Age gaps don't bother me (it's fiction), but this one gave me the ick. I don't find man children endearing. In one year Koharu will outgrow him. However, it's not just the age gap which has me rating this low. The story itself is mediocre and cliche, and none of the characters particularly memorable. I can't help but feel like this is some kind of wish fulfillment/fairytale romance for teenage girls. If you're in this boat please note that in real life any adult male pursuing you is a red flag. I find it interesting if you look at the rating stats for this show currently, the youngest age bracket has the highest rating, and the oldest brackets have the lowest ratings.
Tsukasa and Chiharu meet up and talk about how good things actually were when they were together. But don't get back together. 👏 Tsukasa is stuck in his "perfect" fairytale life, with Emiru and a child. While fully knowing that Emiru is bat shit unhinged crazy and the child isn't his. He got everything he wanted, right?!?! Haha to him. But also he promises he will end the cycle of abuse with his kid. Chiharu ends up by herself, maybe not a perfect life she dreamed of, but still better off than she was before.
My comment is more of a tone check, not intended to be a spoiler.
I meant it more of a "if you are thinking of watching this, and are looking for a second-chance sweet romance, this isn't the show." Also, I don't mean it as a negative. I liked that it made me feel uncomfortable, and I like that we have a show that explored this theme.
This one wasn't a romance but an exploration of how we might not be able to choose who we like but we can choose what actions we take. I found it uncomfortable to watch, honestly. There is this tension as to if this was going to be framed as a romance or not. I think that uncomfortableness was intentional and made for an interesting watch. It made the main characters people you don't actually root for, which is refreshing. This one is definitely not for everyone.
why did they put narrator in episode 6. so annoying 🥲😬
Some shows in Japan air with extra commentary for those who have, for instance, eyesight problems, blindness etc. If you watched on TVer for example, you watched the "解説放送版" version of the show. There is another version that doesn't have the narrator.
It is true that Kusaka is acting normal within the confines of a first date. BUT in the context of the show, the camera lingers on his hesitating hands. We can contrast this to Ureshino grabbing her hand in the elevator earlier in the episode. We can make a direct comparison between the guy she likes but doesn't want to, and the guy she wants to like but doesn't.
In regards to my statement "being strong and end up with herself", that is my desire, not expectation for the show. That being said, there are many shows where the leads do not end up together. One aired last season, although I wont name in case it spoils it for others.
Kusaka is wonderful but it's just that she doesn't like him (like that) she just wishes she could like him. They don't have "chemistry" together, in that he is too hesitant to do things like take her hand in the cinema, and then when they were talking they were only surface level talking they weren't really connecting. So in my opinion even though he's a great person, but right now signs are she isn't going to fall for him.
And i feel like she is miserable with everything to do with Ureshino. They have so much baggage now, that if it is going to work with him I feel like he needs to do more than just ask her to go out with him officially. I feel like he really needs to do MORE to woo her. Put in some effort. This episode she had more of a spine to stay away from him, which was a positive. Maybe it's my own baggage but right now Ureshino gives me the ick.
Thus, I want her spine to stay strong and end up with herself. I don't think it is going to happen.
Not exactly... It is a parody of BL. I haven't read the source manga, but I am not expecting any relationship as the outcome of this. Instead it uses BL tropes as humor.
Casting not that good. Rio Uchida is a miscast she looks more like a villain than a protagonist plus poor girl…
I feel like that is the point though? Uchida's character is spiraling, she isn't dealing with things in a "hero" way. We as an audience are conflicted because we both empathize with her situation but also wouldn't deal with her problems in this way (hopefully?! haha). She is crude, she is rude. She is presented as an anti-hero. Where as Nakamura's character is supposed to look like the "innocent and ideal" wife. Personally I find her easy enough to hate because so far she seems very fake, like she's using this "innocence" that she has to manipulate people. That is the angle that has been presented to us so far. I hope we get to see some more depth from her.
I keep thinking I'm annoyed with this because of how "anime" it is, but then I keep on smiling like a fool through the whole episode. This is a fun parody of BL tropes, and Tanaka Koki is fabulous snapping between his yanki mode and his kyun kyun mode. Also, I really love the opening credits.
Just a note on the English translation at the end of ep 4:
In Japanese everything is much more ambiguous. I am forgetting the exact wording, but when Watarai says:
Eng subs: "I like you" Japanese: "It's great (now that I know you better/getting to know you better has been great)"
Eng subs: "Will you go out with me" Japanese: "Will you, with me...." (sentence left hanging)
I believe next week Watarai will ask to be Hioki's friend (if they stick to the book, I'm ok if they don't but with that cliff hanger I'm expecting it!)
However, it's not just the age gap which has me rating this low. The story itself is mediocre and cliche, and none of the characters particularly memorable.
I can't help but feel like this is some kind of wish fulfillment/fairytale romance for teenage girls. If you're in this boat please note that in real life any adult male pursuing you is a red flag. I find it interesting if you look at the rating stats for this show currently, the youngest age bracket has the highest rating, and the oldest brackets have the lowest ratings.
Tsukasa is stuck in his "perfect" fairytale life, with Emiru and a child. While fully knowing that Emiru is bat shit unhinged crazy and the child isn't his. He got everything he wanted, right?!?! Haha to him. But also he promises he will end the cycle of abuse with his kid.
Chiharu ends up by herself, maybe not a perfect life she dreamed of, but still better off than she was before.
I meant it more of a "if you are thinking of watching this, and are looking for a second-chance sweet romance, this isn't the show." Also, I don't mean it as a negative. I liked that it made me feel uncomfortable, and I like that we have a show that explored this theme.
In regards to my statement "being strong and end up with herself", that is my desire, not expectation for the show. That being said, there are many shows where the leads do not end up together. One aired last season, although I wont name in case it spoils it for others.
And i feel like she is miserable with everything to do with Ureshino. They have so much baggage now, that if it is going to work with him I feel like he needs to do more than just ask her to go out with him officially. I feel like he really needs to do MORE to woo her. Put in some effort. This episode she had more of a spine to stay away from him, which was a positive. Maybe it's my own baggage but right now Ureshino gives me the ick.
Thus, I want her spine to stay strong and end up with herself. I don't think it is going to happen.
Where as Nakamura's character is supposed to look like the "innocent and ideal" wife. Personally I find her easy enough to hate because so far she seems very fake, like she's using this "innocence" that she has to manipulate people. That is the angle that has been presented to us so far. I hope we get to see some more depth from her.
Eng subs: "I like you"
Japanese: "It's great (now that I know you better/getting to know you better has been great)"
Eng subs: "Will you go out with me"
Japanese: "Will you, with me...." (sentence left hanging)
I believe next week Watarai will ask to be Hioki's friend (if they stick to the book, I'm ok if they don't but with that cliff hanger I'm expecting it!)