English Dub Season Review: Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence Season One

Based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hazano Kazutake.The story takes place in a certain church where a cute but lazy saint woman lives and an earnest but overprotective pastor who is also a skilled cook. As they live their quiet lives, the saint who is secretly in love and the oblivious pastor weave an unintentionally flirtatious romantic comedy. Where will their frustratingly slow-moving relationship end up–?!

On the technical side, The anime was produced by Doga Kobo and directed by Sumie Noro, with scripts written by Yuka Yamada, character designs handled by Hiromi Nakagawa, and music composed by Ruka Kawada. The opening theme song is “Love World” by ClariS, while the ending theme song is “Toko Siesta” by Sasanomaly. upon research, The series was later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting its production.

Several things stand out about Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence. For starters, it’s one of the few anime I’ve seen that depicts Christianity(not explicitly stated, but implied) in a decent light. The role of the saints/pastors is to help townspeople with their spiritual issues and be a general pillar of support for the community. And it’s this dual nature of hers that provides a delightful comedic contrast, and her interactions with the ever-patient Pastor Lawrence are the heart of the show. Other than the magical elements of the story, I think they aesthetically nailed how churches looked and how much meant to small 19th-century towns.

The heart of the show, however, lies in the delicate and pure relationship between our two leads. You can’t help but root for Lawrence to realize Cecilia’s affection for him. Their daily lives are filled with seemingly mundane tasks, but it’s their connection that makes these activities heartwarming. It’s a true “slice of life” that feels like watching two people who’ve found a new family in each other, even if it feels like it’s in another period. The supporting cast is small, yet of equal importance as Hazelita and Abel shine with their character dynamics. Hazelita plays matchmaker behind the scenes, and the budding feelings between her and Abel add another layer of sweetness.

However, the show itself isn’t quite perfect. While the series is undeniably sweet and entertaining, it occasionally treads on predictable tropes. It also doesn’t help that Lawrence is every bit as dense as half the male characters from Black Clover who have the observational skills of a goldfish when it comes to reading romantic signals. This sort of bullshit wouldn’t usually bother me so much, in such a laid-back anime, but it also lacks a serious plot or any sort of unraveling endgame or goal other than to needlessly drag its audience with a “will they/won’t they?” dynamic that’s plagued love stories since their inception.

Overall, while the anime itself excels in a plethora of ways such as a heartwarming message of acceptance, the importance of community, and finding strength in each other’s flaws, The narrative flaws sometimes overshadow its focus more than they should. The dynamic between these two leads can also feel repetitive at times, especially when it comes to how emotionally dense one is, and some episodes follow a formulaic pattern, which may leave viewers wishing for a bit more narrative complexity. And while there is no announcement about season 2 at the time of this review. I’m sure it’s harmless enough for the casual viewer who wants something calm and soothing even if it falls victim to its cliches at times…