Koi to Uso (2017 Summer)

Release Date: Jul 4, 2017 to Sep 19, 2017

Number of Media: Adapted from a manga (ongoing). A live-action film is in production now.


What's It About: The declining birthrate in Japan has led to the government arranging marriages to all citizens upon their 16th birthday. Yukari Nejima has had a secret crush on his friend since he was 11, and decides to confess on the eve of his 16th birthday. As soon as he does, he receives his notice of marriage from the government, starting a complicated situation for him, the girl he likes, and his betrothed.


The Good: If you love harem shows, this is a pretty clear winner. It ranks high on the unbelievability scale (what kind of fiance would support her future husband to chase after the girl he likes, who also likes him back), as well as the escapism scale (they are both quite desirable girls and it is sheer luck that Yukari was paired with someone like Ririna). The animation is decent, but the facial expressions and reactions stand out. Oh and I'm willing to wager half the budget was used to animate kissing scenes, because they are stunning. Misaki Takasaki is voiced by Kana Hanazawa, one of my favorite voice actresses (alongside Aoi Yuuki and Rie Takahashi). I've also been humming the OP nonstop for the past two days now, and I never once skipped it whilst I was watching.


The Bad: As a technical production, it isn't very good. The plot progresses a bit haphazardly and there are some holes and inconsistencies that remain unaddressed (Nisaka, for one). The script is thin at times but it is buoyed by some genuinely heartfelt exchanges between characters that for me personally, redeem the bad points. The male characters are bland and heavily underdeveloped - the story basically comes down to which girl has the greatest impact on the MC at any one time and he will go to them for the rest of the episode. The unrealism of the entire situation is so great that it becomes distracting: both girls openly flirt with Yukari in front of each other and neither seems to mind. In terms of ridiculousness, this is high tier.


Best Character: Ririna Sanada, Yukari's government-assigned wife. I'm usually quite partial to the 'rival' character to the lead, since they're generally more richly characterized and given greater room for development (as opposed to the main, who is introduced as already ideal). Ririna's innocence and purity really stands out to me, and her black and white approach to relationships leads to some interesting dynamics. She's super cute and inexperienced, but also straightforward and logical in her approach. For example, isn't beyond her to read textbooks on kissing and to value people in terms of what she can gain from them. However, she isn't without a heart and she is earnest and sincere in her actions. That said, things start to change when she starts to discover her blossoming womanhood, which causes her to ask herself some important questions and face some uncomfortable dilemmas.


Should I Watch It: Only if you're a massive sucker for romance stories like this one that focus on the more morally ambiguous side of love, that skirt the line between right and wrong, and draw upon the raw emotions of the characters for drama, but all in all I can't help but see this as a Scum's Wish Lite (even though they're on opposite ends of the spectrum over many many plot points). I absolutely love these stories, and I will probably check out the manga.


Similar Shows: Kuzu no Honkai (2017), Nisekoi (2014), Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai (2015)


Trailer: