We’re another week in, and God help me, I still kind of like Domestic na Kanojo.  I’ll never shake the feeling that this show is a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode and rain hot death on everything that touches it and remind me of why I should never have started with it in the first place – that dread will be my constant companion as I watch it, unless and until the explosion happens.  But for now, you know – it’s still actually pretty good.  And who ever would have believed that?

I have no idea this spell will remain unbroken, but as I said last week I’ll give credit where it’s due, and Domestic’s accounts are by no means overdrawn yet.  It helps that the major characters here are not merely mannequins to be manipulated in service of what’s undeniably a preposterous and trashy premise, but pretty well-rounded individuals who have distinct personalities above and beyond the role they play in that premise.  Hina is probably the last to come around on that front, but there’s the germ of something there – woman who overcompensates for self-worth issues with excessive genki, and may have addictions to both alcohol and abusive men.

On that score, it’s worth noting that Rui mentioned how her mother was always bad-mouthing their father – I wonder if there are some deeper issues there.  Perhaps Rui, as the youngest, was not witness to some things her mother and sister were – and perhaps their views on their father are a wedge between the sisters.  That’s all speculation of course and the story may never even go remotely that deep – but the mere fact that it’s prompted me to speculate places Domestic Girlfriend well above where I would have expected based on the premise.

This series is already asking the question: can a show with an inherently shameless and provocative premise conduct itself in a dignified manner?  My gut says it’s just a matter of time but for now, the answer is yes.  When Natsuo was getting ready to walk into the bathroom I inwardly groaned – it was the proverbial “A-ha, here it comes!” moment.  But while it started out that way – of course Rui was in the bath – it ended up being rather sweet and sad.  Rui’s take on the matter is refreshingly sanguine – Natsuo has already had sex with her so what’s a little nudity?  But even more, it’s clear she’s craving human contact – someone to confide in, which she clearly lacks with her family or at school.

Speaking of school, Rui has (of course) transferred to Natsuo (and Hina-sensei’s) school.  And her reaction to Natsuo’s suggestion that they keep their relationship (the living arrangements, not the consummation) on the down-low is interesting.  Again, there’s a big gap between how one (OK, me) might expect the relationship between Rui and Natsuo to develop and how it actually is.  The scene where she brushed the bed head out of his hair was quite tender, actually.  And rather than cement in her mind the worst possible image of him after having walked in on Natsuo about to kiss Hina, she proved open enough to accept that her initial idea didn’t square with the person she was observing both at home and at school.

This contrast is going to make the fall that much more painful, if it comes.  There’s a lot of kindness passing between these three – stuff like Natsuo helping Rui socialize at school, and her actually thanking him for it.  And Natsuo’s dismayed concern at the interaction between Hina and her (ex?) boyfriend.  But ultimately if indeed the reason he was about to kiss Hina isn’t because he’s a masher that only leaves one real possibility – and I can’t see that being good for Natsuo’s relationship with Rui.  There are so many ways this could turn ugly it’s hard to keep them all straight – the “Scum’s Wish route”, the “School Days route”, just plain exploitative ecchi.  But for now at least I’m allowing myself the tiniest bit of hope that all of those mines (and many others) might be avoided.  It’s a longshot, but sometimes I got two good eyes and I still don’t see.