[Editor’s note: The following article includes spoilers for season four of “Aggretsuko”]
Sorry, fans of love stories! In the lead-up to the latest season of Netflix’s “Aggretsuko,” trailers teased a will-they-won’t-they relationship between main character Retsuko and her doofy but well-meaning co-worker Haida. Instead, the newest 10 episodes from the Sanrio-born property explore the crushing truths of the modern workplace and the angst of being a cog in the capitalist machine.
What has made “Aggretsuko” so popular since its debut in 2018 is how it offers a relatable and reflective take on contemporary life. The show revolves around a 20-something red panda named Retsuko who’s employed in the accounting division at a trading firm. She deals with tyrannical bosses, unreasonable amounts of overtime and a slew of other problems that are recognizable to young people currently trying to navigate Japanese corporate culture. After work she lets off steam by indulging in some death metal at karaoke.