Forum - View topicEP. REVIEW: My Happy Marriage Season 2
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MFrontier
Posts: 15192 |
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Naoshi had the textbook serial killer backstory, so no surprise there. Miyo's mom really had great luck with guys, huh?
I'm really glad Miyo has found a female friend her age and Kaoruko is pretty great. Making a place for herself in the military without losing her identity as a woman, being kind, diligent, and competent. Plus she's voiced by Haruka Tomatsu! I need a friendship trio with Miyo, Kaoruko, and Hazuki stat. |
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Thesarum
 SubscriberPosts: 621 |
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The discussion about how Usui could sneak into headquarters without any issue since his ability confuses the senses that occured at the same time she was introduced seems like ominous foreshadowing, no? Like, presumably that would enable him to disguise himself as basically anyone, especially someone other people didn't know so well. Like a newcomer.... Though maybe that juxtaposition in the meeting is entirely too obvious and Kaoruko is exactly who she seems to be. Which would be nice, I think we could all get behind Miyo having more supportive friends around her. The discussion about the lunchboxes was nice. Actual communication between the male and female leads! In an anime! Kiyoka isn't the worlds most fluent communicator, but he really tries to be clear and not leave things unsaid with Miyo. Without that she's liable to latch on to whatever interpretation is worst for her |
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Gina Szanboti
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Maybe Godo knows a reason why Kaoruko can't possibly be there? Usui's messing with the ants was interesting. Sending one or two or three into the ant lion's den favors the ant lion, but then sending a swarm would probably be fatal for the predator. So what did he learn from that? Who in his present game are the ants and the lion? |
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MFrontier
Posts: 15192 |
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I'm so proud of Miyo. Not only does she stand up for Kaoruko in front of her sexist co-workers but she's achieved a very healthy and honest dialogue with Kiyoka and also made sure not to judge Kaoruko for her feelings towards her husband or let it get in the way of their budding friendship.
Also, the only reason Tanaka is still alive is because Kaoruko stopped him from hurting Mio. He should count himself lucky. Sucks for Kaoruko to be a Losing Heroine who got subordinate-zoned, but at least her friendship with Miyo is genuine and going strong! Wow, things sure escalated quickly at the end there. Just goes to show how powerful the Usuba's can be. |
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Azure Chrysanthemum
Posts: 164 |
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I came here to say that if that man had actually struck Mio he would have been obliterated from the mortal coil in short order, Kiyoka would NOT tolerate that nonsense. |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11731 |
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Her "You're supposed to keep your palm open when you salute," was priceless.
I would never have guessed in a million years that that was what Godo was so flustered about. While I'm not saying Kaoruko and Miyo don't have some things they might want to talk about, it's not like Kaoruko was Kiyoka's only ex. By all accounts last season, there were quite a few, enough to earn him a rep for driving them off. So if she's going to be insecure about his exes, she won't have time to worry about anything else. I am curious about what broke their engagement though, since the others apparently fled on their own, while Kaoruko wanted to stay. Likewise, Kiyoka's reaction to seeing Godo seemed so far out of proportion to the given reason, I kept expecting another shoe drop. Godo's being hurt now has nothing to do with his father's death or Kiyoka's "responsibility" for it. Does he react like that every time he sees the man? And he knew Godo was injured before he entered the room, seeing as that's why they came there, so it didn't exactly take him by surprise. I don't begrudge him being hit harder by the sight of him than he expected, but I'd rather see him clearly struggling to keep a professional face before Godo or some more reasonable reaction than have him stunned into silence and fleeing the room. It just felt like everyone was overreacting to really minor things, at a level comparable to their shocked reactions to really major things like the mikado being kidnapped and Usui showing up. Kinda makes me resent such cliffhangers, when they turn out to be relative nothingburgers. Takes the fun out of speculating when the clues outmatch the reveal. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 15192 |
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Glad that Kiyoka and Arata are smart enough to see an obvious diversion and figure out that MIyo was the real target.
The most dangerous attacks are ones that effect your mind and perception. Poor Kaoruko. This episode was not kind to her. I mean, she ends up becoming a traitor under mental coercion, realized she did all that for nothing (since her father was perfectly fine), gets her butt handed to her despite her ability inducing physical enhancements, and then gets shipped back to the old capital. I guess the good thing is she even still has her job to begin with. But I feel bad for her. So...is Usui really physically adept/strong or was he using his power to weaken Kaoruko without her knowing? The latter seems more on par with his skillset. There goes the theory that Usui and Sumi knocked boots before she married Saimori. He's just a creep projecting his feelings for Sumi onto Miyo. And Miyo stood up to him! Honestly it's sad that Miyo and Kaoruko literally just became friends and now Kaoruko is leaving, especially when Miyo knows Kaoruko has nothing to feel guilty about in her eyes. I guess we can't leave Miyo with too much of a support system around. Will Arata turn face? I mean, I can kind of understand why he feels like his life has utterly no purpose (the Usuba's did not help matters), but I just can't see him betraying Miyo like that. |
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Eilavel
Posts: 172 |
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Great episode. Lays the groundwork for Arata problems in the future while ending this confrontation in a way thats both exciting and narratively great.
I guess the one issue would be that I don't see any way Kaoruko doesn't get the hammer brought down in any kind of military for literal treachery (I know theres a lot of sympathetic reasons, but thats still what happened). But its in keeping with the show thematically and I guess you want to keep ability users on-side. |
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Thesarum
Subscriber Posts: 621 |
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I'm a little sad that Miyo's first real friendship ended so quickly, and with betrayal. After building up the whole "she's got every right to be here" conflict, we pick the single woman in the group to be the one that gets emotionally manipulated by Usui into making some poor judgements. Still, I guess we don't really know the rest of Miyo's guards that well, so it wouldn't have hit as hard if a random uniform was the target.
You'd assume his skillset would lend itself to making her slightly misjudge distances and timing to give Usui the edge that he lacked physically. It wasn't totally clear from what we saw that that's what was happening though. He looked pretty strong in his own right. I guess he's pretty muscular and toned under that cloak he wears? It's difficult to know with Usui around, the ability to manipulate memories and perception pretty much gives him the tools to rewrite people's personalities, but under normal circumstances I wouldn't buy an Arata betrayal. Sure he initially felt very lost when Miyo chose Kiyoka, but he's seemed reasonably content with his supporting role since the conclusion of that arc. He still gets to be, in some capacity, the the sword that protects her. He's just not the only person looking out of her, and surely he can see that as a good thing? |
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MFrontier
Posts: 15192 |
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It's nice to see Miyo and Kiyoka becoming more natural as a couple, from kissing to just going on outings as a couple. It's not good for Miyo's heart though! Girl is having some indecent thoughts!
Can't say the idea of there being a huge sacrifice for the greater good fills me with joy. I'm curious how the public will respond to the leak about grotesqueries and the gifted abilities present in the military/aristocracy. Hey, at least living at the palace is pretty swanky! Also, has Yurie had any dialogue this season, come to think of it? Seems like Sumi and Usui did care about each other...but Usui could never renounce violence, not even for Sumi. Also, Miyo had been peering into Usui's memories via his dreams and he's finally aware of it? Definitely some suspicious vibes from Arata. |
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Thesarum
Subscriber Posts: 621 |
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Another of those little character growth details this story does so well: Miyo told Kiyoka about her dream. And at this point he'd be a fool to ignore it, but he believes in her by default. They're so good together.
Is it ever! That place has style. I want the sakura folding screen. I don't think I have anywhere it wouldn't look horrifically out of place, but I want one anyway. I want to believe in Arata. Nobody's story here is without its own suffering, and he's worked as hard to earn his place in the world as anyone has. I want to believe he can see the value in the relationships with Miyo and the others that he does have, not only the ways that its not what he thought it would be. But the show's working real hard to sell the alternative.
Yes, that was my read. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 15192 |
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I underestimated all the political machinations Takaihito has to struggle with since he's nominally in charge of everything. Everyone has an angle, everyone wants something, and all the while Usu is pulling the strings behind the scenes.
(I have my suspicious about Takakura though). I'm so happy for Miyo that she could enjoy her first Girl's Night Out, especially with Kaoruko joining in via zoom and already drunk (with what she's been through, can you blame her?). KaorukoxGodo? Not sure I ever thought about it before. Could it work? Not that Kaoruko is interested in a relationship right now. I get the sense Hazuki still isn't over her ex-husband. But she's right, no amount of love can resolve a lack of communication. I feel like Miyo is going to have a big moment of expressing or recognizing her love for Kiyoka to fully awaken her powers. It's rough being an Usuba when people think they can buy your loyalty and treat you like a tool, then go around and call you a monster the next moment. Though seems like the real problem is Arata potentially being in the employ of Usui. They finally share a bed! And because they're too stubborn to let the other not sleep in the bed! Though nighttime smooching is still too much for Miyo. |
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The Scream Man
 Posts: 188 Location: Sydney, Australia |
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So I wasnt as big a fan of this one as Ms Silverman was. It felt a bit rushed. Like last week was pretty chill, and then by this week we have a takeover of the whole military (And I really feel like I missed something in all that?) the Emperor declaring Kudo a traitor, Arata not just turning but turning HARD into villainy and Miyo now in her cousin and Usu's hands. It all just felt like we went from 0 to 100 a bit quicker.
Honestly its mainly the military takeover thing. Like... Usu is in charge now? Everyone just fell in line and we're good to go? Wheres the rest of Kudos team? Wheres the Prince? why didn't the red head dude do ANYTHING other than just stand there looking surprised? I just felt like I saw 2 episodes worth of content strapped into one, and its the first episode thats really felt off to me. |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18607 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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All of this was exactly my reaction, too. Felt it was the weakest episode of the season. |
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Charles Barkley
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I just feel more and more like this series has completely lost its way and doesn't even remotely resemble the season 1 I really really loved. Usui may as well just be a literal god with all the shit he can just effortlessly do and it's all really just sad to watch.
I haven't completely decided to drop this series, but I'm really leaning towards it. I only enjoyed a tiny bit of episode 8 and this entire episode was an abysmal slog to get through. |
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