Lovely complex

 💖 Review: Lovely★Complex – 6/10 🌸💔

At first glance, this anime is your typical rom-com with a sweet love story. The progression of their relationship is genuinely cute, and there are some funny, heartwarming moments along the way. The idea of flipping the height norm—with the girl being taller than the guy—initially felt refreshing and promising.

But… watching it again now, with a different lens, changed my whole perspective.

Despite breaking one norm, the anime reinforces several outdated gender stereotypes. The female lead, while shown to be independent and strong, is still made to fall into the “damsel in distress” mold far too often. And worse, the show shames boys for being emotional or sensitive, which honestly felt very uncomfortable and offensive to me. That kind of messaging just doesn’t sit well anymore.

It’s a product of its time, and I can appreciate it for what it was back then, but if you’re someone who values progressive or inclusive gender representation, this one might not work for you.

Themes:
– Rom-com sweetness with a height twist
– Stereotypes about masculinity/femininity
– Adolescent romance and insecurity
– Friendship and self-acceptance (with caveats)

Rating: 6/10
A decent love story for its time, but not something I’d personally recommend now. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely not for everyone—especially if you’re hoping for respectful gender portrayal.