It’s refreshing to watch an anime with adult characters, but Bartender: Kami no Glass takes too many cues from shounen sports and music stories. Bartending isn’t the same as high school volleyball or competitive piano—many of the tropes that this show attempts to use feel awkward and forced because the parallels between bartending and sports/music are flimsy at best. The resulting drama feels contrived and out of place among working adults.
I think Bartender: Kami no Glass works best in the background. It’s chill and relaxing, but it doesn’t reward you for getting invested. I enjoy it most when I’m not asking too many questions and my brain is turned off. Sometimes, that’s exactly what I need out of a show.
