Oishii Rikon Todokemasu (2025)

your emotions will be served

Overall: grab a tissue box because this was a roller coaster for me. Note the content warnings and the series itself may be very triggering. 10 episodes about 20 minutes each. No official international release (which is a huge shame and I hope it gets one eventually). Spoiler for the ending in the comments.

Content Warnings: intimate partner abuse/violence, past rape/sexual assault, manipulation, homophobia, death, grief, past abuse

What I Liked
- an established couple who wasn't dealing with a love rival or terrible communication (the lack of physical affection shown didn't bother me as they were together a long time and not everyone is super physically affectionate, it was obvious that they loved each other)
- opposite personalities that compliment each other
- discussed the unfairness of current laws
- that they touched on Japan's single custody law where one parent gets full custody and can deny the other parent from ever seeing their child again leading to 70% of children in sole custody having no visitation with the other parent (there is a new 2026 law that might change this), which is likely why a character didn't seek divorce earlier (because they might lose custody)
- avoided a cartoonish antagonist

Room For Improvement
- a character was allegedly extremely intelligent, but didn't seem to mind putting is job in jeopardy
- some of the side stories weren't as gripping, I think they should have pared them down and focused on the main plot

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Where is the warmth?

This was good but I'm not too sure if this was good enough. The similarities between this and Love is Poison stops at: they are both eccentric successful lawyers with private investigators partners. Don't look for anything beyond that. Which I was grateful for. I enjoyed the format of one continuous story running concurrently with a new short story every two episodes. The differing reasons behind every divorce or separation were varied, thought provoking and harsh. The brutality of their resolve was not sugar coated and Hajime ensured his clients needs were met.

Then there was his sister. She was dying and enthrusted her daughter to his and his partner's care. The usually stoic and closed off Hajime began to thaw and let others in. Two of the most heart wrenching moments were because of her death. The daughter being present when it happened and his release in his solitude. The battle to gain custody of his niece began.

I can not find fault but still I felt something was missing. The acting was great. The stories interesting. The mannerisms suited to every character, tho the secretary can be a bit irritating. The ending as it should be. I think I didn't quite get Hajime and Kai's real connection. It was there but felt matter of fact. He felt more to be a helper than a helpmate. The focal point of the series was how and why divorces happen. I felt while watching them for the entiety that they interacted as already divorced but cohabitating. The lack of intimacy that would make their conversations precious. I'm not speaking of nc, but moments where they felt right together.

As I said, it was interesting. If you get your hands on a properly subbed version, go for it.

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