I finished a show recently and I can’t get my head around how I feel about it. On the one hand it was everything I expected it to be when I was eagerly anticipating watching it. On the other hand every time I thought I had a handle on the show and who the characters were the show surprised me. By the way the show I’m writing about is Scum’s Wish, a dark, twisting tale of love, sex, loneliness, and what our emotions will lead us to do. This show is a mood. I’ll get more into this as I go, but first I feel I should give you a quick (hopefully) synopsis of the plot for context.
Hanabi Yasuraoka and Mugi Awaya seem to have it all. They are both honor students and their “perfect” relationship is the envy of the entire school. Little does everyone know that these two are actually in a fake relationship built to fight off the loneliness of unrequited love. Hanabi has been in love with Narumi Kanai, an older childhood friend and neighbor, for as long as she can remember. Mugi is in love with his middle school tutor, the beautiful Akane Minagawa. These two characters come into each other’s orbit when their respective crushes become teachers at their high school. They both become dejected when they notice that the two teachers are hitting it off. Sounds like a common setup for your typical coming-of-age love story, but Scum’s Wish is a little more complicated and darker than that.
The first two episodes serve to set up the lives of our characters as we learn what makes Hanabi and Mugi tick. We also learn that our two leads are not the only ones suffering the pain of unrequited love. Noriko (also referred to as Moca) is a childhood friend of Mugi and has let it be known that he is her “Prince Charming”. Sanae is Hanabi’s only friend, but unbeknownst to Hanabi she has been in love with her from the first day they met.
At this point you might be thinking you know what this story is. I mean how many stories pair off two strangers looking for comfort from their issues, promising not to fall in love, then ultimately after a pure, beautiful story the couple realize that they actually love each other and end up together. I mean I just described Toradora (a show I do love by the way). Well if that’s the story you think you’re in for, kinda, but also not at all.
As far as the quality of the show itself I would say the premise although not all that original is great. What really distinguishes the show from those with similar setups is the sex. This is a physical show where characters deal with their emotional turmoil through sex. At some point in the show every character is either used or is using someone sexually. One thing that I am struggling with is that the show is not as playful as I had hoped, although that is more of a me problem than an actual critique. Also while the show does look good I don’t particularly love the filmmaking. The show is adapting 8 manga volumes into 12 episodes and it shows. The pacing is inconsistent and at times episodes are so over-edited that you lose your bearings in the story. This feeling is only added to as so many scenes cut to black and don’t transition into the next scene. Despite this the show does maintain its tonal consistency and most importantly the characters always remain true to themselves. Overall I would recommend this show, especially if you like shows that are both messy and emotionally resonant. From here on there is a full fledged SPOILER ALERT!
FINAL WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
For this spoiler review I’m going to start with the end of episode 2, but from there I want it to be more stream of consciousness than anything, so prepare for the ramblings of a madman.
Episode 2 ends with Sanae making her move on Hanabi after being invited to sleep over at her house. This kicks off the beautiful, dark, twisted messi part of the story. Whereas Hanabi and Mugi’s relationship is built on a mutual desire to use each other for the same purpose, Sanae and Hanabi want different things. Sanae knows the Hanabi-Mugi relationship is fake and is exploiting the fact that her friend is sad and lonely to take something that she wants. Before you start feeling bad for Hanabi understand that she is also using Sanae to giver her physical pleasure to fill that void that she feels from not being with Kanai. She knows that she is exploiting her friend’s feelings for her and she feels extreme guilt over it. However she is both too selfish and more importantly too weak to stop what is happening. She knows she is crossing a line that can never be uncrossed.
While Hanabi is experiencing all of the guilt of this choice, we start to see the rest of her world start to fall apart. In episode 4 Akane is unveiled not to be just a pretty face, but a conniving, bordering on sociopathic person who relishes taking what others desire, namely men. She sets up Hanabi to walk in on Kanai confessing his feelings to her because she loves the feeling of taking a man that is wanted. This is a pivot for Akane because up to this point we have seen her mostly as a sweet woman who is the object of affection for both Mugi and Kanai and also an unwitting antagonist to our lead Hananbi. When this happened I was very excited for the future of the show as I thought this was a reveal of Akane as a sociopath and the start of some psychosexual cat and mouse game between her and Hanabi. This was an exciting development for me as a true degenerate who loves a mess, but alas while the show feints in that direction it does ultimately go another way. Of course I understand why the show does not go this way as Hanabi is not a character built for that type of life, but nevertheless it was a bummer to me.
I’ve been focusing on Hanabi for a while, but now it’s time to shift the focus to our guy Mugi. He’s a bit harder to figure out than Hanabi. She wears her emotions on her face and struggles to hide them. On the contrary Mugi is cool and passive on the outside and it isn’t until you spend some time with his inner monologue that you start to understand him better. The focus starts shifting to Mugi in episode 5 when we get a look into how he met Akane and we meet Mei, the girl who he lost his virginity to. This alters our perspective of Mugi as up until that point we have only seen him as the experienced counterpoint to Hanabi. We also learn that Mugi is aware of the type of person that Akane is and that in spite of the logical part of his brain he wants her. We see through his relationships with Akane and Mei that Mugi is attracted to damaged girls, thus his connection with Hanabi. Episode 5 gives us the full picture of Mugi as we see that even when he tries to take control of the relationship he is always following.
I haven’t really discussed Hanabi and Kanai’s relationship yet and that’s because even after watching the show I find him an enigma. He basically comes across as a plain, naive doofus, but he wins the hearts of both Hanabi and Akane, two very different characters. I think this character in particular takes the brunt of the parrying down of the story. Also this middle part of the series is what really has me intrigued to check out the manga because from here on out it feels kind of like a speedrun of the plot with a lot of scenes feeling like Cliff’s Notes of the scene. Anyways he goes out with Akane and after a boring date she decides to sleep with him and rub it in Akane’s face.
This revelation sets off Hanabi and she spends the next few trying and failing to become like Akane. She also decides that she and Mugi should start going out for real and this is a moment where the pacing really has a negative effect on the story as that really has no bearing on the story. This is the period in the story where every character (except Kanai, who is barely a character) hits their lowest moment and completely take advantage of either. Hanabi and Sanae are two interminably lonely people who both care for each other, but at this moment are actively hurting the other. Mugi agrees to go on a date with Noriko despite the fact that he doesn’t love her and knows she does because it makes him feel good. Then despite not wanting to have sex with her when he thinks that she wants to. It is at this moment that Noriko makes a decision that changes her life and pivots the story in a new direction. She rejects Mugi, realising that this love that she feels is actually weighing her down. She cares about Mugi, but what she loves is the idea of a “Prince Charming” that she had in her head. She makes the decision to choose herself and wh she is now and it sets her on a better path. From this point on everytime we see Noriko she seems more confident and at peace with herself.
It is at this point that both Hanabi and Mugi have reached the peak of their loneliness, but also that they realise that they now rely on each other for who they are and not as avatars for their true loves. This pushes them to actually take a shot on the ones they love because when they inevitably get shot down they can start a real relationship with each other. If only it was that simple.
The two set out to take their rejection the next day and plan to meet after to console each other and move on. In what is actually a pretty sweet scene and the first sign of life from Kanai, we see Hanabi confess. Despite the fact that she knows the outcome she still weeps after, mixed with sadness and relief, and as Kanai comforts her, we and Hanabi see a brighter future on the horizon unburdened from her feelings. Mugi reveals to Akane that he knows exactly who she is and despite himself confesses his feelings. She obviously turns him down and he can move on with Hanab… Wait! What’s that? He’s following her back to a hotel! They’re getting undressed! THEY’RE HAVING SEX!!! That’s right folks, he did it. Mugi got it in. The dream. Sure he’s being used and he knows it, yet still thinks he can change her, but knows he can’t, but maybe he could, but does he even want to, oh well who cares he’s doing it with his hot teacher! Dream come true… Right? Right?!?! RIGHT?!?!?!
Fresh off her rejection from Kanai and her ghosting from Mugi, Hanabi caves to her craving for connection and agrees to go on a vacation with Sanae. They go off to Sanae’s vacation cabin in the woods where nothing could possibly go wrong. No seriously this isn’t a horror story and truck-kun can’t get you in the woods. Unfortunately Sanae’s dipshit cousin Atsuya is there. I’m going to ignore this character from here on out because he is unnecessary and cousin love doesn’t do it for me. Night one they get down and dirty. Day two emotions. Hanabi and Sanae have both decided that their relationship needs to end. It’s hurting both of them and it’s destroyed their friendship. This is where the story gets a bit confusing. After agreeing that they won’t see each other and they will leave the cabin separately and end their entire relationship, Hanabi decides she can’t lose her friend. She rushes out into the rain and pleads with Sanae to please stay friends. After some shouting and unburdening of feelings they share one last kiss and I thought decided to stay friends. However Hanabi still leaves early the next day and they do not see each other again until the finale, which takes place months later. Now I suppose they needed a cooling off period, but again it was kind of unclear. Anyways Hanabi basically has no more human connections and is alone, oh and by the way if you think we’re going to deal with that we’re not she’s all but gone until the finale. By the way while this is happening Mugi and Akane are banging in his bed while she tells him to call her teacher. King.
The next two episodes are basically devoted to the Mugi, Akane, Kanai (I have to check his name every time, that’s how dull he is) love triangle. There was only ever going to be one winner in this fight kid. Mugi appeals to Akane’s basest instincts and fits in perfectly with her profile, but Kanai is something she never expected. He wants her for more than sex and is never the aggressor. She is always the one reaching and it is throwing her off. Despite not fitting he MO (that’s short for modus operandi you Philistines) she can’t. He even shrugs off her promiscuous ways and says that it’s ok. He accepts her for who she is. He is a man, not a boy. Okay he doesn’t say that last part, but it’s implied. We learn through these episodes that she is not the sociopath that I initially believed her to be, but actually a sad lonely person who uses her front as a shield from being hurt. During their trip Kanai proposes to Akane and having had her heart opened and her true self accepted she says yes. Now it’s unclear for the rest of the story whether their marriage will be traditional or if she will keep sleeping with other people, but it feels like she won’t. Maybe the manga’s clearer? Guess I’ll find out. She dumps Mugi and he comes clean that he liked the messed up version of her and didn’t actually want her to change. This guy needs some therapy. Also I forgot to mention, but it seems like Kanai wants Akane because she looks like his dead mom. Freud would be so proud.
The finale is quite fitting for this beautiful, messy show. The editing is wild, the timeline is jumbled, and every character gets a nice fitting end. Kanai and Akane are going to get married and that is that. No seriously there is no drama, Kanai is impervious to drama. He might actually be a shounen protagonist who got lost on his way to a middling harem show. Noriko is doing well and looks great at a fashion show. No seriously that’s it she doesn’t even talk. Sanae comes back and she got the old “I’m moving on” short haircut that all anime girls get. (I’m looking at you Hina.) She “saves” Hanabi from an awkward moment that was actually just a chance for Hanabi to show her growth as she lets the guy who asks her out down gently. The two girls reconnect and it appears that their friendship can survive in this new form. (Apparently there is a sequel manga so we’ll see.) Now to the good stuff. Hanabi has spent the last few months making two new friends (sort of) and getting involved in school activities. As the culture festival approaches she is busy helping out. It appears she is moving on with her life, but there is still a hole as she has not spoken to Mugi since way back before he started going out with Akane. Now this is where the timeline and cuts get weird as we see Mugi and Hanabi run into each other in a storage and then we cut to the future. At this point I was both frustrated and confused. I didn’t know where we were in time and it felt like Hanabi and Mugi were going to end up together. After finishing the episode I am proud to say that I’m still confused about when things happen, but pleased with how their relationship concludes. We finally see them have a heart to heart during the fireworks about all of their feelings and all of the things that have happened as they talk out their issues instead of trying to fill that void with physical intimacy. This is when the show hits you with a fake out never before seen outside the first ever Not! joke.
We see Hanabi walk towards Mugi as he stands by the doors in front of school and… SHE’S KEEPS ON WALKING RIGHT PAST HIM. That’s right folks we did it. A show where the main couple doesn’t end up together. They decided that they needed to both go their separate ways to really find love. They find the value in their time together and value the ways that they have helped change each other. The time they spent together wasn’t a waste, but it was also just a moment as these two are now in a new place and are ready to face the world and move on from this dark time separately.
And that is the end of my review. It’s been a long twisted journey for me (I spent more time writing this than watching the show!) and I’m still not sure I’ve really reached a conclusion. Did I like the show? Yes absolutely! Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. Is it good? For the most part yes, but with some major flaws. Does that sound wishy-washy? Yes, but who cares, it’s my review. This show took me on a wild ride (binged it in 2 days) and I loved it. This is the type of show that frankly there are not enough of these types of shows. The characters aren’t just flawed; they do truly terrible things to people that they care for, but that doesn’t make them bad. There’s real moral complexity and by god PEOPLE ACTUALLY FUCK… AND IT FEELS GOOD! Also I’m definitely gonna read the manga now and honestly that’s probably the real object of the show. If you made it to the end congratulations! If you didn’t, salutations. Please comment with your thoughts below.