REVIEW: ‘My Happy Marriage’ Season 2 Episodes 12-13

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episodes 12-13 see the final confrontation play out as Usui (Yûya Uchida, One Piece Film: Red) makes his final attempt to craft the world he envisions. However, Kiyoka (Kaito Ishikawa, MF Ghost) and Miyo (Reina Ueda, Too Many Losing Heroines) are still standing, and have no intention of allowing his rule to take control of Japan. With her full Dream-Sight ability awakened, can Miyo finally stop Usui’s plans? And what awaits the survivors once they reach the other side of the battle?

When a season’s story leads directly to a final confrontation, a lot of weight falls on the big moment once it comes. Once the moment passes, it needs to pay off the buildup and tension that have accumulated throughout the story, leaving a satisfying conclusion behind. Sadly, the big confrontation that highlights My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episodes 12-13 falls short of this goal.

Its big failures are twofold. The first is that Miyo’s part in the drama is questionable. Despite having obtained the much lauded Dream-Sight, the reason this power is proclaimed as one that could control the world is still extremely unclear. While she manages to challenge Usui in some ways, she cannot defeat him, leaving that task to fall on others. This makes the whole buildup to her awakening feel hollow.

The other problem is Usui’s final fate. No spoilers, but a guy who has done as many horrible things as he has over the past season should not end his story with a smile on his face. The sense that Usui, in many ways, gets what he wants creates a sense of injustice that undercuts the heroes’ triumph.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episodes 12-13 fail to land after a season of build-up.

Despite these significant setbacks, My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episodes 12-13 deliver some strong moments in its final confrontation. Arata’s part in the grand finale is excellently handled, giving him one of the best wrap-ups of the season. And of course, Miyo and Kiyoka’s love and devotion are given ample opportunities to play out, keeping this powerful, if well-worn, element of the storytelling present.

The visuals during the confrontation lean strongly into the surreal worlds that Usui and Miyo’s powers can craft. They do a good job molding the environment from Miyo’s peaceful dreamscapes to Usui’s more terrifying realities. The way the visuals capture Usui torturing Kiyoka at one point during their fight is particularly effective.

While the front half of My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episodes 12-13 is a mixed bag, the back half largely drags. As the characters and their arcs are all brought to a close, the episode doesn’t have nearly enough to do to warrant the 22 minutes it takes to watch. They would’ve been better served streamlining the final fight and squeezing about seven minutes of this onto Episode 12.

The biggest culprit for the dragging comes when the prince makes an offer to Miyo after their victory over Usui. In theory, this makes sense; her powers have awakened, which supposedly matters, but the amount of time it takes to resolve the situation, especially given the eventual outcome, does more to weigh down the proceedings than add to them.

The wedding preparation is a highlight, showing how far Miyo has come.

Even this largely superfluous entry isn’t without its charms. One scene sees Miyo and Kiyoka spending time with Hazuki (Yôko Hikasa, Dragon Ball DAIMA) and Fuyu (Kikuko Inoue, Shy) as they prepare for their wedding. The lovely moment sees Miyo gifted with something truly special and highlights the place she has grown into within her new family. It’s sweet, as even Fuyu, in her way, shows her acceptance of her future daughter-in-law.

We get moments of just Miyo and Kiyoka, along with the group dynamics. It’s played out at this point despite the two feeling as genuine and beautiful as ever when basking in each other’s affections. It’s still lovely to see, but where once it might have carried an episode through some slumps, now it’s too familiar and too much of a given to shine bright enough to do the job here.

The single surprise out of Episode 13 is where it leaves Kiyoka’s subordinate, Godo (Hiro Shimono). The largely bit player in the series manages to step up in the final few episodes of the season, showcasing how much he has grown. Seeing the episode take a little time to acknowledge him was pleasant.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episodes 12-13 delivers a finale that largely falls flat. While tried and true elements like Miyo and Kiyoka’s love continue to do what they can, big moments don’t play out how they need to, and the wrap-up lingers far too long. This creates a largely unsatisfying, if functional, finale.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Episodes 12-13 is streaming now on Netflix.

Previous Episode | Next Episode