Unveiling the Exciting Journey of Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 3: A Must-Read Review!

Highlights

Season 3 of Rent-a-Girlfriend focuses solely on Chizuru and her struggles, solidifying her and Kazuya's eventual relationship.

In the upcoming season, the narrative of the show becomes more serious and profound, focusing on high stakes and the development of Kazuya's character.

A new addition to the series, Mini Yaemori, brings a fresh perspective by supporting the relationship between Kazuya and Chizuru without any romantic interest in Kazuya. The show has garnered positive reviews, although it may need to address the lengthy storyline in future seasons.

Continuing Kazuya's compelling harem journey, the arrival of Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 3 in the summer of 2023 has been highly anticipated. The talented author, Reiji Miyajima, has captivated fans with his stunning artwork and vibrant frames, which are evident in Rent-a-Girlfriend's captivating aesthetic.

Yet, it takes more than just beautiful art to engage an audience. A compelling storyline is essential for success, and Rent-a-Girlfriend tackles this challenge with its unique twist on the harem genre - rental girlfriends. This innovative concept has resonated with series fans, evident from the overwhelmingly positive response. However, Season 3 has encountered some bumps along the way, leading many to question the progression of the narrative.

A Much More Profound Narrative

The narrative of Rent-a-Girlfriend's third season focuses solely on Chizuru, highlighting her movie-making aspirations and her journey to fulfill her goals despite the challenges she faces, including the loss of her grandmother. In contrast, Kazuya has taken on a supporting role, fully dedicated to supporting Chizuru's dreams throughout the summer.

Unlike the previous seasons, which involved multiple love interests and an uncertain outcome, the third season firmly establishes Kazuya and Chizuru's eventual romantic connection. However, considering the development of the storyline, the two still have a long path to navigate before they can become a couple.

Season 3 also underwent a significant tonal shift as Rent-a-Girlfriend departed from its initial comedic approach and embraced a more profound storytelling style. Throughout the season, the stakes remained high, particularly for Chizuru and her ailing grandmother. The tragic passing of Sayuri added a somber atmosphere to the series, leading to a series of episodes that were serious and consequential. This transition to a deeper narrative also allowed for much-needed character development for Kazuya.

Drawn-Out Storyline Progression

Despite Miyajima's ability to capture the desired tonality and art style, the development of the actual narrative leaves much to be desired. Despite the current season's focus on Chizuru, Kazuya finds himself stuck at square one when it comes to advancing their relationship. While their proximity has increased over the past few episodes and their rental arrangement has evolved, Kazuya is still far from winning over Chizuru.

The season concludes without giving any indication of the two characters ending up together, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next season of Rent-a-Girlfriend to see how the story wraps up. This lack of progression in the storyline is disappointing for fans, as it feels like we're back to square one even after three entire seasons. At this point, the entire storyline appears to be unnecessarily prolonged, indicating that Miyajima will have to tie up loose ends in a possible season 4.

A New Addition to Rent-a-Girlfriend’s Line-up

Rent-a-Girlfriend's Season 3 introduced a fresh addition to the character lineup – Mini Yaemori. As Kazuya's new neighbor and college senior, Mini Yaemori has become an impeccable support to Kazuya and Chizuru's intricate romantic situation. With just the right amount of influence, Yaemori has skillfully brought them closer together and assisted them in their daring endeavors.

Unlike the typical harem storyline where every female character yearns for the protagonist, Rent-a-Girlfriend breaks the mold with the introduction of Mini Yaemori. Instead of becoming a love interest for Kazuya, Yaemori surprises viewers by supporting Kazuya and Chizuru's relationship. In fact, Yaemori sees Kazuya as nothing more than a "Master" without any romantic attraction towards him.

The series goes even further by incorporating subtle lesbian undertones in Yaemori's character. This is hinted at when she becomes excited at the idea of looking into Chizuru's lingerie drawer, revealing her bashful side to fans. Unlike traditional harem anime that overwhelm viewers with multiple female characters vying for the protagonist's attention, Rent-a-Girlfriend takes a refreshing approach by presenting Yaemori as a secondary character. This offers a new and unique perspective in the oversaturated genre.

Rent-a-Girlfriend’s Fan Reception

Rent-a-Girlfriend's Season 3 has garnered strong praise from dedicated fans, despite concerns about the long-winded storytelling. This can be attributed to the show's shift towards a more introspective and meaningful narrative. The episode centered around Grandma Sayuri's passing was highly acclaimed, showcasing the success of Miyajima's tonal transformation.

The season finale of Season 3 is now Rent-a-Girlfriend's highest-rated episode on IMDb, a clear indication of its ability to captivate audiences once again. However, if the show continues to progress with its current pacing, the hype may start to diminish. Nonetheless, the series concludes on a high note, leaving a heartfelt finale to mark the end of Summer 2023.

Score: 3.5 out of 5

Rent-a-Girlfriend is available to stream on Crunchyroll.