As we know, this season's Black Butler was adapted by a different studio, and while some people were excited, some were worried too. But now that it has finished, I can definitely say that there wasn't anything to be concerned about. It is without a doubt as great as previous seasons, specifically Book of Circus, Murder, and Atlantic. There were, however, some dislikes among people about the anime's new artstyle in particular. Saying that the Public School arc's art is not only more colorful and about how Sebastian's design is worse, but also that the overall tone and vibe are not darker than previous seasons. For the latter, it is clearly not the case. While there were more comedic scenes and less tension at the beginning, slowly but surely, it builds up as it usually goes with Black Butler, reminding us that it is overall a dark fantasy and mystery. As for the former, there's not much to say other than the fact that, at the end, it all comes down to preference. Personally, both are good in their own perspective ways. However, regarding Sebastian, some people have judged too quickly, I won't go into too many details, but all that needs to be said is that it didn't need to be a concern after all. All in all, CloverWorks has done an overall good job with this adaptation.
Now, as for the plot itself, after the whole event at Book of the Atlantic, Ciel and Sebastian entering a public school to investigate the disappearances of students may seem underwhelming at first, but the start's similar for the majority of the arcs adapted already. This arc itself could simply be considered a build-up for the series' overarching story, or, in other words, the calm before the storm. Even taking into account the subtle foreshadowings and mysteries revealed. This has always been one of Black Butler's biggest charms.
To sum it up, even with A-1 Pictures being out of the picture, this season has managed to retain the qualities of the previous seasons, even with a studio and art style change. and overall, worth waiting for a long time. As of writing this, there hasn't been any announcement of a sequel, aside from a post-credit scene indicating of Emerald Witch, Black Butler's next arc. But again, even if it takes weeks, months, or even years, it wouldn't be a problem as long as it remains to receive good treatments.
