I honestly dont know where to begin with this. This will be my first review on this site and I will tag any major spoilers. So I like many people picked up the manga after studio ORANGEs phenomenal adaptation finished because I absolutely could not wait until the second season. The music the animation the world the characters all of it came together so wonderfully I just could not stop myself. I was lucky or unlucky depending on your point of view enough to catch up just before the series devolves into a clusterfuck of chapters that oscillate between twenty different tones vapid and superficial answers to the questions raised earlier in the series and a messy attempt to elicit sympathy for an antagonist that is offensive at best. If I were to cut out the last 30 or so chapters this series would still be a 9 for me. The shift in the quality of writing is so dramatic and disconcerting especially given how amazing the beginning is that I held on to hope that it could be turned around far past the point of no return. There had been issues prior to this sudden shift however the introduction of a certain character marks the beginning of the end when it comes to Beastars. Let me start with what I enjoyed with the series before I tear into the mess that is the conclusion. Art: The art starts out quite badly. Paru does not know how to compose her pages or how to have consistent linework. There are random thick lines running among the thin ones and characters are drawn inconsistently 220https://e6zy4vn3kf4bc.3dzsqg1ydq73m.mangadex.network:44300/YpGTgiWKCmbgjuuqo8RLA90HJ1FgoEEw3gkfKX3OcHvoF7AOe7wK5ozr5w1AGNsJ0T1K73kQnShDz1FJfhVQbnQJEqsdXcM69oXjaOkIWjx2Knv1LhNbcHlWQBON9poxWRtokjA6iXx6rQj4IjQX0GMBxpiV0AJWPBx39aXwCiBl43oD8P8898eq7rMyEnb3HkFSSABYMUrXnV2QeE/data/483244064b446e65b4fbf03c5d1897a3/25.png Image from chapter 1 One of the most rewarding parts of reading Beastars is seeing Paru evolve and grow as an artist. Her style ends up being incredibly unique and fun to look at and it is something that never drops in quality throughout the series. It just gets stronger and stronger as it goes on as she learns how to compose dynamic shots and really gets a feel for how she wants to draw her characters. 220https://e6zy4vn3kf4bc.3dzsqg1ydq73m.mangadex.network:44300/9oam0J3Y98KWeIsOLTqtDQWyaC6KeDImh8L4cMbEzHna9D4GyYBnoRaSnC6W3vetejvEFVebEHw001WI5joipqL5P20YtLnQ2VE2FFDSUbICVUH7Mp41azurqbKHdoDTcUK6AOtmNTrp6ldc7EE9K9Rr4icG056DhwJr3KLDkoV9AExGPuS8M9ypzfFVmzFafCG2SL1GVH0auQJ5W0P0q03/data/f36e93669abac0c1c401666a818bcd4a/r9.png Image from chapter 112 Plot: This will be short since Beastars has always been a characterdriven story not a plotdriven one. The only overarching plot thread that exists at least in the beginning of the story is finding out who Tems killer is and that thread gets wrapped up almost 100 chapters before the end of the series and is the best part of the series I might add. After that plot thread is wrapped up it is very clear that Paru did no have much of a plan passed that and for a while that works. She was able to explore her characters without being constrained to solving this huge mystery. It stops working after she abandons the slice of life aspect in order to try and oneup what she did before. Charaters: Arguably the best part of Beastars. At least before the last 30 chapters. Beastars is a world that is rich with interesting morally grey characters just trying to do their best to survive. It is compelling and dynamic and fun. Legosi is was one of the most interesting protagonists I had ever seen which makes what he becomes later so disappointing. Haru was a breath of fresh air as far as heroines go her whole life did not revolve around Legosi in fact in the beginning he is hardly even a blip on her radar while he is falling so deeply in love with her he worries that it is an obsession. She had her own agency as a person and was spunky and fun. Which makes what she becomes later so disappointing. Louis was an amazing foil to Legosi highlighting what was wrong with the worlds structure and how hypocritical it all is. He too had his own agency outside of Legosi which once again makes what he becomes later so incredibly disappointing are you seeing a pattern here?. The recurring problem with the characters is that when Paru does not know what to do with them they either disappear or become a member of the Legosi cheer squad. And it gets old really fast. Now I cannot really delve into just how convoluted and stupid the last 30 chapters are without talking major spoilers so: Summary: If it seems like I am being too harsh on Beastars I honestly dont think I am. I have left out many other complaints about characters that are not even mentioned in this review as it would make this review far longer than it already is I even have more complaints about the characters I DID mention but as I said it would make this way longer than it already is. The only reason the series is not rated lower is that the first 160 or so chapters are still amazing for me. That part is still a 9/10. The ending though is a 5 when I am feeling generous which averages out to a 7. I think the easiest way to put how I feel about the series is like this: Legosi was once one of my favorite characters of all time now I feel nothing when I see him.