We Know Why Bungo Stray Dogs Would Never Be the Same Again Even if Kafka Asagiri Went Back to His Old Ways (2025)

Even if Kafka Asagiri were to return to the series’ roots, the foundation has already shifted too much for Bungo Stray Dogs to feel like it once did.

If you’ve been a fan ofBungo Stray Dogs since the beginning, you might have noticed something feels off in the current storyline. The early seasons and manga chapters captured a grounded, almost methodical vibe, pulling us into a world where mysteries were solved with logic, realism, and clever detective work. However, somewhere along the way, it seems like things have drastically changed.

As the series delved deeper into theDecay of Angelsarc, the focus shifted. And this shift wasn’t limited to the plot either; it seeped into the characters, the conflicts, and the tone of the series itself. Let’s explore why this change feels so profound and even if Kafka Asagiri decided to return to the original style ofBungo Stray Dogs, why the series might never recapture its old magic.

The Old Days:The Grounded Theme of Bungo Stray Dogs

In its early days,Bungo Stray Dogswas going in the direction of a murder mystery at heart. Sure, supernatural abilities were part of the world, but they weren’t the driving force behind the plot. The series thrived on logical deductions, human motives, and crimes that made sense within the confines of reality.

For example, The Guild Arc introduced us to a character named Fitzgerald. His immense wealth was his main weapon and even his crimes were grounded in unethical financial power and greed, not an over-the-top devastating supernatural ability.

Similarly, the earlier arcs of Bungo Stray Dogs mainly revolved around the unethical action of the Port Mafia as their corruptionshowed us a gritty depiction of the underworld ruled by ambition, betrayal, and moral ambiguity. Even with abilities, the root of their actions was disturbingly human.

Abilities were merely tools; fascinating yet not the be-all and end-all. They complemented the story rather than overpowering it. Even the villains’ actions and motivations were rooted in greed, trauma, or revenge; and their schemes mainly required out-of-box intellect. However, the Decay of Angels Arc drastically changed the trajectory of the series.

Decay of Angels Arc: What Changed?

Being one of the most intense arcs of Bungo Stray Dogs, the Decay of Angel Arc might have surely elevated the stakes and chaos of the storyline, but it also changed the core theme of the series that made it so compelling. Suddenly, abilities aren’t just tools anymore, rather they have become the story itself. Logic and realism have taken a backseat as the series has leaned heavily into its supernatural elements.

Take Fyodor Dostoevsky, for example. While his initial introduction as a cunning manipulator was thrilling, his role in later arcs became so intertwined with his ability that it felt less like outsmarting an opponent and more like playing a game rigged by the rules of his power. The other antagonists as well, such as Nikolai Gogol bring a different type of energy into the premise of Bungo Stray Dogs, which is chaotic, unpredictable, and often impossible to outthink because their abilities allow them to bypass logic entirely.

The motivations of all of the Decay of Angels members feel very abstract, their actions erratic, and their plans hinge almost exclusively on their supernatural powers. Earlier, antagonists like Mori Ougai or Fitzgerald followed clear, almost corporate schemes. Their plans were rooted in ambition, strategy, and human flaws, making them relatable and even terrifying. However, the unpredictability of the newer villains stripped away the methodical charm that once defined Bungo Stray Dogs.

Even the protagonist, Atsushi Nakajima, who once grappled with self-doubt and moral dilemmas in a grounded world, now faces conflicts so far removed from reality that his personal growth feels redundant by the spectacle of powers clashing. Asagiri didn’t even choose him when asked about which character he would like help from if ever in distress.

While we are excited to see where Kafka Asagiri takes us next, it’s still a far cry from where we started. The shift from grounded mysteries to reality-bending conflicts in Bungo Stray Dogs might have captivated some newer audiences, but it has somewhat alienated a portion of the fandom that followed the series since the beginning. It’s not that the oldBungo Stray Dogsis gone forever, but it has evolved into something new.

Bungou Stray Dogs is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.