I powered through the later parts of this god-forsakenly frustrating anime because the first few episodes was at least funny even though this anime's plot was mediocre throughout. It didn't offer anything new. It was like one of those seasonal romcom/isekai slop that you'd only watch for fun and then forget about after the season it came out ends.
There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, that makes up the majority of animes coming out of every season. And if all I wanted to watch was mind-boggling, masterpiece-level animes, then I'd sooner run out of animes to watch. But generic animes aren't inherently bad by themselves if they can at least provide some entertainment (leaving aside that every person's definition of entertainment is subjective) and change course every now and then. Hell, Solo Leveling airs in this very same season, which is power fantasy incarnate, and yet I was entertained. This anime did as well. At least, for the first few episodes.
Tsundere who can't admit their emotions? Check.
Dense protagonist who, despite being smart, is unable to read the room? Check.
Fun, goofball character who is only there as comedic relief? Check.
Love triangles? Check.
These are the hallmarks of a generic seasonal romcom slop served every season. And yet, there is a reason why this anime frustrates me so, and that goes beyond those quirks I listed above. The longer you watch, the more it became glaringly obvious that this anime couldn't come up with new ways to put some twist to its generic premise. That's when it started to fall apart.
This anime is the epitome of "one step forward, two steps back". Nearly every damn episode, the two main leads have a conflict, with the episode ending with them coming together after talking it out, only for the next episode to start with them fighting. That will repeat ad nauseam throughout the whole anime. Akane, the female main lead, and the tsundere of the show, is incapable of being transparent to Saito, the male main lead, whom she is in love with. I hate the fact that her tsundere tendencies is being used as an excuse to pad out the runtime, while the audience is just supposed to accept that that's just how she is and the author somehow thinks that this is an acceptable explanation on why they're fighting again in the next episode. Like, has the author even heard of character development or growth?
BUT, and let me tell you, I haven't even gotten to the worst part yet.
Another character, Himari, who's supposedly the "best friend" of Akane, is also in love with Saito. And her aggressive tactics of seducing Saito has shown cracks in Akane's tsundere tendencies. In one episode, for example, Akane talks with Himari about why she's being so close to Saito, and Himari straight up tells her she loves Saito, and tells Akane that since they're married for formalities only, she'll pursue Saito since she loves him. We get Akane's inner monologue throughout these scenes where she's conflicted of her feelings of letting her best friend pursue Saito or put her own feelings of Saito first. These particular scenes have gotten me irritated so many times since there is a very simple solution to this stupid love triangle bulls**t. Instead of talking it out, or communicating with each other, it is being used as a way to move the romance forward while still in this weird, no progression stasis-like status of relationship, way instead of, oh I don't know, progressing it in a way that feels natural?
Love triangles are common in romcoms, but most of them are done in a way that only makes the audience feel pity for the losing girl, since it's already a foregone conclusion that no matter how despicable the female main lead is, she'll obviously win by virtue of being the second main lead. I just wish authors had the balls and skill to just write a romance and love triangle in a way that is organic and healthy. Tsundere character are by no means a problem. Hell, I've got Makise Kurisu as one of my favorite characters here on MAL, and she's a top-tier tsundere, but they should be allowed to develop and grow in a way that their character traits aren't the only thing that defines them who they are.
There's more problems in this anime. I won't even mention Akane's sister, Maho, since she's not worth discussing, and is part of the reason why the later episodes of this anime are a frustrating watch.
Suffice it to say that I hate everyone in this anime. Yes, even Himari herself, and I find no compelling reason to recommend this anime to anyone. If you're looking for the best tsundere character, look no further than Makise Kurisu from Steins;Gate. She is the standard of a tsundere character done right.
