This hits hard. I don't feel very good when someone outdoes me in something I take pride in, and it's always without malicious intent so I feel even worse for feeling bad. It's just something I pretend doesn't happen in the hopes that one day I'll be confident in my own skills.
I started watching Cherry Magic on a whim and I wasn't really expecting much, but wow it completely blew me away! It didn't suffer from a lot of the frustrating romance clichés and I actually think I like this subgenre of romance.
I can't really think of any other shows that are similar. Maybe "Netjuu no Susume" is similar but nothing else comes to mind.
I've added the manga to my library since it seems like it's still ongoing. It's possible that they intentionally scripted the anime to have a nice ending without loose ends since it's unlikely to get a season 2, but I actually like that. The anime is a nice self-contained story that I think anyone who likes romance shows can enjoy.
Also when I was picking a screenshot, I came to my senses and realised that the one I originally picked was a huge spoiler lol. Good thing I realised before posting.
It's a bit different from the source material but honestly I actually like that Alicia's character got a glow up. "Game force" feels a bit like a cop out but based on the events of volume 3, I have a theory.
I'm not sure how likely a season 2 is but there are a lot of scenes that I really want to see animated.
I haven't yet gotten around to reading volume 4, and I might give the manga a try if it's following the new plot with Alicia.
Also that moment between Yumiella and Patrick was soo cute ❤️
Spoilers for light novel volume 3
I doubt that the reasoning for Alicia losing control is going to just be "because game system" because that would be way too lazy. I wouldn't say that the series is all that detailed but that would be way too stupid. It's very likely that the god of evil is to blame for Alicia losing control. I suppose we just have to wait and see. I'm excited!
The voice acting at the end there really sent me lol.
Depending on how they handle the changes to the new plot, the "game plot" control might be addressed later in the story. If the manga is following these changes, we might actually get to see it even if we never get a season 2. At the very least, I don't think the demon lord cursing Alicia would be very in character for him and would probably invalidate a lot of his characterization.
I've read up to volume 3 and I'm going to start reading volume 4 soon when I actually find time. This has been a blast honestly and I'm also really happy that there were enough people who enjoyed the series that I could have these discussion threads here!
I agree that there should have been more foreshadowing about the game plot driving force but apart from that I actually like the changes to Alicia's character. When I read the LN I really felt like it was a bit absurd that Alicia would act on her fear of Yumiella and that ended up making me feel like she was ultimately an uninteresting character.
As for the foil, I think Patrick fills that role pretty well imo, and the contrast only gets funnier as the story progresses.
[DISC] Bocchi the Rock! - Ch. 76 - MangaDex ( mangadex.org )
Speedrunner Cannot Return from the Game World (RTA Sousha wa Game Sekai kara Kaerenai) - Chapter 12 ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Oshi no Ko — Ch. 148 — END OF SUMMER ( mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp )
Yoru no Kurage wa Oyogenai • Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night - Episode 5 discussion
Yoru no Kurage wa Oyogenai, episode 5...
[DISC] Tokidoki Bosotto Roshia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san — Ch. 38 — May I Ask For Seconds...? (3) ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Chainsaw Man — Ch. 164 — Charred Remains ( mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp )
damn these rocks gay. good for them. good for them ( lemmy.blahaj.zone )
i saw this in a dream last night ( lemmy.world )
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[not a meme] anyone I should add? ( lemmy.dbzer0.com )
I'm sorry if this is not the best place for this, I couldn't think of anywhere better to ask about it...
[DISC] Love Agency — Ch. 35 — Double Date ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] The One Within the Villainess — Vol. 4 Ch. 19 — Dance in the Palm of My Hand ( mangadex.org )
Kaii to Otome to Kamikakushi • Mysterious Disappearances - Episode 3 discussion
Kaii to Otome to Kamikakushi, episode 3...
[DISC] Chainsaw Man — Ch. 163 — Dream Balls ( mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp )
Speedrunner Cannot Return from the Game World (RTA Sousha wa Game Sekai kara Kaerenai) - Chapter 11 ( mangadex.org )
Marisa Kir(ule)isame ( lemmy.world )
[DISC] The Saga of Tanya the Evil — Vol. 14 Ch. 40.5 — Side story: A borrowed cat ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Bocchi the Rock! Gaiden: Kikuri Hiroi's Heavy Drinking Diary — Ch. 17 ( mangadex.org )
*uragiri no yuuyake kazoo cover starts playing* ( lemmy.world )
[DISC] The Saga of Tanya the Evil — Vol. 24 Ch. 74 — Scorched Autumn IV ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Tokidoki Bosotto Roshia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san — Ch. 37 — May I Ask For Seconds...? (2) ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Love Agency — Ch. 34 — Business Partnership ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Chainsaw Man — Ch. 162 — Fearsome ( mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp )
[DISC] The Saga of Tanya the Evil — Vol. 24 Ch. 73 — Scorched Autumn III ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Ore no Kokan wa Bishoujo Datta no ka - Ch. 28 ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Love Agency — Ch. 33 — True Loves ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Oshi no Ko — Ch. 145 — CHILDREN ( mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp )
[DISC] Bocchi the Rock! — Ch. 75 ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Chainsaw Man — Ch. 161 — Chainsaw Man Puzzle ( mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp )
[DISC] Mashle: Magic and Muscles — Episode 12 FINALE — Mash Burndead and his Good Friends ( lemmy.world )
[DISC] Love Agency - Ch. 32 - Meeting ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Tokidoki Bosotto Roshia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san - Ch. 36 - May I Ask For Seconds...? (1) ( mangadex.org )
Now, which Court does he belong to? ( lemmy.world )
[DISC] 30-sai made Doutei dato Mahoutsukai ni Nareru Rashii — Episode 12 — FINALE ( lemmy.world )
[DISC] The Saga of Tanya the Evil - Vol. 24 Ch. 72 - Scorched Autumn II ( mangadex.org )
Akuyaku Reijou Level 99: Watashi wa Ura Boss desu ga Maou de wa Arimasen • Villainess Level 99 - Episode 12 - FINAL ( ani.social )
AniList...
[DISC] Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san — Ch. 147 — Senpai! Do you have time after your club? ( mangadex.org )
[DISC] Isekai Ojisan - Vol. 11 Ch. 57 ( mangadex.org )
[Frieren Animation] The spell to create a field of flowers — SuperAppleMan ( www.youtube.com )