Review of My Happy Marriage
A beautiful story of a woman who lost her happiness and purpose to live to a tragic childhood and home environment, slowly regaining the life in her eyes as the story progresses. It's set in the 19th-century Meiji Restoration era of Japan. My initial anticipation of the series was that it was going to be another wholesome, light-hearted watch as you would find in many other romance anime. This belief was dismayed in the tragic introduction of female protagonist Miyo Saimori, and the pale sadness that continued all throughout the episodes. The balance between the heart-rending dynamics of the emotional repercussions of Miyo's upbringing and wholesomeinteractions between her and male protagonist Kiyoka Kudo felt bittersweet but made the show that much more interesting.
In the first few episodes, I didn't see the plot expanding from what it had initially presented itself as. However, the last episodes were very much based around plot, which was a bit surprising. I also want to mention the surprising amount of fantasy and supernatural elements. Compared to other plot-based anime series, you could say that the plot could have been more appealing had there been more twists and turns. However, for viewers looking for a more relaxed watch, the show has found a great balance between action, plot, and romance.
The animation was beautiful! It perfectly portrayed the feeling of each event of the show, whether it be pure sadness or light-hearted happiness. The detailed expressions of the character implore empathy from any viewer, as well as the intricately chosen colours for each scene. The action-packed scenes were also animated nicely, which was surprising, as a lot of romance anime I have watched fail to do this or don't have any at all.
Overall, a great anime for anyone who's looking for a romance anime with a somewhat deeper plot than your typical romance, with unexpected scenes of action and supernatural elements. The dynamic between Miyo and Kiyoka also adds an element of wholesomeness to the show, although Miyo's emotional journey calls for both happiness and sadness. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for something different in the romance genre!