For the remainder of Saturdays in Winter 2025, I will be writing about Guild Receptionist – but first, I will complete my episode reviews from Fall 2024. You know what that means! It means it’s time to discuss our favorite uncomfortable and fabulously furry anime! Let’s talk about the last two episodes of Beastars Final Season Part 1.
Also, please note: these entries are not detailed event recaps, but simply a few of my thoughts on these installments.
Episode 11: Peeling Back the Layers
Episode Rating: 9/10
Disguised as a lab worker, Louis talks to Deshico the civet about Kines. Deshico verifies that the drink has little to no effect on regular carnivores but has a dangerous reaction in those who eat meat regularly. Louis wants to stop the production and distribution of Kines right away, but Deshico – being an underworld drug producer – doesn’t agree. He raves about how Kines is an exciting new experimental drug and good for society. The clever civet shut down further inquiry by making it clear he knew Louis’ identity.
Meanwhile, Legoshi recovers from his gunshot wound with uncanny speed. He checks in with his boss, Sunaga the owl, who is kind and understanding. Legoshi also goes to see Yahya, only to be told that the case with Melon is over because involving a civilian is too dangerous. Stubbornly but understandably, Legoshi is not willing to let the issue go. I get that he’s invested in helping a “mix.” But he seems to believe he can reason with Melon if they talk again. It’s like he forgot that Melon SHOT HIM two episodes ago.
Before he gets serious about tracking down Melon, Legoshi goes to a bathhouse with Sagwan. The two friends have an amusing and sweet interaction in the hot bath. Unlike with Louis and Legoshi, there doesn’t seem to be sexual tension here, but rather, a more wholesome and simplistic form of friendship. Sagwan genuinely cares about Legoshi. Despite the sea-creature ideology of embracing death, the seal states that he would weep for Legoshi if anything happened to him. ❤
Let’s change gears. There’s a lot of discussing and analyzing to do concerning mixed-species beasts in this anime. But I only have time to go over the tip of the iceberg right now. Deshico said “mixes” are prone to sensory anomalies. In rare cases, a mixed beast will have a “super sense” that is heightened. Many “mixes” seem to either lack natural desires, or be prone to depression or suicide, or both. (I think any marginalized group of society is likely to be this way.)
What do you think is the point of Melon’s character and his identity as a “mix”? There are unpleasant ways to interpret these things, but within reason, people can take what they want to hear from a vague and complicated show like Beastars. One bad reading would be that “mixes” are metaphors for children raised by queer parents or interracial couples. Another potentially horrible reading is that Melon and other mixes are supposed to be autistic.
I don’t think there’s enough evidence to back either of those bad analogies. But I do think “mixes” are representative of social outcasts in a broad, general sense. Also, Melon in particular is a case of a man who became twisted from being treated like shit by society since his birth. Not every mixed beast will be a psychopath like Melon. We already saw how Legoshi’s mother was a victim of depression who lost herself to suicide. In short, I don’t think the point of “mixes” is bad in this series. It only becomes problematic when you try too hard to connect it to social issues of our human reality.
As predicted by Deshico, Melon has sensory issues. Rather than having a super sense, he cannot experience normal flavors and sensations in food. In addition, he has absolutely no libido or sexual desire. Melon feels frustrated and isolated by this, so he copes by indulging in his favorite pastime: getting tattoos. In order to cover up his leopard spots, which apparently give him some sort of dysphoria, he asks his friend Holger to turn the marks into tattoos of melon leaves.
There are many weird scenes in Beastars, but this episode featured one of the contenders for most uncomfortable scene yet. As Holger cuts into Melon’s flesh – purposefully causing as much as pain and bleeding as possible – Melon experiences intense sexual pleasure. It’s some kind of sadomasochistic ritual for them both. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having violent kinks if they’re consensual. But I didn’t ask to hear Melon’s sex noises.
By the time Legoshi arrives at the tattoo parlor, Melon had already fled. Only Holger remains, smiling eerily with his face and torso covered in Melon’s blood-splatter. That face was genuinely unsettling. To be continued.
Episode 12: Tragedy on the Waves
Episode Rating: 8/10
This episode was enjoyable and intense, but parts of it felt slightly like filler material. “Filler” might not be right. It just felt like everything was leading up to the plot point at the end – the supposed death of Legoshi – so the rest of the episode wasn’t very important. Much of this installment was focused on Louis infiltrating Yahya’s building to ask for his help in stopping Kines. Shenanigans occurred, and Yayha had to step in to save Louis from being devoured by a police beast who drank Kines.
Louis then took the opportunity to announce the truth about Kines on live television. This was definitely the right thing to do, but unfortunately, it also meant crashing the finances of Azuki’s family, who were the ones distributing Kines. Louis’ father, Ogma, had a stern talk with his son about it.
On the subject of Azuki, Ogma asks if Louis is uninterested in women or just in female deer. Louis avoids the question, reacting defensively to his father’s nosiness. In the end, Ogma leaves his son with the psychologically abusive statement that Louis had cost his father 10 million yen over the course of his life so far. He will always be forced into the high-pressure role of heir to the Horns Conglomerate.
(Side Note: In case anyone wants my take, I do think Louis is into women – but only if they are carnivores. There’s also no reason to say he wouldn’t be into male carnivores, or any carnivore regardless of gender. Given his interesting relationships with male characters like Legoshi and Ibuki, Louis likely has bisexual side, too.)
Using a clue from Holger, Legoshi continues tracking down Melon. Meanwhile, Bill and Els fight segregation in their school by demanding one last performance of the drama club that will be produced by both herbivore and carnivore members. I still ship Bill and Els, but that’s enough about them for now. Legoshi heard from Holger that Melon was going to visit “The Shinigami’s Droplet” for solace.
A quick internet search shows that the Shinigami’s Droplet is a huge local rock formation right by the ocean. Legoshi heads there and enjoys the beauty of the rocks, the beach, and the sunset. He imagines talking to Melon and reaching him on a deep level. If only someone would show care and understanding to Melon, he would surely stop being so evil. Or that’s what the naïve Legoshi hoped.
To nobody’s surprise, Legoshi was dead wrong. His rosy fantasies were interrupted when Melon shot him in the ear and ruthlessly mocked him. Then the Shishigumi captured him. Much to Legoshi’s frustration, he had walked right into a trap. Melon had Legoshi tied to a chair, to which was fastened a heavy rock. His plan was to murder Legoshi by dropping him off the tall ocean cliff while bound. Melon also made sure to torment Legoshi by nearly choking him to death. He then unceremoniously threw the young wolf into the sea.
Legoshi goes missing, but it’s obvious that he’s not dead. Sagwan must have rescued him. He’ll probably spend some time in the world of the sea creatures. The final reveal of the episode is that Melon is teaching a class at Haru’s university. That’s unsettling as fuck. This marks the end of Beastars Final Season Part 1. Nobody is sure yet when Part 2 will release on Netflix, but estimates say it will happen within the first half of 2025. That’s all for today. Your readership is much appreciated! Sayonara until next time.
~Thanks for reading~
Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants
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