Nov 8, 2021
I've never felt compelled enough to leave a MAL review before... but Horimiya has managed to frustrate me to the point where I need to vocalise what a missed opportunity it really has been.
Originally launched almost a decade ago in Japan (an in the West a little later in 2015), the titular characters Hori-san and Miyamura-kun immediately captured hearts and minds including mine. They were after all three-dimensional - most obviously the bespectacled and gloomy Izumi Miyamura, a 'loser fanboy' who has a secret liberal side with tats and piercings. Secretly plain-Jane homebody Hori who, as far as her classmates know is attractive and
...
popular but turns out to have a hilariously violent yet sweet/loving nature.
Avoiding any spoilers let's say the first volume or two queued everything up nicely and it WAS a winning formula.
Then not much happens, frankly.
There is no further meaningful character development. There is no triumphing over adversity (there is no adversity). There is not much growth, or change. We don't see any development of their relationship as it done 'off camera'. There are hints that physical relationships progress as you may expect with teenagers but this is not the focus for this series. This may be to ensure it is suitable for all ages (I have recommended it to a younger relative) but it's difficult to have the same investment with the characters when you don't really know where they are at.
I've persevered as the series has meandered it's way through the decade and I don't tend to drop things... but it says something that I'm pleased there is only a couple of volumes left. I'm told that there is some tension in the final volume but for me it's a bit late almost everything up to this point has been bubble-gum and filler.
Personally I don't need the soap opera stylings of Domestic Girlfriend but at least something above and beyond the day-to-day life of very wholesome and lovely school friends. Some tension, something to threaten the status quo, anything. Just make me feel something.
It's the 11th hour and I still haven't. Over the years it remained entrenched at the surface level and if that's what you want - something to digest as an easy read knowing it will be relaxing - then this is the story for you.
First two volumes: 8
The rest: 5.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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