Bungo Stray Dogs: The Three-Part Framework, Explained

gamerant.com:

The following contains spoilers for Bungo Stray Dogs, streaming on Crunchyroll.

Bungo Stray Dogs is one of the slickest and most intriguing action anime of recent years and its core conflict stems from the striking rivalry between its main factions. However, as the anime has continued and audiences have become endeared to characters on both sides, the exact nature of the rivalry has become far more complex.

In season 3, Fyodor Dostoevsky enacted «The Cannibalism» and pitted the Armed Detective Agency against the Port Mafia, breaking their cease-fire from season 2. At the darkest moment, when it looked as if the leaders were about to kill each other, an old friend appeared to put an end to the conflict and help turn the tables on Dostoevsky.

Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 Looks To Be The Darkest Yet

The further the series goes along, the more that the past of Yokohama and the world is explored, revealing just how rich the series' own history and lore is. Throughout seasons 2 and 3, flashbacks explored the early careers of the characters, back during the «dark ages» of Yokohama, when gang wars tore the city to pieces.

In the present, when the story of Atsushi Nakajima begins, things are considerably more peaceful. The beautiful presentation of Yokohama and the vibrant colors seen throughout the show are in stark contrast to how dark, red, and violent the flashbacks are. It's part of what gives the city so much character and establishes what's at stake should another war break out.

But this peace permeating the franchise wouldn't exist without a mere victor to the past conflicts, but rather a system of checks and balances put in place to preserve what could have been a temporary peace. Enter Natsume Souseki, a powerful character in