I think this series as a whole is somewhat of an unacknowledged gem. Why? Most who discuss it acknowledge its popularity, often with some degree of annoyance. The show is known for Umaru's obnoxious character and for being generally standard fare moeblob SoL packaged in such a manner to make it ripe for seasonal success but ultimately forgettable.
I understand this take, I just kind of disagree with it.
A good part of the show is standard slice of life hijinks with an upbeat tone and decently executed comedy. But Umaru gives us some more meaty substance to chew on too, beneath it all.
I'll note that, additionally, the show at least gives us basic conflicts between characters, differing motivations or desires in scenes to give us an idea of where it's going or what the joke or punchline is going to be. This is more than I can say for some moeblob SoL--where the point and purpose is just to generate gifs of cute girls doing cute things and call it a day.
So what is that substance? After all the silly hijinks and playing out of the usual tropes, the show gives us some space for some really genuine emotional warmth and intimacy between its characters.
It hits us with OST 39, which I will link, https://youtu.be/Kunj2Uzy0Bg?t=3459, creating an atmosphere and a tone for a lot of tender kindness and human goodness. None of it feels particularly fake, it seems like a proper addendum to the silliness that makes up much of the show. It gives the characters space for a little more depth, and to characterize them as appreciating and caring for one another in a way that befits the relationships they have nominally as friends or siblings.
It's nothing earth-shattering or revolutionary, but that little bit of warmth and emotional intimacy gives the show some humanity and realism that elevates it above simply being a moeblob SoL gif generator.
