After a short hiatus following the 4th Season Finale earlier this March, Bungo Stray Dogs is finally back! In the season finale, the active members of the Armed Detective Agency traveled to the Sky Casino to capture Sigma, a member of the terrorist organization known as the Decay of the Angels. He held the key to stopping the Decay of the Angels’ planned terrorist attack and clearing the name of the Agency.
Following the dire cliffhanger from last season, so many questions were left unanswered. How will Atsushi and the Agency proceed following SKYFALL? Will the Port Mafia aid their longtime rival? How will the intense battle of psychological warfare end between Fyodor and Dazai? And most importantly, where is Ranpo?
Well, fear not, readers, for we’re about to break down and review the season 5 premiere episode titled “The Strongest Man.”
[Warning: Spoilers ahead for the Bungo Stray Dogs season 5 premiere]
Season 5 premiere “The Strongest Man” recap
The episode starts with the return of one of the Detective Agency’s longtime members, Kunikida. He was last seen early in Season 4 after seemingly sacrificing himself so the rest of the Agency could escape from the Hunting Dogs.
Kunikida is in a hospital bed in a jail cell, being interrogated by one of the Hunting Dogs, Saigaku Jono, who questions his “ideals” and offers him the choice to live in exchange for joining the Hunting Dogs and betraying his allies. Of course, Kunikida refuses, to which Jono simply accepts and ruthlessly teases Kunikida about the coming execution of another member of the Hunting Dogs, Yosano.
The episode then shifts to the leading group of the Agency following the aftermath of SKYFALL. Atsushi, Lucy, Kyōka, and Ango try to devise a plan to find the final page from the Decay of the Angels following Sigma’s apparent demise.
Not all is as it seems, however, as we quickly learn that Sigma is still alive and was rescued by his associate, Nikolai (Who was also presumed dead during one of the first chapters of the 4th season). After questioning why Nikolai is still alive when the original plan was for him to die, the former states that while he intended to die, he plans to carry out a new plan, one in which he wants to defeat his leader, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and requires Sigma’s help to do it.
When we shift back to the leading group, Atsushi tells Ango and the rest that he knows where the page is located. This information was transferred to him through Sigma’s ability at the end of the final season. The page is held by the Decay of the Angel’s leader, Kamui, the powerful mastermind behind the entire terrorism incident. Meanwhile, Atsushi is alerted that Kamui is on the move, planning to carry out the assassinations of the members of the Detective Agency one by one.
Shortly after, we see Kamui target Kunikida, Yosano, Katai, and President Fukuzawa of the Armed Detective Agency. When Kamui apprehends Fukuzawa, he takes him to the roof, seemingly to execute him, only for Kamui to unmask and reveal himself as Ranpo! He explains that he caught wind of Kamui’s original plan and altered it so he could bring the captured members to safety.
Following the rescue of the Agency, Ranpo interrupts a press conference in which he explains the circumstances of the 4th season. The hostage incident which marked the Armed Detective Agency as terrorists, and evidence that proves the Agency’s innocence is sent out to every police organization. Clamoring to them that the Agency is innocent, and that they should trust their souls to know what is real and what isn’t.
Check out Bungo Stray Dogs on Crunchyroll if you haven’t already
Overall, this episode was a fantastic start to the 5th season, bringing a much more hopeful and uplifting start following the very dire and gloomy events of the 4th season. It was nice seeing the World’s Greatest Detective, Ranpo, back on the show.
Based on the manga’s events, we have entered the Kamui Revelation Arc. The brand new opening theme and ending song are brilliant, with Bones again the studio animating the show. This season premiere is a decent 4.5/5 stars and a solid start to what I’m sure will be a strong season!
You can find Bungo Stray Dogs now streaming on Crunchyroll. Are you excited for season 5? Who is your favorite character? Let us know on social media or in our Discord!
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