Review of ReLIFE

[Minor spoilers are contained in this review] The story of ReLIFE presents a scenario many of us have likely dwelled upon at one point: how would you take advantage of the opportunity to rewind your life back to an earlier point in time. For Arata Kaizaki, this scenario is not merely a hypothetical, but rather, a reality. Kaizaki is a 27-year old NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) who is presented with an opportunity by the ReLIFE Laboratory: take a pill to make yourself appear 10 years younger and enroll for one year as a transfer high school senior. The purpose of the ReLIFE programis to rehabilitate individuals similar to Kaizaki - those who have lost touch with society, their own convictions, and direction. If the program goes well, the ReLIFE Laboratory will reward Kaizaki with an array of prospective employment opportunities; perhaps more importantly for Kaizaki, though, the program offers a pathway towards healing his emotional wounds. Somewhat reluctantly, Kaizaki agrees to participate and so begins his one-year stint to rekindle a spark he had since lost.

While Kaizaki is certainly the show's main point of attention, his eventful school term would certainly have been dull if not for the eclectic mix of classmates he meets along the way. These characters are distinct in their own right, each presenting personal battles we have perhaps experienced ourselves. Rena Kariu is a hard-working, gritty student-athlete who often struggles with an inferiority complex when matched up against her peers. Fellow classmate, Kazu Oga, is the unathletic, bright class representative who struggles to pick up on social cues as a result of his naivete. We also have Chizuru Hishiro, an awkward introvert who finds difficulty befriending other students - reading the room, as the saying goes, is certainly not one of her strengths. Kaizaki often finds himself entangled in the struggles of his fellow classmates - and it is through these opportunities that he is able to reconnect himself with others and work towards alleviating his past trauma.

The tone of ReLIFE varies between being pensive, existential, casual, and humorous. Mystery is also baked into the show, adding moments of intrigue and eyebrow-raising. The flow of the show rarely feels forced, and important teaching moments are met with an appropriate level of seriousness. The comedic aspect is also well done - present but never overly so. ReLIFE also possesses an underlying romantic aspect - and while romance is certainly not the show's driving force, its presence does add a layer of complexity to its plot. The original soundtrack (OST) pairs with the show's varying tones extremely well and primarily consists of jazz piano tracks. By the show's conclusion, a handful of these soundtracks will likely cement themselves with the audience; and justifiably so, as they truly do add an extra layer of punch to the scenes they accompany.

In all, ReLIFE is a feel-good show that successfully captures an overall sense of light-heartedness, while also highlighting its more weighty teaching moments. ReLIFE will resonate profoundly with those who have ever felt the desire to get a second chance at some stage in their lives. And even for those who don't fall into this category, ReLIFE still offers the hallmarks of a solid slice of life.