REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Episode 7 — “Capture Those Delicious Moments”

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7, “Capture Those Delicious Moments,” sees Marin (Hina Suguta, Unicorn Overlord) faced with an unexpected problem: she’s putting on a little weight. With summer modeling approaching, her boss expects her to return to her usual form in time for her shoots. However, even as life becomes a bit stressful for the star model, happiness is still to be found with Gojo (Shoya Ishige, Blue Protocol). 

Narratives about weight, body image, and societal views on the topic can be touchy things. Social standards, where concepts like beauty are concerned, can be unrealistically harsh, creating expectations that are unreasonable in the best of circumstances. Presenting a character like Marin as needing to shed a few pounds is ripe for problems. However, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7 handles the delicate topic in the best way possible. 

What makes Marin’s situation not devolve into problematic or crass territory is the attitudes of those involved. The producer of her modeling work never says anything harsh or mean about it. No derogatory terms are used, nor is the situation blown out of proportion. She simply observes that her body, most notably her face shape, has changed, and she needs to get back to where she was before they start shooting summer clothes. 

Marin makes her work concern personal for good reasons in My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7.

This moderate request makes sense. After all, Marin’s appearance was what got her the job, so her maintaining it doesn’t feel like an unreasonable expectation. Especially since we have been given no reason to believe she was at an unhealthy place to start. And while her boss’s attitude takes much of the sting out of the concept, Marin’s biggest takeaways from the whole situation make it feel even less worrying, since others’ opinions aren’t her concern. 

In true Marin fashion, her big moment of panic comes when she realizes she can no longer fit into her cosplays. This is upsetting to her not only because she loves wearing them, but also because she knows how much work Gojo put into them. Not being able to enjoy those outfits is the push that brings her goals into focus. 

This focal point turns My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7’s primary problem into a personal matter for Marin. She ultimately resolves to get back to where she was so she can do what she enjoys in the manner she enjoys it. This is where all decisions about one’s body should always stem. Not from others’ expectations, but from what you want for yourself. 

Marin and Gojo’s impromptu photoshoot brings extra joy to My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7.

Another element that helps make the situation feel reasonable is the root of Marin’s problem. Rather than revealing she’s been going wild on junk foods and sweets, the source of Marin’s current predicament is far less extreme. It’s something that could be easily overlooked, avoiding the pitfall of making the situation the butt of a joke. 

While the bulk of My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7 focuses on its central issue, it does break away from the matter to end on something joyful. A camera Marin ordered has arrived, and she and Gojo have an impromptu photo shoot. With no cosplay available, Marin gives herself braided pigtails to make herself look special.

After Marin’s concerns and need to figure out how she was gaining weight, sitting at the core of the episode, this sequence brings a sense of relief to the narrative. Done completely from Gojo’s point of view behind the camera, we see Marin spin, smile, strut, and even blow a kiss.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7 showcases its ability to handle a delicate topic with respect.

The choice of perspective captures the charm and warmth that Marin presents to Gojo in a way no other option could. If anyone was left in the audience who couldn’t understand how Gojo became smitten with Marin, this would have to convince them.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7 showcases its ability to handle a delicate topic with respect. Its moderate approach allows it to set a realistic problem before its protagonist, while not coming across as insensitive to the issue as a whole. 

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 7 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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