So, I was looking for something to watch on my own. I have a bunch of shows on the go, but I’m watching them with Amanda so I can’t really get ahead in my free time. While scrolling through Netflix, I came across an anime called Maid-Sama. The description said there is a girl who rules the school with an “iron fist,” however after school she works at a maid cafe. It’s labeled as a comedy/romance, though I missed the romance tag until episode three.
I decided to give it a shot, and started the first episode with fairly low expectations. I wasn’t sure how they were going to make a maid cafe funny, and not just 20 minutes of panty shots for the fanboys left, right, and center. We are introduced to Misaka Ayazawa, a fairly normal highschool student, who seems to hate men. She’s worked very hard to become Student Council President in a school that was all boys up till a few years before. Which, I have to say, is pretty funny. The boys are always being stupid teenagers, being gross, or tormenting the few girls that attend the school. Misaka has made it her own personal mission to increase the number of female students while crushing any misbehaviour or resistance by the boys.
*Warning: Spoilers ahead*
Misaka doesn’t want the school to know she works at a maid cafe, so she goes to great lengths to keep it from getting out. Unfortunately, Takumi Usui, a fellow student from her school, discovers her secret and makes a point to go to her work everyday. Usui doesn’t really seem interested in girls until he sees Misaka, and then he follows her around like a lost puppy. Which annoys Misaka to no end.
I enjoy Usui. Certain things he says and does reminds me of myself when I liked a girl in highschool. Making jokes about being her stalker, teasing relentlessly, and just when you are ready for the next smart remark, he compliments her. All just to see her get flustered, cause it makes him smile.
I’d say the first few episodes are geared more towards comedy than romance. However by about episode 5, the romantic side starts showing itself a little more. I’m enjoying the pacing of the lovey stuff, to be honest. I don’t feel it is (as of where I am) taking itself too seriously. The romance is there but, if we remember, Misaka hates men. And Usui annoys her to the ends of the earth. However, is seems that every time she finds herself in trouble, he’s there to help her. Even if she doesn’t need it.
I’m enjoying the show. The characters are interesting and the way they all interact makes me smile. However, that’s not to say that it’s all fun. There have been a couple more serious moments: Guys breaking in after closing to assault the girls, and a rich kid from another school that thinks he can buy women. Or even just the things happening between the two of them. Are they going to kiss? Did he just say he loves her!?
All in all, it’s a pretty good show. I think the story is interesting, the jokes are funny, and the romance is organic. Misaka doesn’t want to like Usui, but she’s starting to have feelings that tick her off. It does fall into a few tropes here and there, but the dynamic between them makes up for where I feel it falls short.