Aggretsuko (on Netflix)

DoctorPhil

I recently discovered this absolute gem. I'm surprised it doesn't have a thread yet. It's a comedy that combines the over-the-topness of anime with real life problems and a mostly grounded, realistic setting (bar everyone being animals). Retsuko is an overworked, stressed out, shy and soft-spoken red panda who gets all the work unloaded onto her by her jerkass boss who is literally a sexist pig (the greatest character in the show). She copes with this through, what else, singing death metal.

I adore this show. It's hilarious and all the characters are immensely likeable (or love-to-hateable) and seem one-dimensional at first but reveal hidden depths over time. There are two seasons of, by netflix standards, short bite sized episodes with a third season coming this summer. Don't miss out on this one.

Has anyone else seen this yet?

Seafarer33

Yes. Watched it a couple years ago, although there may only have been one season at that time. Absolute gem, I second that.

pariston_hill

Ah man I just thought that was a third season already. Yeah the show is gem, i third that.

Satsuki

I totally fourth that.

pariston_hill

Third season coming August 27th

Satsuki

Woohoo!!!!!

DoctorPhil

Aww yeah can't wait.

maxterdexter

Season 2 was a slow burn for me, the creepy dude at the beginning was just too unlike able for me, but then they did the whole thing with the Hippo lady that I loved, most day to day assholes can be reached an agreement with if you reach out to them while they are still young. And then the plot with donkey jobs I had fun while it lasted but I forgot it.

I hope they continue the goriko/washimi plot this season. That their make up on the end was just a truce truly, and we get to explore the origins of their friendship.

Satsuki

Oh we gotta have Goriko and Washimi be besties again. And of course, will Haida finally go out with Retsuko?!

DoctorPhil

! Retsuko already turned Haida down though. I want him to find another girl in season 3. I'm tired of him constantly going after Retsuko for two seasons, even after she said no. It's getting kind of tired and pointless. They should actually take his character somewhere. The female lead and male lead always ending up together is super cliche as well.
@maxterdexter:

the creepy dude at the beginning was just too unlike able for me

I kind of feel for him. He wasn't a creep or an asshole per se. He was a terrified young guy straight out of college. Rightfully so, considering the hellish reality of the japanese corporate world. I think many japanese could identify with him somewhat.

pariston_hill

@DoctorPhil:

! Retsuko already turned Haida down though. I want him to find another girl in season 3. I'm tired of him constantly going after Retsuko for two seasons, even after she said no. It's getting kind of tired and pointless. They should actually take his character somewhere. The female lead and male lead always ending up together is super cliche as well.

! Wait when? I don't remember that. Has the quarantine really twisted my perception of space and time, ain't been so long since I watched it,oh no it has been 9 months.

maxterdexter

I don’t think she rejected him on camera. But the implication and tone is there.

And that moment in chapter one of season 2 when Retsuko can’t even get angry because she is so freaked out because of this dude? Have you ever felt enough fear that it overwhelms your anger? It is not a good feeling. Can’t forgive such a thing easily.

Satsuki

I agree that whats-his-face got off too lightly, even though it was good to show how a little kindness can go a long way, or that some people need different teaching methods.

But treating your fellow employees like that is unacceptable and he should have gone to HR. Washimi got the CEO to talk to Ton (for all the good it did), so she could have nudged HR too. But this might just be a part of Japanese culture where HR isn't as employee-focused as it is here.

@pariston_hill:

! Wait when? I don't remember that. Has the quarantine really twisted my perception of space and time, ain't been so long since I watched it,oh no it has been 9 months.

Christmas special. And the fact that Haida is into punk rock in his off hours is something Restuko has never learned, so it would be good for her to have a fellow office-mate (since Gori and Washimi are higher-ups in different departments) whom she can identify with.

pariston_hill

Yeah, haven’t watched that. Damn you holiday specials.

Satsuki

You don't need to wait for Christmas to watch it.

pariston_hill

I’m watching it tonight. I just usually find holiday specials tacky.

Robby

It was very much a "this is just the story inbetween seasons" more than a traditional holiday episode.

Rundas

DoctorPhil

Wait what, Retsuko has the money for VR games? Damn, she's richer than I thought. Well, accounting does pays really well I guess. But then the rest of the trailer shows her having money problems again.
And finally they're doing more with Haida than him simping over her. Hope he finds a nice girl.

Satsuki

Dafuq, is that a unicorn?

maxterdexter

I believe is the other way around, didn’t she get a promotion to accountant something? She could have just won it tho.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

Or she has money trouble precisely because she got the games.

Candide

All those Karaoke and hanging around with richer friends…

pariston_hill

Retsuko is back and say fuck Capitalism. That's my girl.

DoctorPhil

Oh damn they've dumped the entire season already. It's going to be real hard to pace myself. Wish me luck. Don't forget to hide spoilers everyone.

KageKageKing

Godamnit Haida.

God…Damnit.

CosmicDebris

This season gave me so much anxiety. All things I either have deep fears and nightmares about or actually experienced and already traumatized. :P

Silence

Finished the season, and, I feel like this article really sums up my feelings about it!

! https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/2020/9/1/21417399/aggretsuko-season-3-review-spoilers
! … and also.
-leans back in his chair-
-takes a deep breath-
-pauses-
-continues the deep breath-
... Haida. >:-|

Foolio

I disagree with that article about as much as humanly possible. Great season, did a great job keeping it fresh, and still super relatable in just about every aspect. Complaining that season 3 isn't directly relatable is seriously missing the point. About on par with claiming the series isn't relatable because you're not a panda. Also lol at complaining that it's too grim compared to previous seasons (while simultaneously complaining that the ending is too neat and perfect! Which it isn't.).

CosmicDebris

@Foolio:

I disagree with that article about as much as humanly possible. Great season, did a great job keeping it fresh, and still super relatable in just about every aspect. Complaining that season 3 isn't directly relatable is seriously missing the point. About on par with claiming the series isn't relatable because you're not a panda. Also lol at complaining that it's too grim compared to previous seasons (while simultaneously complaining that the ending is too neat and perfect! Which it isn't.).

Agreed. You don't have to have been part of an underground pop group to relate to what she was going through. You just have to have been thrust into something outside your comfort zone.

Kirbycide

I thought that Season 3 was great, but yeah Haida drove me crazy. Glad that he seems to have made up his mind finally, anyway.

KageKageKing

The funny thing about Aggretsuko is that they could not be anthropomorphic animals and it would still be the same show.

pariston_hill

The article based itself in this awful tendency that has been rising on internet fandoms: "I can only empathize with characters and situations if I lived them or if I'm projecting myself into the character."

DoctorPhil

New season's trailer

Honestly.. I'm kinda worried. It seems like Haida is the main character now, and the main plot is just 'will they or won't they?!?'. I'm just not interested in that stuff at all. Haida is not a particularily interesting character and actually got pretty uncomfortable in S3. Female lead always ending up with male lead in every story ever (have they ever just decided to stay frends in the history of all fictional stories?) is just the most cliche thing ever.
Though thankfully the plot with corporate restructuring seems really interesting. I began watching this show for the corporate culture/politics from season 1 and I've been missing it since. Pretty hyped for that to return this season. And seems like the corporate restructuring is also gonna shake up the status quo, really cool (just dont write my boy Ton out of the story please!). And here's to hoping Fenneko can finally get her own supblot pretty please?