English Dub Review: Kaguya-sama: Love Is War: The First Kiss That Never Ends

Overview:

After their first kiss, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are left unsure of where their relationship stands. The troubling uncertainty of whether they could be considered an official couple unleashes newfound problems as both Kaguya and Shirogane struggle to sort out their feelings.

Our Take:

Now if you’re watching this on Crunchyroll it isn’t presented as a movie but as four separate episodes which is something Crunchyroll has been known to do. One thing that makes me wonder is if, in a theatrical release, there would be an OP and an ED as we saw here. The reason I bring that up is that there was a key bit of symbolism in the OP for this that I think might have fans wondering where this series ultimately ends up. In the closing moments of the OP, we see someone close a book and all we see is their hand, this hand has their nails done in a very similar way to how Kaguya got her nails done in season one. The part that will get some people excited is the fact that she has a ring on her finger thus implying she is at least engaged. That could be really exciting for a lot of fans, myself included.

As for the film itself, it is what we’ve come to expect from this series, comedy gold with heart. In my reviews of the series itself, I praise this show for being one of the funniest anime I’ve ever watched and this film is no different. There are recurring jokes and gags that I can only recall seeing in some of the best sitcoms out there. But as funny as it is the characters in this feel real and they aren’t afraid to show different sides to themselves. Sometimes the comedy takes a backseat so we can see these characters grow.

If character growth is something that you love then this is the series for you. What started as two people wanting to get the other to confess as a way to stroke their ego, has now turned into two people wanting to get the other to confess because actually feelings of love have blossomed. It’s been a while since I read the manga but one of my favorite things about this series is the fact that it doesn’t end with the first kiss. If it did we wouldn’t get this movie after all.

A fourth season hasn’t been confirmed as of yet but in my experience, a series doesn’t get three seasons and a movie just to be stopped there. This series is beloved by many and I imagine that this movie might have brought in more fans. I know there have been a few times I’ve seen an anime movie announced and decided to watch the series before it if there was one because I was curious.

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War has become a modern-day classic and this film just adds to that. Kaguya’s and Shirogane’s growth has been fantastic and moving. Luckily, it has also been extremely hilarious to witness as well. If you love romance and comedy you won’t find a better series than this which is an absolute must-watch.