Highlights
- Bungo Stray Dogs Season 5 finale delivers a satisfying conclusion despite the cliffhanger from last week, with a focus on character moments rather than just a big final fight.
- The episode reveals surprising twists, such as Dazai being alive, Chuuya faking being a vampire, and Fukuchi's true motivations, adding depth to the characters and their relationships.
- The finale sets up future storylines and leaves audiences excited for what's to come, although fans may have to wait a while for another season and there were some missed opportunities for certain characters.
Warning: This contains major spoilers for Bungo Stray Dogs, Episode 61, "Twilight Goodbye", now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Endings are everything, even when they're just the start of something new, but of all the things people expected from the Season 5 finale of Bungo Stray Dogs, a proper conclusion wasn't one of them. The relentless onslaught of drama gave the impression that this arc was nowhere near finished, and while there is more story to tell, this finale certainly felt like the end of a major chapter.
Last week, Fukuchi activated the One Order and commanded every unit around the world to launch their attack while everyone from Dazai to Atsushi was either dead or powerless to stop it. It was a cliffhanger that caught up to the most recent chapter of the manga, leaving the entire fanbase clueless as to what was to transpire next, waiting on one final episode to end it all.
A Packed Finale
One episode - almost 24 minutes - doesn't feel like enough time to give this season a satisfying conclusion, and Bungo fans are right to be cautious. Season 4's greatest weakness was that it felt rushed, even with one episode more than usual. The sheer magnitude of the Decay of Angels arc compared to any other struggle before made it much harder to pace out this story, such that it was easy to forget this show's glowing reputation for pacing.
Only eight episodes of Season 2 were dedicated to adapting the manga - the first four were an adaptation of the Dark Era novel and few would argue the story felt rushed in the slightest. It was the same for Season 3, which only spent nine episodes adapting the manga, with ample time for shenanigans before the Cannibalism arc. And now, at the end of Season 5, the audience is reminded just how effortlessly these storytellers can bring things to a close.
If the battle thus far has been akin to a game of chess, then this finale is more akin to dominoes falling into place, revealing an image that was previously impossible to make out. Everyone had theories for how things would progress - we even suggested one of our own in the last review - but few could have guessed how it would all work out.
Of course, Dazai ended up being alive. Chuuya holding back his bullets with gravity manipulation to not kill him was a popular theory among fans, and he'd already been shown to be holding back against some of the prison guards, suggesting that he was fighting back. However, Chuuya simply faking being a vampire was glorious.
Practically every character in the Port Mafia got turned, so it was believable that Chuuya would have been caught unaware. It's such a simple misdirect too, complete with Chuuya wearing fake contact lenses. The farcical nature of it all actually makes Dazai's cunning foresight all the more satisfying to watch unfold.
All the pieces fall into place perfectly. Aya's sacrifice frees Bram, who promptly turns his vampires onto the Agency's side, saving Aya, but also allowing Dazai to defeat Fyodor once Ranpo has made a deal with the vampire. It happens quickly, but not so fast as to feel anticlimactic thanks to a focus on character moments rather than just one big final fight.
With all that said, while the construction of this climax is commendable, it would have been nice to see Yosano, Kyouka, and Lucy play more of a role. Then, there's the matter of the cliffhanger. As cool as it is, it, unfortunately, comes burdened with the suggestion fans are likely going to wait another two or three years for another season that is also sequestered in one damn airport for a prolonged period of time.
Seeing how the Meursault storyline turned 30 minutes into six episodes using Dragonball logic, it might be a while before the story goes anywhere else. Even so, what few issues there are pale in comparison to the feeling of satisfaction and anticipation this episode brings. It's not just the Agency that has some surprises left; Fukuchi has one more grand reveal of his own.
The Meaning of "Twilight Goodbye"
Back in Season 3, the Armed Detective Agency's role in Natsume Souseki's Tripartite Framework was revealed to be that of the "Twilight." If the Gifted Special Operations Division oversees the "Day" and the Port Mafia oversees the "Night," then the Agency exists in the space between. The title takes on something of new significance here, as Fukuchi is taking on the responsibility and curse bestowed upon him.
A lot of time is spent between Fukuzawa and Fukuchi, reliving their past in a realm where their powers are null, and they can simply talk. Fukuzawa was always a striking and likable character, but it wasn't until the tail end of Season 3 and the start of Season 4 that he started to play a larger role. This finale truly belongs to him, and both his voice actor, Rikiya Koyama, and Akio Otsuka as Fukuchi, give it their all.
There are a lot of fans who don't like Fukuchi. It's not a surprise - he's evil, super overpowered, and he has hurt numerous beloved characters. However, if the finale has demonstrated anything, he is one of the most fascinating figures in this series. His conversations with Fukuzawa reveal the depth of his scars but also shine a spotlight on the humanity left within him.
His wish is laid bare; he wants to bring an end to war. It's fairly broad when put that way - "world peace" can be as cliché a motivation as "world domination," but not when it's phrased the way Fukuchi puts it. There is a fascinating discussion of war and its cost, but also a hopeful dream of a future without it, all steeped in an examination of history and the trends shaping society.
The single greatest twist of the finale is the sensation that Fukuchi wasn't entirely a villain. He didn't even really lose. He got exactly what he wanted. The only difference between this ending and a much darker one is that he always wanted Fukuzawa to win. The "Twilight Goodbye" is the resolution between two combatants who are neither friend nor foe, who reside neither on the side of good nor evil, because they carry the burden of humanity's future in their hands.
This all culminates in a beautiful and bittersweet ending, elevated by some of the most emotionally charged voice work in the series. Fukuzawa is left in possession of a powerful tool that will irrevocably alter the course of this series forever. There's so much more to look forward to, but Bungo Stray Dogs' greatest achievement this week was delivering an ending that will make the wait more exciting than excruciating.