I could write an entire analysis of the plot of this show. It would take me hours to explain what the story is about and what everything means, but I feel it’s wrong to go in-depth. What I can say is this is as much a story about the longevity of the art of rakugo as it is a story about mortality and the legacies we leave behind. We have a juxtaposition of two main characters: Yakumo, an old master near the end of his life who holds staunchly to tradition and wishes “to die with rakugo,” and his apprentice Yotaro, a young master who seeks to innovate rakugo and keep it alive. This conflict leads to questions about not just rakugo itself, but the meaning of life. What does it mean to dedicate your life to your craft? How will we be remembered when we pass on if we are remembered at all? What should we leave behind for the generations that come after us, and should we leave anything at all? These are just a few of the existential questions that SGRS raises and reaches a consensus on.
Without giving away spoilers, here’s some other moments without context. The opening scenes of episode 1 serve as a fun and ingenious way of bridging the gap between Seasons 1 and 2. The opening shifts depending on the point of the narrative, and these changes are subtle but change everything. I really did not see the twist in Episode 7 coming, and I was both shocked and satisfied by what it implied. Yotaro’s performance in Episode 8 is fantastically heart-wrenching. I choked on my tears at the end of Episode 11. And Yotaro’s final line of the entire series is the perfect summary as to what this show is about and why you should care about it.
This series is a spectacular journey to embark on for the viewer because they get to see the journeys of each of its characters. Everyone who did not get development in Season 1 due to the framing of the narrative gets it here. The new characters who did not appear in Season 1 integrate themselves into the narrative cohesively and don’t feel out of place. While there is definitely a focus on the main players of this show, characters who have been delegated to supporting roles get the chance to shine and stake their claim of importance in the narrative. When contrasting the narrative arcs of two characters such as Yakumo and Matsuda, the main character and a supporting character, they both get impactful and satisfying conclusions regardless of their role in the story. It just works, and I wish I had the talent to write as well as the creators of SGRS.
The genius of the story and characters meant that I was never looking for impressive sakuga or a unique style. There isn’t any of that in this anime, but I am grateful for that. This is not a story that needs crazy visuals or effects to carry the narrative. This is an anime where the narrative supports the animation, rather than the other way around. This anime’s main purpose is to tell a story, and the art style is sufficient enough to do this. I’m not diminishing this at all, because the quality often made me forget that I was watching an anime from STUDIO DEEN, whom most fans will rank as a C or D tier studio at best. The music helps to elevate the animation too. Imawa no Shinigami (shout out to Shiina Ringo, I can’t believe such a fantastic composer worked on this song) is one of my favorite openings of all time. You also have a soundtrack that shifts from jazz to orchestral every moment. Even the sound effects are mixed well into this.
I still haven’t watched a crazy amount of anime, but I’ve never been this impressed by an anime before. I just can’t sing its praises enough, and I wish I could watch it for the first time again. I hope others find this impressive too. This is not an anime with fast-paced action, but one that one should sit with and listen to, just like you would listen to a rakugo performer. For that reason, SGRS may not be your cup of tea - it has slow pacing and it is still very much a period piece. I would suggest trying the first 3 episodes of the first season and seeing how tasteful it is for you (The first episode is 45 minutes, beware). I’ve seen some people elsewhere suggest that you don’t need to watch Season 1 to watch Season 2, but I disagree. You miss out on so many layers without the prior knowledge of Season 1. This is definitely an investment of your time, but it’s an investment that you won’t regret.
