To be completely honest I was thrown for a loop in episode 2 when it’s revealed that inherited magic powers are suddenly going to be a major plot point of the show. In a way, it’s a ballsy move to bury the lead so heavily: if you go in completely blind like me—I had the Netflix description to go off of and nothing else—the turn towards the supernatural feels out of left field. It also felt a little unnecessary, as I was interested and invested without the artifice of magic ability. I didn’t need some allegory around magical abilities to buy into how seriously matchmaking is taken in high society in this period.
Their decision to put that lore on the back burner, however, makes it clear where the story writer’s priorities are: with the characters and their relationships to each other. Instead of spending 3 minutes on a VO over B-roll explaining that this is early 20th century Japan and noble families have magic powers, they jumped straight into the story of our main character, who she is, and why she is the way she is—trusting that audience will learn about and understand the world through its understanding of the MC’s place in it.
That this series is based on a novel is evident from the introspective narration. Much of the story takes place in flashback and internal monologue. It’s also evident in the pacing. The plot moves quickly through major events and covers large periods of time in the blink of an eye.
Regardless of any critiques, this is a solid and above average show. The animation is beautiful, lush, and not overly reliant on CGI. This is a lovely melancholic romance that is satisfying even as it is chaste. The characters show growth and the story beats feel earned. Also, the opening song is very catchy and has a great key change.
I’d recommend it for fans of romance or slice of life genres. If you enjoy titles such as Fruits Basket, Violet Evergarden, or Emma, I’d recommend giving this show a try.
