My Happy Marriage Season 2

Episodes 25-26

Even though he's evil, I can't help but feel a little bit sorry for Usui. In some ways, he was pushed into his madness, although I'm not sure anyone realized it at the time. He was mentally ill in a world that didn't know how to handle it, and even though Sumi loved him, she didn't understand what leaving him would do as far as destabilizing went. He unquestionably made bad choices and did terrible things, but in a different time and place, I think he wouldn't have had to.

In some ways, that's the real tragedy of his storyline. Naoshi Usui, in the end, is more a catalyst than a character, a villain put in place to force Miyo's growth. That makes the parallels between him and Arata even more interesting, because Arata ultimately makes the right choice, recognizing Miyo's autonomy. But there again, Usui's role is to push someone else's development. It makes his reunion with Sumi after death feel a little hollow, as he's rewarded for his role without anyone grappling with what he did or who he was.

It does inform Prince Takaihito's kindness to Miyo and Kiyoka, though. The way the government controlled the Usuba family played a part in Arata's and Usui's actions, so when the prince allows Miyo to make her own choice about her role, he is acknowledging that. Takaihito's learned from the mistakes of the past.

And as for Miyo and Kiyoka? We may not get to see their wedding (presumably that's being saved for the recently announced season three), but we know they'll be all right. Miyo has overcome so much, and if she's still timid, she is at least secure in the Kudo Family's love for her. Being gifted the family wedding kimono shows her that she belongs, and that's especially symbolic given how the Usubas have historically been treated. Gaining control of her powers is secondary to that, because Kiyoka loves her for her, not because she's the Maiden of Dream-Sight, and when his mother and sister bicker over who gets to plan the wedding, it's because they care, as difficult as that is for his awful mom to show. All of this allows Miyo to feel safe and secure, and if she still mostly calls Kiyoka “sir,” she proved that she can call him by name, and it's so much more meaningful when she does.

And thus ends the second season of this adaptation. It did skip through an entire book with impressive rapidity, but given that the content was mostly Mrs. Kudo picking on Miyo, I have to say that I agree with that choice. There were still some bits glossed over that could have been given more attention, but overall, I think that, although not as strong as season one, this has been a good series. It was worth the wait for these final two episodes to be officially released, and we can rest easy knowing that Miyo and Kiyoka will be okay until we see them again.

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My Happy Marriage Season 2 is currently streaming on Netflix on Mondays.

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