Note: This review takes into account both seasons 1 and 2, but does not go over the manga.

The harem rom/com genre has always been in a weird state for me. There always seems to be a big hit show from this genre every five years, yet each one always tends to be a derivative of the one that came before it. The show would hit the anime scene fast and hard, only to fade into obscurity a couple years down the line. None of the shows had any real staying power, and it became really easy to dismiss any show that fell under the genre's umbrella. So when I first stumbled upon The Quintessential Quintuplets during its first season run, I was pleasantly surprised with how fresh the show felt despite the character tropes it initially relied on. It only was during the airing of the second season that it suddenly hit me: The Quintessential Quintuplets is by and far the best the harem rom/com genre has to offer. I know this is quite the claim for such a new show that's barely broken through to the anime mainstream, but The Quintessential Quintuplets hits all the right spots of a show in this genre, but also excels in the worst parts of the genre that a lot of veteran anime fans tend to loathe.

I'm going to skip over the initial setup of the show because honestly, it is relatively standard to other shows in the genre. Our main character is a loner, and through seemingly convenient circumstances he ends up in a situation where he is essentially forced to be around the five main female characters of the show (who happen to be quintuplets). He also conveniently has a past connection to one of the girls, and this girl is the primary motivation to achieve one of his goals. This is how most of these types of shows start, and The Quintessential Quintuplets is no different. Before you roll your eyes and skip this show, trust me when I say that this show is different (like, for real this time). The key differences this show has to its contemporaries is its characterization of its female cast and it's ever shifting status quo. Though these two small things are par for the course in other genres, believe me when I say it elevates the quality of this show above its contemporaries tenfold and it cannot be understated how much of a difference it makes for a show in this genre.

The Quintessential Quintuplets biggest selling point, like many other harem rom/com shows, is its female cast. What separates The Quintessential Quintuplets' female cast from others is actual characterization and character development. The characters feel like they live their own lives, they have their own goals and aspirations, they have their own personalities, and most importantly, they aren't tied down to the main character. Obviously each of them are romantically interested in the main character, but it's highly important they don't just exist for the main character. The show never feels stagnant because of this, and it alleviates the problems a typical show in this genre usually has. On another note, the decision to make the female cast all be sisters might seem fairly pedestrian on the surface, but in hindsight it was genius call. The familial bond that the female cast has is so refreshing. While it's not explored that deep in the show, it made for some interesting, and sometimes heartwarming, moments between the main cast.

Keep in mind that this show is still a harem rom/com so some situations will feel forced and contrived, and it can feel like things are too convenient for them to happen. But these moments never detracted from the show's quality and are negligible at best, and mildly annoying at worst.

I can see The Quintessential Quintuplets being a staple in the harem rom/com genre for years to come and eventually become the gold standard for future shows, and for good reason. It has the right blend of comedy, drama, and slice of life to keep you entertained while also giving you some heartwarming moments along the way. It's the best show to watch if you want to get into the harem rom/com genre, and dare I say, the only one you have to watch.