I will list all four stories and what I thought about each.
Episode one:
My first impression with this episode was that studio Bones lived up to my expectations and did a pretty job with the visuals.
Now, going into the story, we are greeted by Noriko, the protagonist. She has a child — but that’s not what’s interesting about her. What’s interesting is the fact that the story goes back and forth between the present and the past, putting a contrast between young Noriko, and old Noriko.
There may be a lot of shows that do this — going back and forth between the past and present — but I haven’t seen it done in anime frequently (again, I know it has been done before, just not very commonly). Even something like Naruto with its filler episodes doesn’t count as what I’m describing. Because with Otona Joshi, it very frequently goes back and forth — which was the main thing that made this show engaging. “Great. A show that’s done something not commonly done,” I thought.
Going to the main story though, this show isn’t really special with its storytelling. It wasn’t really bad though — I actually prefer this episode/story over any other episode of this show (except for episode two). But this was pretty much your everyday, “I slept with a guy, and then many years later, I got married with another one. Then I beget a child, and that child isn’t my husband’s, but the guy I slept with.”
Even though I’ve seen this many times before, I still pretty much liked this episode.
6/10.
Episode two:
Unpopular opinion: this is the best episode of this show. Well, aside from the fact that the guy compared the girl to a freaking — I’m not joking — a bird, cat, or whatever. This was the most “WTF” moment of the whole show. Actually, I take that back. Read episode three to discover something more “WTF-y”.
In any case, this is an odd story about a woman who falls in love with a waste collector/dustman, because she can. That’s literally the only reason. That’s why this story is more “odd” unlike the last one.
Because Mimi’s reason for existence is not that relatable, unless you are a housewife of something. Her reason for existence is to cook for his lover, have intercourse, sleep — that’s it. This is basically a slice-of-life episode. But that’s why I liked it.
As for the visuals, I’m highly disappointed. No one has a nose.
I have nothing more to say for this episode aside from WHO THE HELL CALLS HIS LOVER A FREAKING ANIMAL?
6.5/10
Moving on to episode three:
The worst episode by far. One thing that I hate, which is commonly used in fiction and self-help books, etc., is this: “I was a child and thought of the future as though I’d get married at 20 and have children at 30 and have white hair at 50 — but that’s not what happened. I ended up having such a depressing life and I became addicted to alcohol and became depressed, and addicted to alcohol, and became depressed, and did I mention the fact that I became addicted to alcohol?”
I hate this trope so much. That’s not how life is at all. Life is actually pretty mediocre and not as depressing as they make it out to be. 95% of the time, life IS just graduating from college, getting married, having children, and growing old. What else is it otherwise? Such a misrepresentation, so commonly used... so incorrect.
Anyway, I mentioned the fact that episode two had a “WTF” moment, but episode three had worse. What exactly is more ridiculous that calling your girlfriend an animal, you ask? A random guy suddenly appearing and cosplaying as your old crush back in school and having intercourse with you in a hotel, and then you finding out the fact that he wasn’t actually your old crush, but a stranger you haven’t met before. How did he know her name and for what reason he did that and how much of a chance is there for a doppelgänger to appear, I don’t freaking know.
Such a meaningless episode. I hated it. Visual-wise, it was meh.
2/10
Last but not least, episode four:
Umm, what...? I’m not trolling right here, what happened? I can’t, and probably can‘t ever comprehend what happened in this episode. Maybe because I’m not a parent? (Also, why is every protagonist from this show a female? Not to be sexist or anything, just wondering)
Visual-wise: meh.
4/10
The end.
Don’t look into this review much. It’s as mediocre as any review on MyAnimeList can get. I just wanted to clear my thoughts.
I hope you enjoyed the read :)
