Warning: This article contains spoilers for Bungo Stray Dogs: BEAST.
Bungo Stray Dogs: THE BEAST this is the official alternate universe of the original Bungo Stray Dogs series, offering a much darker and darker look at the characters and events that unfold. Unlike the main storyline, BEAST reverses roles and explores how characters’ destinies could change dramatically under different circumstances. This alternate reality gives fans a deeper understanding of the mysterious book in the original timeline and how it partially functions.
Bungo Stray Dogs: THE BEAST doesn’t shy away from making the storyline darker than it already was. The main character, Atsushi, is thrust into a role that does not suit his good nature, while Akutagawa is drawn into a role that is most alien to him. However, the biggest and most shocking change came from none other than Osamu Dazai, who was revealed to have even more insight than anyone had first thought.
Atsushi and Akutagawa’s roles are reversed in Bungo Stray Dogs: BEAST
This alternate universe explores how their destinies could have changed as a result of one major change
IN Bungo Stray Dogs: THE BEASTAtsushi and Akutagawa change your roles. Akutagawa becomes the main character BEAST universe, and Atsushi works for the port mafia as Dazai’s apprentice. Although their personalities have remained largely intact, it is clear that their different experiences have taken their toll on them and have had a strong impact on how they live in the world. Their roles were switched demonstrate how their upbringing, environment and the people they are surrounded by can shape a person’s personality.
Connected
Atsushi and Akutagawa often seem like polar opposites in the main storyline, but BEAST takes this idea and destroys itshowing that they are not inherently tied to their chosen path. Akutagawa, although still quick to act and highly appreciative of power, is shown to gradually learn what it means to be around others who genuinely care about his well-being and encourage him to be the best version of himself. On the other hand, Atsushi is taught to harm others before he gets hurt first, and to obediently obey the orders of the Port Mafia without question.
Bungo Stray Dogs: BEAST is the darkest storyline in the franchise
BEAST Pushes the boundaries of the series’ themes
In addition to the role reversal of Atsushi and Akutagawa, BEAST does not hold back his tragedies and heartbreaking moments. Bungo Stray Dogs: THE BEAST manga raises themes pain, loss, trauma, redemption and the pain of being “stray dogs” or social outcasts. In Akutagawa’s case, he strives to find his sister Gin and save her. However, during this mission, he is confronted with the fact that he never thought deeper than the surface level and only ended up hurting others and himself.
Likewise, Atsushi’s appearance as the White Reaper of the Port Mafia shows how even The kindest people can be corrupted under certain circumstances. Atsushi submits to fear due to the mistake he made after breaking an order. From then on, Atsushi became so consumed by this fear that nothing else could overcome it. Both Atsushi and Akutagawa become products of their surroundings, each seeking redemption, each reeling and trying to find a sense of normalcy in the midst of their tragic pasts.
Akutagawa enters the light while Atsushi remains in darkness
The experiences they go through show the true potential of their characters.
Akutagawa was found by Oda Sakunosuke and taken to the ADA. On his first assignment, he helps Kenji in the rice fields with manual labor, and Kenji shares his belief that there is a balance of good and evil. Akutagawa brushes this off at first, thinking it doesn’t apply to him. However, in typical Kenji fashion, he tells Akutagawa that he received good halves from his friends just by being alive. It’s clear from Akutagawa’s reaction that he’s never thought about it this way before, and it’s entirely possible that he did. his first real encounter with light.
However, when Atsushi is introduced, he is revealed to be a killer, fast and merciless along with Kyoka. He is overcome with fear of the constant actions he took earlier and begs Dazai to give him orders so that he does not make another mistake. This fear stemmed from Atsushi meeting the director of his orphanage and misinterpreting the situation. As the director opened his arms, presumably for praise and a hug, Atsushi lost control and killed him in cold blood, leaving him haunted by memories. This incident left him like a puppet.unwilling and unable to do anything of his own free will for fear of making another mistake.
Dazai’s shocking connection to the book
In this episode, the human no longer grants Dazai enormous power.
As always, Osamu Dazai knows more than he lets on and has a specific plan. In this alternate universe Dazai’s connection to the book the way to rewrite reality is incredibly complex. Thanks to his No Longer Human ability, Dazai is able to see all the alternate realities that exist in the book, including Dazai’s memories from the original universe. Bungo Stray Dogs. With this knowledge, he pulls the strings from behind the scenes, taking on the mantle of the head of the port mafia.
Connected
In this universe Dazai acts like a heartless leader. port mafia though aware of countless other memories of universes it could be. BEAST The universe is especially important to Dazai because it is the only reality among many others where Oda Sakunosuke is alive and writing a novel. Dazai longs for a connection with Odasaku as it is a memory of his dying wish for Dazai in the original. Bungo Stray Dogs chase him. However, in this reality, Oda is part of the ADA and doesn’t care about Dazai, preventing him from ever having another connection with Oda.
The brutal ending of Bungo Stray Dogs: BEAST
Dazai’s revelations throw Atsushi and Akutagawa onto a lonely path
After meeting Oda at the Lupine Bar, Dazai returns to the Port Mafia headquarters to reveal to Akutagawa and Atsushi the truth about multiple realities and the fact that their universe was just one possibility. He informs them that there can only be two people who know this fact, and any more people will upset the delicate balance of their world. To maintain balance in the world, Dazai uses his suicide as a calculated sacrifice. Dazai’s last thought is his only regret: he will never have the opportunity to read Odasaku’s novel.
Dazai’s last wish reveals his deep emotional void left by Oda’s death and absence from the world. BEAST Universe. By revealing the truth to Akutagawa and Atsushi, Dazai essentially makes them understand the fleeting nature peace. However, in doing so, Dazai also isolates them as the only beings aware of the fragile existence around them. Despite this, Akutagawa officially joins the agency in hopes of seeing Gin again, and Mori and Eliza welcome Atsushi to the orphanage where he grew up, each with a new understanding of the reality that surrounds them. Bungo Stray Dogs: THE BEAST.