Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi

The best mid harem romance ever???
Many people might get put off by this anime stereotypical-ness and things that have been done to death by thousands of harem romance anime before this already in the first episode, but let me tell you dear reader, they are self aware of the fact, and it get better later on, this is much better than you think.

Recommend for: Chillness+Comfy > Fan service > Harem > Gimmick+settings+story > production quality
Not Recommend for: Serious romance
Mid: Character

FULL REVIEW:
First of all let me start off with the DECIDING FACTOR of weather you might like or dislike this show. Many people seem to have ... the tendency to rate comfy, normal, fun shows low, and I get that. However, there's audience for it, and sometime, you just need the comfy show after work to cheer you up, and forget about the hard world a bit. This show is exactly that.

Compare to other harem romance show, this is one of if not the most chill and comfy one ever. While there's a bit of drama, just a bit, at most it's only lasted half an episode, and return the heart warming comfyness later on (at least as of first 3 episodes, you can observe my score under this review compare to the one I written at the bottom later if that changes(get lowered)). With the chilling theme, some fan service then and there, the undertone comedy and chill dialogue, and the very light looking and pretty good production quality, this show can be for you.

Though this might contradict my before point a bit, there's a underlying back story of the male mc and some drama in that department, but I wouldn't take anything more from it as it looks to not that dramatic, and actually will be wholesome, and likely will only be revealed at the end, or not even this season.

The gimmick and settings is also a breath of fresh air from all the school romance we mostly got. It's a shrine setting, with little amount of character, chill atmosphere, further supporting the things I said before even more. The story also look toward the future more than the present, which is something new for romance anime, rather than just encountering stereotypical events in the school, most thing are about the future of the shrine, the characters, and the status quo of the group, and their action work toward that.

Other point such as character right now, is pretty mid for harem romance anime. While not bad for harem standard, and all main character don't have 1 dimensional thinking and personalities. It is enough for the comfy settings, with not too less, but also not too overboard that it got too heavy.

And of course if you don't get the gist from all the things I said above already, this show romance while is pretty in your face, is pretty slow and chill. So don't expect some overly dramatic events and deep story to follow

In conclusion, it is a pretty beautiful show, with comfy atmosphere, story, settings, and characters. Best to watch for chillness, some wholesome healing moments, and don't expect much of it. So if you like or need that kind of show right now, this will highly likely heal your heart.

My rating as a Harem Romance: 8.5/10
My rating as an overall anime: 7.68/10

Title: Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi (The Amagami Family’s Marriage Arrangements)
Genre: Harem, Slice of Life, Romance, Comedy
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Episodes: 12
Aired: Fall 2024

Ah, "Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi"—a classic harem setup but with a temple twist. Rather than the usual scenarios like tutoring quintuplets or managing a maid café, this time, our MC finds himself running a shrine... with three beautiful women. Because of course, why wouldn’t that happen?

The Plot:
The story begins with our MC, who’s had a tough childhood, growing up in an orphanage until he suddenly ends up living in a shrine. Enter the grandfather, who, for reasons only anime logic can explain, announces that the ... MC must marry one of the three girls who live there. The catch? He’s a skeptic who believes in science and logic, and he’s not exactly thrilled about the spiritual world (or the sudden marriage pressure).

The girls? Well, they’ve got the classic cliche personalities down pat. We’ve got the cool, mature one, the bubbly, energetic one, and the quiet, mysterious one. But, hey, they’re all nicely drawn, so there’s that!

Character and Story Progression:
Each episode follows the MC as he adjusts to life at the shrine, gradually uncovering pieces of his past and getting to know the girls better. Predictably, they grow closer over time, and while there’s the occasional fan service and some light ecchi moments, it’s not too over the top. It keeps things tame enough that it doesn’t feel overly perverse, though it’s clear the show’s aiming to check the usual harem boxes.

Is It Worth Watching?
So far, this anime is sitting comfortably in the “average” category. It’s not particularly groundbreaking or memorable, and the plot doesn’t seem like it’s going to blow anyone away. The characters follow familiar archetypes, and unless the story takes a surprising turn, it feels like the kind of series that will likely wrap up in a single season and call it a day.

Final Thoughts:
If you’re a harem fan and enjoy light-hearted slice-of-life stories set in traditional, spiritual locations, you might find some enjoyment here. But if you’re looking for something fresh or innovative, this might not be the one for you. "Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi" is a solid filler anime that won’t leave a lasting impression, but it’s not a bad way to pass the time if you’re in the mood for a simple, easygoing watch. Here’s hoping it sticks to one solid season!

The major significant flaw of this anime that completely kills any potential interest in watching it is, to put it mildly, a rather unintelligent decision to force the characters to spill each other's motivations out loud instead of showing it to an audience or letting figure it out themselves.
Wanna know why MC became cynical and focused student? Don't worry, the sisters just tell you in ep 1 by the power of psychoanalysis. Wonder with MC why tsundere suddenly acting tame? Just wait a bit, they tell you exactly why.
It's like watching Dora the Explorer, where they explain every motive in detail, as if they're afraid ... I won't be able to put 2 and 2 together by myself.

Add to that the bland fan service and the lack of flaws in the main characters, and you'll understand why this anime turned out to direct equivalent of a plate of spaghetti that you'll be lucky if you even get to salt.