Review of Teasing Master Takagi-san

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san is a rather episodic format series divided into multiple skits per episode that relies overly on one formula. Once you saw the first episode you can predict how most interactions down the line would go. This is made even more glaring by the fact that the show attempts to preserve the status quo for the majority of its run. You will be stuck mostly watching the male MC repeatedly attempt to pull a shenanigan against the female MC and she is of course one step ahead of him. Much of the show’s attempt at humor is centered on how she flipsthe table on him and his reactions to that. That’s pretty much it. The skits are not punctuated by overly strong punch-lines that will leave you gasping for air. What it instead does is leave you with a big wide knowing smile looking at one skilled teaser, who obviously has a crush on the guy, try to tease him day in and day out into quasi-dates with her because it’s the one sure excuse she has to stay near him without freaking him out with the idea of dating.

Much of the appeal of the series therefore lies on the delivery of the main characters and it is here that I must recommend the English dub. Aaron Dimsuke performs admirably in a series that puts a lot of weight on the male lead’s reactions to being playfully teased. And, of course, the star of show, Sarah Weidenheft’s Takagi, brings out a performance that is equal parts childish, playful, devious, and endearing all at once, while still selling the idea that she longs for him to notice her feelings.