zeesqueere

It’s hard not to fall into philosophical tones when discussing the plot or themes of this series, but that doesn’t mean that it’s inaccessible or unnatural. Far from it. Megumi loves, breathes, and moves through the world with a courage she fights to muster, but she always tries to be authentic to herself despite the shame or embarrassment such honesty may bring; Kotoha, conversely, wears her false confidence like armor. They’re both flawed and stumbling young women that feel so real, you can’t help but identify with and root for them. Even if you aren’t a survivor of abuse, you can see the ways that a maladaptive coping mechanism helps until it doesn’t. Even if you aren’t a Meguchi or a Scheherazade yourself, you’ve known or could know someone just like them.

Beyond the characters and acting work, the show itself is violently beautiful in the way that each shot intentionally captures the interplay of shadows and colors. Like this show is absolutely gorgeous to the point where I can’t even talk about the intentionality behind the use of pink and blue without losing my mind. It’s so meticulous! The sound design is great, the soundtrack is great, the color grading is great, the use of lens depth and blank spaces is brilliant, and the episodes are as good the 7th time as they are the 1st.

Watch this show!