Aggretsuko: Season 3

Oh thank God. No romance.

Boy isn't this a toss up. Seasons 1 and 3 are intertwined for best season, I'm serious I cannot pick. And this is a drastically different season, with the second it was more of the same. Work sucks, trying to find love, unleash your anger, aren't these characters fun and quirky. But here, it kinda gets serious. I can't stand that in animation usually, but it doesn't get deathly serious. Okay that's partially a lie. I'll go through it. So Retsuko is still recovering from another break up and one night accidentally gets in an auto accident with a very, for lack of a better word hitman type, but all is a ruse and Retsuko starts working as a idol band manager to settle her debt while still working her office job. That's the main thing that happens, she starts off as an accountant then goes to manager, then actually performs in the band delivering a performance that would put Cannibal Corpse to immense shame leading the group to a big hit. Now I praised the realism and grounded situations in the first season so you think I would not go for this pop star storyline but the dilemma that Retsuko faces is still a very real thing. Having to juggle two jobs with no down time and considering what career is best, there's countless people who have faced such a thing. I like that! I will note also that through the course of the series the side characters have been cut back significantly, I mean this really is Retsuko's season even with Haida having his own little love story it is integral with Retsuko. All the world is a stage and she has taken center stage. However that is not entirely a good thing, she actually gets a stalker and there is a brutal, I mean so mean and so ugly and so abrasive, verbal blitzkrieg that Retsuko has to endure and it is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to watch. But the ending doesn't end on a depressing note like I thought it would and life goes back to normal, thank the gods. But jeez I mean this is such a totally different beast compared to the others. It's done damn well, taking more drama than comedy but I don't honestly mind, the new characters are welcome additions sans one, we all know the one, technicals are still spot on, I genuinely am curious what in the hell we can go to after this, and I despise saying it but I can't choose a superior season. It depends entirely on what you like more. Do you like more fluffy, comedic, and simple or are you more a fan of drama, bit more serious, and emotionally involved storytelling? I can appreciate and love both so it's tough. I guess I would pick the first season because it grabbed me so instantly, because it was so relatable and yet fun, because I really liked seeing these odd but really good side characters. But objectively, third season wins it. 4 stars, 9/10! One more show to go and I think I saved the best for last.

Aggretsuko: Season 2

Hopefully the relationship plot isn't a common theme.

Not to say I hated season 2, far from it, I think it's another hit and has some fun but the two biggest aspects I take issue with are the entirety of the series. I'll try to explain. So after the failed romance with the personification of tofu, Retsuko continues on with life, seeks a proper driving license, and meets another guy. The relationship is lightyears better than last season, but to be perfectly frank I just don't feel Retsuko needs to be in a relationship. Now maybe that's the bitter old man in me, but I respect her life goal of settling down with someone, hell there is nothing wrong with that, but I just don't feel the love and commitment portrayed. It just seems like a crush that goes beyond the initial fawning phase. But trust in me when I say, I would take the relationship every day of my life over the other major plot point of this series. So our dear red panda is tasked with training a new recruit named Anai, who isn't great at the phone call business. I certainly can relate to that. However I cannot relate to the sheer level of psychotic bullshit this f***er has. It's been a while since I hated a character with this much passion and overwhelming force. Like I expected this asshole to be either a stalker, a kidnapper/torturer, or the unassuming guy who takes a loaded gun to the workplace with no intention of clocking out. It flat out bothered me seeing him on screen and it wouldn't f***ing surprise me a bit if other people felt the same. And the kick or should I say repeated kicks in the balls is we deal with him not one or two episodes, but 4 episodes. Out of 10 for this season. Oh...God! I can't decide what's worse, Sofia Falcone and her goddamn go nowhere side plot in Gotham or this. No...no, Sofia is worse. It didn't take up 2/3 of the season and while assaulting my very core of a person, he didn't stick around for long. I'm sorry I just really, really needed to voice my frustrations and if almost 6 years of reviewing stuff has taught me anything, shout, let it all out, these are the thing I can do without. But again, not a bad season! All the quality presented in terms of technicals from season 1 are just as prevalent here, there's wall hanging worthy backgrounds, the cast gets to expand and deepen the characters, it's still really funny, I never ever felt that an episode was fluff or a waste of my time. A feat not every show can boast. We get more dynamic with Haida and Fenneko, more the former than the latter but good stuff regardless. Retsuko's mom is everything I expected and she's great. We get more time out of the office which thus lends to more great animation. It's far from average and while my own personal problems remain, I could totally see others enjoying this just as much as the first season, and the third is no doubt going to keep up the good work. Hell it might even take the favorite spot. 3.5 stars, 8/10, and I promise to do season 4 when the time comes.

Aggretsuko: Season 1

A surprise to be sure but such a nice surprise.

Yeah...never thought I'd watch this. A friend of mine introduced this series to me and I will completely level with you, it hooked me not even 5 minutes into the first episode. Which is odd because the show is very down to earth despite the anthropomorphic animals, it just centers on this young lady Retsuko who hates her job, spends time with her friends, and has a penchant for death metal. And I'll be damned it's some of the most engrossing television I've seen. The characters are immediately identifiable, the setting is contemporary but doesn't lose that obvious japanese style, it's really damn funny like made me laugh to beat the band, the animation is very simple but too endearing to resist, it's a beast all of it's own but it's wonderful. But I could have sworn this show was older, say around 2014 but the first season hit Netflix in 2018 and the most recent season hit last year, so who knows how much more of this show will pop up. Like I care, I'm right there for when season 4 hits. I might get flak for this but my favorite character isn't Retsuko despite her awesomeness, but Fenneko man. Fenneko. My God! If there was a fricking spin off just for her you bet your ass I would fund it. She came right out of left field, slid into the DMs, and stole me away. I adore this character, maybe too much but I don't even care. You know I get passionate about odd things so just fair warning when we cover the other seasons. I just really did not know what to expect from this show but it gave me so much, it does have great moments, real life moments, I've seen so much live action tripe that does precisely dick, but an anime with simple but cute animations and nice characters can speak volumes about aspects of living. This is why I am an advocating champion for animation despite how it looks. And considering each episode barely hits 15 minutes, it's not that big of a slog to get through. All in all great show, friggin' 4 stars, 8.5/10! I can respect if you don't immediately go for it, but give it a shot one day.