In season 5 of Aggretsuko, Haida contends with the struggles of gaining employment while Retsuko undertakes a huge role as she runs for a seat in the National Diet.
Story
Haida is still unemployed and Retsuko’s words mostly fall on deaf ears as he continues to be crushed by his addiction to video gaming. When threatened a distance by his girlfriend, and getting kicked out of the apartment as a result of no rent, Haida finds refuge in an internet café.
He meets his online gamer friend, who is doubted by Retsuko and Fenneko to be the girl Haida has started cheating on her with. However, the misunderstanding gets cleared and the couple starts living together, and soon enough, Haida gets a job at a grocery store.
The elections for the House of Representatives come up and the leader of the Party of Rage ropes Retsuko into running for office.
Haida supports her, as do her colleagues and friends. Initially hesitant and doubtful, Retsuko finally comes along and rouses up the crowds, helping in the record-breaking voter turnout, even if she ends up losing the race. Meanwhile, Haida also gets his life together and gets a new job.
Performances
Kaolip and Shingo Kato pretty much deliver the same energy as the anime’s previous installments, which is to say that the quality of their performances remains consistent and great.
However, for a show where the protagonist’s “rage voice” is such an integral part of the narrative, better and more creative use of the alter voices is sorely missing. Although, that may very well be the direction lacking instead of the voice actors.
Positives
Seemingly a cutesy affair rife with all the goofy characters and animation, Aggretsuko is surprisingly mature and sincere. Defying the immediate looks, the anime deals with some of the direst issues plaguing Japan in modern times.
Additionally, said issues also bleed into the central protagonist’s life and affect those in her surrounding. A general lack of drive, motivation, or purpose is focused on with the new character Shikabane, eventually serving as the prime element that fuels Retsuko to run for office.
One of the issues of note that Aggretsuko season 5 deals with and comments on include the obsession of the old Japanese generations with the “glory days” of the country, and how that has clear ramifications over the younger generations and the current socio-cultural climate.
Negatives
Shikabane’s arc feels rather weightless by the time her character goes through the improvement and whereas Retsuko’s victories are momentous, Shikabane’s turnaround feels a bit unremarkable.
The creative visuals and the slapstick quality of the gags are two things that the series finale doesn’t quite do very well, or at the very least, in a way that feels fresh or unique.
Verdict
Aggretsuko season 5 is a comfort binge that breezes past the viewer while managing to also contend with major socio-political and cultural issues, in a manner that doesn’t detract from the lighter, more comical parts of the show.
Wrapping things up neatly, if not sufficiently, Aggretsuko season 5 bids a heartwarming, optimistic, and adorable farewell.
Also Read: Aggretsuko season 5 ending explained: Does Retsuko win the election?
