Thoughts so far on the characters...

May 3, 2021 12:09 PM

Offline

Apr 2019

When this anime came out, I told myself that I would give it 6 episodes and see if I would like it or not. I feel like 6 episodes are good enough for me to see how my enjoyment is. After 6 episodes, I’ve come to realize that while the plot sounds interesting on paper, the faults it has does little to make this a memorable romcom. So here are my thoughts so far.

(Before anyone asks, no, I will not be discussing the age gap. That can of worms has been open and my focus isn’t on that. Even if Ichika was the same age as Ryou or a year or two younger, my issues with the anime are still there.)

I do like watching romcom anime. A good majority of them are cliché as hell but for the most part, I enjoy them for what they are and some of them do have a special place in my heart where I look back on and confidently say that while I had some issues with them, I still enjoy them. So by all means, Koi to Yobu should’ve been something I would’ve enjoyed. Turns out I’m wrong.
My biggest issue stems from the characters of Ichika and Ryou.

With Ryou, I find him to be very lackluster in several ways in regards to his character and actions. He isn’t really someone I can root for or sympathize with because there’s really nothing about him that’s remotely interesting other than he was this playboy and is madly in love with someone for an asinine reason. Nothing noteworthy of a protagonist for a romcom. Speaking of, his love for Ichika is hollow. By hollow, I mean there’s really no driving factor for him to actually have feelings for her. “Oh but she saved him, that’s why he’s in love.” Which, OK, I can kind of see why he’s like that but that should not be the only reason to fall head over heels for someone. Not to mention anyone besides Ichika would’ve saved Ryou and more than likely he would’ve fallen for them. Hell, a man could’ve saved him and he would fall in love with him. Anything with a pulse could’ve saved him and he would fall in love with them. He’s driven by the idea of being in love, not actually in love. Because if he was, then he would do everything in his power to take control of his feelings and take lead, not be lead by his feelings.

As for Ichika, she’s a plain mousy brown-haired female protagonist with no agency whatsoever lost in a sea of other plain mousy brown-haired female protagonists with no agency in the romcom genre. She really doesn’t have anything resembling a personality. Her entire existence is being constantly bothered by Ryou and pulled along with Rio’s plans. She has no agency. The side characters are more interesting than her. The freaking SIDE CHARACTERS of all people! She doesn’t stand up for herself and is pushed along with the plot, not giving her any room to grow and have a sense of agency. If you asked her if she would skydive off a plane because her friends did it, she more than likely would say yes because her friends did it and not something of her own volition.

What’s stopping me from enjoying the anime are the main protagonists. They have no defining personality, one of them has no agency whatsoever and the other is a lovestruck fool who doesn’t know when to read the room. Had they more personality to them along with other defining traits, then maybe I would’ve liked them and the anime more. Because with their overall blandness, they aren’t making the plot any better. By all means, if you do enjoy Koi to Yobu, then I’m glad that it brings people some happiness by watching it. It may not be my cup of tea but I know others will enjoy it. I will continue watching this in the hopes that maybe things will be different.

I would like to hear your thoughts so far what with it being halfway done.

May 3, 2021 12:36 PM

UberBat

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Jan 2008

3061

I dropped it after one episode.

I got creepy stalker and doormat and that's all I got out of it. Didn't feel romantic in the least.

May 3, 2021 12:55 PM

skysurf

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Dec 2018

567

Well put. The anime is already halfway so don't expect any different from what you've got so far.

This anime in one sentence is basically: playboy creep harasses and steps over a school girl til she gives in, while no other character gives a F about her feelings or privacy. Except maybe the love rival boy, who already got threatened by the possessive dude and his sister lol

And I think even fans would agree on the female lead being a complete dull doormat character. As I said in another thread, it looks like she's just washed away going wherever the plot takes her, instead of leading it as a protagonist.

Also, don't worry about the age gap. There's basically no controversy in this subforum about that because the anime completely ignored that part, no interesting challenges were depicted (even the mother couldn't care less about that, she just joined the dude's harem as fast as she could).

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May 3, 2021 1:38 PM

postkinoYAtrash

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May 2021

ryou is a fucking cringe loser. he gets jealous of high school boy for getting close to a high school girl that's about 10 years his senior. can't get much more beta than that.

May 3, 2021 4:33 PM

ktg

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May 2016

1817

I didn't consider it a 'good' show, but most of your points are wrong.

As for Ryou, love is not logical, so obviously it's pretty normal to love someone without a reason.
Ryou started to love Ichika when they met ín their home, not when She saved him.

As for Ichika, I think they made her average on purpose. Ryou was dating beautiful girls, but he didn't love them. He fell ín love with an average highschool girl.

May 3, 2021 5:13 PM

skysurf

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Dec 2018

567

ktg said:
As for Ryou, love is not logical, so obviously it's pretty normal to love someone without a reason.
Ryou started to love Ichika when they met ín their home, not when She saved him.

"love"? He got infatuated simply because the girl called him "creep", that's why it's hilarious to see posts around talking about his "genuine love feelings" lol, any sane and mature person would see that as a toxic obsession.

Please understand the title of this anime and get the hint.

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May 3, 2021 5:28 PM

Chiibi

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Nov 2008

10505

I'm TOTALLY with you on "the side characters are better than the main two". Cause they are. xD

May 3, 2021 10:40 PM

Zayn_jl

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Feb 2020

311

all characters are sh!t i drop this anime on EP2 specially the blond dude the MC

May 4, 2021 1:24 AM

kawaiitea

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Feb 2017

132

I agree with your review, the main characters feel too dull. And sometimes it does feel like Ryou is "in love" with Ichika for no apparent reason. People do fall for others for the smallest things but that isn't the only reason why they stay in love, and in this case Ryou seems to be obsessing over Ichika just because. Ichika hasn't actually done anything for Ryou to fall for her except show her disdain to his actions. And Ichika is falling for Ryou just because of his persistence, which anyone could've done for her.

May 4, 2021 1:25 AM

#10

Sakuta002766

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Feb 2019

5510

Zayn_jl said:
all characters are sh!t.

Totally agree, especially Amakusa, Ryou sucks.

May 4, 2021 2:29 AM

#11

Zayn_jl

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Feb 2020

311

Sakuta002766 said:

Zayn_jl said:
all characters are sh!t.

Totally agree, especially Amakusa, Ryou sucks.

dude almost 30 years and he simping over a high School teenager

May 4, 2021 10:57 AM

#12

Tamago_Onigiri

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Apr 2020

Ryo isn't the greatest guy but he genuinely likes her and she doesn't really dislike him. The family knows about him. So I like the main couple and I think they have a fair chance as everyone else. The real creeps people don't even know are the ones who are married and still harass others and there are creeps that keep harassing things they don't like or people they don't like.

It's interesting how many people dropped it since ep 1 or two are STILL around HARASSING this anime (while accusing Ryo of harassing. Apparently these people aren't self aware.) I would think they have better things to do than harassing things they don't like (but then I do admit I do see so many floating around). If I don't like the anime, I dropped it since ep 1 and never look back.

May 4, 2021 11:01 AM

#13

ManWild

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Jan 2020

66662

Ryou is definitely my least favorite. Most of the other ones are pretty neutral for me

May 4, 2021 12:53 PM

#14

UberBat

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Jan 2008

3061

Tamago_Onigiri said:
Ryo isn't the greatest guy but he genuinely likes her and she doesn't really dislike him. The family knows about him. So I like the main couple and I think they have a fair chance as everyone else. The real creeps people don't even know are the ones who are married and still harass others and there are creeps that keep harassing things they don't like or people they don't like.

It's interesting how many people dropped it since ep 1 or two are STILL around HARASSING this anime (while accusing Ryo of harassing. Apparently these people aren't self aware.) I would think they have better things to do than harassing things they don't like (but then I do admit I do see so many floating around). If I don't like the anime, I dropped it since ep 1 and never look back.

Hi there. I'm only replying to you as I'm assuming you read the thread and saw my comment first.

I am only here now because I tend to look to see if any threads that I respond to get replies. And I found this thread through the Anime series forum. I did not look specifically for Koikimo threads. This thread was on top and as I gave Koikimo such a low score on one episode I got curious to see if this thread discussed any improvements.

I didn't see the need to write a long reply but wanted to affirm that I got a very strong impression of the character types of the two leads the anime was going for. To match that the OP doesn't see any improvements in their behaviours.

I am fully self aware. I also know what harassment is. Replying to a thread here or there in an open forum for open discussion and not pick on any particular individual is not harassment.

Harass:
to annoy persistently
was harassing his younger brother
(2): to create an unpleasant or hostile situation for especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct

That defines Ryou's behaviour. At least from the first episode. (Does he improve? Or does she give in and no one learns better? )

doormat
2: one that submits without protest to abuse or indignities

That sums up the female lead. She made a token effort but still rewarded him for his behaviour.

I mean I don't like the anime at all from first impressions but it is fascinating to discuss about social etiquettes. So I'm interested in the poorly impressed dynamics of the leads and not necessarily the anime itself. You don't need to be a fan on an anime in order to consider it's implications in story telling.

Also I gave Interspecies reviewers a 10 so... we all have our foibles :D

May 4, 2021 12:55 PM

#15

NextUniverse

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Jul 2019

15838

Well. Cartoon characters did a good job at pissing off real-life people, that is very based lmao. I think they are fine I suppose.

May 4, 2021 1:18 PM

#16

skysurf

Offline

Dec 2018

567

Tamago_Onigiri said:
The family knows about him (...) The real creeps people don't even know are the ones who are married and still harass others

Red flag here. Being known to the harassment target or their social circle doesn't make you any less creep.

In a school setting for example, a popular student who may be well known to everyone, could be a creep harassing someone who rejected them and it doesn't make it any better.

In fact, trash people who take it to the next level, for example, sexual violence, are usually known to the victim (check HERE for some stats).

In any case, remember we're discussing an anime with a mediocre scenario where the author depicted all the social circle of the girl simply cheering for the dude without raising any eyebrows (not even the girl's mother cared).

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