Explosive Commencement: Bungo Stray Dogs Season 5 Episode 1 Unleashes a Thrilling Start

Caution: The following contains spoilers for Episode 51 of the anime Bungo Stray Dogs, titled "The Strongest Man," which is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

There has been extensive discussion surrounding the previous season of Bungo Stray Dogs, analyzing its success and failures as an adaptation, and questioning the necessity of the novel adaptation that was added in the beginning. However, upon completing "The Strongest Man," it can be argued that, especially for those who solely follow the anime, the time spent exploring a younger Ranpo proved to be incredibly rewarding, setting the stage for an enjoyable start to this new season.

Ranpo has been missing in action ever since Episode 44, where he took a daring leap out of a window in order to escape from the pursuing police. This incident occurred during a critical period when public sentiment had turned strongly against the Armed Detective Agency. Over the course of the seven subsequent episodes, the Hunting Dogs have been unleashed with great force, causing the Agency to become more fragmented and divided than ever before. Moreover, the Agency's attempts to thwart a terrorist plot have tragically backfired.

A Sorry State of Affairs

The first half of Episode 51 immerses the audience in the woeful circumstances of its characters, with an emphasis on Kunikida, who seems to constantly endure misfortune. Firstly, he witnessed a child's tragic demise during the Cannibalism event right before his eyes. Subsequently, he was wrongly incarcerated, only to be rescued by Ranpo. And now, in his futile attempt to save the day, he has lost his hands and remains without a solution.

He appears destined for suffering, clearly buckling under the pressure. There have been numerous suggestions that, despite his tough facade, a part of him is questioning his core beliefs. Hopefully, the ongoing story will take the time to delve into his inner struggles. For now, both he and Yosano need to find a way to escape from prison.

Meanwhile, Atsushi, Kyouka, Lucy, and Ango must come to terms with their failure to prevent the Decay of Angels' plan, as the coin explosives have made their way across the globe. In the midst of this uncertainty, Atsushi remains one of the most hopeful members of the group, along with Ranpo. While it may initially be disheartening to have Dazai confined to prison for an entire storyline, it presents valuable opportunities for character development.

The inclusion of Dazai as a phantom appearing in Atsushi's subconscious highlights the need for him to not only develop his physical strength, but also gain confidence in his own intellect. While Fyodor and Dazai persist in playing psychologically manipulative games, it becomes increasingly evident that the success or failure of the characters relies on their actions when not under the influence of these two masterminds.

The Kamui Misdirect

The reputation of the story lies in its impressive character introductions, making it strange how the concept of Kamui falls short. "Concept" is crucial here, as the name Kamui has not been mentioned beforehand, unlike the other two members of the Decay of Angels.

The leader of the Decay of Angels remains a complete enigma, with little buildup except for the surprising suggestion that Fyodor is not in control. Interestingly, the teasing of Kamui in the marketing is a clever deception by the storytellers. The person behind the gas mask is actually Ranpo in disguise.

He foils the actual Kamui's plot to assassinate captured members of the Agency by assuming his identity and arriving first. This leaves the audience even more uncertain about the identity of the perpetrators, but through Ranpo's deception, we gain insight into the formidable abilities of the real Kamui. Unfortunately, this trickery feels premature as we have yet to be given a compelling reason to invest in the mystery surrounding the person Ranpo is impersonating.

However, this may be a minor point of contention. After all, this is just the beginning of the Kamui Revelation Arc, where the enigma surrounding the Agency's members will take center stage. In truth, Ranpo's rescue plan is more deserving of critique than anything related to Kamui's buildup.

The Return of the Brilliant Detective

Part of the enjoyment in watching a story with a detective like Ranpo lies in observing the direness of the situation and pondering, "How will he prevail?" There is never really any doubt that they will emerge victorious, but rather the question remains, "How?" The gap between triumph and success widens at a pace surpassing the audience's ability to uncover the answer themselves.

In this manner, Ranpo operates similarly to a superhero such as Superman, who always triumphs in the end. While some mysteries involve the audience piecing together the puzzle alongside the detective, there are instances where we simply go along for the ride. The resolution to the mystery must possess internal logic and uphold our suspension of disbelief.

Kunikida and Katai's rescues are executed flawlessly, particularly the latter one. Once again, Ranpo cleverly channels Edgar Allen Poe's prowess to save the day. However, there was a slight skepticism surrounding his rescue of Yosano. Whether it was the writing or the overall presentation, the way he discreetly absconded with the car containing her seemed a bit too conveniently orchestrated.

Ranpo's deductive abilities have consistently proven to be highly convenient and have effectively ridiculed traditional mystery conventions. Despite this occasional absurdity, it's difficult to hold onto bitterness when Ranpo delivers a genuinely brilliant statement to the public, reminding us why he is one of the series' finest characters.

Since the introduction of "The Page," its powers have been portrayed as unbeatable. However, Ranpo effortlessly exposed the fallacy of its reality-altering capabilities. It was never all-powerful; rather, it operates with meticulous precision. Additionally, utilizing it necessitates a narrative consistency akin to that of a novel, thereby establishing limitations based on the author's intent.

If Fyodor were to draft a directive instructing law enforcement to overlook any proof of the Agency's innocence, it would imply that evidence could be as abundant as narrative inconsistencies in a tale. And Ranpo could exploit each overlooked aspect. Even if their exoneration is not universally embraced, the Agency will find themselves with a multitude of allies - far surpassing their previous numbers.

Ranpo's public address is both short and powerful, carrying significant meaning after a season filled with the characters' lowest moments. Rather than being bittersweet or tragic, it is genuinely uplifting, surpassing my expectations for a victory that I anticipated only in future episodes. While Bungo Stray Dogs Season 5 undoubtedly faces numerous challenges ahead, the premiere flawlessly instills a sense of hope reminiscent of the conclusion of Season 3.