I must admit I am a big sucker for harem anime and I don't even know why. I often find their tropes and pseudo-romantic narratives unappealing, where either the protagonist ends up with an unsatisfactory choice or the story halts abruptly without ever being finished. Yet, here I am, delving into another harem series, hoping for a different experience this time. Regrettably, this anime turned out to be as dull and uninspiring as one might suspect, but most notably even fails to deliver as a harem show. Frankly I made it as far as episode 9 solely to meet the 75% completion requirement necessary to write this review. So, let's delve into its shortcomings:
The narrative follows a young man and his female childhood friend and love interest, thrust into a fantasy world where he is forced into marrying multiple girls to gain power and combat a magical threat endangering the world. Both protagonists harbour feelings for each other from the outset, openly displaying disdain for the forced harem scenario imposed upon them. I would be surprised, shocked even, if the anime ends in any other way than with the main couple returning to Japan to pursue a life together. Yet, the plot insists on enforcing this harem dynamic, devoid of any real competition, seemingly designed only to evoke anxiety and insecurity in the main girl. While the secondary characters possess some likeability, they remain one-dimensional stereotypes. Why even make an harem anime if the main couple is so strongly opposed to it?
Even the anime acknowledges the protagonist's shortcomings, openly portraying him as weak and indecisive, contrary to the expectations of those around him. While his weakness is no necessary disadvantage in in environment that so oversaturated with power-fantasy plotlines and the anime attempts to at least salvage the situation by illustrating his growth and determination, albeit overshadowed by repetitive harem tropes, he still lacks any redeeming quality fit for the role of a main character. His most annoying qualities manifest in his constant surprise, often depicted through exaggerated, high-pitched screeching. Additionally, he single-handedly sabotages any meaningful romantic progression. Unlike typical harem anime where external factors disrupt intimate moments, here the protagonist constantly obstructs his own path to romance. He becomes flustered at the mere suggestion of any kind of intimacy, exhibiting perpetual awkwardness and insecurity. Despite near permanent advances, he consistently rejects invitation to physical contact not only from the other girls, but also from his love interest, while paradoxically engaging in scenarios like mixed baths with his harem without any issues.
Considering the genre, my expectations for the fantasy aspects were not high, yet I was still disappointed. Most settings revolve solely around the latest addition to the harem, presenting challenges for the protagonist to overcome, thereby winning the girl's affection before moving on to the next location. While there are occasional fight scenes, they fail to leave a lasting impression. The plot suffers from numerous holes, exemplified by a character's sudden disappearance for half an episode, only to reappear without any explanation.
If you are solely looking for ecchi content - and for whatever reason do not have access to any hentai site - you are at least not gonna be disappointed in this regard. The harem girls exhibit little modesty, frequently wearing revealing attire or appearing entirely nude. The team's primary destination in every major setting is the mixed bath, where the harem girls relentlessly attempt to seduce the protagonist. The abundance of naked scenes is notable, with the protagonist's most remarkable feat being his unwavering commitment to maintaining his virginity throughout the series.
(Show is done now, so i can make this public again)
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