Unmasking Riz Beastars: A Tragic Apex Predator

When audiences first encounter Riz in Beastars, he embodies a gentle, even benevolent, presence. A towering brown bear, he is often seen as a calm and friendly figure, a stark contrast to the inherent fear his species might inspire in a world where carnivores and herbivores coexist precariously. As a member of the stage crew, Riz frequently utilizes his immense physical strength for practical tasks, further cementing his image as a helpful, albeit imposing, individual. This initial portrayal is crucial, as it sets the stage for the shocking subversion of expectations that defines his arc. However, beneath this tranquil exterior lies a profound, daily struggle. In the Beastars world, adult carnivores exceeding a certain size – specifically bears over two meters tall – are legally mandated to take strength-suppressing medication. This medication, designed to mitigate their predatory instincts and immense power, comes with severe and debilitating side effects, including painful headaches and periods of depression. Riz's reliance on honey, a charming quirk initially presented as a simple preference, is later revealed as a coping mechanism to alleviate these constant physical and mental torments. Imagine carrying a strength so immense it requires chemical suppression just for you to exist peacefully in society. It's akin to being born with an internal combustion engine where everyone else has a bicycle, and the law demands you install a permanent brake that constantly aches. This governmental intervention, while intended to maintain order and protect herbivores, ironically contributes to Riz's internal turmoil. It reinforces the idea that his very nature is dangerous, fostering a deep-seated self-loathing and an insidious sense of being an "other." He is constantly reminded that his true self, his uninhibited strength, is something to be feared and controlled. This societal framework, though seemingly pragmatic, inadvertently isolates individuals like Riz, pushing them towards a desperate search for genuine acceptance.

The central mystery that propels the narrative of Beastars Season 1 is the tragic devouring of Tem, the alpaca. The revelation that Riz Beastars was Tem's killer in Season 2 sends shockwaves through Cherryton Academy and among viewers. Yet, the circumstances surrounding Tem's death are far more complex than a simple act of malice. Riz and Tem shared a genuine and profound friendship, a bond that transcended the typical carnivore-herbivore dynamic. Tem, an alpaca, was remarkably insightful, capable of seeing beyond Riz's intimidating size and acknowledging his inherent "terrifying" nature, yet still accepting him wholeheartedly. This acceptance, a rarity for a large carnivore constantly battling societal fear and his own instincts, became a beacon of hope for Riz. It was this deep emotional connection that led Riz to make a fateful, tragic decision: he chose to stop taking his strength-suppressing medication. He believed that the strength of their bond, the purity of Tem's understanding, would be enough to control his suppressed urges, to allow him to connect with Tem as his "true self" without the chemical dampening that made him feel inauthentic. The night of the incident, Riz, unmedicated, accidentally scratched Tem while trying to embrace him. The sight of Tem's blood, a primal trigger for any carnivore, combined with Tem's subsequent fear and attempt to flee, ignited Riz's suppressed predatory instincts. It was not a premeditated act of violence, but rather a catastrophic loss of control, an instinctual reaction to a series of unfortunate events. The aftermath of this accidental, yet devastating, act plunged Riz into a profound state of trauma and guilt. To cope with the unbearable reality of what he had done – devouring his closest friend – Riz's mind constructed a twisted, romanticized narrative. He convinced himself that Tem had consented to being eaten, that the act was the ultimate expression of their bond, a beautiful and pure form of friendship. This delusion allowed him to rationalize the horror, transforming it into a "celebration of life" and a unique, albeit morbid, connection. A chilling manifestation of this psychological defense mechanism was his complete loss of taste, rendering normal food flavorless, as if his palate could no longer register anything after the ultimate, forbidden meal. It was a macabre self-punishment, a physical symptom of a deeply fractured psyche. This self-deception, while disturbing, offered him a shield against an unbearable truth, allowing him to maintain his "gentle giant" facade and live a semblance of a normal life.

Riz's narrative is a potent allegory for the ongoing debate between nature and nurture, and the immense weight of societal expectations. Beastars consistently challenges the notion that an individual's biology dictates their destiny, yet Riz's story highlights the terrifying difficulty of overcoming ingrained instincts, especially when society simultaneously demonizes and relies on the suppression of those very traits. His experience can be seen as a tragic fulfillment of a self-fulfilling prophecy. From a young age, bears like Riz are implicitly told they are dangerous, that their natural strength is a destructive force that must be medicated. This constant message, reinforced by the painful pills he was forced to take, sent a clear, devastating signal: he was born a monster. It’s easy to imagine how this could warp one's self-perception. If every morning you're forced to take a pill that says, "You are inherently dangerous, and without this, you will harm others," it's hard not to internalize that message, even if you yearn to be good. Riz genuinely wanted to be a "nice person" and found deep satisfaction in helping others. He cooked for his dormmates and actively participated in the drama club's stage setting. Yet, his true, immense predatory instincts constantly simmered beneath the surface, creating an agonizing internal conflict. The tragedy of Riz Beastars lies in his inability to reconcile these two aspects of himself. He yearned for genuine connection, but the very society that demanded his repression offered little in the way of healthy outlets or understanding for his inherent nature. Instead, it offered a pharmaceutical band-aid, a solution that only delayed the inevitable confrontation with his true self. His loneliness is a palpable undercurrent throughout his arc. Despite his friendly demeanor, he felt isolated, unable to truly be himself. The "mask" he wore daily, the amiable bear who loved honey, was not a conscious act of malice but a desperate attempt to fit in, to be accepted. As one fan aptly put it, he was "deprived of his own feelings and personality for so long, that the mask is who he is and he utterly despises that fact." When Tem offered unconditional acceptance, even acknowledging the terrifying aspects of Riz, it felt like a liberation. He mistook this acceptance as permission to shed the "restraints" of his medication, leading to the devastating accident. This poignant aspect of his character showcases the societal hypocrisy in Beastars: while demanding carnivores repress their nature, it often fails to provide the necessary psychological or social support systems to help them navigate these profound internal conflicts.

The truth about Tem's murder, painstakingly unearthed by Legoshi, sets the stage for one of Beastars' most iconic and emotionally charged conflicts: the New Year's Eve showdown between Riz and Legoshi. This battle is not merely a physical clash of two powerful carnivores but a profound ideological struggle, a direct confrontation of their differing philosophies on instinct, empathy, and coexistence. Legoshi, guided by his own journey of understanding and controlling his predatory urges, finds himself diametrically opposed to Riz's twisted rationalization of Tem's death. Riz, entrenched in his delusion, believes that devouring Tem was an act of ultimate friendship, a perverse honor. He sees Legoshi's pursuit of justice as a threat to his carefully constructed reality and an attack on his "ideal" of carnivore-herbivore connection. Pina, the suave and perceptive bighorn sheep, plays a pivotal, albeit dangerous, role in exposing Riz's true nature, ultimately calling the police to ensure justice is served. The fight itself is brutal and visceral, a true representation of the raw power of the carnivore world. Riz, without his medication, is a force of nature, his strength overwhelming Legoshi. However, the tide turns with one of the most shocking and symbolic moments in the entire series: Louis, the red deer, sacrifices his leg, allowing Legoshi to consume it to gain the necessary strength to fight Riz on equal footing. This act is a monumental defiance of the established order, a carnivore consuming an herbivore not out of predatory instinct or malicious intent, but out of a selfless act of friendship and mutual support. Louis's sacrifice directly challenges Riz's core delusion. Riz believed that the only way for a carnivore and an herbivore to form an unbreakable bond was through devouring, a tragic absorption of one by the other. But Louis and Legoshi's act of voluntary, consensual consumption for a shared purpose proves him wrong. It demonstrates that deep connections can be forged, and strength shared, without tragedy or loss of self. This profound realization shatters Riz's carefully constructed mental prison. He finally sees the falsity of his romanticized memory, recognizing that what he did to Tem was not an act of love or connection, but a terrible mistake born of lost control and delusion. With his psychological defenses crumbling, Riz concedes defeat. His arrest and subsequent imprisonment are a necessary, albeit tragic, conclusion to his arc. It is not a complete redemption, as the act of murder cannot be undone, but it is a step towards atonement. As Louis himself acknowledges, while he cannot forgive the murder, he apologizes for the drama club's collective failure to see Riz's isolation and profound loneliness. This nuanced ending underscores Beastars' refusal to offer simplistic answers, instead highlighting the multifaceted nature of guilt, responsibility, and the potential for understanding even in the face of immense tragedy.

Riz Beastars remains one of the most compelling and psychologically deep characters in Beastars, often viewed as a "tragic villain" or a sympathetic antagonist. His story serves as a dark mirror to Legoshi's journey, highlighting different approaches to grappling with carnivore instincts and societal pressures. While Legoshi strives to control and understand his urges, ultimately accepting them as part of his identity, Riz initially suppresses his, then tragically misinterprets them, leading to catastrophic consequences. Fans and critics alike have engaged in extensive discussions about Riz's character, highlighting the multi-layered depth of his portrayal. Some interpretations suggest that Riz is "gay-coded," with his intense bond with Tem and subsequent interactions hinting at a deeper, unspoken romantic or intimate longing that societal norms in Beastars (or even broader societal norms) may have prevented him from fully understanding or expressing. This adds another layer to his loneliness and desperate search for connection, suggesting that his need for intimacy was so profound that when it manifested in an uncontrolled moment, it became distorted into something monstrous. The nuances of his eye changes, from gentle black pupils to intense white eyeballs when his true nature shows, are also frequently analyzed as visual cues to his internal state. Beyond individual interpretations, Riz's arc profoundly contributes to the broader thematic landscape of Beastars. His struggle with medication and his subsequent actions powerfully illustrate the series' exploration of self-acceptance, the complex relationship between nature and nurture, and the critical importance of respect for all forms of life. The "medicine" itself becomes a potent symbol of society's attempt to control and homogenize nature, often with painful and unforeseen consequences. Riz's inability to truly "taste" his food after Tem's death, and its return after his confrontation with Legoshi, symbolizes his journey from delusion back to a more honest, albeit painful, reality. His character also highlights the destructive power of repression and the dangers of a society that offers insufficient support for those grappling with innate traits deemed undesirable. The lack of proper mental health care or guidance for carnivores like Riz, beyond mere physical suppression, is a subtle yet powerful critique embedded within the narrative. His journey, though culminating in incarceration, isn't necessarily one of pure evil, but of a deeply troubled individual trapped by his own biology and a society ill-equipped to truly help him.

As of 2025, the impact of Beastars continues to resonate, and characters like Riz are central to its enduring appeal. The series masterfully crafts a world where anthropomorphic animals grapple with deeply human issues: identity, prejudice, love, and violence. Riz Beastars, the gentle giant turned accidental monster, embodies the devastating consequences when instinct clashes with societal expectation and personal trauma. His story is a cautionary tale, a poignant exploration of the fragility of peace and the immense psychological toll of living under a constant, unacknowledged burden. It forces us to question what it truly means to be "good" or "bad" in a world where fundamental biological drives can lead to unthinkable acts. Riz’s journey, culminating in his tragic confrontation with Legoshi and his eventual arrest, is a stark reminder that even the most outwardly serene individuals can harbor profound internal struggles, and that true acceptance, both from society and from within, is an arduous but necessary path. He remains a character who haunts and fascinates, a testament to Beastars' ability to craft narratives that are as deeply unsettling as they are profoundly insightful.