REVIEW: ‘Let’s Get Divorced’ Looks At The Complexities Of Love.

Taishi (Tôri Matsuzaka) is a Diet member of the ruling party and Yu(Riisa Naka)i is a celebrated actress. Together, they had a storybook marriage. That is until Taishi cheated on her. Now, their marriage is on the rocks, and the two struggle with doing any more than keeping up appearances for the outside world. But when Taishi’s reelection comes around the two come together to get him reelected and perhaps find their love again in Let’s Get Divorced, directed by Ryosuke Fukuda, Fuminori Kaneko, and Takuya Sakagam, with writing by Kankurô Kud and Shizuka Oishi.

Marriage is a complicated thing. How one functions successfully varies from pairing to pairing, and there are times when making one work almost seems more akin to blind luck than the fruits of hard work and devotion on the part of the parties involved. While the cornerstone of most marriages is love, there is a bit more that is needed at times than a supply of this powerful emotion. That is definitely the case in Let’s Get Divorced.

As the series guides viewers through its nine episodes, it showcases the struggles of Yui and Taishi as they try to first make their marriage work. With both a political career and a celebrity persona at stake, both have much to lose from ending their relationship. But eventually, events move to the point where both agree to call it quits. However, Taishi has a reelection campaign coming up, so they agree to tough it out till after the votes are counted.

It is during this campaign period that the bulk of Let’s Get Divorced tales place. As the duo is forced to stand shoulder-to-shoulder together at various events and gatherings, they are reminded of the things they love about each other, as well as the things that have driven them to this point. A great many cultural attitudes are called into question throughout the show’s exploration of this couple’s life. The power of family, the stigma of divorce, and even what qualifies as infidelity are all looked at over the show’s run. But while these may sound like heavy concepts to explore, the show generally manages to keep its tone light.

The series always keeps a comical air to the proceedings, even though there aren’t really many jokes per se. Many of the characters present over-the-top personalities and reactions to the plot’s many twists that fall anywhere on the spectrum of genuinely humorous to completely cringe-inducing. However, even at their worse, Let’s Get Divorced’s attempts to lighten the mood never go so far astray as to greatly harm its overall charm and story.

What is the true strength of this series is how fervently it tries to show the complexity of Yui and Taishi’s situation and their feelings toward each other. As mistakes are made by both parties the show goes out of its way to highlight how complicated human emotions can be, as it builds to an ending that feels honest and fitting for the nuanced journey it wraps up. This complexity makes the story perfect for those who are interested in a deep dive into the subject matter, while it may be off-putting for anyone who wants a fun little rom-com that wraps itself up in a pretty little bow.

The cast of Let’s Get Divorced do a great job of bringing their eclectic personalities to life. The strong characters create lots of light drama between them as they come into the orbit of each other as their roles in the couple’s life see them collide. Some characters, like Taishi, see great growth over the series as they learn from the events of the show. Others, like Taishi’s mom, are shown to stubbornly cling to their ways, even when you think there might be growth occurring. This mix of evolution and stagnation helps to add to the complexities of the series and its narrative.

Let’s Get Divorced delivers an entertaining story about love, marriage, and what it takes to make them work. While it occasionally gets a little too outlandish for its own good, the story ultimately succeeds at delivering a nuanced look at its subjects, while maintaining a light, enjoyable tone.

Let’s Get Divorced is streaming now on Netflix.