English Dub Review: Aggretsuko Season Five 

Overview:

Aggretsuko concludes the trials and tribulations of Retsuko (Erica Mendes), the red panda with a penchant for rage, and her collection of friends and family as they navigate today’s modern world. Netflix’s popular anime series has amassed a modest following during its 5 season run, earning praise from audiences and critics alike. The show is often noted for its ability to incorporate real-world problems in an entertaining world filled with an eclectic cast of characters. 

Season Five picks up as Haida (Ben Diskin) attempts to put his professional life back together after losing his job, which he discovers is easier said than done. Haida deals with both the private and public shame of employment as he navigates the world of gig work and homelessness. Can he save face and redeem himself in the eyes of his family, or will cave under the pressure and disappear into nothingness? Meanwhile, Retsuko finds herself wrapped in the world of politics after her viral past catches up to her peaceful and content present life. Will she give up her steady life and take a chance at inspiring a new age of politics? 

Our Take:

Although it’s packaged in a bright and colorful world with adorable anamorphic characters, Aggretsuko still manages to weave relatable adulthood themes throughout each episode. This show has always been comparable to Bojack Horseman in the sense that real human themes are introduced in lighthearted and comical ways but develop over time into thought-provoking narratives you wouldn’t expect from a show starring a cute red panda. Adulthood is tough. Sometimes it feels like one gut punch after another. From relationship troubles to nosey parents, getting your life started can feel like a series of neverending hurdles that make you want to find the nearest karaoke bar and scream at the top of your lungs to vent your frustrations. But you know what? It’s oddly comforting knowing that your frustrations are shared by countless others. That’s where this show strikes gold. It’s just so relatable. 

“A Prison Called Freedom” kicked off the final season with a topic that just might be a little too real for some these days. The guilt-driven despair of trying to find employment while still attempting to enjoy life is one of life’s most cruel paradoxes. Haida is by no means an awful person, or even a particularly lazy person. Sure he made some mistakes but it was never because he was some kind of plotting villain hellbent on taking over the world. He made some bad choices and now he’s paying for them. However, when Haida gets sucked into an addictive video game, he begins a seemingly unstoppable spiral that costs him more than just a little bit of money. No apartment. No girlfriend. No dignity. I mean, who hasn’t been there at some point, right? Oh, is it just me? Okay, moving on. Haida is cornered into a rough spot, but like with the theme of most of the season, Retsuko is there to help him get back on his feet before tackling her own personal struggles and ambitions. 

Retsuko has shown tremendous growth throughout the show’s run. As obvious in “A Family Emergency”, she yearns to be known less as Aggressive Retsuko and more as just plain Retsuko, transitioning fully into mature adulthood. This idea conflicts with the core of Aggretsuko’s main concept that rage lives inside everybody. This conflict comes to a head when Masou Ikari pulls her into the world of politics. The introduction of Masou into the show is a breath of fresh air. By far he is the funniest character in season five. From his fiery speeches to his skillful ability to get beat up in every way imaginable, he is exactly the type of character that Aggretsuko is all about. As the leader of the Party Of Rage, Masou is a ball of jittery energy that wishes to fight for his country. 

The English dub voice work in Aggretsuko is impressive for the majority of the cast. Sure, some voicework of the side characters leaves a lot to be desired, but those blemishes are few and far between. Some standout performances capture the essence of their characters brilliantly. Mendes, Diskin, and Katelyn Gault all do a wonderful job of bringing a lively presence to their roles. It never feels like they ever take a line off or breeze through the dialogue on autopilot. These voice actors portray their characters with commitment and passion that makes it apparent that they truly believe in the material. The chemistry between Haida and Retsuko is a highlight of the show. They play off of each so well with their varying personality styles and cadences. 

The overall sound design in Aggretsuko is impressive as well. The score accompanies the onscreen action just about perfectly. There is never a dull moment or a clash between music and story. They are each blended in such a complimentary way that each aspect elevates the other. But the shining beacon of the show’s soundtrack has got to be the intro. If Aggretsuko’s main theme doesn’t get your blood pumping, then maybe it’s time to go see a doctor because it never fails to get me hyped and ready to take on the world. This is one Netflix intro that I always refuse to hit that skip intro button for. 

Aggretsuko’s final season proves that a passionate fire is not easy to extinguish. The show did a wonderful job connecting weaving existing plot threads together and wrapping them up in an enjoyable and endearing fashion. Living life aimlessly with unwieldy rage accomplishes nothing but create a lackluster feeling of emptiness. But on the other side of rage, there are endless possibilities.