Common Name: Jigoku Shoujo: Yoi no Togi Alternative Names: Hell Girl: Fourth Twilight, Hell Girl 4, Jigoku Shoujo 4
Score: 1/10, 1/5
Length: 12 Episodes
Genre: Drama, Grimdark, Horror, Mystery
Summary: Called upon once again to perform her duties as the Jigoku Shoujo, Enma Ai returns to the land of the living to see that all grudges and hopes for revenge aren't left unanswered. Strangely, however, it seems that there is a new addition to Ai's retinue of ghosts, monsters, and demons. Unaware of who she is or what she did to earn the attention of the Jigoku Shoujo, the girl called Michiru finds herself struggling to decide whether or not sending people to Hell on a whim is truly just. What's more strange, however, is the glimmer of recognition that spread's across Ai's features whenever she sees this girl.
Review: While I'd normally never make the claim that any anime or form of media is inherently pointless, that is the only term that comes to mind when I consider this fourth installment of the Jigoku Shoujo series. Considering the events of the third season, where Ai is banished to Hell for attempting to wreak her own, personal vengeance in the land of the living, it simply made no sense why there would be any more story to tell. There is, however, one key point that I hadn't considered. What would become of the role Ai played as Jigoku Shoujo if is no longer able to perform her duties? What happens when the Jigoku Shoujo falls prey to her own curse?
As much as I am going to riff of this show, I won't deny that Ai's signature phrase still gives me chills.
Up until this show, it was simply my assumption that Kikuri, Ai's mischievous observer, would simply take Ai's place. After all, she was assigned to observe and assist Ai on The Spider's orders. It only made sense that the one to report Ai's misconduct would be the one to take per place, especially when you consider that Kikuri would be the only doll-like "girl" left to fill the role. Clearly, my assumption I was wrong, but also not too far from the mark.
With no one left to fill the role, Enma Ai is simply revived under the condition that her feelings will be sealed away, meaning she will be functionally incapable of seeking her own vengeance again. Thus she is reborn as the Jigoku Shoujo, a being that fulfills the wishes of those who would curse their fellow man, dragging the contractor's target to Hell with the understanding that they will also be taken to Hell when they die. From this point on, the show basically follows the same grimdark formula as the other seasons. We are introduced to a human character who is suffering from the cruelty of this world and mankind itself. Seeing no way out, they contact the Jigoku Shoujo and are given the opportunity to see their grudge realized. More often then not, however, there will be some twist to the situation that will either compel the contractor to refuse the Jigoku Shoujo's offer or put them in a position where they will fall prey to someone else's curse. After all, the powers of the Jigoku Shoujo are just as willing and able to support the evils of this world as they are those who seek justice. This grimdark truth is especially accurate now that Ai's own feelings have been taken out of the equation. Yet the call for justice in this heartless system doesn't go unheard this season.
And so we are introduced to the ACTUAL main character of this season. I kid you not.
Though it takes some time for her to become sentient enough to level a solid complaint, the new addition to the Jigoku Shoujo family, Michiru, finds herself at odds with the indiscriminate nature of Ai's job. Until that point, however, the character of Michiru is generally non-existent. She is simply an enigmatic phantom that seems tied to Ai for some reason that isn't revealed until she starts to remember her own past. This being a grimdark show, I feel it goes without saying that Michiru's history and character arc are equally depressing--putting her in a position that forces her to accept the cruel reality of this world and the necessity for a Jigoku Shoujo. And so, it is with that grim acceptance of the role that the reason behind Enma Ai's resurrection is made clear--there must always be a Jigoku Shoujo. There must always be an impartial force that can vent or pacify mankind's grudges without falling prey to the human concepts of "good" and "evil." Unfortunately, since Ai is no longer fit for the role, a new one must be groomed to take her place. And that is where this show technically ends...6 episodes into the season. From this point on, the show basically just features a kind of "best of" or "fan favorite" lineup of the show's past seasons with some idiotic popsicle stick play before each one.
Mmmmmm. Look at that wonderful Early-2000s art, repackaged like it hasn't gone stale in the past decade.
As much as I wish I was kidding, I am not. Even though it has been over 8 years since the last season of Jigoku Shoujo, this season saw fit to create a new Jigoku Shoujo and then do absolutely nothing with her. Had this just ended at episode six or been adapted into a 2.5-hour movie, I would have nothing to complain about. I realize that. But there's just something genuinely insulting about a show establishing a new character (one who is meant to take Ai's place) and then doing jack shit with her. The remaining six episodes could have been spent developing Michiru in her role as Jigoku Shoujo. Heck, they could have gone into what happens to Ai now that she's been replaced but neither of those things get addressed. The best that can be assumed is that there are two Jigoku Shoujo now, which kinda nullifies the point of the season entirely. So, for whatever reason, the team working on this decided to chuck the ball through the floor (since merely dropping it doesn't begin to describe how badly they fucked up) and just went with re-airing some older episodes without changing a damn thing. No updated art. No higher quality sound. No twists or retellings of the classic stories. All we get are some old episodes added to the new show because the team didn't have the money or the drive to make more than 6 new episodes which begs one, simple question: Why did they bother in the first place?!
Now, don't get me wrong, I liked the new episodes because they stayed true to the old show. I appreciated that they attempted to answer the big, unanswered question from season 3. Heck, I'll even admit I loved the use of the show's opening to portray Ai's resurrection as the Jigoku Shoujo. Despite all that good though, it doesn't change the fact that this show is an incomplete, half-hearted failure that left with more unanswered questions than it started with. So, in short, fuck this season. For any fan of the old season, I'd recommend those 6 new episodes, but the "end" to the season utterly ruined it for me, both personally and critically. That is a grudge I will hold against this franchise for the rest of my life.