This review may contain spoilers
It is my first drama review so do not be too harsh on me.Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru (My Dress-up Darling) is an adaptation of the very warmly received and well-reviewed manga by Shinichi Fukuda.
Story: 7/10
The story follows two highschool students, Gojou Wakana, a young adept of Hina doll making, and his classmate, Marin Kitagawa, a popular gyaru whose secret hobby is cosplay. Their fates meet by accident when Marin discovers what Gojou really does outside of school. Then, she introduces him to the world of cosplay.
The plot in the first five episodes does not differ so much from what we have already seen in anime. The scenes are well adapted, and also the settings fit well. Unfortunately, in the last five episodes we have the impression that the action is too rushed and we cannot feel a greater bond between the characters. The drama would need a few more episodes. In this case my rating couldn't be higher.
Acting/Cast: 7/10
By live-action drama standards, the acting is good. Both the main characters and the side characters fulfilled their tasks.
The styling and outfits also deserve great praise. These did not differ in any way from the original.
Music: 8/10
There's really nothing to complain about in this category. The music matched the appropriate scenes and was very nice to listen to. The opening and ending theme songs were also great.
Rewatch value: 5/10
I'm not really the type of person who rewatches drama, but there were some interesting scenes (especially with cosplay) that would make it worth returning to the series.
Lastly, it was a good adaptation of manga, although not at the level of anime. Some things were good and some of them were used unnecessarily. Overall, I have to admit that I enjoyed this drama.
Overall score: 7/10
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A Good, Solid High School Romance
I have not read the manga nor seen the anime, and so I cannot speak to the faithfulness of this adaptation. Nevertheless, this live action series is better than I expected. It is a very typical high school romance given a bit more life than usual through by focusing on the two leads entering the world of cosplay, and by the performances of its two young leads, Nagase Riko and Nomura Kota.Nomura's Wakana is shy and introverted, and so I'm sure you'll be shocked to learn that Nagase's Marin is outgoing and extroverted. The roots of Wakana's social isolation is absolutely absurd - he was teased as a youngster for liking dolls which, you know, gender stereotypes, but the thing is that his family's business is handcrafting ... dolls and so you'd think at some point before his second year of high school he'd have mentioned that fact to, I don't know, ANYONE AROUND HIM, and accepted and owned the fact that he likes making them. Instead, we have Marin breaking into his bubble of isolation to avail herself of his sewing skills as she begins to explore her new interest in cosplay.
An uncharitable reading of this series might be that Marin is just yet another MPDG dragging a socially delayed Wakana out into something like a wider range of interests and social interactions. And as always YMMV as Marin perpetually grins and invades everyone's personal space in what I assume is genkiness straight from the pages of the manga. But I do think these tired tropes are redeemed a bit by what's happening romantically within the characters, and the fact that the resolution (at least in this season) is not exactly what you might expect given the set up.
Both Wakana and Marin have very small families for reasons that are never touched upon let alone explained: Wakana is being raised by one of his grandfathers, and Marin is largely living alone occasionally visited by her father who is frequently away on business. The series thus focusses entirely on the joint creative adventures that the two share as Wakana makes costumes for Marin. And I do think the series shines as Wakana discovers that his skills are valued in that community and as Marin receives well-deserved attention for her presentation and performances of the characters she loves and brings to life. And I do think both Nagase and Nomura portray their enjoyment of this shared interest quite well.
I also must shout out Ikeda Akana in the small secondary role of Sajuna, a more experienced cosplayer. She plays the role with a very deft deadpan that brings an unexpected and much-needed touch of humor to the series.
My one slight, genuine negative note about the series is purely cinematographic. The production clearly intentionally went for a wide-aperture, utterly washed out look throughout the series. Were they trying to hide acne on the young actors? Neither Nagase nor Nomura seem to need that. Were they avoiding having to clean up exteriors for the MANY shots of the characters backlit by bright windows? Who knows, but at times the feel of the series is that all of this is taking place on the surface of the sun.
But that niggle aside, I do recommend this series as a light high school romedy that does not have much to say, but is a cheerful diversion nonetheless.
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This review may contain spoilers
Solid, but without 2nd Season confirmation, hoping for ending
TL;DR:A faithful live-action adaptation of the manga that captures the heart of the original, though not without its compromises. Solid performances and great cosplay costumes, but the romantic payoff feels held back — and sadly, no satisfying ending.
The live-action My Dress-Up Darling stays remarkably loyal to the original manga/anime. If you’re already a fan of the source material, you’ll feel right at home here — though you may also find yourself wishing it had taken a few more liberties to deliver a more satisfying standalone conclusion.
The story follows Gojo Wakana, a quiet and awkward high school boy who lives with his grandfather and is passionate about making traditional Japanese hina dolls. Gojo’s hobby isolates him socially — that is, until he meets Kitagawa Marin, a vibrant and confident gyaru who turns out to be a passionate otaku with dreams of cosplaying. Their worlds collide when Marin finds Gojo using a school sewing machine and ropes him into helping her bring her cosplay dreams to life.
Casting & Performance
The female lead got some flak for not resembling the manga Marin closely enough — a tough ask considering how stylized the original design is. There are cosplayers who look the part more, but acting is a whole other skillset. Honestly, she does a decent job. In some angles she may look a bit too mature to convincingly play a high schooler, but in many scenes she captures Marin’s vibrant, unapologetic energy quite well.
The male lead had less of a challenge, as Gojo is supposed to be stoic, hardworking, and awkwardly honest with a hint of hidden perviness. The performance is solid overall, though the more comedic/pervy elements of his personality are noticeably toned down — whether that’s an actor choice or directorial decision is unclear, but it does dull some of Gojo’s original awkward charm.
Production & Direction
The costuming is faithful and well-done, especially for Marin’s early cosplay looks. That said, the final crossdressing cosplay wasn’t very convincing and felt like a miss in terms of visual impact.
Pacing-wise, the show moves at a steady clip, covering the major beats of the manga. But it suffers from playing things too safe. The romance builds up nicely, but just like in the manga/anime, there’s no real payoff — no kiss, no confession, not even a dream sequence to throw fans a bone. That may change in a second season, but as a self-contained experience, it feels a bit emotionally unresolved.
Pros:
Faithful to the source material
Marin’s character energy is mostly captured well
Strong production design and cosplay accuracy
Heartfelt themes about self-acceptance and passion
Cons:
No romantic closure — not even a tease
Female lead sometimes looks a bit too mature for the role
Perverted comedy toned down — may feel less lively than the original
Could’ve benefited from deviating slightly to fit live-action pacing better
Final Thoughts:
The My Dress-Up Darling live-action drama isn’t groundbreaking, but it delivers what fans came for: a sweet, slightly awkward, and colorful story of two teens bonding over cosplay and self-expression. While it doesn’t quite reach the spark of the anime or manga — and really could’ve used some romantic payoff — it’s still a fun and easy watch. Let’s just hope the second season gives us the romance we deserve.
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