Apr 27, 2015
Having read the manga first, nothing about this anime really surprised me, nor should it for that matter. The art is good, music is fine, voice actors are good.
Some of the main story was changed, most notably the exposition, and the ending where Erika and Seta went to Kobe, but this was probably done to fit the 12-episode format. They also skipped a pivotal moment in the fake relationship, where the two of them went to the beach with Marin and her boyfriend. But the plot moves along regardless, so it’s not really a big deal.
As for the main characters.
Erika starts out as a
...
somewhat independent person. Yes, she lies for approval, but I’m sure most people have done that (though maybe not to that extent) to fit in. Because of this lie, she’s at Seta’s mercy. It was fine at first when she showed some restraint to his whims, but as soon as she fell for him, she became all too willing to what it takes to attain his affection. I know that falling in love will change your priorities. But I think Erika lost a lot of her initial gumption where romance wasn’t a big deal to her. I’m not saying she’s a bad character. She shows determination and she’s kindhearted, but it’s nothing shoujo readers/viewers haven’t seen before.
Seta shows the most development throughout. He’s first shown as a kindhearted prince, then he reveals his true sadistic nature. He’s possessive, easily irritated, blunt and mocks Erika mercilessly. Initially, he wouldn’t deter from his principles, even if it ended up hurting Erika. By the end of episode 12, he would still prefer to stay in his comfort zone, but he shows occasional glimpses of compassion towards the people he cares for. Be it Erika or his estranged family members. His not a bad guy deep down, but he’s not a pure person either. He’s perfectly gray, like most people. I can’t really say much more about him at this point, he develops further into the manga.
Then it comes to the actual ‘love story’. Different people with different background will probably have different perceptions of the relationship. Most of us will conclude that the fake relationship was unhealthy for Erika; some might continue to think it’s unhealthy when they enter the real relationship too. She has high expectations for him, hoping he’ll become a doting boyfriend like the ones she’s been fed through various media outlets. That’s not the case. He’s not that kind of person, and he will never be that kind of person. I think that’s the compelling part about him too. I wished she’d shown the same restraint and kept her initial ideals of not thinking romance was *that* important.
For my part, I think of this story as a dog falling in love with a cat. It’s difficult, maybe even impossible long term. But it’s interesting enough to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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