After five years, peak has returned
This, much to my chagrin, goes entirely out of order so even when all of Off and Monster Season is adapted, it's going to be hell for LN order followers. Before this, the biggest pain would've been to slot Hana in middle of Second Season but lol good luck following the Off and Monster Season LNs when this finishes.
This first cour focuses more or less on two characters: Yotsugi Ononoki (who, ironically, is only the deuteragonist in both arcs she's in) and Shinobu Oshino. As an Ononoki believer, I was excited for the first part and... less so for the second part. I like Shinobu but I'm mixed on when they dive into her past as Shinobu Time was the weakest arc of the otherwise almost flawless Second Season and Shinobu Mail dragged down the otherwise really good Owari S1.
...turns out I was right.
We start with a one-episode fun little side story about Tsukihi Araragi and her "plushie" Ononoki. As a taster to dip your toes back into the Monogatari pool, I think it works really well. It looks really good and is a blast to watch. Not only that but it isn't just a sugary sweet, it does have something to say about Tsukihi's character, which is nice to see.
Next is the peak of the season, for me, Nadeko Draw. The next chapter in Nadeko's story, having Nadeko "kill the past", so to speak, was a really fun way of showing Nadeko facing herself based on a fun, quirky problem which ends up solving itself so to speak. Looking back on the season, I think this is THE story that was worth telling. I almost feel unholy comparing it to the peak that is Tsubasa Tiger but that's the vibe I got from it.
We get a couple arcs focused on Shinobu's past which, as I expected, were the lowlight of the season.
First is the little half episode before Acerola Bon Appetit and idk, it just seems like the Ugly Barnacle from SpongeBob except it's the Beautiful Barnacle. It's nicely animated but I never really found a need to dig into Shinobu's past so this does nothing for me.
Speaking of which, Acerola Bon Appetit. I do like this arc on an aesthetic level but it just kind of pours more stuff on Shinobu's past that I didn't care to know. It's not like character ruining or anything but honestly, I would have preferred Shinobu just... be Shinobu. Why does she need to have been this perfect pretty pretty princess who was so perfect that everybody died? Deathtopia is probably the biggest new character we meet this cour and... she's fine. She's on the lower tier of Monogatari characters but she's not aggravating or anything. If she came back for future stuff, I wouldn't mind, but she's no Sodachi or anything.
Finally, we have Shinobu Mustard. I thought the mystery was kind of fun but the whole high school basketball team angle... like, I get it, but I never really connected with it. Not to mention it has a heavy serving of Izuko Gaen which honestly, I didn't mind her here, but I know there's at least a few people who don't like her so be warned. By the time the mystery was solved, it was just kind of a wet thud, although I appreciate how the "battle" ended. The main antagonist doesn't really get much characterization and what we get... eh? If she never appears again, it will not be a tragedy.
IMO, there were a lot of cool shots this season. The new director certainly breathes life into the series. I liked the Hachikuji rakugo scene and the Ononoki/first half is filled with a bunch of nice stuff. Overall, I think the Ononoki half hard carries this score but Shinobu Mustard is decent.
We only (as of the end of the ONA broadcast, time will tell if they go back and add more) got 2 new OPs and one was from a Shinobu arc so we only really got one banger. I think Caramel Ribbon Cursetard is easily the weakest of the three Nadeko OPs and I didn't really need Ononoki singing too even if I LOVE Orange Mint but it's still pretty good. I don't know what the title of the Shinobu Mustard OP is but we did get one. Idk why it sounds like The Godfather but it's probably the best """Shinobu""" OP. I can't imagine any Acerola OP would be better and idk if they're even going to bother doing Tsukihi Undo since it's one episode so... yeah.
Release the full version of Caramel Ribbon Cursetard, cowards
Speaking of songs, YOASOBI did the ED! It's good. I find most of the Monogatari EDs to be forgettable (although they cooked with the Neko Black one for some reason?) and for whatever it's worth, it's not forgettable as someone who only really hears YOASOBI when they contribute to an anime I watch.
I think at this point, unless something drastically changes, Monogatari is Monogatari is Monogatari. This deep in the game, you probably know how you feel about it if you're reading this and if you don't, you certainly will if you watch all of the preceding content.
This is certainly more Monogatari and whether that is a positive or negative statement can easily be gathered from your prior viewings.
I don't think it's peak like Bake or Kizu or Second Season but it's a very solid entry in one of the best anime ever made.
