Tokyo Revengers returns for its final season, War of the Three Titans! Here’s my review of the first episode, “Break Up,” as someone who hasn’t finished the manga! Spoiler alert if you haven’t watched the past seasons!
Opening Theme
Things kicked off with the opening theme “Ignite” by JO1. I love that it pays tribute to the manga cover artwork and offers glimpses into the past and what looks like the future to come this season! The song fits the Tokyo Revengers vibe with the guitars and rocky feel we all know and love, while also showing off a new style. Overall, I think it gets the job done, but it isn’t groundbreaking by any means. I’m really interested in the new characters being highlighted, though!
Overall Thoughts on Season 4 Episode 1: Break Up
Here’s my review of the first episode, “Break Up,” as someone who hasn’t finished the manga!
This season drops us straight into an emotional moment at Emma’s funeral, where Draken admits he loved her and asks for forgiveness for not being able to protect her. This really sets the tone for the first episode, where I feel like the overall theme is moving on. You see iconic duos like Kokonoi and Inupi splitting up, Kakucho mourning Izana, Hanma on the run as a fugitive, and Mikey dropping the news that Toman is breaking up. It feels like everyone is moving on in one way or another.
Memorable Moments
What really stood out to me in this episode was the friendship between Chifuyu and Takemichi. It’s so refreshing to see how much Chifuyu has changed from earlier episodes to now. Their relationship feels real, and their growth is undeniable. Chifuyu has become a great vice captain to Takemichi and has grown so wise since Baji’s death. I really enjoy the balance between the two of them because, despite having conflicting beliefs at times, neither of them is ever closed-minded. They’re the most honest with each other, and I like how expressive their conversations are in comparison to most of the cast.
One thing I find interesting is Mikey’s reaction to Takemichi talking about his time leaping; he seems very stoic during the conversation. Mikey claims he thought he’d be the one to bring in a new era, but honestly, he’s felt very neutral to me throughout the series. I hope we get to learn more about what Mikey actually wants. Then he vows to keep everyone, including Hina, safe no matter what until they meet again in the future, which sounds more unsettling than reassuring because didn’t he listen to all of Takemichi’s struggles the night before about him trying to do this very thing?
It’s impossible to control every single detail, hence the struggle we’ve seen Takemichi face over the last few seasons. It’s too heavy a burden for anyone! There’s definitely something strange about Mikey’s reactions. It’s like he listens, but doesn’t really express his thoughts or fully process things. My biggest gripe with Mikey is that when you really focus on him, you realize you actually don’t know much about him.
Ending Credits
The song TRICK STAR by go!go!vanillas seems to play on the uncertainty about the characters’ futures. The lyrics play on the word “trickster” and talk about being cunning and rebellious, going against the grain and pulling off the biggest bluff. It alludes to playing a game most people can’t read, like a poker player trying to psych out competitors. The ending credits also seem to align each character with a vibrant, flashy color, while Mikey’s color is always portrayed as black. It’s a constant theme of Mikey being isolated, which is confusing since he usually stays vague and never really says everything he’s feeling. So to me, it feels like he chooses to be alone. I’m very curious to see what the color correlations refer to! It really feels like lines are being drawn quietly between everyone, and there’s clearly more than meets the eye!
About Tokyo Revengers
Tokyo Revengers is an anime by Ken Wakui that follows the main character, Takemichi Hanagaki, as he time leaps back and forth to try to save his girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, and his closest friends from dying in the future. To do so, he finds himself in the Tokyo Manji Gang, where his goal is to rise through the ranks and into a position of power where he can control the future. Takemichi isn’t your usual hero! He’s not the strongest fighter. He has no powers beyond the ability to time leap. He’s just an average guy, trying to pull off the impossible to protect the ones he loves most.
Tokyo Revengers is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus!
Leave a Reply