it is. Even though you know from the beginning that something bad is going to happen regarding the Agency, it’s almost impossible to figure out what until the last few seconds. The powers really help to keep the mysteries from getting boring while also making it that much harder for our characters to get ahead.
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