English Dub Review: My Happy Marriage “A New Year’s Commotion”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
After a tender New Year’s Eve, Miyo and Kiyoka make their first shrine visit together.  Meanwhile, Takahito learns of growing unrest in the streets.

Our Take:
The series is already starting the new year a bit later than usual as we approach the season’s second half.  Unfortunately, even the tranquil festivities aren’t safe from the presence of the Gifted Communion, as the cult strives to promote propaganda to give people supernatural abilities.  They even go as far as to show everyone at the shrine festival a grotesquery that’s visible to them.  Not only that, but they’re also targeting Prince Takahito as this “calamity” approaches within their reach.  This prompted Miyo and Kiyoka to stay at Takahito’s palace as his bodyguard, with Arata acting as Miyo’s protector again.
This episode showcased that the show’s second season is following a pattern that bridges its plot involving the Gifted Communion.  The characters stay in different locations to investigate the mysterious cult, only to wind up in dangerous situations due to the organization’s actions.  We’ve seen this pattern through their stay at the Kudo residence in the first three episodes, and it continues with Miyo staying at Kiyoka’s military base in the next three, ending with Usui infiltrating the facility.  Now, we see Miyo, Kiyoka, and the rest of the family staying at Takahito’s palace to protect the prince from the cult’s nefarious plan.  Considering Kiyoka’s discovery that there are traitors living among the group, I won’t be surprised if this trend continues with their stay at the palace.  Despite its familiarity, “A New Year’s Commotion” still injects the series with charm and tranquility, particularly from Miyo and Kiyoka’s New Year’s break.