Aggretsuko Season 3 Anime Review: Bite-Sized Episodes of Awesomeness
Aggretsuko is a Netflix show that looks deceptively simple on the outside, but it’s AMAZING. In easy-to-digest 15 minute episodes, Aggretsuko is about this red panda named Retsuko who is a shy, Japanese office worker on the surface, but has a hidden side to her that loves screaming death metal. Retsuko is a Sanrio character, so it’s pretty much like Hello Kitty animation, but for an older generation of viewers! It’s relatable on various levels, because aren’t we all just trying to navigate life while battling our inner demons? When Retsuko sings death metal, she goes into “rage” mode, which is absolutely hilarious and a complete opposite of her “good-girl” persona. On top of it all, each season of Aggretsuko is a new exploration of Retsuko’s life - from romance, to office politics, to career. You could honestly jump in to any season without knowing that much about it because the storyline is easy to follow. But I do highly recommend starting from Season 1 to get a more well-rounded understanding of all of the character relationships.
Season 3 of Aggretsuko is super fun to watch, and might be my favorite so far! Retsuko starts out the season at a bit of a low, but through a series of events, she picks up a side hustle and new friends along the way. There’s much more that goes on outside of the office setting, like singing, dancing, music, and even love! I’ve already put some of the songs of this season on repeat in my Spotify playlist LOL. While Retsuko’s story arc is always a highlight, the main star of this season was Haida. Haida is Retsuko’s co-worker who has been crushing on Retsuko for 5 years, but somehow still isn’t able to let it go. Honestly, I loved getting to watch the scenes with Haida, because he’s hilarious and extremely likable as a character. The previous seasons had him more as a side character, but in this season, he really gets an opportunity to shine.
In conclusion…
Aggretsuko is one of those shows that brings you joy for how adorable it is, and keeps you engaged with the story. It’s not a “kid’s show,” because Retsuko is dealing with millennial problems that are much funnier and relatable to people who are older and in the work force. I highly recommend this show, and implore you to watch it in Japanese with English subtitles.