Kisetsu no Nai Machi (2023)

"Dodes-kaden, dodes-kaden!"

This show took me by surprise with how much I enjoyed it! The concept of a colorful cast in a makeshift community never really resonated with me when watching Arakawa Under the Bridge. Mind you, some characters here border on caricature, but what grabbed me was how human their stories were. The people in this town aren’t normal, nor is the way they live their lives normal, but they’re individuals struggling with problems that normal people have. Unlike the outside world, in this town, they aren’t shunned.

I love how Shinsuke discovered more about himself throughout the show. He wasn’t one to join in with the antics of the townspeople, but you can see how happy he becomes when he starts opening up, to the point where he becomes implicit to the goofiness of the situation, especially towards the end. He becomes so goofy, and it’s great. This compliance with goofiness is also reflected in a different character, and their evolution was also heartwarming, considering the darkness they’ve experienced in their arc.

For a supposedly goofy show, it tackles very dark themes. The first episode provides a good introduction to how deep the themes can go. Thankfully, the first spotlight character has a more hopeful tone to their story, which, unfortunately, isn’t the same for some. I’m sure you’ll be able to empathize with some of the people in the town.

The comedy in this show is special. It’s not as in-your-face as I originally thought. I've mentioned the term "goofy" a lot, but that tone is necessary to present the dark, human experiences the people in this town have. Behind the dread, the goofy tone tells us that, yes, we can still look forward to the future and have hope.

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