The villains of Bungo Stray Dogs are phenomenal, but a big key to their success is in the way they play off of the heroes, not merely through conflict, but the ways in which understand each other. Time and time again throughout the series, rivals have become allies against larger threats, complicating what might be a simple battle between good and evil by incorporating some element of familiarity.
In last week’s episode, the Armed Detective Agency found themselves cornered by the Hunting Dogs until, unexpectedly, Chuuya Nakahara arrived to save their assess at the behest of Mori Sensei. But even with this daring rescue, things are grim for the agency, and the scattered agency each find themselves tangling with past antagonists in some form or another.
Nowhere Else To Run
It’s actually oddly amusing that every plot in the newest episode, “You, A Child of Sin; I, A Child of Sin,” involves the protagonists being forced to go to the antagonists for help. Mori and the Port Mafia were the chief antagonists of Season 1, a simpler time before exterior forces forced foes to become allies, and before fans got so attached to the Mafia’s members.
It’s an unfortunate but necessary reminder that just because the Agency has been palling around with the likes of Chuuya to save the day, it doesn’t change that they aren’t heroes. The same goes for Atsushi’s encounter with Francis, who served as the antagonist of season 2. He might have stolen the show in his limited time during Season 3, but his methods can still be quite cruel.
Season 4 is written like something of a wake-up call, reminding the characters and audience just how fragile the peace built up thus far truly is. The Agency might have been able to beat the Mafia’s best people handily in Season 1, but without the faith and trust of the public, they aren’t nearly as much of a threat to those comfortable with notoriety. Dazai, on the other hand…
Villain Counseling
For how mesmeric of a figure Dazai is within the show, he is almost constantly where the action is not happening, which might be part of his charm. Each season has had him get kidnapped or otherwise incapacitated during the course of the rising action, and even the film had him get stabbed until Chuuya saved him. Yet, it always seems to be a part of the plan.
When Dazai got into the car crash in Season 2, he knew it was going to happen, as did he know he’d get shot in Season 3. He even predicted his stabbing in Dead Apple. Beyond that, Dazai is rarely seen at the office and is constantly on his own at any number of places, seemingly at random. Fans eventually learn that these quirks are quite calculated, but Episode 45 acknowledged this with unexpected brevity.
Dazai and Fyodor are the Holmes and Moriarty of Bungo Stray Dogs, and nothing could be more “Dazai” than getting put in what is probably the most advanced prison in the world on purpose just to mess with a rival. But the best part is Fyodor and Dazai’s brief casual group counseling session about how hard it is to be so intelligent. Even in the darkest times, this series has a great sense of humor.
When Fyodor inquires about how Dazai handles subordinates and their need for instructions, his reply says a great deal. “Just sit around all day,” says Dazai, admitting their laziness bluntly. “Some of them will realize things have to change and take it upon themselves to act.” And this one line explains every decision Dazai has made since Episode 1.
Fyodor is dangerous, and he is perhaps the most dangerous mind in the series, but so far he’s also the only one on his side who is that intelligent. It grants him an edge, but it also means his subordinates are dependent on him, which taken one way can mean that Fyodor need not worry about them. Taken another, it means Fyodor is alone, whereas Dazai has helped his allies become smarter.
By never staying in one place, being unpredictable, and otherwise keeping himself at a distance from his allies, Dazai makes it imperative that they come up with solutions on their own. This detachment is undoubtedly a byproduct of his darker past and more cynical, suicidal self, but it’s also a sign of his faith in others. And while his friends do what they can, he can scheme and plot on his own.
Know Thy Enemy
Episode 45 benefited greatly from advancing two days ahead, meaning the tension has subsided slightly, and the characters can determine their next steps. This episode truly belonged to the villains themselves, whose conflicting goals and schemes are bound to clash. Fyodor himself describes his co-habitation with Dazai as a chess game, but that could describe Francis and Mori as well.
There are two key mysteries now: how are Dazai and Fyodor able to contact the outside world, and which side will Francis support? Even with the limited time that Mori’s Mafia was at war with Francis’ Guild, the former has a great grasp of the other’s methods and inclinations. On the flip side, Francis’ intentions are tricky to decipher, which might end up playing with the audience’s expectations.
Season 3 built up Francis’ comeback so well that one could be forgiven for hoping that they’ve been somewhat redeemed after being humbled. But like Mori’s lies, it isn’t out of the question that he betrays them. One could speculate that the answer hinges on whatever strategy Luisa proposed to Francis.
Once again, Bungo Stray Dogs elegantly paints a picture of the balance and understanding between good and evil. While Season 3 demonstrated the ideal form of that balance by the end, Season 4 is even more chaotic, as it places our heroes at the very bottom of the totem pole; almost background characters in their own series. It’s highly effective writing that only breeds further excitement for the heroes’ comeback.