Kaoruko holds a DEEP SECRET that gets revealed in this episode and Naoshi makes his move to STEAL Miyo!

Video Review

What Stands Out the Most?

The previous episode built one of the most wholesome beginnings to a friendship between Miyo and her current bodyguard, Kaoruko Jinnouchi, who was assigned by Kiyoka.. However, when things to start to feel too good to be true, no matter what the case is, there’s something that Kaoruko is holding as a secret. Plot wise, Naoshi introduced himself in the most frightening way possible.. BY MIND-BANGING everyone!

Dynamic Roller Coaster of Emotions!

My Happy Marriage Season 2 is great for three reasons.. Emotions? Isn’t that one? Well.. Three different kinds of emotions or feelings? I’m not science-cy enough to tell you the difference. In season 1, My Happy Marriage felt mostly operating on one beat or one vibration. What I mean by that is the entire season 1 really felt mostly one way and that is to see Miyo get over her entire family trauma and truly find herself. In which, that ultimately culminated with her unlocking her powers and finally moving on from all the “Saimori Cinderella” type of drama that derailed most of her youth. While there were some cool arcs and fight scenes like when Miyo got kidnapped by her own family, the tense fight between Kiyoka and Aratam and of course, the end of the season with Miyo using her Dream-Sight for the first time. Imagine all of the most exciting moments from the action, the gut wrenching feeling of Miyo being trapped and abused, and the wholesome romantic development all sprinkled out within each episode. That is season 2 so far in a nutshell.

What were the three main emotions I mentioned before? It’s that anticipation of the mystery of the plot, the wholesome slice-of-life that warms your heart that came as a result of something angering or sad. Okay, I lied. There are way more than three emotions at play. That is just how much I’m enjoying this anime right now and it’s seriously hitting supremely underrated territory right now.

Romance Building, Insecurity

Almost each and every episode shows a different dynamic not yet touched upon between Miyo and Kiyoka’s relationship. This episode explored Kiyoka’s insecurities of his past with feelings of guilt over not taking over the mantle earlier for Yoshito’s father, when he was clearly capable of. This eventually led to old man Godou’s death. Kiyoka continues to be able to display fresh new parts of his character that is quite compelling, especially how it connects to him as Commander now and to Miyo’s insecurities.

It was this episode that Kazushi spilled the beans from Yoshito that Kaoruko was indeed one of Kiyoka’s ex-fiance’s. When it comes to past relationships, it’s always going to be a touchy subject. We were able to see the two share another great moment that continues to build them closer and closer. This is one of those romantic wholesome feelings we get throughout all of My Happy Marriage. What we don’t get as much though is this lovable friendship reconciliation between Miyo and Kaoruko.

Did You Cry Scene?!

In season 1, Miyo built a bond with Kiyoka’s older sister in Hazuki. However, being friends with an in-law is quite different than being friends from an outside of the family, organic standpoint. Although, Kaoruko does come with a side helpings of Kiyoka’s ex-fiance. That isn’t such a big deal at all..

One of the biggest reveals of My Happy Marriage Season 2 is Kaoruko being Kiyoka’s ex-fiance. What is worse? She still loves him. Fortunately for Miyo and unfortunately for Kaoruko, Kiyoka never reciprocated any affection towards Kaoruko and he was able to set the record straight that Miyo is the one and only. That’s a nice, yet conflicting feeling we got going on here because Kaoruko seems like a wonderful character that we already can get behind because of the “misogyny,” she faces. I have never ever said the word “misogyny” so much in my life before, but it’s the perfect word that encapsulates her struggle as the only known female military member that we know of where Kiyoka is stationed at.

Kaoruko feels guilty for withholding such important information and starting off a friendship with her that might not have been the purest. Miyo’s heartfelt acceptance of her and convincing Kaoruko to accept her as well, was one of the best feel good moments I can think of in all of My Happy Marriage. The meaning behind this friendship means that much more because she’s literally the first legitimate friend after a childhood of misery and we can feel the pain in Kaoruko’s character. She has a lot on her plate herself, so these two characters really do need each other. It’s a beautiful scene that sets us up to switch up how we feel very quickly..

Plot Be Plotting REAL GOOD

Mystery. That’s the name of the game here—Naoshi’s past, his goals, and his powers are all up for interpretation. Mix that with Miyo’s powers that is an entire mystery in itself and you get a whole lot of “I’m too sure what is going to happen.” Sure, what we can expect out of Miyo’s character becomes obvious. She needs to understand and have more control over her Dream-Sight ability and she needs to be the one to protect the others, rather than everyone is doing to her. (That’s an entire section in itself with the theme of this arc being “women being a burden” and Miyo trying not to be, but I’ll stop here.) What is most impressive is how the story reveals just enough backstory and just enough world building to add to the compelling nature of how this may affect Miyo and Naoshi.

It’s clear that Naoshi, as a villain, is on a whole different level compared to what Kiyoka and Arata can handle right now. A good villain with an intent to “do good,” but is actually dystopian is my favorite kind of villain. This is the perfect setup for whatever craziness is about to unfold, and it’s up to our MC, Miyo Saimori, to help herself before she can help everyone else.