Review of My Happy Marriage

“Let’s just say I came for the story but I stayed for the characters.” So I’ve wanted to write this review ever since the first episode aired but I thought it might be better to wait but here I am, ready to shed some light on why this anime is so beautiful. I’d have rated it a masterpiece but there are 1-2 small (minor) things which prevented me from doing so. However, it is among my favorite animes and might be my favorite of 2023. I will try to keep it spoiler-free so this review might help people who are wondering whether they should watch itor not (not to sound biased but please do – just kidding but maybe you will do anyway after reading my review ;).

Story 8.5/10
As someone who read the manga and is currently reading (up to this point) and having read the first volume of the light novel and part of the second, I went into this knowing a little more about the story and background (I’m going to write a review for the manga too, so I’ll try to keep this separated as good as possible). The anime is a little ahead of the manga but they adapted it very well in my opinion. Sure, there were some details I feel like are more understandable if you have the context from the manga but it’s not like you will be completely confused and they still kept the most important aspects, this was one small point. My only real criticism (and I don’t know if it should count as one, especially not for the anime since it’s just an adaptation) is the fact that I felt (especially towards the end) that the fantasy aspects were a little too heavy. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind that they are included and important to the story and that it exists aside from the romance plot but personally I feel it almost outbalanced the romance (at least to some extent) but like I said – this also goes for the manga and mostly for the light novel so when it comes to this I might be too critical with the anime in that aspect since it just stayed true to the source material and I respect that. The same goes for the political affairs/connections – which once again are important but shouldn’t overshadow other aspects of the story (which kind of happened).

Sorry that was more rant than I expected. But I actually love the setting as well as the plot. It’s a Cinderella story yet different. And I don’t think I’ve seen this a lot in anime, especially not in historical animes. Which is another aspect I really like, it’s taking place during the 19th century and I really like to see Japan during that era. In the anime you can really feel this thanks to the animation and music (but I will get to that a little later). The story/ interactions and maybe even the characters seem to be nothing that has not been done before but in a way that feels refreshing and is simply wholesome (at least during the times without angst and anticipation). There were scenes I really felt cozy and it really felt they brought this story to life in this anime. It never got boring or felt dragged. Actually I feel like I could have watched many more episodes of this (just for interactions with the characters, which leads me to the next point).

Characters 10/10
It might not be a completely new set of characters but for me it worked perfectly (especially in this combination). First of all you have the protagonist Miyo, coming from a well-suited family but growing up like a servant and treated badly. She’s very timid, shy, not outgoing and even lacking self-esteem. But I personally disagree with the comments about her being boring and generic because I don’t think so. Because you can really tell her personality was shaped by her experiences and trauma and as a result she has become this kind of person. Which is clearly shown in her actions and even observed by Kiyoka. It’s not just very relatable but also very realistic. I’ve said this before and I’ll say this again: regardless of which Cinderella story you watch read; what makes this character so strong is the fact that she remains kind and even hopeful despite all her hardships. She is also the kind of person that could seem bland and boring at first but once you get to know her you can see the depth of her character and that she is always trying her best despite all these inner conflicts that remain. Because inner scars don’t heal easily and that takes a lot of strength and even support from others. While at the same time wanting to become a better person, improving, challenging yourself. I’ve felt the character development very strongly in this anime (not just with her). And maybe to some it seems like baby steps and you feel like she still has a long way to go but I think this kind of character is 100 times more relatable and has more depth than someone who’s outstanding at everything and outshines other characters in ways we don’t even ask for (I mean depending on the story it can be nice but given the atmosphere of this story it’s 100% fitting). On top of that you have her struggle of feeling inferior because she grew up thinking she was worthless because she has no power and people kept telling her (and if you hear it over and over again of course you start to believe it). Living in her younger sister’s shadow who treats her horribly. It’s very rare for me to connect so much with a fictional character. With every episode I wanted nothing more for her than happiness.

Then you have Kiyoka, the male main character with a reputation for chasing his former fiances away and having a cold personality but he’s actually different? Well, I won’t go into too much detail since I don’t want to spoil it but with him it’s pretty much similar to Miyo. He doesn’t feel one-dimensional and finally we have a male character who’s simply wholesome. But no, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t make mistakes or that he’s perfect. And that might be one thing I appreciate the most about this story. Because he’s a very talented and gifted character in many aspects but he has flaws too. And he also undergoes a character development that’s clear to see and it warmed my heart. It’s like Miyo and Kiyoka were written for each other. And yes, now you could think that’s for most of the characters involving a romance but unfortunately you might read it but you also have to FEEL it. And I could sense that even in this anime.

When it comes to the supporting characters they might not be as well-developed as the main characters but they still are to some point. I’ve read that some think the “villains” act like that because the story simply requires it but while it’s true that of course their actions are vital for the story to even exist I’d disagree with that statement. Because I don’t think they don’t have their (personal) reasons for acting this way, just that the reasons might not be that understandable, clear or even relatable and you might need to read between the lines. Let’s just take Kaya for example – Miyo’s younger half-sister. She basically grew up getting treated like a princess and like the special one while her mother never hid her contempt for Miyo. Everyone showed her it was alright to treat her sister like crap, that she should feel superior to her. I’m actually surprised it could seem unnatural and no one would act like this if this would have been a real life scenario. Just imagine what would happen if you constantly let someone think they are better than others while treating them like garbage. I wonder if they will treat the person better if no one around them is acting differently. It just proves that our background and the way we are raised does have an impact on our personality and actions. But I believe Kaya is not beyond hope if she could learn how to treat others better and not view herself as the center of the universe. And as much as I hated her actions and what she did to Miyo I kind of feel sorry for her because her parents screwed her up so much. It also shows a very sharp contrast between her and Miyo and I really like the fact Miyo got what Kaya might would have wanted but even without asking for it because Miyo is so humble and kind (she truly deserves it).

Even other characters have more potential for some more depth. That’s why I feel like it might be the best aspect of this story (whether it’s the anime or manga). Let’s just say I came for the story but I stayed for the characters.

Animation 9.5/10

This is yet another aspect I really appreciate, that the animation was so beautiful. You could really see the love for detail and capturing the atmosphere. Not just of the time but even of the story and its characters. I’m usually among those who would pick the manga design over the anime design but in this case I’d say both are equally good for their own reasons. Maybe I’m the only one but watching this I felt like you could dream you are in this place (well, not that it would be a good thing…).

Music 9.5/10

Am I really going to rate the music separately? Yes. Because it absolutely sets the atmosphere and was so perfectly chosen for this anime. From the opening, ending to the OST. Every tune of this anime screams perfection and made you feel the emotions even more strongly.

Voice Acting 10/10
This is something I almost never rate but with this anime I simply HAVE TO because their casting for voice actors is beyond perfect. Because of the anime I discovered Reina Ueda and she is perfect for the role of Miyo. Same with Kiyoka’s voice actor (makes me wonder if they were born to voice them :D). But also all the other characters were a perfect match. I’m not joking. Because I watched some of these episodes with my friend and she preferred English dub over Japanese dub (which is alright too) but I immediately noticed the different effect it had on the anime and the characters and promptly re-watched these episodes in Japanese as soon as possible. It’s perfect. And I highly doubt there will ever be an anime with a much better fitting voice cast (that’s why I have to rate it too this time around).

Overall 9.5/10
It’s hard to say if I could recommend this to just anyone because I feel like you must be into this kind of characters, story and setting in order to enjoy it as much as I did. And I highly doubt my review was objective enough. But if you are a hopeless romantic like me, if you love a beautiful (wholesome) love story where both main characters are a green flag (not because they are perfect but willing to work on their flaws and are willing to openly communicate with each other) I think you will love it. Despite the aspects I mind or think aren’t balanced enough I couldn’t help but set it as one of my favorite animes because this story (anime as well as manga) did something no other anime/manga did for me in a while and I really appreciate it. And I truly hope we will get the secoond season soon because I can't wait (or even more – and please with the same VA cast). It’s also a show you can re-watch many times and which would add to its value. It’s a gem of an anime (and this comes from a person who usually isn’t fond of everything that’s overly-hyped). Maybe you can see for yourself. I hope this review was at least a little helpful (and thank you for reading this far). Have a beautiful day, evening or whatever time it is <3