Golden Kamuy - Season 4

The penultimate season of Golden Kamuy  has failed to disappoint me again (as a non-manga reader), and not even the unplanned interruption in the middle of the season could ruin it for me. Animation-wise, it gets better with each new season. I love the moments when I learn new things about Ainu’s life, discover new Kamuy, admire breathtaking scenery, or just watch a new dish being prepared. It's a shame that there are fewer and fewer of these moments every season. Most of the characters are great, and I really like the relationship between the main trio and how it keeps developing. I also appreciate every flashback and the development of some of the supporting characters, especially Lieutenant Tsurumi. Nevertheless, I'm starting to get the feeling that some stories could have been fleshed out a little more.  As manga readers claim, a lot of the original story is left out. I do like the humor in this series, even though it's incredibly masculine, and I get the impression that Noda Satoru has an unhealthy obsession with male anatomy. I don’t think I’ll be able to get the scene with the manly "shootout" from the penultimate episode out of my head for a long time. What a bizarre moment. I was also pleased with the satisfying conclusion of the storyline involving Tanigaki (the one Noda Satoru mentions as having the biggest balls of all the characters – you can look it up in the Trivia section of anime wiki) and Inkarmat. The opening theme was also great which means I’m giving this show a strong 4, and I'm looking forward to the already confirmed grand finale. I’m hoping it will affect me enough to finally give Golden Kamuy five stars. This time, it's an 8.4/10 again. (26.06.2023)