Title: Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Ishii Yasuharu
Format: 10 episodes
Dates: 15 Jan 2010 – 19 Mar 2010

Synopsis: Takano Kyohei is a good-looking college student who currently resides in a dormitory with three other handsome students. After being fired from his most recent job, the home owner offers the tenants free rent and lodging if they can turn her niece into a lady. Unfortunately, Nakahara Sunako is the polar opposite of lady material. With hair that covers her face, and a strong interest in skulls and blood, Kyohei has a difficult time just getting Sunako to look him in the eye. However, this is only the beginning of their problems as they learn soon after Sunako moves in.

The Highlights
Comedy: Often over exaggerated and repetitive.
Romance: A subgenre until the latter half, which gives a concrete ending.
Characters: Kyohei and Sunako are the only characters that get decent development.
Supernatural?: A lot of supernatural elements that get thrown in without explanation.

I should start by saying that I have neither read the original manga nor watched the anime for this series. I understand that there are huge differences, but my judgements are based solely on what I’ve seen in the past ten episodes. With that said, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is a series that you’ll love or hate from the first episode. With a large cast and too many subplots, it’s hard to flesh out the entire story with only ten hours.

To start, the story and characters are cliché. They’re stereotypical, the plot is predictable and (to me), the comedy isn’t funny. I feel like the show is constantly jumping between jokes and serious drama, which leaves me more confused than entertained. There is also too much plot, so every episode feels rushed and toned done to compensate for the lack of time. The majority of the characters are left underdeveloped as a result, while others are left untouched at all. However, the show has a very episodic feel and each episode has its own set of new side characters/problems that are resolved within the hour.

I’m generally super picky before I start picking up anime or live actions to watch. This is because anything left unexplained or anything with too much repetition bothers me a lot. Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge has both. More often than not, Sunako is always in trouble, and the boys come to save her. That’s fine, but rinse and repeat for every episode? I died a little on the inside. On the other hand, when new situations arise, the only solution comes from fighting or random additions of supernatural elements (which are left unexplained). This includes a lot of ghosts, spirits, or a sudden burst of Hulk-like strength.

I would not have considered finishing the show if not for the decent acting from Kamenashi Kazuya (Takano Kyohei) who manages to pull off his character well. His interactions with Tegoshi Yuya (Nakahara Sunako) don’t feel forced, and the ending is solid and well fleshed out. However, the cast as a whole remains the same from start to finish, and since I don’t enjoy watching them, I find it a struggle to get through. The acting performance from the other three students feels awkward and out of place at times (especially Tegoshi Yuya’s character).

When it comes down to it, the series is a comedy for a reason. If you’re not looking for a heavy plotline, or awesome mind-blowing acting, it’s a decent watch. It’s best not to expect too much when jumping in. I find the best episodes come at the end when the main characters are treated more seriously and given more development. A large chunk of their development comes from their message of how “beauty is not skin deep”. Unfortunately, the story drags and wastes a lot of time getting there. Everything else prior to the finale is merely a collection of random events that happen in their dormitory.

The Rating: 5

Reviewed by: Buttercup