Key Takeaways
- Season 3 of Rent-a-Girlfriend focuses solely on Chizuru and her struggles, solidifying her and Kazuya's eventual relationship.
- The season takes a more serious and profound narrative approach, with high stakes and character development for Kazuya.
- A new character, Mini Yaemori, adds a fresh perspective by supporting Kazuya and Chizuru's relationship without any romantic interest in Kazuya. The series has received high reviews but may need to address its drawn-out storyline in future seasons.
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Continuing the storyline of Kazuya and his ever-expanding harem, Season 3 of Rent-a-Girlfriend has been one of Summer 2023's most anticipated arrivals. Author Reiji Miyajima has long captivated audiences with his vivid art style and radiant frames, and Rent-a-Girlfriend embodies all of Miyajima's artistic flair.
However, mere art is not enough to garner an audience, as a compelling storyline is another much-needed aspect for success. Rent-a-Girlfriend takes on this predicament with a unique take on the harem genre – rental girlfriends. This concept has resonated with fans of the series, a fact apparent from its positive reception. However, Season 3 has been a bumpy ride for the series, forcing many to question the narrative's progression.
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A Much More Profound Narrative
Unlike the first two seasons of Rent-a-Girlfriend, season 3 switches up the narrative by solely focusing on Chizuru. Be it her movie-making dreams or her grandmother's demise, the spotlight has remained on Chizuru and her bitter strife to achieve her goals. Kazuya, on the other hand, seems to have taken a more ancillary role by taking up Chizuru’s ambitions and dedicating his entire summer to her dreams.
The previous two seasons went back and forth between a few love interests, with no clear end in sight. As Chizuru takes center stage, Miyajima has cemented the fact that Kazuya and Chizuru are bound to end up together. Considering the storyline’s progression, however, the two have a long road ahead before they have a chance of becoming a couple.
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Season 3 also had a clear change in tonality as Rent-a-Girlfriend shook off its initial comedic approach for a more profound narrative. The stakes have remained high all season, especially for Chizuru and her ailing grandmother. Sayuri’s tragic passing further gave the series an air of gloom, making the final row of episodes rather serious and consequential. This shift towards a more profound narrative has also lent Kazuya some much-needed character development.
Drawn-Out Storyline Progression
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While Miyajima may have hit all the right notes in terms of tonality and art style, the actual narrative’s progression deems the show a bit lackluster. Despite the current season focusing solely on Chizuru, Kazuya seems to be exactly where he started in terms of making progress towards a legitimate relationship. There’s no doubt that the two have become much closer over the past few episodes and their rental relationship has truly evolved, yet Kazuya is nowhere near actually winning Chizuru over.
The season also ends without hinting at the two ending up together, meaning fans will have to wait for another season of Rent-a-Girlfriend to reach the narrative’s conclusion. The storyline’s progression comes as a disappointment for fans since the story seems to be back to square one even after three whole seasons. The entire storyline feels rather forcibly drawn-out at this point, meaning Miyajima will have to tie things up in a possible season 4.
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A New Addition to Rent-a-Girlfriend’s Line-up
Season 3 welcomed a new character to Rent-a-Girlfriend’s character roster – Mini Yaemori. A new neighbor and college junior to Kazuya, Mini Yaemori has served as the perfect supporting character to Kazuya and Chizuru’s love debacle. Without being too overbearing, Yaemori has remained successful in pushing the two closer and aiding them in their audacious projects.
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Unlike the usual harem narrative of every female character pining for the protagonist, Rent-a-Girlfriend has taken a rather fresh approach with Mini Yaemori’s addition. Viewers expected Yaemori to become another contender for Kazuya’s love, yet she defied expectations by rooting for Kazuya and Chizuru instead. In fact, Yaemori bears no romantic interest for Kazuya, deeming him nothing more than her ‘Master.’
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The series takes this narrative a bit further by incorporating Shouji-Ai (Girls Love) undertones in Yaemori’s character. This was implied when she was aroused by the thought of looking into Chizuru’s lingerie drawer, with fans getting a look at Yaemori’s bashful side. Harem anime tend to become overbearing by forcing every single female character down the protagonist's throat. With Yaemori as nothing more than an ancillary character, Rent-a-Girlfriend offers yet another fresh perspective to this oversaturated genre.
Rent-a-Girlfriend’s Fan Reception
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Despite avid fans of the show having concerns over Rent-a-Girlfriend’s drawn-out storyline, Season 3 has received some of the highest reviews so far. This can largely be attributed to the series’ shift towards a somewhat somber and profound narrative. The episode surrounding Grandma Sayuri’s demise received high acclaim, making Miyajima’s tonal shift quite successful for the series.
Season 3’s finale is currently Rent-a-Girlfriend’s highest-rated episode on IMDb, indicating the season’s success in terms of captivating audiences once more. However, the series’ hype may start to wane if the storyline continues to progress at its current rate. Nevertheless, the series has concluded on a high note, marking the end of Summer 2023 with its heartfelt finale.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Rent-a-Girlfriend is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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