From classics like Love Hina, Oh My Goddess , and Ranma 1/2 to contemporaries like Rent-A-Girlfriend , My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! , the chaotic The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You , or my beloved The Quintessential Quintuplets , the harem subgenre in anime has always provided that mischievous touch of spice that usually ends up as a complacent rom-com, but with a charming chaos in the process that gives its creators plenty of material to expand the story with funny, endearing moments, and sometimes even touches of drama that remain in the memory of fans. With the return of A Couple of Cuckoos for its second season (currently simulcasting on Crunchyroll), I felt it was important to highlight what makes this tender anime with harem touches so memorable and unique. The Premise is a Little Unrealistic, But it Works RELATED: Cozy Anime Corner: Spend the Dog Days of Summer with With You and the Rain Don't get me wrong: I fully understand that this is a romantic comedy and that the intention is to have fun. And as crazy as it sounds, it's about two babies who ended up with the wrong parents and, somehow, end up engaged, let's remember the title of this… it's cuckoo! And that very premise is what enchants and keeps us glued, because it turns out that not only is it a pre-engaged couple, but there are more candidates for Nagi's love! Yes, I know it sounds like Ranma , but its modernity and the irresistible personalities of the girls make Cuckoos something different, functional, and endearingly fun. Nagi Umino Isn't the Perfect Guy (But He Tries So Hard) I like this male lead. His appeal isn't necessarily based on being extremely handsome or talented at sports, for example, but in his intelligence. Of course, he's still a teenager, so he makes mistakes (a lot!). But it's his calculating wit and his desire to do things right that keeps us glued to the series and wanting to stay until the end to find out how far his mind, connected to his heart, takes him. It's not about who he chooses but how deeply he touches the heart of the girl he chooses! The Leading Girls Shine Without Overshadowing the Others This is charming, and it doesn't necessarily happen in all harems. Unlike Ranma and Akane, Erika Amano has an overwhelmingly charming personality… but so do Sachi Umino, Hiro Segawa, and so on… (MANGA SPOILER, watch the second season first, please)! And it's not just that they look pretty or have qualities, but the way Miki Yoshikawa's story develops makes us connect with each of them and think that she would definitely be Nagi's ideal partner. A Perfect Balance Between Romance, Humor and Endearing Moments This is great and left me feeling very satisfied at the end of Season 1, because come on, there is romance, but it doesn't necessarily sell everything right away! Erika and Nagi may have chemistry and be "the forced couple" but that doesn't mean things are taken for granted or that everything is just jokes and hilariously embarrassing moments. The characters' learning and growth, complemented by family and friendship values, achieves not only moments of romantic sighs and laughter, but even a few tears due to heartwarming scenes. And you'll see more of this in the current Season 2! RELATED: The Best Cosplay Tips We’ve Learned From My Dress-Up Darling The Final Couple Is Clear (Or Not?) Wonderfully written from the original manga, and it's not just the way they introduced the characters in the first season, but the way each character develops, to the point that we as viewers are left confused about who the final couple should be. OK, it's called A Couple of Cuckoos , but… will they really end up being who we all thought they would be? We'll have to wait and see how this turns out, and remember: the manga is still being published in Japan! So, who will be the final couple? What will happen to the rest of the girls? Don't miss every single episode of A Couple of Cuckoos in Season 2 via simulcast on Crunchyroll !
