My Happy Marriage: Episode 3 Review and Theories -

WOW, what an episode this was! We got a ton of heartwarming content regarding Kiyoka and Miyo’s relationship and a few twists nearing the end that leave us hanging waiting for the next episode! Episode 3 of My Happy Marriage was great and be sure to check out our reviews for Episodes 1 and 2.

Episode Summary and Thoughts (Spoilers Ahead!)

The episode started with Kiyoka and Miyo eating what seems to be dinner together, with Kiyoka breaking the silence and asking Miyo to accompany him into town, something he had never done before. His kind actions shocked Miyo.

While Miyo is preparing in the only fancy furisode she has, Yurie comes in and tells her to use the mirror, causing Miyo to see her reflection and contemplate her belief that she and Kiyoka were not well-matched. Yurie offers to apply some makeup on Miyo’s face–something which Miyo has never done–choosing a soft pink color scheme and shocking Kiyoka when Miyo comes out of her room (in a good way of course). He seems to almost get nervous as he looks away and apologizes.

After taking his car to his workplace to park there, Miyo meets Godo, Kiyoka’s second-in-command who was teasing him the day before. He calls her pretty and begins to question who she is, causing Kiyoka to get mad and tell him to stop prying. After explaining who he is to Miyo, they go into town.

In town, Kiyoka asks what Miyo wants, causing her to get confused and unsure. Seeing she doesn’t know, he eventually asks her to accompany him in his shopping and we get some cute moments in this conversation as well as seeing Kiyoka’s slight smile a lot more.

The perspective is then switched to be between Miyo and Koji’s father who are conversing over the phone call they had at the end of the last episode. It was revealed that Miyo was meant to marry Koji’s older brother to which her father says that he felt that the proposal from the Kudo family was better. It is then hinted that the Usuba family, the one of her mother, had a supernatural power that Koji’s father desperately wanted, especially since Miyo’s children could have the power even if she didn’t inherit it.

Her father then states that Kiyoka will kick Miyo out after finding out about her lack of supernatural abilities. Her father then states that he abandoned Miyo on purpose and does not care what happens to her afterward, even if she LIVES OR DIES. WOW. WORST FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARD. Koji’s father is basically determined to do whatever it takes to have Miyo join his family.

We then get to see Kaya, Miyo’s younger sister with abilities, getting annoyed that they’re talking about Miyo. She then chooses to go shopping with Koji, suspecting that behind the fake smile he plasters on his face, he is still in love with Miyo. Typical Kaya things.

We then go back to Kiyoka and Miyo, seeing them in a Kimono shop where…hehehehe…he’s going to get Miyo clothes while she isn’t looking! Then the shopkeeper seems to make Kiyoka nervous when talking about Miyo and how he has never brought a lady before. This causes Kiyoka to get a flashback about Yurie telling him that she secretly saw Miyo mending her own, tattered clothes. While he’s there, he notices a stunning pink fabric and envisions her wearing it with a little heartwarming narration. The shopkeeper then hands him a mysterious box which Kiyoka seems to have ordered and suddenly gives him a good piece of advice to NEVER leave Miyo, no matter what, and to constantly shower her with gifts. That’s obviously because she supports the ship too!

He then takes her to a sweets shop and mentions that he would love to see her smile a little more while looking away nervously, causing her to brazenly say he was a bit strange and hinting at a bit of development in her character.

After apologizing for her statement, Kiyoka mentions that if they are to get married, she should be comfortable saying what she desires, shocking Miyo. She then reflects on her lack of abilities and hopes to enjoy her time with him before he eventually finds out and leaves her. Afterward, we get photos of them continuing their date and even get a heartwarming one with the two standing in front of a field of flowers with Miyo admiring them and Kiyoka only looking at her.

When they get home, we see him placing the box the shopkeeper gave him in front of Miyo’s door. When she opens it, she finds a brand new, wooden comb, causing her to run to to Kiyoka’s room and say she can’t accept such an expensive gift to which he dismisses her words. We get a flashback to Yurie speaking with Kiyoka and saying that a comb basically means proposing marriage which like YES, PROPOSE ALREADY! He then says it’s not a proposal and just a comb because her old one is different.

Back to the present, he tells Miyo to just use it and looks up to see her smiling, making him nervous all over again.

In his office now, Kiyoka finds out about Miyo’s past. He predicts that Miyo’s stepmother holds some sort of grudge since Miyo’s father was forced to marry Miyo’s mother from the Usaba family instead of her new stepmother. It seems Kiyoka already suspected that Miyo didn’t have abilities and yet, when he found out that it was true, HE DID NOT EVEN CARE. I mean, how is he already so much better than her father?! Kiyoka then reflects on how alone Miyo must’ve been and how his action of buying her new Kimono’s could never be even close to enough to heal her. Which like, if only he had known how happy Miyo was!

After finding out that her mother was from the Usuba family, Kiyoka is shocked as apparently they didn’t even believe the family existed, which brings in a whole line of questions about Miyo’s past and the conflict going on between her family and Koji’s. It is revealed that the special power the Usuba family holds is the ability to interfere with the minds which like, WOW. That was something I did not expect at all. As Kiyoka is exiting his workplace, he is attacked by and immediately destroys something called shiki-gami, meaning somebody is attempting to attack him.

Symbolism

I love how there’s often subtle symbolism in each episode of this show that hints to potential character development and change. Even the intro, which most people dismiss or skip after the first episode, holds a lot of symbolism about Miyo’s character and her budding relationship with Kiyoka.

The comb in this episode itself holds a lot of symbolism. In episode 2, Miyo has a nightmare in which she recalls her stepmother breaking parts of a comb which was one of the final heirlooms and pieces Miyo had of her mother. So, while the comb represents the possibility and thoughts of a marriage proposal from Kiyoka, it also brings light to something even deeper for Miyo: a new beginning.

There is also symbolism in the continuous representation of the cherry tree, especially regarding Miyo. In episode 1, we are introduced to the now cut-down (by her stepmother) cherry tree that Miyo’s mother grew. Since it was cut down, it can be seen as a representation of the past innocence she had as a child and her mother, two things she lost. Even in the shopkeeper’s store in this episode, she noticed a fabric that looked like a cherry tree and instantly remembered her mother.

Yet, in Kiyoka’s mind, when he was imagining Miyo in the fabric he chose, he saw her among cherry trees, showing two things. First, it is clear that parts of her mother and the softness she grew in her childhood were still there and would always be there, no matter how much abuse her stepmother and father (who I DESPISE) put her through. At the same time, it seemingly presents the opportunity of a new step in her life too, just like the comb. By showing a tree similar to the one that was once cut down, it can be assumed that her relationship with Kiyoka is rebuilding and helping her return to the cherry tree within herself.

Theories

The attack at the end of the episode was definitely a shock and something I wasn’t expecting to happen. Though speaking on the events that happened earlier, I’m expecting Koji’s father to have been behind the attack. He seemed truly desperate to have Miyo and I wonder if he thought that, judging by how long Kudo and Miyo have been together by that point, there may be a chance they will not separate. Either way, this move seems like a way for him to attempt to ensure Miyo’s separation from Kudo. If it were actually Koji’s father behind the attack, I would’ve expected him to send something a little stronger against Kudo, seeing that he is the general of a large supernatural abilities unit. Since he didn’t, I suppose this could be seen as more of a warning than anything else. I’m excited to see how Kiyoka reacts to this!

The Usuba family’s abilities were especially expanded on and finally explained in this episode, making me wonder how they will be of importance. It is mentioned in the English translation that Kaya had “already” had her abilities discovered at the age of three, making me wonder if Miyo will just discover them later. It is possible that discovering her powers could become a prominent plot point which would make the whole situation with Koji’s father’s desires to be much more dire. I can’t wait to see what happens between him and Kiyoka, especially since Miyo’s father abandoned her and seemingly won’t be part of any decision regarding her.

The relationship

Beyond all the drama and crazy stuff that happened, this episode was honestly super chill! I loved seeing the first date that Kiyoka and Miyo went on and how he truly began to grow to appreciate her. Honestly, seeing the two of them having dinner together was even enough as it showed how much they had progressed from episode 2. I loved seeing Kiyoka validating and helping Miyo more often as well as not even caring about her not having a supernatural ability and instead focusing on how to mend the wounds in her from the abuse she faced. Honestly, his actions in this show were amazing.

Miyo herself seems to develop even more, if only slightly. She began to question why the rumors against Kiyoka even existed, hinting at the fact that she had begun to notice the real him and his kindness, even if it was something standard she should’ve been used to as the daughter of a royal family. I’m also hoping that she will muster the courage to confess about her lack of supernatural abilities by herself even though Kiyoka already found out on his own. Doing this despite her fears would show her respect and trust in Kiyoka.

My Overall Rating

Honestly, I loved this episode the most out of the three that have been released. It was action-packed, beautiful, well-paced, and exciting all at the same time. I’m hoping that the rest of the episodes will be this good and am super excited to see what happens next with Koji’s father and his wants!

My Rating: 10/10