REVIEW: ‘My Happy Marriage’ Season 2 Episode 6 — “The Man Called Naoshi Usui”

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6, “The Man Called Naoshi Usui,” shows the unfolding crisis as Usui (Yûya Uchida) appears at the base to claim Miyo (Reina Ueda). With Kyoka (Kaito Ishikawa) off searching for the Emperor, will anyone left behind be able to challenge the villain’s machinations? 

The narrative picks up with Arata (Ryohei Kimura) and Kiyoka as they close in on the recently abducted Emperor. Tracking him back to the Imperial Villa, they are bemused to find no signs of struggle or occupation on the grounds. As they ponder if they have been lured into a trap, a car arrives, bearing a message from Prince Takaihito. of an imminent danger threatening Miyo. As their mistake sinks in, the narrative jumps back to the base to follow the unfolding crisis.

This opening scene less than elegantly establishes where some key players are as My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 begins. The opening sets up Kiyoka’s return to the base to interrupt Usui’s kidnapping attempt, undercutting much of the tension the first half of the episode is about to build. This scene wouldn’t exist if it didn’t matter, and the only way it can matter is if they make it back in time.

The manipulative floodgates open in My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6.

The rest of My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6‘s opening half is focused on Usui’s attack on Miyo. This sequence has an overwhelming aura of terror. Usui’s grinning countenance as he pulls the troops to protect Miyo through illusionary frights and horrors drives home how twisted with power he has become. He treats people like toys, caring nothing for their lives or health. Everything is a game to him, and everyone else is simply pieces.

The height of Usui’s manipulations is revealed when the troops learn how he managed to breach the defensive barrier erected around the structure. Kaoruko (Haruka Tomatsu) sabotaged the barrier at Usui’s order, making it so people cannot leave rather than not enter. She did this to save her father from being tortured at the hands of the Gifted Communion. However, it is soon made clear that the scenes of agony she witnessed her father endure were just another illusion.

This reveal is a jarring moment for the sequence, as there are elements of all this that are never addressed. When did this happen? Has Kaoruko been under Usui’s thumb all along? Or did she see this just this morning? It’s an important note, and without it, Kaoruko’s character feels left in a strange place.

From here, the manipulative floodgates open, and Usui soon has most of the troops attacking each other. Seeing their comrades as gifted communion or monsters, the entire unit is soon on the ground, bleeding or going mad. Everyone except the guilt-riddled Kaoruko. Hoping to redeem herself from her earlier error and save her friend, Kaoruko launches at Usui, displaying the might of her spiritual power to enhance her physical attributes.

This is the point in My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 where the situation begins to lose control. As someone who can achieve anything through his mental abilities, it seems unreasonable that Usui would be able to hold his own with the physically augmented and highly trained Kaoruko. Yet, not only does he hold his own, he easily overpowers the soldier, making her effort look foolish. And this is real because Usui’s illusions can’t interact with people. They have no physical form. This isn’t in Kaoruko’s head; it’s happening. This leaves Usui feeling like he has too many angles covered. A weakness is important, or characters feel like they are wrapped in plot armor.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6‘s visuals deliver the right impact.

The conflict’s visual presentation is effective. It conveys how enhanced Kaoruko’s physical attributes have become, as does the mocking ease with which Usui dispatches his opponent. The moment crafts a visually strong impact, even if its place in the larger narrative isn’t solid.

Once Kaoruko is down, Usui moves to claim his prize, although he is surprised to find Miyo resolute in her unwillingness to accompany him. She rejects his actions and his claim of being her “father.” Happily, this moment establishes the claim as a purely figurative one, removing any potentially uncomfortable family revelations.

Before Usui can snatch his prize, the room lights up as currents of electricity run around the barrier encompassing it. Kyoka and the others have returned. Demanding Usui back away from his fiancé, Kyoka’s anger is on full display as he forces the barrier down.

Kyoka’s wrath is delivered with suitable impact, but the scene leaves unanswered questions. How does the barrier keep them out? Usui established that it keeps people in, not the other way around. Did Kyoka just assume the barrier’s presence meant he couldn’t enter? And if it only works from the inside, wouldn’t it be easily broken from the outside? Or did the story simply forget how the barrier works?

Whatever the case may be, once Kyoka gains access to the room, Usui takes his leave. By incapacitating everyone with some form of mental attack, he then casually walks out of the room. Once recovered the injured are rushed to the hospital while Kyoka comforts Miyo.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 wraps things up too abruptly.

This wrap-up feels abrupt and unsatisfying. It again makes Usui feel far too powerful. Worse, his powers feel inconsistent now. If he could hold the soldiers in their illusions earlier and fend off Kaoruko, shouldn’t he be able to incapacitate Kyoka and others while still making off with Miyo? What physical resistance could she possibly offer? The only explanation that makes sense is that it’s only midway through the season, and we can’t wrap up the plot yet. And that is never a good reason.

From here, My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 jumps to the next day as Arata and some of the soldiers begin investigating Usui’s actions. Arata is disturbed to overhear some of his colleagues’ suspicions concerning anyone from the Usuba clan. As Usui is from their house, many seem suspicious of Arata.

Arata’s isolation triggers a flashback sequence in which the narrative explores his upbringing. It shows that as a child, Arata was not allowed to have friends or live a normal life. He was forced to focus on his duties to the clan and the Dream Madian, should she appear.

Seeing Arata’s past for the first time helps inform much of the character’s personality. His devotion to protecting Miyo to the point of obsession makes complete sense now. He is also fleshed out in explaining why he is so averse to any potential danger to her, as all of his self-worth is derived from his duty to her and the family, although he clearly wishes it could be otherwise.

As he muses, Usui approaches Arata and offers him a place in The Gifted Communion. He claims to understand Arata’s struggles and promises to relieve him of some of his burden. As Arata aims his gun at the villain, the sun sets, casting the scene in a growing sense of darkness before the camera cuts away.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6’s story is unworthy of its presentation.

The voice work that Uichida delivers throughout this episode as Usui is excellent, but the character’s menacing presence resonates particularly strongly here. The cold edge and supreme self-confidence the character displays dwarfs the insecurity of Arata. The character’s voice does as much to project this power as the strong visual work.

Once again, though, My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 delivers a scene with strong presentation but that’s less sure of its narrative. Arata was just chasing Usui down. He struggles with facing this long-feared opponent because a few soldiers said some harsh things about his family. Is he that easily swayed?

If he does ultimately take Usui up on his offer, it will feel incredibly weak as a plot point. If Arata is going from fervent guardian to traitor, the series needs to give more reason than it has. The concern for the speed of Arata’s fall isn’t helped by how the final major beat of the episode plays out.

That beat sees Kyoka and Miyo hosting a New Year’s party. Godo (Hiro Shimono), Arata, and Hazuki (Yôko Hikasa, Is it Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon?) are all in attendance and the festivities feel like a welcome change of tone for the group. When Miyo steps away for a second to fetch some charcoal at Hazuki’s request, she runs into Kaoruko, who is waiting outside.

Kaoruko informs Miyo that she is returning to the old capital. Letters have been written explaining what transpired and why, so there is a good chance she will be granted leniency for what happened. She vows to atone for her mistakes and endeavors to become someone worthy of Miyo’s friendship. As tears run down Kaoruko’s cheeks, Miyo embraces the woman, telling her she would be honored to still be her friend.

Again, everything about this scene is done very well. Tomatsu does an excellent job delivering Kaoruko’s heartfelt sorrow at having failed her friend, and the animation captures the powerful emotions of both characters skillfully. However, the speed of the narrative keeps this scene from landing as well as its presentation feels deserves.

Kaoruko has only been around for three episodes. How much attachment can be built over so short a time? The rapid transformation of Kaoruko from stranger to friend, to betrayer, and now redemptive figure leaves her feeling less like a character and more like a hollow plot device. This is disappointing, as previous episodes set her up so well to be a great fixture for the series.

While My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 crafts some powerful moments in isolation, it fails these efforts due to larger issues. Taken alone, several scenes deliver strong emotional performances and great atmospheric quality. However, narrative moments don’t exist in a vacuum. And how the story tries to string its elements together is beginning to fall apart.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 is streaming now on Netflix.