Anime Review: Aggretsuko Season 2

Retsuko Rages On Relationships

By Ghia Vitale

Photo Credit: What's-on-Netflix.com

The most metal red panda has returned for another season on Netflix! Watching season 2 of Aggretsuko is more satisfying to me than popping bubble wrap by the handful. Warning: Light spoilers ahead!

Aggretsuko is an anime that stars Retsuko, a 25 year-old red panda created by Sanrio. Sanrio is the same company behind Hello Kitty. Retsuko is very cute and reserved, but don’t let her kawaii demeanor fool you. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Retsuko works a dead-end job at a Japanese trading firm. After work, she relieves her stress with a hobby others might not expect: doing death metal scream vocals at the local karaoke bar.

Since the release of season 1, critics have praised Aggretsuko for being true to reality beyond the screen. Many people relate to Retsuko and the hate/hate relationship she has with her office job. I, too, have my moments when I’m overloaded with work and I feel like raging Retsuko-style. This is probably a major reason why Netflix released season 2 of Aggretsuko on June 14, 2019.

Watching the second season felt incredibly satisfying to me because it focuses on Retsuko’s relationships. These relationships drive the plot in directions that aren’t always pleasant for Retsuko, but are entertaining to viewers nonetheless. 

For example, take Retsuko’s mom. Retsuko’s mom (also a red panda) is always trying to hook Retsuko up with prospective suitors. Retsuko’s mom means well, but her pushiness overwhelms Retsuko. After seeing the dynamics of this relationship, I can understand why Retsuko has a rebellious streak of metal beneath her semblance of timidity. I wonder if metal is a coping mechanism that Retsuko didn’t have while growing up. That’s why I think that seeing this relationship’s dynamics helped me connect more with Retsuko.

As a relationship-oriented season, season 2 also delves further into Retsuko’s dating life. You get to see Retsuko be awkward around her crushes. Yay! Honestly, I couldn’t help but relate to Retsuko’s awkwardness with dating-related situations. However, I also love how her love life takes multiple turns that she never saw coming. Once things got really juicy, I felt compelled to watch the rest of season 2 in one sitting. I was hooked.

In my opinion, the relationships in Aggretsuko make this anime pop. These relationships are nuanced and not depicted on black/white terms. Petrana Radulovic put it perfectly in her review of Aggretsuko’s second season: “Retsuko’s work-life struggles are still present, but this season focuses primarily on her interpersonal relationships — be it friends, family, romantic prospects, or coworkers — and handles it all through a complex lens. None of these characters are entirely good, but then again neither is Retsuko herself.” Watching Retsuko navigate these relationships made me connect with her character more. Retsuko’s responses to stress also made me feel closer to her as a character.

I also enjoyed getting to know Kabae the hippo better. Turns out, there’s a lot more to her than spreading gossip! She’s also kind and well-meaning, especially towards people she cares about.

I love it whenever Washimi (the bird) and Gori (the gorilla) give their two cents to Retsuko. However, seeing Retsuko deal with these 2 women and their quirks is equally entertaining. This trio is full of the #girlpower energy I wish my life was full of, so that’s another reason why this season is satisfying to me.

If you loved the first season of Aggretsuko, I highly recommend watching the second season. It takes the whole anime to another level. Plus, the second season doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, so it’s even more satisfying.

What did you think of Aggretsuko’s second season? Tweet me (@GhiaWasHere) to let me know! For more updates, follow Aggretsuko on Twitter.