Shojo anime rarely gets the recognition they deserve, competing in the mainstream pool with no dearth of Shonen and isekai, it is rare to find a Shojo anime that exceeds expectations.
The trend is such that even if the occasional Shojo anime does pop up, it gets knocked down like whack-a-mole, becomes a seasonal one-time watch, and is later forgotten. Having one season that is praised is massive, let alone getting a second season.
My Happy Marriage defied the odds by securing another season, proving its widespread appeal and incredible visuals and storytelling. The series can be called a success, but it all went crashing down in the second season. What happened, and why did it suddenly fail?
From a must-watch to meh: what went wrong?
Netflix has a wide user base and the viewers are always hungry for newer content, not to mention the promotions that the streaming website does. My Happy Marriage was a massive hit on Netflix, becoming a highly acclaimed anime title.
With a balanced focus on comedy, drama, and slice-of-life, My Happy Marriage managed to captivate the attention of many and turn them into loyal fans. The peaceful setting, combined with the intriguing story, made for an entertaining watch.
Capitalizing on this success, the story went for a second season. As they say, it is best to strike the iron while it’s hot, and Netflix wanted to utilize the popularity and hype as well. That’s when things started going wrong, and there were a lot of reasons.
The first season had all the makings of a genre-defining hit: a compelling protagonist in Miyo (sensible, relatable, and lovable, the holy trifecta), a strong and caring male lead in Kiyoka.
When put together, the romance between them felt both earned and deeply emotional. Their bonds got stronger as they came to understand and grew closer over time. However, Season 2 failed to maintain the magic, the same emotions and heartwarming essence were not carried over from the first as the season slowly turned what could have been a modern shojo masterpiece into a forgettable and somewhat boring watch.
Minor issues that snowballed into a disaster
The first season had excellent storytelling. It balanced the narrative with the romance and personal growth of the main characters. Not to mention the world-building, which made the fans feel attracted by the medieval world.
The protagonist, Miyo’s journey from an abused outcast in her family to a beloved fiancée, was handled with care and given the attention she needs was a tremendous transformation. Seeing Kiyoka’s cold exterior gradually melt, and seeing him behave like a child was what cemented the romance in season 1.
However, Season 2 changed the formula in all the wrong ways. Instead of focusing on the central romance, the pace slowed down, and a lot of unnecessary elements and subplots started popping up. Attention should be given to slice of life, but focusing on seemingly disconnected and boring subplots means that the viewer’s interest wanes.
The chemistry between Miyo and Kiyoka was pushed back as the political intrigue and undercurrents took the driver’s seat. Even the moments of earth and humor were replaced by a strained atmosphere, making the show feel forced. That is why the second season fell apart, becoming a disaster (compared to the first one).
My Happy Marriage is available on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
