This fourth season of Encouragement of Climb is a satisfying resolution to Aoi Yukimura’s story, but it does get off to a bit of an odd start. The first four episodes are compilations from the first three seasons, with a couple of short original segments thrown in. They’re meant to help ease new viewers into the series, but they also serve another purpose for returning fans: re-centering the story of Encouragement of Climb around Aoi’s efforts to climb Mount Fuji.
By the end of this season, it makes sense why the story is structured this way. Aoi’s first attempt at climbing Mount Fuji was one of the key moments of season 2, but a lot of time has passed since then, both in the story and the real world. While the series overall has shifted more in a slice of life direction over time, the recaps mainly highlight the mountain climbing scenes, setting the tone for what’s to come with…
