Mairimashita! Iruma-kun is like an experiment to see if anime can succeed by relying on unrelenting positivity. And the results are clear – yes. Yes, it can. And in this series, it does. The protagonist is ridiculously nice. His best friends love him unreservedly. Good things happen to him because he acts based on his conscience and empathy, and the universe rewards him in payback for all the indignities he suffered in the human world. It’s almost scandalous how well it all works.
All fiction shouldn’t be like this, certainly. But my goodness, I’m glad a series like this exists, and even more that it has the skill to pull this formula off. This finale had pretty much everything you could want from it – another musical number for the irrepressible Valac family. An Eiko appearance and close encounter. Clara and Azz riffing off each other comedically. Iruma-kun being Iruma-kun to the end. And best of all, an announcement after it ended. “It’s all good” couldn’t be more comprehensively correct when applied to any show than it is to Mairimashita! Iruma-kun.
I have to say, that whole “Muffle Wuffle Crackle Bang” sequence had my grinning so relentlessly my face risked injury. Asai Ayaka (who was largely under my radar before Clara) and Kimura Ryouhei are both fantastic in these roles. And Kimura (yes I know I go on and on, but he really is that good) in unhinged mode as Azz tries to figure out what kind of recipe this is was worth the price of admission alone (never mind the fish phobia bit). And then the “Love” number. How heartwarming are the Valacs, seriously? It should be saccharine but it’s not somehow – it comes off as very real.
Iruma’s solution to the great rivalry? Simple – “better together“. It’s a classic Iruma move – he’s like the bizarro King Solomon. The thing about Iruma is, you don’t get annoyed at his relentless niceness because it’s so genuine (and Murase Ayumu sells it beautifully). And you don’t get annoyed at his reversal of fortune because it’s so richly deserved. There are certainly larger plot twists still to play out here, as the cliffhanger ending suggests – but Iruma-kun is always going to be Iruma-kun. And really – why would anyone want that to change?
Yes, I plan on blogging the second season in 2021. And I do regret dropping this series, as much as any I have since Ronja. And that’s in spite of the fact that for all the reasons stated above, it’s a mighty difficult series to write about. In the end though, Mairimiashita! Iruma-kun is so good at what it does – and so spectacularly positive an experience – that I simply don’t want to ignore it. If the anime world still has room for a series like this to be popular, then all hope is not lost. And that’s surely a fitting tribute.
ED Sequence:
Epilogue:
End Card:
leongsh
March 8, 2020 at 3:49 pmIruma has become like the demon-folk, exception being that he is still a human. The very end of the season showing him having an evil side like what they described in the devi-dol arc that demons have their dark side and need to be calmed by the devi-dol. It’s the most intresting development of this series but comes at the very last bit of the season.
Murase Ayumu sells it very well as Iruma. Well, he is the voice of Haikyuu’s Sunshine Boy.
A.Sade
March 8, 2020 at 7:43 pmAs a manga reader who found the manga thanks to your Season Preview post, I have to admit I was a little disappointed when you dropped it (though I understood your reasons) and equally glad to hear that you ended up loving it. I’ll definitely look forward to your coverage of the next season! and Kingdom S3 too, hopefully hehe
Guardian Enzo
March 8, 2020 at 8:06 pmJust keep that damn CGI under control, please.
Rita
March 10, 2020 at 1:00 pmI was a little surprised they ended on something super fluffy and more filler-y (even if I still loved it) but the fact that there’s a season two means some of my favorite arcs are getting adapted so all is right in the world.
I’ve said it before, but I really do appreciate the levity and positivity of this series a lot more now since it stands as a contrast to a lot of the series recentky (including the really good ones! Like Beastars, Dorohedoro, Pet, Mugen are all great in different ways but damn if I don’t sometimes just need a break from super heavy or violent or depressing shows)
Guardian Enzo
March 10, 2020 at 1:33 pmI haven’t read the manga, but ending on a super-upbeat and heartwarming note seems perfectly in-character for this series to me. I liked the Kiriwo arc but this feels like a more natural way to go into the break.
m
March 18, 2020 at 3:10 pmWith all the doom-and-gloom that happening around the world and that I miss Iruma Saturdays quite a bit, anyone around here know anime that has the same positive vibes llike this one? thank you
Guardian Enzo
March 18, 2020 at 5:48 pmIt’s hard to find anything that vibes as positively as Iruma-kun does. But I’d track down Miira no Kaikata – that’s in the same family.