© INORI, AINAKA, ICHIJINSHA/’WATAOSHII’ Production Committee
Damn everyone, we’ve got ourselves a plot! After spending the entire first half of this season loitering around school and getting into gay shenanigans, we’re finally starting to dig into some of the foreboding drama that Rae has been haunting just since she became Claire’s maid. Furthermore, this is a pretty interesting story, with some pretty unique potential in the Isekai Villainess space.
One of the integral details in most of these shows is the fact that 90% of the characters come from the upper crust of the upper crust. Of course, that’s part of the appeal of the dating sim genre that the Villainess sub-genre plays on. Not only do you love a bunch of hot anime guys, but also rich hot anime guys, whose power and wealth come with complications, but offer a level of comfort and luxury. importance that most people living in a world of vague historical fantasy cannot have. Kingdom. To facilitate the fantasy of power generally requires not introducing things like wealth disparity or political corruption, lest the audience lose the ability to relate to the characters. Depending on the seriousness of the film, there could be some scheming nobles or an evil king, but the actual concept of aristocracy is unlikely to be questioned.
It’s interesting to see that idea being challenged, even if it’s not fully fleshed out yet. There is an active movement among the masses to promote equality—although what form that movement will take is a question we have yet to see answered—and even among students in schools. are also campaigning for that movement. Rae’s main concern is keeping Claire safe from whatever dark fate awaits her, however, even she expresses sympathy for the cause—which makes sense, given her past life. she was an overworked cog in the machine. Considering how often isekai protagonists decide to go with the flow and buy slaves these days, I shouldn’t take it for granted that Rae sympathizes with normal people. It puts our characters in an interesting place as class tensions continue to simmer. Claire is on the side of the nobility. Will this issue cause a split between the couple? Will Claire have to fight for her privileges? Has the guillotine been invented in this world? All important questions need to be answered.
Admittedly, the possibility of class war only makes up a small part of this episode, which takes place in the final quarter to kick things off. Everything before it focuses squarely on I’m in Love with the Villainess’s patented goofy evasion style, and it brings its A-game. Lene as the real Maid practice instructor awesome, and it’s interesting to see which members of the cast are committed to their cross-dressing duties. The ladies look uniformly (heh) amazing, which can only be expected from this show, but the Princes bring a scope of entertainment. Yu dresses like a duck in water, while Thane is quietly shy, and Rod is so devoid of traditional femininity that he has an appearance that is the exact opposite of his youngest brother. Of course, Claire as the sophisticated and handsome housekeeper stole the spotlight—Rae wouldn’t have it any other way—and it was fun to see her not only put up with Rae’s shenanigans but also Actively stands up for civilians when she is in trouble.
That’s what made me uncomfortable watching this episode: seeing Rae and Claire have moments of genuine, unguarded love. Claire shows her kindness by protecting Rae from a situation she can’t find a way out of, and despite her protests, it’s clear that something about Rae’s attentions is starting to happen. affects her. That moment of heartfelt gratitude, when Rae calls Claire the “savior” of her heart, cuts right through her defensive posture and is wonderful to witness. Both of these women try to protect themselves from being hurt—one with total denial and the other with irony-poisoned honesty—but sometimes they let down those walls just long enough to make eye contact and feel a connection that goes beyond their personalities. reside to survive.
After weeks of tossing and turning, it’s a wonderful, romantic reminder of what makes these characters and their relationships so compelling. Combined with some fun fan service—Claire is right, Rae looks beautiful in “maid’s clothes”—and our first concrete storyline, this seems like a step Strong turning point for the movie. It’s been fun so far, but I’m interested to see how much I can grow in Love with the Villainess.
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I’m in Love with the Villainess Villainess is now streaming on Crunchyroll.