Review of Horimiya
"A fateful meeting between the two lays both of their hidden selves bare" That's it. That's the show. We see it in a flash back and cutting back to the present they are already an old married couple. They go through the motions and read their lines in the script of a few of the important milestone in a relationship. They say they still don't know much about each other. But nothing changes and there is nothing new for them to find out. The actual relationship development happens in the unseen time between their fateful meeting and the rest of the show. The rest ofthis anime is padded out by an endless parade of shallow snapshots into the lives of the B and C characters. The cast just keeps growing and accomplishing nothing. They are introduced and play out their part in the short script of whatever little skits they are up for.
The dialogue is predictable and unfunny. Nothing would be missed watching this show muted. At a few points it seems like there could actually be dramatic tension or anger between characters. But it just disappears without elaboration. As for drama or tension in the main couple's relationship, it seems intentionally ridiculous to the point of never being intended to be taken seriously and is all immediately resolved or just disappears. But it's also never funny, so even while watching I couldn't help but wonder, what is the point?
The male MC is a gloomy awkward loner with no friends. Or is he? he isn't, he was loser before because he just was ok? He isn't actually shy or awkward and was best friends with one of the popular kids in middle school. Also he has ridiculous piercings and a large tattoo. But he wont put his piercings back on or show his tattoos for the rest of the show. As for the female MC, there's not much to say, because in this spin on the "gloomy guy and popular girl" the girl is actually the bland self insert. Her hidden side is that she does housework.
In one episode the female MC reveals that being slapped, called names, and put in her place by the male MC really gets her going. And so for that episode the sexless nice guy male MC tries his best to treat her the way she wants him to. I won't bother elaborating because the show doesn't. After that episode the whole thing was just never brought up or mentioned again. Watching that episode and sparring a single thought to the characters or their relationship was a true exercise in futility. And the same goes for this entire meaningless mess of an anime.