It's a sad, sad justice that not very often, we get niche shows like this that break the monotony of seasonal shows, providing stories and insights through objects (in this case, gemstones and their representation on human personality and behaviour), and having character interactions play out the drama in its mysterious shroud whilst keeping the slice-of-life elements intact. These elements when combined together doesn't seem promising, but this show made it all good. 2018's Holmes of Kyoto did that with the various "case files" and things of value, and this premise is no different here.
“Justice, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Some see an innocent victim. Others will see evil incarnate getting exactly what's deserved.”
The first thing you'll start to notice from this show is the strong bishounen (and BL but not much) aspects on the characters, and although love (and like) can be uncertain, it certainty makes for one very interesting pairing. For context, Nakata Seigi is the typical bishounen trait of a good-natured guy, being aloof and caring for anyone he sees, and speaking of his name (Seigi, which means justice in the katakana naming convention), he'll not shun at bringing the truth to light, even in his naivety. On the other hand, Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian (just refer to this British bishounen as Richard), more than just being a jewelry appraiser, is like Sherlock Holmes in the sense of figuring out episodic situations that make and break people depending on the gemstone-of-the-week visual cues. Despite the atrocity that is his family's prestigious and high-life mechanics that got the worse of him in his young days growing up, he's learning contentment through Seigi and compliments him as and when he does fit.
These two people are the yin and yang of each other: One having to accommodate for the other's actions, going to great lengths for each other so that they don't drift apart like a turbulent relationship. Despite that, both Seigi and Richard, no matter how rocky their relationship can get at times, it's mostly learning to compromise in the appropriate sense and leading the way forward.
“The value is always in the eye of the beholder. What is worthless to one person may be very important to someone else.”
The theme of this show being the gemstones and its acquaint relationship with the people who dons it is quite the spectacle. Learning how people's lives function by the gemstone they have (e.g. Seigi with his deceased grandmother's Pink Sapphire in Episode 1) and learning of their struggles and hardships that surround the toxicity of even the brightest and strongest gems is very relatable and humane, it gives people the reason of their sufferings as is. More than attempting a recourse at life going at it, with the gemstones as a sign of their price to pay for various deeds, the understanding ripens through the shedding of human behaviours. And I've gotta say it feels wholesome with the relaxed, Iyashikei feeling.
“Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.”
Shuka's animation was quite good to say the least, though far from the usual spectacles of Natsume Yuujinchou, and it shows a very good and clean, healthy dose of production. Much care has been taken to this show with the beautiful artwork and visuals (not to mention the gorgeous eye-catching gemstones). The same can be said for the OP/ED which also emits the exact same feelings of shows that are worth the time of relaxation, and both songs are low-key good as well, far from impressive but still good nonetheless.
“The quality of beauty lies on how beholder values an object.”
Overall, while this show isn't the typical "underrated" stuff, I can only say that if you love Iyashikei shows like Yuru Camp to exhibit the relaxed and emotional feels whilst keeping the realistic humane stuff possible, then this show is right up your alley. Sure, this show isn't gonna be everyone's favourite, but try it if you can, it's worth the shot examining your very own life akin to gemstones (the same way as horoscopes tend to be).
