English Dub Review: My Happy Marriage “A New Ordeal”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Unhappy with her son’s engagement, Fuyu commands Miyo to perform housekeeping duties.  Meanwhile, Kiyoka makes a shocking discovery at an abandoned house.

Our Take:
Our first day in the Kudo countryside was quite eventful on the count of Kiyoka’s rude mother.  Either she woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe there’s more to her estranged history with Kiyoka that we don’t know about.  Either way, it’s grateful that it didn’t conclude with any serious drama, although that would come soon enough.  The reason is that Fuyu attempts to drive Miyo out of the Kudo family by making her work as one of her maids because she sees Miyo as an outsider.  While it is revealed that Fuyu acted like a jerk to protect her family, her actions in this episode would be enough to drive Kiyoka up a wall.  Lucky for her, Kiyoka is performing his duty investigating an abandoned shop, only to discover that it houses a laboratory run by a mysterious cult, the Gifted Communion, which may or may not be connected to the demons’ appearances.
Despite Miyo having to relive her early days as an abused maid, “A New Ordeal” shows how far Miyo has gotten in her character growth throughout the series.  While it is painful to see Miyo return to the position she started, she’s grown enough confidence to endure the hassle, much to Fuyu’s frustration, while seeing the goodness in the family compared to the Saimoris.  Perhaps there may be some goodness in Fuyu’s heart as well, but it’s hard to tell at this moment because of her unruly attitude.  I wouldn’t say that Fuyu is as awful as Kanoko yet, if not worse, but she may be unless she starts accepting Miyo for who she is.  Along with the mystery surrounding this unknown cult and the demon sightings, “A New Ordeal” continues its engaging subplot with Miyo’s determination to receive acceptance from Fuyu, which may likely grow more enticing and emotional as the season progresses.