Gonzo has once again brought us a truly epic comedy with their new series, Seto No Hanayome. So far I’ve watched the first 5 episodes and it’s definitely the best show currently on my watch list. It’s a very absurd, slapstick comedy, giving it a fast-pace that just about anyone can enjoy. You certainly won’t be bored watching this piece of comedy gold!
Seto no Hanayome is the story of Nagasumi Michishio, a middle school student on his summer vacation. During his vacation, Nagasumi was saved from drowning in the Seto Inland Sea by a mermaid named Sun Seto. However, under mermaid law, if a mermaid’s identity has been revealed, both the mermaid and the human are to be executed. The only way for the two’s lives to be spared is for them to marry. Sun’s father, Gozaburo, is enraged about Sun marrying a human whom he deems to be inferior.
Most of the comedy in the show revolves around Gozaburo and other members of the Seto family gang attempting to kill Nagasumi. Gozaburo despises him, but can’t outright kill him because that would anger Sun, and he doesn’t want his daughter to hate him. This leads to many roundabout attempts at indirectly taking his life unsuccessfully.
Maki-chan is Sun-chan’s cute little friend, about 6 inches tall and carrying a shell on her back…with a gun in it. She’s actually one of Gozaburo’s assassins, sent to kill Nagasumi.
Maki is insane. She repeatedly attempts to kill Nagasumi right in front of Sun-chan, claiming that there is some sort of dangerous reptile around him such as a snake or scorpion. This is of course a bunch of lies so Maki can try and shoot him with her shell-gun.
Maki is also part of the mermaid gang, so her identity can’t be revealed to other humans, so in the scene above where Nagasumi’s classmate is behind him he has to pretend Maki is a doll. Maki tries to hide her rage and Nagasumi is basically toying with death (pardon the pun).
One particular running joke is that Nagasumi accidentally received his first kiss from Masa, one of the Seto gang’s thugs. Basically every appearance Masa makes turns into a pink and fluffy love scene with Nagasumi. It’s so random and out of place of the story that it’s hilarious.
Between Gozaburo’s attempts on his life and the ridiculous antics of the several other antagonists, including the daughter of a rival mobster and a rich male transfer student with an attraction for Sun, Nagasumi is not enjoying a very smooth transition into his new lifestyle.
Seto No Hanayome is an excellent comedy that I give two thumbs way up on. If you like absurd fast-paced comedy give this show a look; you won’t be disappointed.
Seto No Hanayome merch can be found at Play-Asia.
Podcast: Download (3.4MB)
