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Shōnen Maid
Episodes 1-2

by Amy McNulty,

How would you rate episode 1 of
Shōnen Maid ?
Community score: 3.7

How would you rate episode 2 of
Shōnen Maid ?
Community score: 4.0

On paper, Shōnen Maid sounds like a contrived Disney Channel sitcom. A recently-orphaned boy takes up residence in his eccentric uncle's stately manor, where he earns his keep by working as a maid. Hijinks—as well as the occasional “d'awww” moment—ensue. Fortunately, the show's colorful direction and effective gags have thus far made up for its uninspired setting and recycled main cast. Shōnen Maid isn't going to win any points for originality, but the show has enough charm to make up for its less inspired elements.

The series premiere introduces us to elementary school-aged Chihiro Komiya, who's been left to fend for himself following his impoverished mother's death. Despite his mother's claim that Chihiro was her only family, the domesticated tot is soon introduced to flighty Madoka Takatori, a young man claiming to be his uncle, and discovers that Mommy Dearest came from money. With nowhere else to go, Chihiro moves into Madoka's sprawling mansion—but the honeymoon is short-lived. Upon learning that his late mother was cut off from the main family after leaving home to give birth to him, Chihiro refuses to accept his uncle's charity and storms off in a huff. However, while wandering the estate, Chihiro happens upon a kitchen that's teeming with filth, prompting him to put his anger on hold and go into full-on housemaid mode. Impressed by his nephew's knack for cleaning, Madoka proposes that Chihiro become his new maid. This arrangement ensures that Chihiro will have a (very large) roof over his head without having to accept handouts from a man he barely knows. In keeping with the show's title, Madoka—who works as a costume designer for theatrical productions—tailors a semi-masculine frilly maid outfit for Chihiro to wear during work hours.

By real-life standards, Madoka's desire to see his prepubescent nephew in maid attire would be pretty squicky, but by anime standards, it isn't terribly pervy. Madoka appears to view Chihiro as an adorable pet rather than an object of lust, and while his behavior would probably warrant a call to Child Protective Services in the real world, I don't get the impression that Madoka's affections will extend beyond unwanted doting and the occasional hug. Although I'm tempted to chastise him for allowing Chihiro to fervently cook and clean for him, this arrangement was likely the only way to convince his young ward to stick around. There's no hint of an illicit relationship between uncle and nephew here, so if you're on the hunt for shotacon or yaoi, you're barking up the wrong tree. Chihiro didn't want to accept Madoka's kindness with no strings attached. (In a way, he's right to be suspicious of a family member who never reached out to them while his mom was alive and struggling.) Chihiro finds joy in cleaning, and Madoka's slovenly habits ensure that his nephew has plenty of distractions.

The dual-segmented second episode rolls out Miyako Otori, Madoka's fiancée whose true affections lie with Keiichiro Shinozaki, her betrothed's straight-laced assistant. Hoping that her father will call off the marriage if she can prove herself independent, the energetic Miyako begins working as a maid at the Takatori estate under the guidance of the more domestically-gifted Chihiro. In true sitcom fashion, Miyako proves to be terrible at just about everything—save for baking, which she learned from Madoka. Like the rest of the main cast, Miyako is a character we've all seen before, but her incessant bumbling isn't as annoying as it could have been. Save for a quick montage of her various failures, Miyako's screw-ups around the mansion receive a mercifully small amount of focus. While I doubt she'll ever rise above the “incompetent maid” archetype, she's definitely one of the most tolerable versions of this character in recent memory.

In keeping with the lighthearted tone and moe art style, Shōnen Maid doesn't dwell much on Chihiro's grieving process. From what we've seen, his memories of his mom are pleasant and comedic—more bittersweet than sad. The first episode implies that Chihiro's obsession with cleaning may be a coping mechanism, but this idea isn't explored in greater detail—nor would I expect it to be in a show like this.

Despite the tragic setup, Shōnen Maid is primarily a comedy with hints of family drama scattered throughout. We've seen these character types before: the put-upon young boy with a mature head on his shoulders, the airheaded but selectively talented rich man, the uptight assistant who serves as a straight man for his flighty boss, and the clumsy but fiercely determined do-gooder. However, the relatively polished production values, energetic pacing, and general cuteness help make the first two episodes a pleasure to sit through. It's clear from the offset that Shōnen Maid has no intention of reinventing the wheel, but if you're in the market for an amusing sitcom with a likable cast and crisp visuals, it should make a welcome addition to your spring anime list.

Rating: B+

Shōnen Maid is currently streaming on Funimation.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for over two decades.


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