© INORI, AINAKA, ICHIJINSHA/’WATAOSHII’ Production Committee
I’m not a strong proponent of the old “three episodes” rule, but I think it’s the right direction for this show. While the first episode has a lot to offer for those looking for unabashed gay comedy shenanigans, and especially fans of the proud Ojou-sama archetype, it doesn’t show what I’m in Love with the Villainess has to offer. Even though this show is, first and foremost, an isekai comedy about a disaster lesbian who desires pretentious blondes, there’s still a lot hidden inside this show, and especially our main character, it will most likely influence one’s perspective one way or another. others.
That’s not to say the comedy is bad, as it’s by far the most standard element of the film. While Rae’s undeniable thirst offers a bit of a spin on things, much of the first and second episodes are quite familiar if you’ve watched other otome isekai game shows. Rae has an encyclopedic knowledge of the game world and characters, and uses that knowledge to perfect her way through character interactions and story events. The only catch is that she’s trying her best to avoid tripping any of the guys’ flags instead of flirting with them while secretly manipulating things to help her would-be bully, whom she devoted. While it’s funny to watch her completely embarrass Claire, it starts getting repetitive even in the first episode, and if that was all this show was going for, it honestly wouldn’t there’s more to say than complimenting how cute Claire is when she’s angry (which is most of the time).
That’s where the next few episodes come in, as amid Rae’s increasingly bold moves, we begin to get a better sense of who both of these women are beyond their obvious archetypes. It becomes clear that the real reason Claire feels uncomfortable around Rae is not the flirting but a perceived lack of sincerity. She doesn’t believe that Rae’s feelings are sincere and is certain that there is some ulterior motive for her attention—after all, who would love an arrogant bully with many thorny personality traits and many Flaws like you? It speaks to a level of insecurity that isn’t immediately apparent when we meet her but does a lot to explain Claire’s actions. She’s impulsive and defensive, self-aware enough to know how it pushes people away, but too afraid to change or close that gap. A lot of Villain stories are built around redeeming or bringing out the sympathetic side of characters audiences often hate, and this is a solid iteration of the concept that cleverly places them We step into Rae’s shoes as we learn about the more human and relatable aspects. about our Villain.
Rae, on the other hand, is a mysterious person. For all that she is open about her love for Claire, she is equally cagey about everything else, even with the audience. At first, the lack of reflection on her pre-Isekai life seems like a move for narrative convenience, glossing over the thornier aspects of the premise in favor of delving into the good stuff about Ojou-sama’s love. However, some recurring creative choices—like not showing us how Rae convinces Claire’s father to hire her—suggest that there is more to Rae than the text intentionally obscures. us and that adds considerable appeal to our main character. For example, despite all her unabashed desire for Claire, she is perfectly happy—even eager—to push her beloved toward one of the Princes if it makes Claire happy. happiness. The usual, somewhat questionable idea is that all of Rae’s adoration is aimed at reducing Claire’s resistance and winning her love through comedic attrition. If that’s not the case, then what exactly is Rae’s deal?
At least in part, the answer will come in the second half of episode three. In a refreshingly candid conversation, we finally pop the bubbles around our heroine long enough to learn some of her secrets, revealing her deep and considered heart much more beneath the story’s humorous veneer. First, it’s nice to see Rae actively reject the notion that gender “doesn’t matter” when it comes to her love life. That certainly may be true for others, but Rae herself is definitely a lesbian and has lived with that fact and all of its subsequent social burdens throughout both of their lives. . Besides defining her territory on the Kinsey Scale, it also affirms her gender and identity. Sexually and romantically, she is only attracted to women, and neither the characters nor the story is allowed to skirt around that issue with aphorisms or the like.
Even more interesting are the emotions that affirmation brings to her. Rae admits that she didn’t expect—or even believe it was possible—for Claire to reciprocate her feelings. She loves to be loved and expresses it to her beloved as proudly as possible. However, in its own way, it is also a deviation. One thing she only admitted to the audience was that she had been hurt by unrequited love before, so turning her love into an over-the-top joke was the only way to express those feelings. without risking yourself. Like our glimpse into Claire’s insecurities, that chink in the armor opens up a lot of depth for Rae and reveals all of her shenanigans and quirky confessions as the defense mechanism. After all, as long as Claire never took her love seriously, she would never be rejected, right? No matter how deep or sincere her feelings may be, as long as they are expressed in a series of humorous sarcasm, hurled as verbal insults as if she were sitting in a water tank and scolding customers, she can laugh it off when she’s drowning.
After two episodes of wacky flirting, that revelation feels like being punched in the face in the best way. Not only does it recreate Rae’s behavior, but it also adds a strong dose of sadness to her adventures, making you want to see her connect with someone without getting flustered. For those who may be put off by Rae’s sometimes invasive and often unwelcome advances, it reduces the possibility of Rae winning his woman’s love through attrition, say It’s clear that any potential romance between these two will only be possible if they can both let their walls down. It’s a move toward seriousness that elevates the surface-level antics and keeps me deeply hooked to see where we go from here.
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I Love Villains is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.