The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You – Episode 9

Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I figured we’d stop back with Rentaro and the gang, and see how his sacred quest to acquire one hundred girlfriends is proceeding. Though this production has normally managed to combine preposterous farce with some unexpectedly thoughtful reflections on communication and healthy partnerships, I have to admit that it has been absolutely lunacy ever since our latest girlfriend Kusuri joined the picture. With her fondness for Rentaro only matched by her passion for mad science concoctions, Kusuri has propelled our polycule through one preposterous predicament after another, culminating in an episode-long Resident Evil parody courtesy of Kusuri’s kiss-mania serum.

Considering I’ve had multiple readers define this series in terms of its pre- and post-Kusuri tone, I’m guessing that things are only going to get more ridiculous from here on out. It seems likely the show will essentially shift into two primary modes: a somewhat more emotionally grounded style for the individual wooing episodes, and then the utter chaos of the last episode for the group escapades. Regardless, my main hope is 100 Girlfriends maintains its flourishes of genuine thoughtfulness regarding the crafting of an honest, mutually enriching bond. That’s the secret ingredient that actually makes this show special, so let’s see how Rentaro manages this balancing act as we get back to the action!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You – Episode 8

Hello folks, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. Today we are checking in on the hundred girlfriends at a moment of crisis, as Kusuri’s well-intentioned yet morally dubious love potions have sent her fellow girlfriends into a kiss-hungry frenzy. With a pack of feral lovers nipping at their heels, Rentaro and Kusuri must now engage in a race against time to return these girls to normal, lest they be trapped forever as amorous animals in human form.

So basically, it’s just another day in the life for Rentaro and company. Well, mostly – Kusuri’s introduction has undeniably raised the overall chaos level of the production, and from all the “yes… soon…”s that I’ve been receiving from friends on Twitter, I imagine things will never be the same. She is a delightful amoral goblin with far too much power at her disposal, and I look forward to seeing what nonsense she inflicts on our innocent polycule next. Let’s get to it!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You – Episode 6

Hello folks, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. Today I figured we’d drop back in on the drama of 100 Girlfriends, and see how Rentaro’s faring with his rapidly expanding collection of girlfriends. Our last adventure saw the reticent Nano joining the crew, who in spite of her professed preference for “efficiency” was unable to deny our boy’s earnest, compassionate affection. And thus our polycule gained its latest addition, furnishing the shy Shizuka, tempestuous Karane, and eternally horny Hakari.

As with the addition of Shizuka, Nano’s arrival necessitates another cooldown adventure, as the expanded group work to discover their new collective social dynamic. This is not simply a way to space out the addition of supplementary girlfriends, nor a method of “dragging out” the story – these intermediate escapades actually embody the heart of 100 Girlfriends, which is fundamentally dedicated to ensuring partners don’t feel simply like prizes to be won and then forgotten about, but new arrivals to an active and collectively loving community. It is as important that Nano feels just as comfortable with Shizuka, Karane, and Hakari as she does with Rentaro, and I’m guessing this poolside nonsense will affirm exactly that. Let’s get to it!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You – Episode 4

Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I figured we’d take a stroll back to the land of 100 Girlfriends, and see what fresh shenanigans are brewing with Rentaro and his swiftly expanding harem. Our last offered an efficient romance and a preposterously adorable new heroine, as the quiet librarian Shizuka found herself bowled over by Rentaro’s manifold charms. And why not? The dude has clearly got plenty more love to give, as demonstrated through his gallant efforts to allay Shizuka’s troubles with communication.

Rentaro’s commitment to aiding Shizuka seems to point towards a larger theme of the text: his dedication to loving these girlfriends for who they are, and aiding them in their struggles without attempting to fundamentally change them. He is embodying the philosophy of a loving and considerate partner, and though the whole 100 Girlfriends thing makes this all seem a tad farcical, I’m nonetheless beginning to see why folks consider this such an unexpectedly wholesome narrative. Let’s see what new theatrics await for Rentaro and his destined lovers!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You – Episode 3

Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I figured we’d stop back in with Rentaro and the gang, and see how his sacred mission to acquire one hundred girlfriends is proceeding. Look, it’s not like he’s a cold philanderer or anything; as has been clearly established by the suspiciously convenient worldbuilding, all of those girlfriends are doomed to perpetual unhappiness if he does not find them and date their worries away. It’s a heavy burden, but given Rentaro’s deft navigation of his first two true loves, I have every confidence he’ll be able to manage it.

Rentaro’s woes aside, 100 Girlfriends continues to be an altogether charming, entirely ludicrous riff on romantic comedy convention, persistently innovating on its core joke of “what if we played this fantastical polycule entirely straight, complete with soaring string arrangements accompanying each ridiculous romantic threshold.” It doesn’t seem like there’s much of a larger point beyond the comedy yet, but comedies don’t necessarily need a thematic backbone; the faces are good and the gags are snappy, making it an energetic watch regardless. Let’s see how Rentaro fares with his third destined love!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You – Episode 1

Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re checking out a brand-spanking new production, as we explore the first episode of the currently airing 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You. Just by that title, it seems we’re in for a tongue-in-cheek take on the distinguished harem genre, a genre that was actually instrumental in both my original induction into anime fandom (Love Hina), as well as my migration to professional anime writing (Bakemonogatari). Though the base concept of “one protagonist surrounded by a crowd of romantic prospects” might not seem like the most thoughtful or poignant of premises, the genre frequently exhibits uncommon flexibility, ranging from hilarious sex comedies to trenchant explorations of the human condition.

As for The 100 Girlfriends, I’ve heard plenty of positive things about its manga, which fans praise as both funny and frequently heartwarming, with a cast who all seem to like each other on the whole, and not just exist in parallel orbit of our central protagonist. That all sounds like a good time to me, so let’s dispense with the preamble here, and see what these hundred girlfriends have in store for us!

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