Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Bungo Stray Dogs, Episode 52 "The Answer to Everything", now streaming on Crunchyroll.
It's hard to imagine a villain making a more significant impact on the narrative of Bungo Stray Dogs than Fyodor Dostoevsky, having stolen the show for over two seasons with all their scheming. The idea that someone could stand above Fyodor might be a tough sell and the new episode seeks to do just that, but does the identity of Kamui make for a satisfying reveal?
Last week, members of the Agency were freed and Ranpo made a public proclamation asking law enforcement to trust in their innocence, winning the loyalty of those who they've helped. This week, Ranpo and Atsushi go to seek help from an unlikely ally while the UN's fears of terrorism push them to do something drastic.
The Ruse of the Hundred-Faced Man
There's no need to beat around the bush. Kamui, the leader of the Decay of Angels is none other than Fukuchi Ouchi, the leader of the Hunting Dogs. From the start, this episode does a great job of endearing the viewer to him. He comes off like another ally in the Agency's comeback tour, only to turn out to be the worst possible person to be trapped on a boat with.
The real-life Fukuchi was a playwright and political writer who was openly critical of Japan's restoration government during the Meiji period. He was arrested in 1868 after his criticisms of the new government sparked outrage and his newspaper, Koko Shinbun, was banned. In 1882, he formed the short-lived Rikken Teiseito, a conservative party advocating for a constitutional monarchy. Alas, the party was short-lived and disbanded only a year later.
While he only had a few notable scenes in Season 4, Fukuchi made a lasting first impression, the same as the rest of the Hunting Dogs. Bungo's story moves fast, and as such its characters often make bold debuts, sometimes after spending time lurking in the background. He was an intimidating presence, but one softened by his kind, grandfatherly personality.
Few could be blamed for falling for Fukuchi's amusing persona, aided by Takuya Igarashi's trademark style of visual comedy lulling the viewer further into a false sense of security. Even his speech before the United Nations, what with its grandiosity befitting a villain as he pushes for an "Army of Mankind," doesn't arouse too much suspicion. If anything, he appears well-intentioned, even if such an idea is asking for trouble down the line.
Added to that, Fukuzawa trusts him, which means that Ranpo trusts him. After the beginning of Season 4, and everything Ranpo has been through since, the audience understands that trust, and even wants to trust Fukuchi as well, thus making the same fatal error. He didn't try to deduce anything about Fukuchi - likely out of respect for his father figure Fukuzawa, and the friendship he shared with the man.
Fukuchi's buildup makes him an effective villain, but the reveal itself can detract from its gravity within the story. After all, Ranpo isn't Gifted. The "activation" of his powers at the request of an eager Atsushi is just a pretense and one which is used to symbolically resemble him having let his guard down. Upon further analysis, it works, but for some, the way the scene plays out might make Ranpo's mistake seem too uncharacteristic.
Alone Against A One-Man Army
That might sound bad, especially at such a major juncture in the plot, but credit to both the previous episode and this one, they find a way to tie everything up nicely in the end. In this case, the set-up for the battle against Kamui, wherein Akutagawa makes his first debut on screen since the end of Season 3. It's been far too long, but the wait makes his appearance much sweeter, and all the more critical for Atsushi's arc.
There's this recurring theme of Atsushi, his reliance on external support, and whether that weakens him as a person. For so long, he considered the tiger within him to be a separate entity from himself, even though it's his ability. In Season 4, Kunikida tells him that he relies too much on the tiger's strength. Amidst the Agency's separation, he's received a chance to grow, but he's not yet certain if he can be strong alone.
Some stories might take this as an opportunity to posit that one can't rely on others forever and that one needs to be able to stand alone, but that would seem awfully off-brand for Bungo. Contrary to that, while Atsushi's confidence in his own abilities is still in need of some improvement, the story is very clearly leaning towards another message. He begs for someone to fight alongside him and unbeknownst to him, that prayer is about to be answered.
Akutagawa and Atsushi might be fated rivals, and they might very well kill each other by the end of the series, but they are also unstoppable when they join forces. Atsushi's strongest form - seen only previously at Season 3's end - is the result of Akutagawa giving his power to another, something wholly uncharacteristic of him. However strong these characters are alone, they are stronger together.
Bungo Stray Dogs continues to squeeze its time slot for every second to get the most out of an increasingly chaotic story, yet not failing to build on rich themes in the process. Once again, a major turning point arrives so much quicker than anticipated, and fans are sure to be eager to see how this coming battle will translate to the screen.
Sources: Kabuki21, Wikipedia Japan