Review of Recovery of an MMO Junkie

Much like the simple story of this anime, there isn't a lot to say about it as a whole, because really it's quite a sweet, adorable, and easy show to watch/binge. This anime is about an "Elite NEET" (self-proclaimed) named Morioka Moriko who decides to play as a male character named Hayashi in an attempt at escapism, who finds her real life and her online life clashing when she meets a player named Lily ingame who appears to not be all that she seems. When she realizes that she has been playing MMOs in an attempt to escape reality and quickly becomes unable to doso even in the game world, she finds that her life begins turn on its head.

The thing I like the most about this anime is how refreshingly calm and simple it all feels. There isn't a large cast of characters, and only about 4 are actually relevant to the story. The romance is sweet and progresses satisfyingly, and best of all the anime is paced brilliantly. There isn't a boring episode or moment that doesn't want you wanting to find out what happens next, which is pleasantly surprising given the premise of the show which has arguably been seen quite a few times before and the aforementioned simpleness of the plot. While I say it's simple, the story does become a little convoluted at a certain point trying to figure out what characters know what about each other, but it becomes cleared up quickly and doesn't at all detract from the anime as a whole. Like I said before, the romance is satisfying and progresses at a pleasant pace, and the characters are likable. Although one thing that did stick out was the amount of lucky coincidences. Again, this didn't bother me personally but it did at times feel a little bit TOO convenient. However this just made for a slightly more satisfying experience when things go the way you want them to.

My gripes with the show only really come down to how simple and easily digestible it is. It has great characters, great chemistry, and a satisfying, linear plot that is executed well but isn't particularly memorable or new. It's a good spin on a used premise but doesn't really do anything much new except capture this incredibly gratifying sense of calmness and relaxation. The characters don't develop much as people and really the only story was for the two main protagonists to become romantically involved. This is why it doesn't go much beyond an 8 for me, I felt it could've been even higher had it been longer or included further character development, particularly in the side characters that are EXTREMELY sidelined for long periods of time and not given much of anything to do.

So in conclusion, Net-juu no Susume is a great and easy to watch/binge show if you're looking for a cute romance between two adults that deals with the fact that at base level, the real world and game world really aren't all that different and that in the end, the relationships you forge no matter where they are should be cherished for a lifetime.