I couldnt say what specifically was clicking together in my head that made me want to revisit Aggretsuko but one day I was just blasted with visions of Anai screaming and back I went to season one Im not incredible on putting into words my opinions on anime to begin with but Aggretsuko especially in the seasonal anime format where each season is a completely discrete entity from the others is uniquely weird to talk about too. There are specific notes to make the Sanrio character designs never stop being adorable the tiny soundtrack allows you to get uniquely comfortable with the series library of musical moods the English dub is a lot of fun. However this coalesces to something that is deeply pleasant to watch it has its moments of greater emotional breakthrough but they are few far between and most importantly not particularly expected from the series. Season 4 was a nice turn for the plot writing of the series with Haida becoming Retsukos bona fide love interest the story the events of the story increasingly revolve around the office where during Seasons 2 and 3 they can feel like window dressing or mere intermission between the scenes of Retsukos profoundly rich inner life compared to the doldrums of Season 1. Season 4s officebased story of shifting management the human effects of heartless corporate efficiency and fraudulent accounting was a breath of fresh air. Seasons 2 and 3 are definitely fun and worthwhile but having the setting zero in and use the bulk of its established cast asis instead of introducing much new stuff is very exciting especially heading into the season that would end up putting a pin in the series. As far as I can tell a Season 6 was intended but for some reason the series was forced to cram its remaining plot into one season. That said I think a lot of my complaints would just transfer to a hypothetical 6th season instead my qualms dont have a lot to do with pacing in my mind. Season 5 with the exception of the weird plot decision of Season 4s finale to have him quit Carrier Man of his own volition after the decidedly generous assumption that they game him a chance to stay after he was caught red handed attempting to commit fraud.. starts off good Haidas attempts to find a home are endearing and the assisting characters in the net cafe are very cute. This plot thread continues into a big chunk of the season and very much feels like a good extension of the domestic themes of Season 4 Haidas being fired has plunged him into a world of freedom that he hasnt engaged in in a very long time contrasting with his absurd efforts to keep Retsuko comfortable and unaware of the climax of Season 4. Though the traditional and secure Haida family is set up to be the bad guys of the season it to me always felt like the show was framing settling in ones ways as a good thing a sign of maturity. And such a setup is why the last few episodes are so confusing. Whether it was due to them wanting to compress 2 seasons of content into one season or just to sate the atthispoint obligatory about 2 arcs per season pattern they have Retsuko run for office?? I cant get over such a strange decision. Haidas arc here is all about doing the hard work required to grow up Shikabane being framed as the festering doomed nihilism that doing the opposite breeds and her redemption is shown as her looking into renting an apartment of her own. And yet Hyodo and Manaka shoving Retsuko into her old patterns of peoplepleasing and buckling under pressure is framed as a good thing her campaign of screaming and death metal singing is portrayed as heroic as the best thing that ever happened to the couple. But when one watches it they get the sense the relationship is completely smothered by the politics much time is dedicated to Retsuko campaigning for a campaign she a loses or b wins and is just kind of a political figure now? Of course the Aggretsuko arc is a science at this point so one figured from the outset that the former is inevitable. The show treats it with a similar level of respect on the day before the election Retsuko and Haida get married? in the form of 4 still images while people chant the name of Retsukos political campaign then when they lose to Haida Jiro everyone just sort of shrugs their shoulders and the last few minutes of the last episode of Aggretsuko come to a strange unearned close. Its impossible to tell if the failure of Aggretsukos last season is to do with crunch or cancellation or literally just a natural lapse in writing quality but either way the domino chain of the last 2 seasons of the show and slightly more broadly the whole thing is broken in this awkward if not entirely rotten finale.