English Dub Review: Bungo Stray Dogs “The Lone Swordsman and the Famous Detective”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Security police officer Fukuzawa Yukichi (Jamieson Price) arrives at work to discover that his client has been assassinated. The assassin is already apprehended by the time he arrives, but something doesn’t seem right.

Our Take:

Thus begins a new season of another series that flew underneath my radar. I had no idea that a show like Bungo Stray Dogs existed until today. Considering that it’s about individuals with supernatural abilities running a detective agency, it’s unfortunate that I just joined the club in its fourth season. However, it also shows that my experience with anime is minimal since there’s a bunch for me to keep track of.

The thing to know about the season four premiere is that it’s a prequel to the series, as the story takes place several years before Atsushi Nakajima joins the agency. It also focuses on Fukuzawa, the president of the Armed Detective Agency, who was once a war soldier. Fortunately, that’s enough for me to walk into this case with fresh eyes. Although, it still has the task of impressing me with its world-building and plot.

Having the first episode of season four be a prequel seemed like an appropriate approach for the series. It gives people new to the show, including me, an easier time to get introduced to the universe without getting lost in the series’s arc introduced in the last three seasons. More importantly, it gives longtime fans of Bungo Stray Dogs a more profound exploration of one of its beloved characters before their time at the Armed Detective Agency. The episode showcases Fukuzawa as a former soldier who’s traumatized by his horrific act in the past, forcing himself never to pick up his blade again. Now, as a security officer, Fukuzawa must deal with having a partner in an attempt to find out who this “V” character is and why they’re targeting the theater. Regarding the direction and presentation, it’s more than enough for the fans to revisit the world of Bungo Stray Dogs in a new light before it shifts back to Atsushi later.

As for the episode itself, I enjoyed what it offered in terms of its presentation and tone. The English voice cast was suitable for their performances, including Jamieson Price as Fukuzawa. I would also give credit to the animation team for successfully reflecting its detective neo-noir presentation and mild action. The blue linings on the characters looked a tad odd in the episode’s first half, but they didn’t affect the display too much. Plus, they go away for the rest of the episode, so I can’t complain too much. It’s enough for me to see what happens next regarding the investigation at the theater, but I’m willing to wait and see if the entire fourth season can get me to watch the show’s other seasons.