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Forum - View topicEP. REVIEW: MARRIAGETOXIN
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Aerdra
Posts: 549 |
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After two episodes, I'm not sure on the romance angle yet, but the comedy and action have delivered beyond my expectations, so I'm definitely willing to wait to see how everything goes. I don't know how Kinosaki will become the "leading girl", since that would mean overturning the original premise about needing to produce an heir, but it's still early, and I'm curious whether the story will settle into some kind of structured formula or continue on a ridiculous unpredictable path. |
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TJ_Kat
Posts: 868 Location: Saskatoon, Canada |
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I agree that positioning Kinosaki as a legitimate romantic interest is strange. In an ordinary run of the mill romcom, fine, but when the whole reason Gero is looking for a partner is to produce an heir so his sister won't have to, winding up with a guy would put his sister right back in the position of having to break up with her girlfriend and having an arranged marriage.
Unless Kinosaki was lying. That's the only way I can see Kinosaki being 'leading girl' within the premise of the show. |
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Covnam
 Posts: 4364 |
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Interesting set up so far. I would have preferred that the skills/abilities of the masters stayed a little more grounded than the magic water user we got though.
Yes I was thinking something similar. The usual pattern would be that Kinosaki and Gero eventually end up together, but that would just put things back at the beginning for his sister, so that can't happen. Curious to see how this handles that. |
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SaneSavantElla
 Posts: 290 Location: Philippines |
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I feel that the show could be angling for Gero and Kinosaki to get together, or at least end up with an 'and-they-lived-happily?-ever-after' platonic partnership. But for that to happen the question of inheritance will definitely have to be resolved somehow.
Various possibilities: 1) A 'neutral end' in which the whole system of bloodline families is brought down somehow; we learned in episode 2 that the bloodline inheritance practice is likely a cruel and torturous process that risks the safety of the bloodline heir in order to gain power; 2) a 'good end' where the poison clan somehow accept Hikaru's decision (doubt); or 3) a 'bad end' where Hikaru has no choice but to eliminate his own clan (also doubt). Or some crack ending where there's a love-child somewhere that can take up the mantle. 
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IronWish
 Posts: 231 Location: Ukraine |
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From what I've heard there is a growing concern among the manga readers that the ending will pull "tee-hee I was a girl all along" card in the end. |
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kgw
 Posts: 1531 Location: Spain, EU |
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Well, there are more than one side:
- the Gero (Hikaru) x Kinosaki (Mei) side, "even if he's a man"/"but she's actually a woman" - the side "but if Kinosaki (Mei) is a woman, the whole manga makes no sense" - the side "I stan best girl [place_name_here]". All I can say is that Gero (Hikaru) and the girls he meets throughout the series have great chemistry, especially in the extra chapters with mini-dates. I hope they get animated somehow. They're not just a backdrop for Hikaru x Mei. If I say "Kinosaki (Mei)" it's because spoiler[we know there is one more Kinosaki and we have seen him alive and kicking in the manga. And yeah, the bishonen style runs in the family.] |
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Mothy
Posts: 11 |
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I think it's the complete opposite. The fact that Gero's family would get mad at Gero choosing someone who can't get pregnant makes a Kinosaki marriage way more likely. Because this is also a battle shonen and it only makes sense for the story to end with "Gero beats the shit out of his evil family in order to choose love over duty" |
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killjoy_the
 Posts: 2565 |
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I think Kinosaki is ultimately gonna be positioned as the romance interest precisely because it overturns the original premise. Gero kind of wants to have a normal marriage life, and giving up the family tradition seems in line with that |
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Hellsoldier
 Posts: 1143 Location: Porto,Portugal,Europe,Earth,Sol |
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For me it's clear that making their family listen to Reason (Snow Crash reference) is the ending outcome. He is going to want to live his own live, and he will want to make sure his sister lives hers.
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TJ_Kat
Posts: 868 Location: Saskatoon, Canada |
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Honestly, it never even occurred to me that he might go against his family. He doesn't seem to hate his family or his place in it, he just doesn't seem to care if it continues. He seems more apathetic towards it than anything else. I think part of my disconnect here - which may be due to the glut of romance shows this season - is that this hasn't registered as battle shonen with me. So far I've viewed it as a romantic dramady with some battle elements. Maybe that's why it's rubbed me the wrong was so far. Last edited by TJ_Kat on Sun Apr 19, 2026 12:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Clarste
Posts: 445 |
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Yeah, thematically speaking it doesn't make much sense for the series to end just giving his grandma everything she wants. It's like surrendering to the terrorist?
I think the fact that he doesn't care if it continues and hates the life of isolation he grew up with are both signs that he hates his family. It's just that right now he'd rather ignore them than fight them. |
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HikaruTheShark
Posts: 2 |
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I can't be the only one that hates this particular take right? First off, Kinosaki isn't even trans, they are a crossdresser which is very common within anime, and often voiced by female characters. Secondly...why would this ever matter? It's voice acting, not a live action adaptation. This is the same insane reasoning why the original voice actors for Avatar - The Last Airbender weren't brought back for the new movie, even though it makes no sense since again it's voice acting. The role for voice actors should go to the person most skilled, and who fits the vibes of the role itself. A voice actor like Brittney fits perfectly with her voice, and even voices 'non-gender' character like Rimuru from Tensura all ready. So, she is perfect for the role overall. I am all for inclusion and accepting others, as I am a firm ally for the LGBTQ+ community, but even my friends who are Trans think something like this is stupid. So, I've got know clue why it seems to spreading. Anyway, I just hope this isn't a popular opinion overall. |
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Aerdra
Posts: 549 |
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For an anime starring a master assassin, the story is surprisingly lighthearted; I don't think Gero has killed anyone since the opening scene in episode one. It seems unlikely that we'll ever examine the disturbing implications of the "human zoo".
Personally, as an awkward introvert, I felt more second-hand embarrassment than humor from this scene. But it felt human and very relatable.
I think one (meta) reason the story went this route is to give itself an excuse to introduce more heroines. The main characters themselves mention this: "It's not cheating. You just made friends." |
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chrisb
 Subscriber Posts: 764 Location: USA |
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Didn’t Kinosaki flash Gero after their shower? Not sure how the “she was a girl all along” would work if Gero got visual confirmation.
With this kind of thing I think it’s more about creating opportunities for actors who are often overlooked. Trans and gender nonconforming actors can play any role too but a cis actor will more than likely be cast for a cis character. If a character’s gender is a significant part of their story it helps to bring in an actor that has similar lived experiences. Kinosaki isn’t trans or nonbinary though. They identify as a boy from everything I’ve seen and their crossdressing is more of a means to an end than a major part of their identity. I think the current casting is just fine. |
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Covnam
Posts: 4364 |
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When they were standing outside the restaurant I was thinking "Is it "Same Stomach" (english) or "Sa-me (サメ) Stomach" (Japanese)... also what was サメ again..." Then they entered the restaurant and I laughed, "Ah, right. Shark"
I am also very curious about the human zoo and hope, but don't expect, that we get more info on it. At first I thought maybe they were unaware and just thought they were in regular apartments or something, but then as we saw more scenarios, the timing didn't seem to match... |
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