The way the third season of Beastars has brilliantly used the complexities of the connection between herbivores and carnivores and interspecies relationships as a metaphor for identity politics, the narrative seems to be shaping into a redefined modern interpretation of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” Previously the series had allegorized real-world issues involving segregation and prejudice based on birth identity through the existing world order of the anthropomorphic creatures, but the third season takes things a step further. integrating even more topical conundrums. Also, the third season has proven to be the darkest one so far, as the underworld gets more involved than ever, resulting in a large-scale conspiracy that could change the relationship dynamics between carnivores and herbivores forever. Legoshi gets himself entangled in a troublesome mess while trying to connect with his birth identity, and a series of events results in his life getting jeopardized time and again—with the first part of the season ending with a cliffhanger that casts a shadow over his fate.
Is Legoshi Dead?
After learning about Melon’s plight, being persecuted as a herbivore-carnivore hybrid, Legoshi was able to relate with the present Shishigumi boss and took pity on him, as Legoshi’s mother, Leanno, had faced much adversity due to her hybrid heritage, which had eventually resulted in her taking her own life. Even though Yahya, the veteran investigator/former Beastar, had sought Legoshi’s help to bring Melon to justice for his diabolical activities, Legoshi became conflicted after learning of Melon’s true identity. He had considered Melon to be a misguided individual, a product of a system that didn’t try to assimilate hybrids into the mainstream, and wanted to approach him—even overlooking the fact that Melon had almost killed him the last time they met. A determined Legoshi arrived at the tattoo parlor Melon used to frequent, and following clues, went to the Droplet of the Reaper, with hopes to have a conversation with him. A sympathetic Legoshi was too naïve to realize it was a trap set by the psychopathic Melon, who mocked Legoshi’s kindness and empathetic demeanor and relished the frightened look on Legoshi’s face in the final moments as Melon tied him to a chair and threw him off a cliff to ensure Legoshi passes away for good this time. Legoshi falls into the shallow depths, and his fate remains unknown.
Additionally, as the finale reaches its concluding moments, it is revealed that Melon has joined as a professor at Haru’s college, concealing his true identity—and this spells doom for Legoshi’s rabbit girlfriend. Melon knows about Legoshi’s private life, and given how much of a crazy, twisted guy he is, he will not hesitate to put Legoshi’s loved ones in harm’s way as well. It remains to be seen whether Haru eventually learns the truth about what transpired between him and Legoshi.
Louis Needs To Make A Choice
On the other hand, Louis is trying to build a case against Melon as well, as shown by the way he investigated the Kines energy drink, which was causing a predatory frenzy among carnivores, and publicly outed the company. However, the exposé directly affected the business of Louis’ fiancée, Azuki’s family, much to the dismay of Ogma, Louis’ adoptive father, who had coerced his son to marry Azuki in the first place to ensure a promising future for Horns Conglomerate. At the end of part one, after getting reprimanded by his father, Louis realizes that he needs to make a decision: he will either continue to fulfill the expectations of his father and take his preordained role as the next chief of Horns Conglomerate, or he will try to continue the good fight to ensure a better future for everyone and, like Legoshi, work for the coexistence of carnivores and herbivores. Louis has also quite obviously fallen for Juno, even though he continues to deny his feelings for her—fearing stigma against interspecies relationships. Louis needs to make a choice in this as well, between getting serious with either Azuki or Juno. As the third season has revealed, Louis still shares a good rapport with his Shishigumi lion comrades, who have immense respect for their former boss—so there is a possibility that Louis will return to his old life in the Black Market after all is said and done.
Melon’s Endgame and Yahya’s Worldview
Two major characters who have been introduced in this season, the hybrid psychopath, Melon, and the absolutist defender of justice, former Beastar Yahya, have stolen the show every moment they appeared on screen, and even though the duo have locked horns multiple times already, they are yet to confront each other face to face. Afflicted by an identity crisis, Melon wants to project his twisted, sickening perspective upon the world, and using the newly formulated drug, Melda, he wants to destroy any chance of coexistence among two major groups of animals. As shown in the series, Melon tries to hide his true identity as he has given in to existing prejudice against his kind, and as a hybrid, he lacks a number of emotional and sensation receptors for which he blames the notion of coexistence between two opposing groups. Yahya might differ from Melon when it comes to modus operandi, but he too doesn’t approve of interspecies relationships and wants to maintain the existing social status quo. It will be really interesting to see whether Yahya eventually finds an error in his absolutist worldview while taking on Melon at the end, or if he too will get swayed by his personal hatred and prejudice against carnivores.
The Future of Interspecies Relationships
The first part of the third season has focused on the aspect of interspecies relationships through a number of different ways, and in the real-world context, it can be interpreted in so many different ways that you could build a separate catalogue off it. Anyway, from Haru and Legoshi’s on-off relationship in dire need of a solid ground, to the future of the relationship between Juno and Louis, to the plight of hybrid animals and their progeny, everything hinges on the question of interspecies relationships posed by Beastars. In a society where personal choice matters less than societal expectations and burdens when it comes to choosing a loved one, the world of Beastars is painfully similar to our own. A significant generational divide is perceived regarding the question as well, as the older generation doesn’t approve of ‘unnatural’ ways. There’s the looming, unavoidable concern about carnivores mixing up their predatory urges with genuine feelings—even though hybrid children of carnivore-herbivore heritage are not an uncommon issue. With the likes of Melon trying to squander the efforts of interspecies harmony, it seems that peace will not be achieved easily after all.
The Perennial Question of Coexistence
The core theme of Beastars regarding herbivore-carnivore coexistence props up once again, and this time even more strongly, as the simplistic morality Legoshi believed in seems to be outdated the more he gains exposure to the outside world. For example, aquatic megafauna, which are completely dependent on the natural food chain, cannot afford the luxury of letting go of their baser instincts; instead, as beautifully explained by Legoshi’s new friend, Sagwan the spotted seal, a biological cycle of hunter gets hunted, dictates the balance of life in the submarine world. On the other hand, the authorities appear to make desperate efforts to simultaneously call for harmony among animals and segregate them based on their origin—signifying crossed wires in their approach to handling the question of coexistence. Instead, as Legoshi’s employer, the udon shop owner Sunaga, remarks, showing efforts to fit in or betray their natural instincts to convince the other side. Animals can coexist despite all the tragedies and devouring incidents taking place, as long as respect for life is shared by all. Which is why the meat-eating festival in Black Market surprises and horrifies Legoshi, whose modern sensibilities don’t allow him to understand that such a practice still prevails in this world. But it’s a celebration of the natural order of things, something Haru is quick to realize, which is why she doesn’t judge Legoshi for eating Louis’ leg (with his consent) and even dares to explore the Black Market despite being a rabbit herself. The final part will likely present a satisfactory answer to the question of coexistence by acceptance of one’s true self, and nature will win over nurture.
