There’s so much anime out there these days. With shows segregated between streaming services, those picked up by Netflix and Disney+ are especially easy to overlook. My Happy Marriage is one such anime, buried in my list for a year or more. Now that the second season is airing (careful — spoilers), I was at risk of becoming doubly behind, so I sat down and watched the first season of My Happy Marriage this weekend. If this romance is in your queue, or you’re on the fence about whether My Happy Marriage is for you, read on and find out why it’s worth watching as soon as possible.
Abuse and Rumors
My Happy Marriage has two leads: the quiet and lovely Miyo Saimori and the cool bishounen Kiyoka Kudou.
Miyo is the child of an unwanted marriage, complete with a dead mother, evil stepmother, and cruel younger half sister. Due to her upbringing — psychologically abused and treated as a servant — Miyo is a withdrawn woman, showing little emotion. Her only hope of escape is a marriage to her friend Kouji, who treats her like a person. Sadly, this way out is not to be. Miyo’s sister Kaya is engaged to Kouji instead of her to forge family ties. Meanwhile, Miyo is discarded and sold to the Kudou family as a marriage candidate.
Enter Kiyoka Kudou. Kiyoka is rumored to be cold, having driven off all previous marriage candidates. When he meets Miyo, Kiyoka informs her that if he orders her to die, she is to obey, reinforcing the impression that he’s a bit of a bastard. However, he quickly falls for Miyo’s charms, regretting how he hurts her and wishing to heal her invisible wounds. It turns out this cool bishi is, in fact, a big softie.
Romance and Healing for a Happy Marriage
My Happy Marriage stands out in the romance market, not because of the slowly introduced magic or the rare Taishō period-inspired setting, but because it addresses healing and mental health. Romance isn’t a silver bullet in My Happy Marriage. The two future lovers getting to know each other doesn’t solve all their problems; neither lead is reduced to a mere damsel, solely existing to be saved. Without spoiling anything, yes, rescues are in order, but just because someone needs to be rescued doesn’t mean they weren’t holding their own during the danger.
Rather, Miyo and Kiyoka’s growth — only possible by the stability they provide each other — allows them to heal their damage. These two move slightly slowly but demonstrate what healthy communication and flawed people bring to a supportive relationship. Once their romance blooms, Miyo and Kiyoka strive to help each other overcome the weaknesses that held them back when they were alone.
Miyo learns to stand up for herself and that feeling emotions isn’t always bad. Kiyoka learns to trust and even take time for himself by leaving work on time to spend more time with Miyo. That growth — and more — sets the groundwork for their eventual happy marriage.
Leisurely Stroll
The pacing of My Happy Marriage is a leisurely walk through a garden, enjoying the flowers, hand-in-hand with that special someone… until it isn’t. Each arc mixes exposition with slice-of-life moments and romance until it’s over. Both arcs end in a rush, and it’s a shame they didn’t get a couple more episodes to maintain a consistent pace. In this sense, my only disappointment was that there wasn’t enough content.
Sleeping on a Joyful Marriage
My Happy Marriage is a heartwarming human story. It teaches simple lessons about relying on others and growing worthy of them. I’m glad to have finally watched it. With season two airing now, my wish for more time with this beautiful couple and their supporters can continue. If you like humans supporting and learning about each other, I expect you’ll enjoy My Happy Marriage, too. You can only watch it on Netflix (sadly), but it is available now.
Have you watched My Happy Marriage? What did you think of it? And if you have other shows that I should get around to watching, please let me know in the comments. If I haven’t seen it yet, I’ll add it to the list!
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