For a show as predictable as it is, Kawaii Dake ja Nai Shikimori-san sure is strange.  I guess that what’s made it marginally interesting enough to stick with so far, but I’m probably at the point where next week’s ep has to do something to seriously engage me or that’s going to be it.  While there are undeniably a couple of odd tweaks to the formulas intertwined in the premise, the show itself comes off as very one-note.  It pretty much does the same thing all the time, every time.  And unless that thing is way more interesting than what Shikimori-san does, it’s just not enough.

To give it its due, this series does objectify both leads equally – albeit disparately.  But why are we supposed to feel anything for Izumi when he’s basically a perpetual victim of existence?  What is he good at, exactly – apart from making Shikimori’s heart flutter?  Feeling sorry for someone doesn’t make them interesting, which is a problem.  Having his ass bailed out by her over and over isn’t really interesting, either.  Is there a reason why his life is so cursed?  Is there some reason why she’s so obsessed with him apart from the need to be needed?  Maybe – but it doesn’t seem to be a priority to get to it.

Also, there’s too much smiling.

Now that omake bit, that was weird at the very least (which is welcome in this sea of saminess).  Is Motoko being shipped with Shikimori now?  That would be a bizarre turn, if nothing else – herbivore boy gets NTR’d by his mom.  I wouldn’t find it especially appealing but it would be a twist.  I doubt we’re really going there, and I assume that was all about giving Motoko a quirk.  Which is fine!  Why not give Izumi a quirk, too?  Make him a closet sadist or give him some other unwholesome fetish (Star-gazing?  Could that be any more on the nose?).  Throw me a bone, I’m begging you – before it’s too late.  And it’s almost too late…