REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Episode 12 — “Dear My Dress-Up Darling”

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 12, “Dear My Dress-Up Darling,” sees the day of the Coffin group cosplay photo shoot arrive. As Marin (Hina Suguta, To be Hero X) prepares for the day, she steels herself for her promised act. Or will she? One thing is for certain: someone will have their true feelings revealed. 

The bulk of this episode follows the group as they prepare for, and shoot, their cosplay photos. The excitement is palpable, and the energy for the first half of the episode is constantly bubbling. The general joy, showcased as participants delight in sharing their passions, is infectious. Only Sajuna (Atsumi Tanezaki, Arknights: Rise from Ember), whose dislike of horror games causes a momentary panic, falls short of having a wonderful time. And even she manages to have some fun. 

The details that My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 12 showcases when it comes to the setup and execution of the shoot are impressive. The story highlights tricks behind camera work, going to great lengths to show the amount of effort that goes into setting up some of the shots. To further emphasize the commitment to detail, the episode achieves some great transitions between pixel art shots from the game and cross-fades them into the shots taken of the cosplayers. This attention to the granular is fantastic.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 12 explores an awkward dynamic. 

But there is one elephant in the room that must be addressed: Akira’s (Maki Kawase, Summer Time Rendering) feelings towards Marin. Despite pains being taken to accommodate Akira’s discomfort, the pair is eventually brought together, and the situation comes crashing into the limelight. 

How Akira is forced to face her feelings is born of an incredibly natural setup. An innocent idea forces her and Marin into proximity, much to Marin’s alarm. Wishing to respect Akira’s feelings, Marin tries to deflect the situation in the panicked and half-thought-out way that is Marin’s trademark in times of crisis.

But rather than avoid the problem, Marin’s stumbling attempt to be kind forces it more into the open. Though what Akira feels isn’t what Marin suspects. 

Marin makes yet another attempt to be honest with Gojo. 

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 12 reveals that Akira is actually a Marin fan girl. Her discomfort wasn’t the product of dislike, but of intimidation. This confession sends Marin off the deep end, as she is thrilled to have someone think so highly of her. The animation ratchets itself up to twelve for this moment, as Akira shrinks in embarrassment, even as Marin’s exuberant presence comes to occupy the entirety of the screen. 

This moment between Marin and Akira is enjoyable, but it feels like it could’ve been even more impactful. Given the season’s exploration of other serious issues, it seemed like there was going to be an actual problem to be addressed, rather than a simple moment of star-struck intimidation. As it is, the scene still succeeds brilliantly at what it attempts to do. 

With the cosplay finished, the group heads out together, slowly separating as each comes to their own destination. Before long, it’s just Marin and Gojo. Unsurprisingly, Marin once more goes into panic mode as she tries to convince herself to confess her feelings. Sadly, she can’t bring herself to just yet.

A beautiful setting doesn’t get the confession we expect. 

While Marin’s earlier waffling felt like a necessary buildup, the frustration it creates here is poorly implemented. This is largely due to how far My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 12 goes to convince the audience that it’s happening.

Set against a lovely sunset, Marin stops Gojo from leaving so she can ask an important question of him, and everything drives home the fact that this is happening. Until the important question pertains to getting a selfie with him, it tries to be clever, but just feels cheap. 

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 12 largely succeeds in what it sets out to do. One final cosplay, some fun group moments, and plenty of ridiculous energy from Marin allow the bulk of the episode to shine. It just stumbles at the final moment, keeping it from being a perfect wrap for the season.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 12 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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