(12ish episodes)
What’s it about ?
Adaptation of a romantic comedy manga.
If you’re wondering about the bizarrely elaborate official English title, it’s probably an attempt to play off the pun in the original title (it literally means something like “We’re all from the Kawai Lodging House”, but it sounds a lot like “We’re all pitiful”).
Characters
Usa, our protagonist. He’s looking to start his life anew with high school. (There are hints his middle school years were wild.) Hence why he moved to a new town, and begged his parents to let him live on his own. Finding a quiet and intellectual girl to settle down with would be nice, too.
Ritsu, a quiet and intellectual girl in the next grade. And she happens to live in the same lodging house he’s just moved into ! Heaven ! Well, aside from the fact that she’s not about to let him get into her personal space, and seems to have pegged him as a weirdo. But hey, room for progress, right ? Also, that kendo sword looks dangerous. (There’s a fun joke explaining how she can seemingly pull it out of thin air.)
Sumiko, the elderly landlady of the lodging house, seems to fit the “nice but strict old lady” archetype… But that’s at least partly an act, and she’s more mischievous than she looks. There’s a reason the rent is dirt cheap, after all.
Shirosaki, Usa’s roommate, is part of that reason. He’s more than a bit of a creep, although he’s mostly harmless. (After all, he’s openly a masochist. Sumiko quite enjoys playing along.) He’s less annoying than I’d have thought, as he makes a good sounding board for Usa’s own fetishes.
Mayumi, another of the residents. A working woman in her 20s, she comes back early from a trip after dumping her boyfriend for two-timing her. From everyone else’s reactions, it’s obviously not the first time this happens. She’s an impressive drinker, which however does not mean she can hold her alcohol well.
There’s mention of a college student also residing in Kawai Complex, but she’s currently away. The OP & ED sequences suggest she often antagonizes Mayumi.
Production Values
Perfectly alright. There are some sudden abstract backgrounds & overlay text marking punchlines that initially made me think this was adapted from 4-panel manga, but apparently not.
Overall Impression
Well, that was fun. There’s something to be said for run-of-the-mill romantic comedies : it doesn’t set the world on fire, but it’s very pleasant to watch. Nothing wrong with occupying that niche.
There’s a good chance I’ll keep watching this.
