Like it's previous seasons, it is largely episodic minus a few two part episodes. The plot of this season also differs in area. Whereas the first season focused on Natsume coming to terms with youkai, the second season with him becoming rather fond of youkai, to now, the third installment, with him having to choose between youkai and humans: Who does he care about more?
The season offers more insight into his grandmother, and continues the exploration of youkai, each one a marvelous story, every one only giving Nastume more development and growth as a person, and therefore to us, a character.
The Art and sound are still the same, as to say wonderful. The art is well drawn, and though not particularity amazing, it is, as always, memorable, especially when you consider the character designs, specifically the youkai. Natsume himself, though a memorable drawn character, looks fairly similar to many other anime characters, like the twins from Kimi to Boku. The youkai however, are for the most part memorable, though season 3 suffers from an entire memorable cast that made season 1 especially brilliant.
The animation is the same: Fluid and never dull, and though the season lacks a real sort of action, you can appreciate the animation when it does. Certainly nothing to be fanatic about, but not something to laugh at either.
The sound, as stated above, is continually amazing and heart warming. Many pieces throughout instill an emotion in your heart, and each one pieces together nicely with the particular event happening in the episode. Imagine a horror movie with suspenseful music. That's how you know it's suspenseful.
Again, characters here in the 3rd series are largely likable, and Natsume nor Madara never suffers. They even add some new ones, such as a particular villain who, like true nastume yuujinchou tradition, is never really violent violent. The show, after all, is more peaceful than anything. However unlike previous seasons, youkai introduced are either boring, unimportant or memorable, and I would say in my opinion, out of the 13 episodes, I can only bring up 5. The show also focuses less on Natsume's frieds, who you actually like because of their banter, comic relief, heart warming attitudes towards natsume & the friendship they provide to an otherwise lonely teen. Lonliness is less of a focus now, especially as the season develops. He becomes more caring towards his foster family and sees them now as cherished people, who he can accept as father and mother.
Overall, if you enjoyed the first two seasons, you will enjoy this one, but do understand that in no way shape or form will this be like the first season. Imagine a team that at the start won a championship, but the next 3 years they went from losing in the finals, to losing in the 3rd round, to losing in the second round, but every time, they made it to the finals.
Natsume yuujinchou san is still a good team, they just aren't great anymore.
