English Dub Review: Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze “Prodigy and Mediocrity/Her Secret”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Prodigy and Mediocrity

Yu Ayase transfers to a school for prodigies, but despite his gifted mother, he’s perfectly mediocre.

Her Secret

Tasked with looking out for the sisters, Yu tries to win them over…through their stomachs.

Our Take:

When someone’s related to a celebrity, it’s clear that they would also possess similar talents, right?  Well, this latest anime showcases that this isn’t the case, thanks to its protagonist, Yu Ayase, who’s related to his late mother, the legendary actress Subaru Ayase.  However, despite the relation, Yu appears to be ungifted, disappointing those around him, including the students at his new school, Saika Academy for Gifted Students.  Of course, his mediocrity isn’t the only thing he’s worried about, as Yu also encounters the three top students of the performing arts: Kazuki, the gifted actress, Niko, the aggressive athlete and martial artist, and Miwa, the shogi prodigy, all of who, unsurprisingly, hate Yu’s guts due to his talentless nature.  Unfortunately, after being brought in by his mother’s friend, he also discovers that the school’s prodigies are also sisters who live in the same household as him.  Obviously, the sisters didn’t seem too thrilled with the good news, but that hasn’t stopped Yu’s determination to have a happy family despite his mediocre talents.

Regarding the first two episodes, it’s evident that Mikadono Sisters would provide the usual rom-com tropes seen in other anime.  This was evident in the sisters’ flustered reactions towards Yu’s kind-hearted nature, particularly when he tells them to have a good day.  The second episode, “Her Secret”, also highlighted this trend with Yu making appropriate nutritional meals for them.  While that may be the case, the episodes provided enough charm and humor in the characters’ chemistry to elevate the show’s reflection of prodigy life and Yu’s strive to help the sisters with their respective issues.  Kazuki can be quite a handful regarding her irritatingly prideful personality, but “Her Secret” was able to balance her unlikable trait with the show’s comical tone, notably her being a picky eater.  In short, the series certainly had potential to be another tolerable addition to the harem/rom-com catalog if the later episodes can provide enough merits to highlight the characters’ development and the plot’s depiction of kindness over talent.