Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon

This anime is entirely carried by the good-looking characters and the animation. Everything else is just bad: the MC is meek, indecisive, has zero self esteem and her personality is practically being depressed and doing chores for her husband. The pacing is slow and the plot is boring. The action parts are lacking suspance or any real sense of danger and you can easily predict the outcome. The romance scenes are meh, there's no chemistry and the male lead's feelings seem to develop from pity. Watch if you have nothing better to do and want to hear people talking in the background.

We all have seen Cinderella, but have you ever seen it in a setting with super powers? Well, that's basically what Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon is. There are blatant problems with this show, and the most obvious one is the protagonist Miyo, it is understandable why she would behave and think the way she does after living almost her whole life being abused by her family, so she came as extremely passive, submissive and apologetic, this in itself is fine, the bad part comes when she starts developing and switching back to how she was before. We saw her standing againts her family and rejecting what they said, actually trying to act individually and taking into account her own feelings above the ones from others, however this doesn't last long as she returns to having no confidence for no reason, it's not like she got tortured again or anything after that, in fact, she was treated better, even getting more people to know like Kudou's sister who was helping her, but Miyo suddenly regressed back, no matter if Kudou told her that she could trust on him and tell him about any problems she has multiple times, she thinks she is a burden to him despite everything he tells her and already being a long time ever since she started trusting him. It's almost like the Miyo who stood againts her family dissapeared and returned to step 1 despite having no reason for doing so, she isn't getting mistreated anymore, she has people who actually love her around and she had accepted that fact before, but she still regressed and that is pretty much frustating. This isn't helped by the fact that she herself is boring, characters with trauma can be done right and sadly Miyo is not one of them, you can tell that she is submissive, scared, incapable of expressing herself, the problems isn't having these traits, the problem is that those traits are her entire character, she's pretty bland outside of her trauma, I'm not saying she should do a big change of personality almost instantly but at least keep her consistent with what she managed. Talking about Kudou is talking about every shoujo ikemen ever, really. He was said to threat all of her bride candidates while being cold and intimidating to the point no one was able to stand him, but little after Miyo comes, poof, that thing that was said before? It is all gone, he researches about Miyo and becomes this cool and loving fianceé, that will do anything for her, he is also very rich and comes from an important household where he is the head of the family. He is also so incredible with his super natural abilities that he is hailed as the best, and it shows, this guy is basically the Avatar, master of the four elements, of course, I'm kinda exagerating there, but it is almost how it feels. I was thrown out of the loop when Kudou shoot a lightning from his finger in episode 2, because it somehow took until episode 2 to know that the series has super natural powers and that's the reason Miyo was abused by her family in the first place, despite having it as one of the most basic points of the series, it surely took its time to introduce it. After the series stopped being the 3785th copy of Cinderella, it relied on the super powers far more when evil spirits appeared, and it was far less focused in romance. This creates a mismatch in what it is doing, as the first half focuses far more in the romance and drama aspects and how the relationship between the two leads develops with almost no focus on action except on episode 6, and while it is still focusing on drama the romance aspect gets reduced in the second half as the couple becomes more distanced and spend less time together while also having more action scenes. This series got me more stressed about it the more I wrote about it, and I mean, this series is a pretty basic shoujo romance when you think about it, a shy girl that was mistreated by her family after losing her mother being rescued by an absolutely hot, tall, rich and perfect ikemen that will stop being the mean guy that he supposedly was and will protect her, treat her well, love her no matter what and solve her trauma with his looks, richness and, in this case, literal fire. Despite the problems of the show, the animation is beautiful, the series looks really gorgeous as you should expect from Kinema Citrus, the colors are so vivid and it is always clean, when the fights with super powers come it becomes really great to watch, it is pretty weird when I'm more interested in seeing the visuals of the opening than hearing the song, not like the song is bad mind you, so you will be seeing a very beautiful series in case you want to sit and watch it, if you can ignore the basic premise and glaring problems with the "wholesomeness" then go ahead, but this is basically Cinderella with Avatar's bending arts. Thank you for reading.

My Happy Marriage, at the outset, feels like the 1000th remake of Cinderella. It has the evil stepmother, the family abuses the MC, and she gets “saved” by a strong, powerful man. It’s a bit more than that though, as it’s a largely character driven story with the main female character, Saimori Miyo, trying to find her self worth after years and years of people telling how useless she was, as shallow as the reasons were, in that she supposedly lacked the abilities that her family members had. She is married off to a man named Kudou Kiyoka, who was known to be a cold-hearted, insensitive man who dismissed his previous fiancées, likely in an attempt to get rid of her and have her suffer more. Obviously, as you would expect, Kiyoka treats Miyo in a way she doesn’t expect, and the relationship builds from there. Then what makes this anime stand out, if it just feels like another Cinderella story? The first thing would definitely be the visual presentation. The animation overall is very fluid, while being rather simple in its designs. There are great looking action scenes, the character expressions are worthy of praise, and the soundtrack by Evan Call, who worked on Violet Evergarden, complimented it a lot. Virtually no issues from the production side of things. I dare say it might have been one of the best produced shows of the summer season. It has strong attempts at characterization, with directing and symbolism that I really enjoyed, as there was a level of nuance there to develop Miyo and Kiyoka’s relationship throughout the story. What unfortunately holds it back from being in the upper echelon of shows from this season for me is the shallow writing, especially outside the main duo. In that way, it might feel more like Cinderella, in that the characters are very “fairy-tale” like. They’re evil for the sake of being evil, with malicious intent that goes over the top at times. Sure, there are a lot of political aspects in play especially in this setting, with families all thirsting for power, doing whatever it takes to gain reputation, but some of the actions that the Saimori family took early in the season just felt a bit much, perhaps a bit melodramatic at times. The supernatural aspects were interesting for sure, and I’m sure will be developed in the future, with the upcoming OVA or perhaps in future instalments of this series if it ever happens, but I felt it somewhat took away from the more grounded relationship with Miyo and Kiyoka. The supernatural parts do give the series more flare and pizzazz, but I question whether all of it was necessary, as especially in the second half, where I felt the lore and the presence of Grotesqueries, besides being haphazardly implemented at points, also limited the time that could have otherwise been spent on developing the romance aspects a bit better, as well as Miyo’s character. The cast of characters was fine, but besides a couple characters outside the main duo, the rest were forgettable. A lot of scummy characters for sure, and I do see that popping up a lot in shoujo series. Miyo’s character was frustrating at times to watch, but she had some very good developments as well at the climax of the first half, and the aforementioned symbolism really helped with that. Kiyoka I had more interest in, especially in his abilities. I liked how he treated Miyo, and how his attitudes changed towards her throughout. You can basically say that Miyo and Kiyoka bring the best out of each other, as Kiyoka helped Miyo break out of her self-deprecating nature and stand up for herself, while Miyo helped Kiyoka open up more as a person. My attention was always there when the relationship was being developed, but like I said, outside of that, it was an up and down ride. The first half was very strong and at that point had the potential to be the best anime airing this season, but the second half was markedly weaker in that I felt the romance could have been prioritized a bit more, and the supernatural aspects executed in a more meaningful way. Overall, it was still a high quality anime, but just missed the mark a little bit for me to say it was truly incredible.

What seemed to be a promising emotional story about a girl who finds self acceptance from a childhood of neglect and trauma from a relationship with a cold yet gentle man. Into a story of saving the helpless princess. It just falls flat. The soft magic system makes the battles almost feel like plot devices to move the story on as the viewer never really knows the limit's of each character's ability. There is a lack of suspense and the victors seem predictable. With the exception of Arata using his illusion at the end of his fight. The idea or message behind her finding self acceptance while not being special. Is completely undermined immediately by the story revealing that the whole entire time she was actually super special and is deeply desired by her secret family. What does this show want to be, a josei/shojo love romance story or a battle shounen story? Not so say that you cannot interweave them together , but there wasn't enough time to properly develop either. animation and music was great tho!

Why do we have Indian serial stories in our anime ? This storyline was so uninteresting. They try to be too dramatic about the simplest of things. Also the story never lets the main couple settle and have a few enjoyable moments between them. The MC and FMC are thrust into one problem after another. This is like amc drama level writing. So boring. It's sad to see such beautiful animation got wasted on such a bad story. Only old grandmas and grandpas who are used to watching old drama romance shows can appreciate this lame story in this modern day.

This anime feels like a typical Cinderella story but with strange powers that seem completely unnecessary. The inclusion of these powers caught me off guard and cheapened the overall experience, making the characters seem one-dimensional. Beyond the main character's trauma, she lacks any real personality, and there's nothing to make her stand out. While the animation and music are impressive, they can't fully redeem the weak plot. The story is unoriginal, and the characters have no depth, which made the experience frustrating. The music is the only thing that somewhat compensates for the lack of substance in the narrative and character development.

Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon seems like the type of anime that would be for me. It's got romance between adults, a historical setting with some fantasy elements, and good production values. The problem is that it lacks any real heart - not to the extent of completely ruining the anime, but it feels like a pale shadow of what it could have been. Saying an anime lacks heart is a bit of a cop out answer, since it doesn't give any indication of what the actual problems are, so let me flesh those out here. First and foremost, everything is just a little too perfect. You see all the classic romance tropes showing up, from childhood friends, cool and aloof handsome heroes, the wicked stepmother, and pernicious politics to boot. The trouble is these tropes make the world feel like fiction. Even though they try at times to subvert some of the tropes, occasionally well, but mostly in a pandering manner that doesn't subvert anything, this doesn't solve the problem. Tropes are at their best when they let you elide some of the details that are inessential to the story, but where the story intersects each and every trope instead, all that remains is a plot festooned in cobwebs that are all too clearly a cheap decoration. The tropes hurt the story most because the main characters themselves never manage to cast off their trappings. Yes, Miyo and Kudou manage to not be wholly defined by their tropes, but showing that you could have done better and chose not to is not a good look. You could have predicted their arcs from the beginning, and you wouldn't have missed anything important in the story. There's nothing done here that hasn't been done before and better. That's not to mention the side characters that either upstage the protagonists every time they're in the scene (Kudou's sister) or have no personality beyond advancing the plot however it's needed in the moment (Arata). I do have to say that at least Kinema Citrus didn't skimp with the art nor the animation. The action scenes are crisp, and their are scenes of genuinely impressive animation that would have done more to elevate the material if there had been real material to elevate in the first place. So pick this up if you want a run of the mill romance with good production values and some splashes of action. If this is your type of anime, you'll enjoy it - there are not major flaws here. You just won't find anything that you haven't seen before. I'm just disappointed that this was a weekday meal type of romance instead of the banquet I thought it would be.

This anime is so pretty, but beyond maybe about episode 6 or so, it's so frustrating how irritating this anime got. I really want to like it more than I do because it's a really cute show but AUGH THE AMOUNT OF MISCOMMUNICATION AND CRAP SHE'D GET HERSELF INTO BECAUSE SHE'S BE SO STUBBORN IN TRYING TO DO THINGS ONE SPECIFIC WAY WAS SO ANNOYING. I **WISH** I could have liked this anime more than I did but the irritation got to me, unfortunately. I know it's a period piece and isn't really meant to be judged by today's standards, but it got hard to look past the baked-in traditional gender roles and borderline misogyny because Miyo's main motive was completely centred around Kudo. Like, good for her, but c'mon girl you can do better than that. If you just want a show with some rather standard romance drama, supernatural fights and pretty characters, this might be a good anime for you, but it's definitely one you'll want to watch without giving it too much thought if you're anything like me. Overall 6/10. Had to knock some points off because it got to a grating amount of miscommunication. Characters were serviceable, if a little one-note at times. UUghghghgh I just wish I could like this more than I actually do.

I honestly think Kudou and Miyo are so friggin adorable together but I just felt having the supernatural genre and the heavy political family matters shouldn’t be even there in the first place. It would have been better if it was just only a peaceful slice of life historical romance drama then it being way over the top and silly. What even made me put off with what I said is the fact that the fighting scenes were just meh and no hype around them. I mean it’s always Kudou trying to face off the “bad guys” and not involving Miyo. The rest of the characters were literally a nuisance like Kujou was a hopeless dummy in not helping out Miyo escape from her abusive family. I wouldn’t knock Miyo as a weak character because she went through crap but at the same time, I wish they made her a more stronger character to defend her battles with Kudou. I want to admit that the art wasn’t that great like the faces were extremely super stiff in some scenes and then they suddenly get pretty all of a sudden when there’s a wholesome moment. I mean Netflix, wtf what kind of artists are you even hiring here?! They didn’t even bother make the side characters have likeable personalities (well that’s excluding Kudous sister and maid who seemed to be sweethearts) like they might as well be robots! I will add the voice actors were excellent with their roles, that’s probably why I stuck watching the whole 12 episodes. Music is sorta forgettable even if the opening is nice I have to say. Anyways it’s not the best romance anime out there I would recommend but it does have fluffy moments with our leads. It’s just storywise and art wise, it’s all over the shop with a lack of effort I’m afraid from my POV. With season 2 announced, I’m pretty certain that I won’t bother continuing watching this series as it was somewhat disappointing….

Hey, I dont hate cliche romance. If it's done right, it's entertaining and could be wholesome but this ain't it. I have high expectation since the studio first announced it and all the manga reader i know seems to enjoy this one so much. They literally hype it as the best romance of the season, lol. Animation and design wise it is appealing. It has so much potential to be wholesome but the pacing is kinda awful. The first 3 eps seems great, but it quickly become boring after that. And then eps 10 and 11 happened and I lose my shit lol. Nothing in eps 10-11 matter in the last eps. Everything quickly get resolve with no explaination. We only get a glimpse of their "happy marriage" at the end, through narration like a quick summary and kinda like 1 page of epilogue type of things.

My Happy Marriage portrays as a tender romantic drama shaped by emotional neglect, personal healing, and the gradual rediscovery of dignity within a world influenced by supernatural lineage. Set in an alternate version of early modern Japan where certain families possess spiritual abilities, the story intertwines domestic hardship with sort of fantasy elements that framing love not as sudden passion but as the slow restoration of self worth. The narrative follows Miyo Saimori, a young woman born into a once prestigious family known for supernatural gifts. Despite this lineage, Miyo grows up without displaying any visible spiritual power. The absence of this ability transforms her status within the household from valued heir to unwanted burden. After the death of her mother, Miyo’s life gradually becomes defined by emotional neglect under the authority of a cold stepmother and a younger half sister who inherits the family’s supernatural talent. Daily life inside the Saimori household reflects this imbalance. At times the half sister receives admiration and careful upbringing, Miyo is reduced to the role of servant within her own home. Household chores replace education, worn clothing replaces proper attire, and verbal cruelty becomes a routine presence. Years of mistreatment slowly erode Miyo’s sense of identity, leaving behind someone who struggles to believe personal happiness could exist. But then, the story begins to shift when Miyo is arranged to marry Kiyoka Kudou, the head of a powerful military family known for formidable spiritual abilities. Rumors surrounding Kudou portray him as cold, distant, and impossible to satisfy. Previous marriage candidates reportedly left his household quickly, reinforcing the belief that life beside him would be equally harsh. Expectations built around this reputation initially shape Miyo’s arrival at the Kudou residence. Miyo expects another environment defined by rejection. The early interactions between Miyo and Kudou therefore unfold cautiously marked by hesitation and uncertainty. Contrary to the rumors, Kudou’s personality gradually reveals a different character beneath the stern exterior. Discipline and emotional restraint define his demeanor, but subtle gestures of respect slowly emerge. Unlike the treatment Miyo received in the past, Kudou acknowledges her presence without contempt. Meals shared at the same table, polite conversation, and simple acts of consideration begin to challenge the belief that Miyo deserves nothing beyond hardship. As daily life continues, the relationship develops through quiet emotional shifts rather than dramatic declarations. Kudou’s protective nature becomes more visible once learning about the abuse Miyo endured in the Saimori household. Meanwhile, Miyo struggles to accept kindness without assuming it will eventually disappear. The central emotional conflict revolves around learning to trust compassion after years of believing personal worth does not exist. The supernatural setting gradually expands beyond the domestic narrative. Within this world, families with spiritual abilities protect society from malevolent entities known as Grotesqueries. Kudou’s role as a military commander places him at the center of these conflicts, introducing action sequences and political tensions tied to the balance of power between supernatural clans. Miyo’s personal history also connects to this larger mythology. Hints surrounding her lineage suggest that the absence of visible ability may conceal something more unusual rather than simple weakness. These revelations link the emotional story of self worth with the broader supernatural structure governing the world. Despite its emotional strengths, the narrative presents several limitations. One noticeable issue lies in the pacing of character recovery. Years of psychological trauma shape Miyo’s personality at the beginning of the story, yet certain breakthroughs toward confidence occur relatively quickly once removed from the abusive household. Although personal healing naturally begins in supportive environments, the speed of some emotional transitions can feel compressed compared to the depth of earlier suffering. Another limitation appears in the portrayal of antagonistic characters. Figures within the Saimori household, particularly the stepmother and half sister, often embody cruelty with little nuance or deeper motivation. Their hostility functions primarily as narrative contrast highlighting Miyo’s suffering rather than presenting complex interpersonal conflict. The supernatural elements also introduce occasional imbalance within the story’s structure. Early episodes focus heavily on emotional healing and domestic intimacy, while later developments shift toward political intrigue and spiritual combat. Although both components belong to the same world, the transition between romance driven storytelling and supernatural conflict sometimes feels abrupt. From a production perspective, animation by Kinema Citrus emphasizes atmosphere and emotional subtlety. Character animation frequently focuses on small gestures, shifting expressions, and quiet pauses that communicate vulnerability without excessive dialogue. Background art captures a refined aesthetic inspired by historical Japanese architecture and seasonal landscapes. Traditional houses, lantern lit evenings, and carefully detailed interiors reinforce the sense that the story unfolds in a world balancing elegance with hidden tension. Music plays a significant role in shaping the emotional tone. Gentle orchestral arrangements accompany many scenes involving Miyo’s gradual healing, while more dramatic compositions appear during supernatural confrontations. The contrast between these musical moods reflects the dual structure of the narrative, where romance and fantasy coexist. Overall, My Happy Marriage presents a story about emotional restoration disguised as a historical romance. Through Miyo’s journey from neglect toward acceptance, the narrative explores how kindness and patience can rebuild a sense of identity that trauma once erased. Although simplified antagonists and uneven pacing occasionally limit the depth of certain developments, the series remains effective in portraying a quiet transformation where love functions less as dramatic passion and more as the steady process of learning to believe in personal worth again. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

"My Happy Marriage" is one of the greatest gifts this summer season has given us. It's not all about romance or the emotional challenges the characters may face, but it also incorporates supernatural elements, mystery, and even action. While romances typically follow lighter themes, this one delivers an exceptional performance in addressing delicate subjects."My Happy Marriage" portrays and embraces the imperfections of its characters, especially those of Miyo. What I like most about this story is that, even though from the moment she reunites with Kiyoka, it could have completely ignored Miyo's past and portrayed her as a changed person since she already had her future husband's approval, it doesn't hesitate to remind the audience of the impact abuse can have on the victim and that it takes a considerable amount of time to heal. Physical wounds heal at some point, but emotional ones can leave much more painful scars capable of lasting over time. Its animation, led by Kinema Citrus (Barakamon, Made in Abyss...), is a true marvel, and its soundtrack, composed by Evan Call (Violet Evergarden, Josee, The Tiger and the Fish...), is equally outstanding. I highly encourage you to give it a chance!

The revitalisation of Shoujo in recent years has been a welcome surprise. Starting with Fruits Basket(2019), we’ve had solid female targeted stories for the past few years now. I think Watakon is easily the second best of the bunch, only behind Fruit’s Basket and is a beautiful and harrowing tale of overcoming abuse, trauma and finding true love. “What is a family anyway” At its core, Watakon is a juxtaposition of familial bonds. On one hand, Miyo’s toxic and abusive upbringing and on the other, the patient, accepting and healthy relationship she develops with Kiyoka. The story follows Miyo as she breaks free of the metaphorical chains that bind her and learns to live life on her own terms. This isn’t easy and it takes time. We gradually see Miyo take strides episode after episode. Despite everyone seeing her as a defective product she eventually comes to realise that her worth isn’t tied to a magical ability or her family’s perception of her. What I love most about the series is its realistic portrayal of PTSD. After years of abuse from her father, step mother and sister, Miyo is understandably extremely timid and introverted. Even speaking her mind and making eye contact are big tasks for her. Dealing with someone who’s suffering from PTSD and anxiety is a very delicate issue and requires a tremendous amount of reassuring, patience and compassion. Fortunately, Kiyoka has an abundance of all of these qualities. Seeing their relationship develop and Miyo begin to open up and accept that she herself has value, regardless of how her family treated her, was a heartwarming experience. Speaking of her family, I have to give it to the author. Bravo, the Saimori family are easily one of the most dislikable families in fictional history. Kaya is the worst sister I’ve seen in the history of this medium and I could write a dissertation alone on the punishment she deserves. Alas, there are so many scenes in the first half of the show that made me legitimately angry at Miyo’s mistreatment. Seeing such a kind and innocent soul go through the things she does, purely out of vindictiveness and jealousy.. it’s rough. But it is a testament to the emotional connection the author is able to establish between the audience and Miyo. Every hit, every cruel word she endures, it resonates with you. I’ve always subscribed to the notion that if fiction makes you feel this way, it’s done its job. I’m very pleased with how their story arc ended in this show and believe justice was done. I am a sucker for a well written realistic feeling romance and there aren’t many series that do it better than Watakon. It doesn’t feel rushed, contrived or cliche. In real life, relationships require a lot of work. It’s constantly compromising and trying to see where your partner is coming from. Very few anime ever really get that right. It’s easy to show off the honeymoon and emotional high of being all cutesy with your partner. But it’s a daily grind to build and sustain a “happy marriage” and the author does a great job of conveying it. Obviously, it’s a fantastical story, but I believe the magical elements are analogous to the real life struggles that couples face. Especially those that involves survivors of abuse. While there’s an incredible romance, Watakon is more than that. There’s actually a really cool magical ability system in the story that acts as the driving force for the primary conflict. In the anime so far it’s not been explained at tremendous depth, but there is quite a bit of potential to the system and I’m looking forward to expanding upon what I know already by reading the books. There’s a main antagonist who looks like he’ll pose a tremendous challenge in terms of overcoming and some other really cool directions the story can go in if a season 2 is confirmed. While I love romance, I also like getting more than just a couple holding hands and being cute all the time. I like a central conflict that’s happening around the main cast while their love acts as a focal point of the story. Watakon has that making it an ideal experience for me. You’ve probably seen clips talking about how good the animation is and for good reason, it is absolutely stunning in this show. It’s not Kyoani, but it’s very close to that quality. I was absolutely blown away when I first watched this show. Every single scene is screensaver worthy. The colours are all so bright and for lack of a better word, beautiful. There’s not a ton of action in the story, but when there is, the sakuga really delivers. I could honestly go on and on about Watakon and in fact, I’m sure I will write and create videos on the story in more detail at some point, but the short of it is, this is one of the best written romances I’ve ever seen. One of the best anime of 2023 and a must watch. It combines gorgeous visuals with a compelling and authentic romantic relationship that you can’t help but root for. Watakon gets the easiest 10 out of 10 of the year.

I don't know what's the best way to describe this anime other than a Cinderella-esque story, just told in a Japanese timeline where magic is power and such. Other than a magical fairy godmother coming to give you the wish of what you truly desire, this tale is about a man saving a woman from a life of abuse and neglect. Without further ado, here I want to provide you with the pros and cons of doing something the audience is familiar with. (Warning: There will be mentions of Cinderella in here.) First, let's talk about the merits of starting on a familiar story everyone is adjusted to. Of course, it may come off as a little too similar and boring to tell otherwise, but it does help people understand the characters quicker and more used to at first glance. Starting as a classic tragedy story about a girl being mistreated is an easy way to gain sympathy and emotion, you just want to see her win now. Not only that, you also have a clear contrast of what characters are adversaries or allies to the main protagonists of this story. So if you're looking for a light-hearted, sometimes dramatic, sometimes cute, and nothing much to make you go big brain, this can be worth of your time. A lot of shows I've enjoyed are particularly simple and fun to watch, so there's nothing wrong with being entertained watching characters doing their mundane things in life. Along with some pretty fantastic animation made by Kinema Citrus and good voice acting by the cast, it would be a breeze to go through. Now the bad part of starting with a familiar story is that any story that is inspired from other sources will always be an inferior way to experience the original source. They never managed to keep up with the level of writing the original did and thought they could get away with it just by plastering a different setting and timeline in it along with a different name. And when I say inferior, I mean by having mediocre storytelling, the only thing this story had to offer was the old tragedy tale and it doesn't capture that kind of charm you would expect from a classic Disney movie (We don't talk about the remakes). Albeit, the chemistry between the main lovers and some of the side characters is decent at best, the story starts to falter apart when the tragedy ends and delves into a less-focused subject with entry-level writing. What fuels a character is dialogue. They're what drive the story forward and give us an insight into what the character is like. Now look at the characters and tell me what they think normally. Anything they could strike up for conversation other than Miyo is tragically boring to listen to. This is why I tend to like stories made as simple and less thematic as they can since trying to grasp multiple themes requires you to scrutinize and capture that lightning in a bottle to show the audience the exact feeling of it. A mediocre writer just uses it as a way to progress the story without much thought behind it. It's a result of just taking a story everyone is accustomed to and making it your own without trying to grasp the special inspirations that might have made this tale a lot more special. I know it's still just a Cinderella tale, but looking at its setting and the themes it seemed to tackle, I was hoping there was something more it could offer. Turning these fantasy powers into a race of power and influence was a bold move to be made and it could have fared as a great way to provide high stakes and tension which would be perfect for drama, only for its wonder to be diminished by the mediocre storytelling, a bit sluggish pacing, and poor handling of the characters that could have meant much more than a simple one-note exposition on scene. If you didn't bother to read any of that, let me give you these simple notes: Watch My Happy Marriage if you want: - Decent romance chemistry - Good animation - Cute moments Don't watch it if you expect: - A well-written drama - No gimmicks - Real tension

Neither as atrocious as some might claim, nor the amazing twist to a Cinderella others would say, I find this series to be... middling. A perfectly serviceable anime that you can pass some time watching if you don't mind slower paced, more wholesome watches revolving around healing from times spent in an abusive household and making a marriage work out. |[ Visuals - 7/10 ]| While not egregious, I did find there to be some very minor inconsistencies in the characters faces - though, that could've just been me. On the whole the quality is pretty solid, some of the scenes are very pretty, but... I question the highlights in the characters' hair (was that even what it was?). The colour choices were so... dubious there. I mean, Kudou seemed to have purple (?) highlights despite having blond hair and it just doesn't look right. It looks like a mistake, but it's a mistake that is consistent and it feels so... off. He's not the only one either, and as the anime goes on, you - or at least, I - noticed it more and more. But that's down to personal taste, I suppose. When it comes to how much it stands out... I really couldn't say. I think the character design stood out a little more than the art style itself, which strikes as fairly standard. Clean, pretty - except for the weird highlights - and I guess mostly fitting. |[ Sound - 6/10 ]| I honestly remember nothing of the sound, and the OP and ED were not, if I recall correctly, the best from this season. They felt quite... standard. It's hard to explain why, since I'm not an expert in sound design and music, but that's just my experience. Don't get me wrong, the intros and outros felt fitting, but they were neither emotional nor otherwise memorable to me. Maybe, given the series themes I expected something more cathartic sounding, but I wouldn't even know how that would sound in such a way that fits with the anime. None of it was terrible though, to my memory and the voices seemed fitting for the characters. At least in the dub. |[ Characters - 6/10 ]| Honestly? I just thought they had nothing going for them. The bad guys sucked at being bad, the good guys could barely manage being good, but it didn't feel that this was because these characters were nuanced. Mostly, I think there was just something lacking. A few too few commendable traits, an insufficient variety of characters and nothing bold enough nor endearing enough to stick in my mind. Considering this was supposed to be - at least given the other people's reviews - something of a Cinderella retelling you would think that the studio would take advantage of this being a series and give Cinderella a more well rounded personality. Instead, good ole' Cindy seems even more meek than her Disney predecessors. And, look, I know strength exists in more than one form, but c'mon. I should add, that the character designs while interesting in that the female character is brown eyed and brown haired, , which is unusual for a female character in anime, is actually fairly common place for a Shoujo protagonist. So... nothing exciting. Her personality is "abused by family" and "endlessly grateful to Master Kudou, while his personality is "doesn't listen to his wife" and "cold but secretly caring. Thing is, I have no idea where Mr Tsundere/Kuudere really got his personality from - but maybe I just fell asleep in the middle of the relevant episode - or why he has multiple powers. The world and power system is barely touched upon, which in turn only serves to make the characters more forgettable, because nothing seems to make enough sense. At most, there is a hereditary component to powers and powers evolve. Sort of like quirks, but in a more wishy washy manner. Oh, and the character motivations feel weak, the families are just in general very weird and underexplored, and the dynamics between them... they feel kind of dull? I wouldn't say that the characters had nothing to them. Just not enough tot stand out. Certainly nothing that would suggest this reimagining of the Cinderella story needed to happen. But lately "old fairy tales but the FMC is more magical" seems to be a popular way of rebooting things. |[ Writing - 7/10 ]| I don't think in terms of set ups and pay offs (of events and twists) things are that bad when it comes to writing, but I feel that the character development and power developments feel a weak, and in terms of the latter unearned. Moreover, the pacing can feel very slow, and the world isn't really written with more in mind than "let's give the characters powers" because it'll look cool. Plus, the fight scenes are kinda' meh at best. That said, this isn't battle shounen, so I suppose this makes sense. |[ Enjoyment - 6/10 ]| Granted, this is a very subjective thing, but while it never dragged so much or felt so stale as to make me drop i, and I did remember some aspects of it. Certain parts even felt quite nice - like the sister's acceptance of the new bride, or the pretty flower trees. But it also felt lacking in places, and more than just a little bit. Moreover, it never felt as if, should I click out for just a second that I'd be missing anything. Exactly the sort of show you might watch when double tasking, not so much the show you watch to be at the edge of your seat and really feel the thrill or the emotions. And, to be fair, I think that's okay. In that sense, it makes for a perfectly "fine" series. |[ Overall - 6-6.5/10 ]| I was honestly debating whether to make this a six or a seven. Ultimately though, this show is mostly just fine. Neither so obnoxiously frustrating that I wanted to drop it, nor so exciting that it was at the top of my list of priorities.

Decent premise ruined by stupid plot device. Now I know that the "Cinderella" trope has been used countless times, but damned I'll be lying if it's not a good base for a story. My Happy Marriage should have been a decent one if not for stupid and unnecessary 'supernatural' part of it. I'm genuinely asking myself as I watch more episodes of this anime, what the hell am I watching? Cause I sure don't expect no damn super power action in a supposed shoujo romance anime. Is this supposed to be romance? A character study? Action? Super power? The show tried to check too many boxes and what turned out is a half-baked anime, it is clearly confused, and more importantly so are we! The supernatural part seems forced as hell, the anime wants us to think that these 'spirits' are supposed to be dangerous for the well being of the characters, but they don't even bother explaining anything about it. They threw some light exposition and then calling it a day, basically shoving it straight up our ass and force us to accept it, it just felt incredibly out of place. Lets talk about characters. Most of the characters just felt one dimensional and incredibly shallow. Some characters are just evil for the sake of being evil and everyone and their grandmother are after Miyo's ass, their motive as to why is as I've said earlier because of the not-explored enough supernatural power which she has. Even then the method in which they use to get to her is either roundabout, unnecessary, or just plain stupid. Again all of this could have been avoided if the director isn't confused on what the show is going to be. Miyo's progression as a character is hindered by this completely unnecessary plot device multiple times, and ultimately Kiyoka's relationship with her feels like it came out of pity and not her as a character. In a nutshell My Happy Marriage is way better off just as a pure slice of life, the supernatural aspect just makes the anime felt unclear on where the direction it's going to take. I'll still place my hope on Season 2 nonetheless. For now I'll give it a 5/10.

TLDR: If you don't like wishy-washy cliché romance, don't bother watching. Animation: Great (it's a netflix anime after all). Plot: Good. (Nothing exceptional, but has good pacing). Characters: Awful. (Character's personalities and development is very awkward.) Heroine: A Cinderella that is very submissive, her voice actress makes it sound like she's always on the verge of crying (honestly, the voice really got on my nerves), she's always almost whispering (she's noticeably quieter than every other sound or voice in the anime), and she is weak-willed, accepting all abuse from her family even though she's officially a daughter of that family. Male lead: He is a rude guy that mistreats the heroine when they meet, and upon seeing that she's prone to be abused and that she is totally submissive, he suddenly falls in love with her and becomes a totally different person that is now romantic and caring. This is awkward! This damages the plot, messes up the pacing of the anime. Other characters: They are plain bad. All the key-characters around her (specially both her families on mom and dad's side, and the guy that likes) have very flat personalities that are all focused on tear-jerking us through making the heroine suffer. Any more than this would be a spoiler, but be assured, the characters won't earn your sympathy, you will be triggered. Honestly this anime didn't have a strong promise from the beginning, so the enjoyment is really steady on each episode, not great but not bad.

Story: I took my interest in the first episode, it was dramatic, my feelings moved and my tears fell, but after continuing to watch there were some simple problems with writing and narrative. Music: The music was beautiful, the opening was quiet and wonderful and the last was ordinary, and the internal music was one of the most beautiful elements that moved my emotions. Drawing: The drawing in this work was beautiful, in many respects of characters or environment and places, knowing that I didn't like some but as a whole it didn't have that annoying effect. Animation: The studio did an excellent job and I thank him for his efforts and good work and I hope they offer the best in the coming works. Summary: If you are looking for dramatic and romantic work that moves you some deep feelings of sadness and joy, this work is directed to you dear viewer. I wish you met your requirements for some details of this work.

I watched this anime in one day. I thought it would be a normal romance The artstyle is really pretty After watching the first few episodes, it felt very much like Cinderella (? I mean mean step-mother and step-sister and a conveniently attractive strong fiancé...? AND THEY HAVE POWERS????? It's not really THAAAAT bad if you don't mind poorly written romances. Miyo needs more personality; all her actions are based on "Will I be a good fiancée?" and "What will my fiancé think of this?" And it ends up being annoying. It feels like they didn't put enough thought into how the story develops...?

Despite its attractive appearance, this anime doesn't offer anything particularly new within its genre. Characters are reduced to just a few defining traits. The main character, Miyo, fits the mold of a typical romance heroine: soft-spoken, morally upright, and solely focused on being with the male lead. The first half of the show was decent; I appreciated how it portrayed childhood trauma and its effects on Miyo. Her character and appearance gradually changed with shifts in the environment, which I found interesting. However, the romance felt rushed and lacked a solid foundation. The main characters hardly communicated, making the show feel empty. There were also issues with portraying Miyo as a flawless individual with unmatched strength (yes, they have powers, but these abilities aren't explained in any way beyond the fact that they just exist). As a result, she didn't feel human. Similar problems persisted with the main male lead, who initially seemed cold-hearted and unyielding but changed in later episodes with no reasoning behind it. Both characters felt like simplified versions of those seen in other romance anime. While this show might be okay for casual viewing, offering little beyond visually pleasing scenes, I can't recommend it to anyone seeking something creative and/or new.