© INORI, AINAKA, ICHIJINSHA/’WATAOSHII’ Production Committee
It’s unlikely that this finale-or this season-will wrap up all the themes and ideas it introduced. That’s not exactly a shock to those familiar with light novel adaptations – the number of those that have included their entire source material is so rare as to be almost non-existent. Deflating as it may be, I’m in Love with the Villainess, as a single season of television, does not offer an ending that isn’t “wait until part 2!” or “go read the novel.” theory!” So, with no hope of revisiting the political uprising from the previous season as well as the larger implications of Rae’s entire isekai situation, the only real hope of ending this finale is to resolve fully resolve its central relationship.
As for that, I’m of two minds about the whole matter. It’s nice to see Rae and Claire finally admit their feelings for each other in a way that they can both truly accept. It’s just that the mechanism to achieve that is not right. I’ve never really been a fan of characters who lie and manipulate others”for their own benefit”. As much as I like Manaria’s character, so does her role here. Perhaps there’s something to her willingness to play the villain(ess?) in other people’s love lives and how it contrasts with Rae playing the fool, but there simply isn’t enough time. time to show that side of her. In fact, she’s a fun character used for some necessary but frustrating story developments.
My bigger problem has to do with the Festival of Love and those magical scales. See, what I think the show is getting at is that the rarity or value of Rae’s gift won’t matter in the end. Rather, it will be the intensity and sincerity of her feelings that will surpass any magical flowers Manaria offers, otherwise the decision will really depend on how Claire feels about people. propose to her. Either option would be, if a bit cheesy, an honest and direct way to break down the barrier that keeps our heroines apart. Either Rae’s feelings will be expressed in a way that Claire can’t deny, or better yet, she chooses to be vulnerable and trust Rae’s feelings completely. Instead, Rae uses her immense magical power and knowledge of secret game lore to obtain an extremely special magic item. While that certainly shows some dedication, it’s also less meaningful – both as a romantic gesture and as a way to resolve this conflict.
Luckily, there are enough good things to overcome those doubts. Easily my favorite scene of the entire episode is the scene where Claire just talks about how she feels about Rae. The way she forgets about the times they shared and comes out of her dreamy state smiling and blushing is a beautiful little moment that feels more personal than any grand statement. I also like that Claire and Rae don’t completely change even after their confession. Rae is still clingy and loud; it’s just that now Claire objects to her new partner being adorable where everyone else can see. It’s a fun way to preserve what makes this duo funny while still acknowledging how closer they’ve become. The last scene of the episode is a bit lost in translation – Rae says “aishitemasu,” a much more intimate expression of love than her typical “daisuki” – but it’s still a lovely moment to dwell on.
In many ways, that sums up this entire series. It bears the mark of an enthusiastic but inexperienced creator trying to create the kind of story they love, and that brings an equal level of charm and appeal to the entire project. There’s no denying that the writing is clumsy and relies heavily on familiar story ideas, but at its core is also a serious and empathetic perspective. Like both female protagonists, I’m in Love with the Villainess has its flaws, but if you can get past those problems, you can find something to love.
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I Love Villains is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.