This review may contain spoilers
The Casual Cruelty and Disregard Is Astounding
The show attempts to blend small-town charm with sci-fi whimsy, but beneath its cozy veneer lies a troubling undercurrent of casual cruelty—particularly among its female characters.
From the outset, the women in the show exhibit a disturbing level of self-absorption and unkindness. They take advantage of Takashi left and right, asking him to do all sorts of ridiculous things without any consideration for the consequences their actions might have on him or better said even while aware of them they simply don't seem to care.
One of the scenes that demonstrates this ridiculousness is the volleyball episode —the coworker asks Takashi to break into a school at night to retrieve some balls from the ceiling for her friend who stuck them there accidentally (She is a PE teacher).
He refuses at first(with good reason). He could’ve been arrested for trespassing. Worse, he could’ve been mistaken for a pervert. (What exactly does a man dressed in black look like sneaking around a middle school at night?) And the cherry on top? The person who asked for the favor wasn’t even planning to show up. Seriously. None of them were, not even the coworker. Takashi says he won't bother showing up if they don't. Then the coworker had to beg her friends and promise to treat them to a meal—just to get them to help—when they didn’t even want to go when the Takashi himself asked. Who demands that kind of favor from a coworker’s friend they barely know… and then doesn’t even plan to show up originally ?
This behavior is portrayed as normal, which is eerie and disturbing. Takashi does call them out, but then the show turns it into a joke—as if it’s "funny" that he just goes along with it. (Why? No reason is given, except maybe he’s trying to be a martyr or is just a pushover, which is frustrating.)
Speaking of Takashi, he is so boring that even with powers, he remains painfully dull.
The series does offer picturesque views of Mount Fuji and a quaint setting that could have been the backdrop for a heartwarming tale. They could have explored themes of loneliness—showing how, whether human or alien, connection and bonds transcend differences and species. Imagine a story where characters slowly grow from coworkers into real friends—sharing their troubles, helping each other, and learning from one another despite being alien/human or male/female . Instead, we just get lousy writing. Seriously? Yuck. I dropped it halfway through.
In summary, Hot Spot presents a facade of warmth and charm, but its underlying portrayal of normalized cruelty leaves a bitter aftertaste. It’s a show that could have been a delightful escape but instead serves as a reminder that outward appearances can be deceiving. In the end, it reveals that beneath the glossy surface lies a core that is truly rotten.
From the outset, the women in the show exhibit a disturbing level of self-absorption and unkindness. They take advantage of Takashi left and right, asking him to do all sorts of ridiculous things without any consideration for the consequences their actions might have on him or better said even while aware of them they simply don't seem to care.
One of the scenes that demonstrates this ridiculousness is the volleyball episode —the coworker asks Takashi to break into a school at night to retrieve some balls from the ceiling for her friend who stuck them there accidentally (She is a PE teacher).
He refuses at first(with good reason). He could’ve been arrested for trespassing. Worse, he could’ve been mistaken for a pervert. (What exactly does a man dressed in black look like sneaking around a middle school at night?) And the cherry on top? The person who asked for the favor wasn’t even planning to show up. Seriously. None of them were, not even the coworker. Takashi says he won't bother showing up if they don't. Then the coworker had to beg her friends and promise to treat them to a meal—just to get them to help—when they didn’t even want to go when the Takashi himself asked. Who demands that kind of favor from a coworker’s friend they barely know… and then doesn’t even plan to show up originally ?
This behavior is portrayed as normal, which is eerie and disturbing. Takashi does call them out, but then the show turns it into a joke—as if it’s "funny" that he just goes along with it. (Why? No reason is given, except maybe he’s trying to be a martyr or is just a pushover, which is frustrating.)
Speaking of Takashi, he is so boring that even with powers, he remains painfully dull.
The series does offer picturesque views of Mount Fuji and a quaint setting that could have been the backdrop for a heartwarming tale. They could have explored themes of loneliness—showing how, whether human or alien, connection and bonds transcend differences and species. Imagine a story where characters slowly grow from coworkers into real friends—sharing their troubles, helping each other, and learning from one another despite being alien/human or male/female . Instead, we just get lousy writing. Seriously? Yuck. I dropped it halfway through.
In summary, Hot Spot presents a facade of warmth and charm, but its underlying portrayal of normalized cruelty leaves a bitter aftertaste. It’s a show that could have been a delightful escape but instead serves as a reminder that outward appearances can be deceiving. In the end, it reveals that beneath the glossy surface lies a core that is truly rotten.
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