Recommended
Hmm, how should I sum up Domestic Girlfriend? Natsuo gets in between his two sisters…..nailed it! But Domestic Girlfriend is not your typical bludgeoning of the flaps for the purposes of stimulating that intense surge of dopamine. Instead, its primary focus is on the emotional aspects of an awkward circumstance of which the “fated” lovers — Natsuo and Rui — have no say over. It’s certainly not the type of anime that will appeal to the action-oriented crowd or the numerous romcom enthusiasts (although, there are a handful of comedic moments). No. This is the type of anime that offers asemblance of realism to a medium that all too often strays away from level-headed, unromantic situations, in exchange for chuckles and anticipated endings. “Happy-endings” certainly have their place among the droves of escapist-consumers, but the flooding of the market in recent years has made its appeal less desirable; hence, why Domestic Girlfriend is a welcomed change of pace.
So what exactly separates Domestic Girlfriend from the throng of predetermined, quixotic shows that perpetuate fanciful illusions which rarely come to fruition? Well, rather than slowly building the eventual relationship between the two “destined” lovers, Domestic Girlfriend showcases a scene in which Natsuo and Rui are seen in a bedroom, after experiencing sex for the first time; yet, their jubilation is noticeably absent. What is normally considered the pinnacle of consensual relationships, was merely a simple task to be “checked-off” to avoid the embarrassment of being a virgin.
But copulation done in haste is never so satisfying, nor is it a substitute for a passion-filled, endearing relationship. A reality that Natsuo and Rui discover in a most unpleasant manner, as their first kiss is done tentatively, without mutual attraction (as Rui’s affections are not reciprocated by Natsuo). This is not to say that Natsuo does not enjoy their tender encounters — he is a hormone-driven male, after all — but the connection is never fully established. Fostering an interesting dynamic in which Rui seeks the endearment of Natsuo, while he has his sights set on Hina.
While branching away from the conventions of cookie-cutter plots and defined character archetypes, Domestic Girlfriend does have a myriad of blemishes that prevent if from being a truly great show. It seems the staff made a concerted effort to blitz the viewer with a multitude of plot twists and jaw-dropping moments when the bungling missteps of Natsuo, Rui, and Hina would have provided sufficient entertainment in its own right. Episode 8, with the underwear thief, was just one example of stretching the limits of storytelling too far to “conveniently” pose a new conundrum for the two to deal with (i.e. Alex being attracted to Rui — causing Rui to feel neglected by Natsuo). Literally every episode has one or two moments that resemble the high level drama of a daytime soap opera. It’s not quite as egregious as the machinations of Days of Our Lives, but there is a certain superficiality about it that cannot be ignored.
Furthermore, Domestic Girlfriend suffers from an excess of exposition heavy dialogue. Upon discovering Natsuo’s secret relationship, Rui provides an elaborate explanation as to why she will harbor ill-feeling towards her step-brother. Ordinarily, though, when a woman is unhappy with a man, she is not as forthcoming with this sort of sensitive information. Due to a variety of reasons, women can be rather enigmatic, necessitating the man to figure out the cause of the strife without much guidance. In this viewer’s opinion, if Rui remained silent with her feelings, it would have placed Natsuo in a difficult, realistic dilemma as to if/when he would attempt to mend fences with his step-sister.
In terms of the characters, the main three — Natsuo, Rui, and Hina — are thoroughly fleshed, with a preponderance of unique tendencies that enable the viewer to truly understand/empathize with them. The rest of the cast, regrettably, are relatively weak. Masaki Kobayashi, in particular, is generally irksome with an abundance of foolish moments that make the viewer want to slap their face or cover their eyes (dude needs to hit the gym to tighten those flabby butt cheeks). In fact, many of the secondary and tertiary characters were relegated to the sidelines for the mere purpose of comedic relief from the depressing atmosphere of Natsuo’s relationship troubles. Yet their various absurdities did not meld well with the intended tone of the series. Ice cream and steak are both delicious, but they are not the type of foods one mixes together. Neither should one mix erratic comedy with serious relationship issues.
All in all, Domestic Girlfriend is a flawed series that attempts to take itself seriously, but far too often does not commit one-hundred percent of the time (or even ninety percent). Despite its flaws, however, it has a mesmerizing effect on the viewer, propelling him/her to tune into the next episode to see what happens next. It’s akin to sipping on a cup of tea. The taste is somewhat complex, albeit acquired. The experience is pleasant, but nothing special. And the character is unique, yet nothing revelatory.
