Editor’s Note: The following article contains spoilers for “Aggretsuko” season five.
The fifth and ultimate season of “Aggretsuko” was released for streaming on Netflix on Feb. 16. The series follows a cute red panda named Retsuko — a character created by the popular Japanese company Sanrio — and portrays her daily life as an office worker. Retsuko is a sweet and accommodating panda with a secret hobby; she vents her daily frustrations by singing aggressive death metal after work. “Aggretsuko” generally depicts problems of modern Japanese society through Retsuko and her friends — such as the pressure of dating and settling down, work-life balance and mental health. One of the show’s greatest strengths is how it manages to discuss such heavy topics through the use of its cute characters yet still comes across as a serious contemplation of societal issues.
Season five of “Aggretsuko” picks off right after the events of season four: Haida is unemployed and wasting his days playing multiplayer video games while Retsuko struggles to motivate him to find a new job. Just like in the previous seasons, the viewer is immediately confronted with an authentic situation that many people can empathize with: getting fired from a job and feeling a sense of desperation that leads to avoiding reality. Haida is then evicted from the apartment complex that his politician father owns and is forced to live out of an internet cafe while he does odd jobs to make quick cash. All the while, Retsuko is left in the dark and worried about whether or not he’s cheating on her.
This plotline is specific to Japan, and East Asia in general, as thousands of people are cyber-homeless, a phenomenon that describes people who sleep in 24-hour internet cafes and lack a permanent address. Haida and his gaming buddy Shikabane seem trapped in a dark maze of computer booths with no way of reaching the “surface world.” This theme of hopelessness is a crucial aspect of season five, which also touches on darker subjects like nihilism and even attempted murder.
Another major topic in season five is the generation disparity between the older leaders who are in charge of Japan and the younger generation. Retsuko, who previously went viral after posting her death metal covers online, is approached by Masuo Ikari, a member of the House of Representatives and the leader of the “Party of Rage.” He wants Retsuko to run for office because he believes that her unfiltered rage symbolizes the anger residing in the people whose government has forsaken them — her aggression has the power to motivate change in society. Things become more complicated when Haida’s brother Jiro becomes the opposing party’s candidate, representing an older conservative form of the Japanese government.
The political campaign becomes the primary plotline for the mid to later half of the show and sufficiently wraps up the series by incorporating most of the themes the show is known for. Retsuko runs for office despite rampant misogyny and sexism like the feminist icon she is. Haida’s trouble finding work reflects the unstable job market and brings up issues of post-modern capitalism. Though she doesn’t win, Retsuko’s campaign encourages Jiro to consider the issues of the younger generation and implement social change on a wider scale.
“Aggretsuko” is a show that isn’t afraid to offer social commentary, and this season definitely delivers. However, perhaps due to the heavy emphasis on wider social issues, season five lacks the tone that its predecessors had and feels just slightly out of place. The four previous seasons focused primarily on Retsuko and her issues, both in the workplace and in her personal life. The show was more concerned with Retsuko’s character growth from being a shy, submissive subordinate to a confident, self-assured woman. A lot of the show’s appeal came from its accurate portrayal of working women, and the latest season doesn’t have the same quality.
This thematic dissonance is probably due to the beginning of the season focusing on Haida’s story, with the following campaign plotline feeling a bit contrived. However, this doesn’t change the impact that “Aggretsuko” has left on its viewers. The show maintains its legacy of relatability and social awareness. Season five still has a lot of great moments ranging from cute to heartwarming; Retsuko and Haida are actually really sweet together and it’s nice to see their relationship progress. Though the story strayed away from its original themes, the overall plot lines carry the same initial message: it’s important to channel inner rage into manifested personal development.
Fans of “Aggretsuko” are sad to see the series come to an end, but many are satisfied with the way season five handled its conclusion. The show and its lovable red panda will continue raging on in the hearts of viewers across the world for years to come.
Lauren Koh is an Arts & Entertainment Intern for the winter 2023 quarter. She can be reached at lkoh@uci.edu.