Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru is a romantic comedy by the author of Takagi-san. This is really easy to tell because of the character archetypes being very similar and the teasing + getting teased themes being extremely recurrent in the show.
For those that liked Takagi-san for what it was as a romance anime, I do believe that this anime checks even more boxes than its predecessor in terms of wish fulfillment and progression. They don't have as much chemistry, being a little bit flatter and less fleshed out than the protagonists in Takagi-san, but they're entertaining to watch nonetheless. For those that watched Takagi-san for the entertaining dialogue (and as I mentioned before, chemistry), I do believe that this one is a bit disappointing.
Though goofy, the interactions between our main pair get dry within 2 or 3 episodes, and begin to feel redundant after a while. There are developments, but they're more surface level revelations than dynamically deep changes in the way characters treat one another. A good way to describe the execution of the premise is gimmicky. It certainly does its job and was able to stay relevant after a long day, but I wouldn't call it quality content.
The artstyle is (as expected) very reminiscent of Takagi-san, though the visual quality is a bit lower, likely due to the franchise being much less popular (and admittedly not an insta-hit). The sound is decent and fits moments well, though I think it gets a bit corny for emotional scenes. The opening and ending slap and I love the rotoscoped (?) dancing animation in the OP.
Overall, it was a good watch that definitely got a bit old and felt gimmicky after a few episodes. I'd recommend a watch nonetheless, especially if you enjoy teasing tales like Takagi-san and whatnot.
