English Dub Review: Love Tyrant “Where Did She Go? x I Apologize for Troubling You Until Now”

Does Love Tyrant even want the Love Tyrant around?

Today we have a paradoxical episode where it is Guri-centric but it’s about Guri vanishing from the lives of our cast and how they react to that fact. It becomes a really pivotal show for the series as it asks the viewers the question how strong were Guri’s bonds with her friends after all this time and is they bonds that have substance to carry a show? Answering that question reveals the truly shallow nature of Guri and sadly Seiji as well.

The episode takes place over the week in time where Guri listened to crazy pants Shikimi and take a step back from her relationship with Seiji to gain perspective on how she feels and how Seiji feels for her. In a broad sense that is sort of an admirable realization, taking the time to sort out one’s feelings is a human trait so finally, we get another clear example of Guri’s growth as a character. However even with this human trait explored Guri’s lackadaisical approach makes the whole venture feel shallow, especially when she throws in the joke she’d claim it was all a prank if Seiji found her.

Speaking of Seiji, when the episode opens with Seiji calling out Guri’s name half-heartedly while holding out canned cat food to lure her back, that really shows how unromantic Seiji thinks of Guri. In the grand scheme of things, they have a more big brother and little sister relationship if you want the most positive depiction. But in this episode, we really see Seiji’s worst as he acts more carefree then Guri does trying to find her. The nice guy archetype that Seiji has been throughout the show now has begun to act so spineless and holds no drive to pursue anything outside his comfort bubble. Even if we take a step back from the episode we really see how detached Seiji has been making himself as his and Akane’s whole relationship has mainly been one sided since the beginning, his and Yuzu’s is another relationship is more akin to a big brother role for him with no understanding for Yuzu’s feelings and now him and Guri which at worst is like a relationship between a guy and his very annoying cat.

I get how he cannot have romantic feelings for Guri. I think most watching can agree Guri ain’t exactly the easiest romantic partner to handle. However, acting so vindictive out of the blue and uncaring for Guri is completely out of character for a guy who inherently in situations wants to help these girls around him. What’s even worst is how Seiji is completely oblivious when he can’t connect calling Guri a nuisance when she asks what does he think of her to her getting upset and becoming a love destroying demon. Or maybe this is the Love Tyrant? Either way I can’t really like this episode. It’s such forced drama which only accomplishes it by throwing all the characters into a bad light and in a way that takes agency out of Seiji’s hands to fix or even partially recognize his mistake. Guri’s subplot has always been the weakest half of Love Tyrant but this episode shows the show has more fundamental issues deeper than that culminating in the weakest episode thus far.

Oh, and it doesn’t help Shikimi gets a gross sexual assault scene in the middle of all this which is immediately brushed aside and forgotten. BLEH!