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I'm not going to lie... I wanted to give it a chance after reading the premise and the negative review. And I can't say I was disappointed. On the contrary, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

I don't normally read Josei, and if you fall into that category as well you might not want to jump in with this story. It is fun yet bittersweet, with seemingly random moments of comedy. In truth, the comedy is quite dark at times, highlighting the main character's flailing attempts at grasping adulthood.

For starters, the brief up top is not at all accurate, in my opinion. If ... I were to re-write it, it would go something more like this:
A young woman, having been tangled in a complicated relationship and suffering from excessive stress at work, decides to throw it all away and attempt to start over. She ends up at her Uncle's apartment complex, where she envies her neighbor's garden. She has always loved plants, but could never get them to thrive. It turns out that her neighbor (who is also her boss) has a girlfriend that tends to the vegetables and flowers. When she starts to develop feelings for her neighbor/boss, things become complicated again as she realizes what love is, even as she tries to cope with adulthood. (Okay I just threw that together, but it's accurate.)

Story: 8
I felt this story was strong, complex, and interesting. It touched me, likely because I found it to be highly relatable. It's about the struggles of a young woman trying to find herself in life and in love. She's had unfortunate relationships in the past (partly due to her own ambivalence), and she's struggled with who and what she wants to be. It's a picture of the modern issue of the "extended adolescence." It's compelling, even as it's bittersweet (oftentimes more bitter than sweet) and even a little painful to read sometimes.

Art: 6
Okay, the art isn't fantastic. It's rough around the edges, but I feel that it suits the manga's theme and style. To be honest, if all the characters were bishies, I'd be more than a little disappointed. Overall it's still enjoyable though, especially the scenes with plants in them. It almost felt like the plants got the most attention to detail.

Character: 9
Well, here's my favorite part. The characters shine, in my opinion. For example, Shino, the main character, is a painful joy to read. She's lost in a sea of uncertainty, not knowing what she wants in life, or how to even live her life. She's at a stagnant point at almost 25 where she has no real direction or path. Yet she still strives for... something. She wants to find that spark. Her clumsy grasping at relationships, work, and life in general have a realistic feel to them, making her a relatable (if painful) character to read about. In fact, all of the characters have a complexity and depth that make them seem like real human beings you could meet, fleshing them out and giving more power to the story.

Enjoyment: 8
Maybe I'm going to have to amend my "I don't normally read Josei..." because I really liked this story. While the art wasn't amazing, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters. As you read, you want to learn more and more about them, you want to hope they don't make the same mistakes again (or the same ones you made). It's a roller coaster of emotions, but it's a fun ride.

Overall: 8
If Josei/Drama/Bittersweet Romance is your thing, definitely check this out, you won't regret it. The story is right, the atmosphere is right, the characters are believable, and it's the right mix to set your emotions into overdrive. I wouldn't check this out if you're looking for sappy, lovey-dovey romance, or even a HEA (still haven't read the end, so I don't know). I'm not sure if this is the first Josei I'd jump into either, but if you're a fan of YA+ literature or in your early-to-mid 20s, this might just be a story for you.

My first review, but I didn't like any of the others here, and so felt compelled to write something on this cute, refreshing fun time.

Synopsis – Chocolate has been banned by a newly risen government entity (The Ministry of Health and Well Being) that has convinced the public that they are acting in their best interest. Two school-aged boys become interested in the idea of bringing chocolate back to the people, and after hearing about a secret smuggling ring, become entangled in a bootlegging operation to “fill the world with chocolate” once again.

A simple premise, and simply executed.

To be honest, I decided to watch ... this anime simply because of the dystopian premise. I have a strong love of dystopian literature and media in general, so of course Chocolate Underground caught my eye. I will admit I did not know that it was in such a short format and was dismayed until I got to the third episode or so. Much in the way that chocolate is appreciated best in small bites so as not to overwhelm, this series delivers beautifully in the concise format it's presented in.

As previously stated, the episodes are short (between 3-6 minutes) and there are no opening or ending sequences, other than a short preview of the next episode. The next episode tends to pick up exactly (as in the same exact scene) where the previous one left off. It is not difficult to follow the story at all, as it is fairly simple, though I will admit to watching it all in two sittings.

The simplicity of the story is both a strength and a weakness, in my opinion. For starters, I must praise the production staff and writers for being able to convey so much in so little time and space. There is a brief background for each of the two main characters that highlights their emotional connection to chocolate and the price that the ban has had on all people. For example, Smudger's father is a baker, and the girl that both boys have a crush on (Louise) works in a (former) sweets shop.

Some may criticize the characters for being one dimensional, but I would disagree. There is a deeper feeling, more so with Smudger or Franky than Huntly, about where the characters are coming from and the hardships that the ban has caused. In this way, chocolate becomes more than just a sugary indulgence. It becomes representative of freedom, which is obviously the point that is being driven across.

However, the length can be seen as a weakness as well. The story could have done with more in-depth understanding of the Minister and his creepy right-hand who is singly devoted to the Minister and carrying out his orders. He is a stereotypical A-type personality obsessive lackey who cares about nothing other than enforcing the rules and pleasing his master. I would have liked to understand much more about him and his reasoning, as he seemed particularly unhinged and interesting.

The reality is that with the format done as it was, there was no possibility of going deeper with individual characters. As I said, I appreciated what was done in the short amount of time allotted, but I think a longer format would have been a much better vehicle. Perhaps even just doubling the episode length would have been enough, making the episodes roughly 10 minutes instead of 5-ish.

Overall I enjoyed the series. It was short and sweet, with a lovely ending. There is little in the way of thinking required, but the message is deep enough despite the levity in the show. I enjoyed the light hearted take on a dystopia, unlike something such as Fahrenheit 451, which is quite heavy. However, if messages about personal liberty presented in a child-friendly format is not really your cup of tea, perhaps Chocolate Underground is not really for you.