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My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9 Review – Best In Show

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My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9 Review – Quick Summary

In My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9, “A Lot Happened After I Saw That Photo,” Wakana Gojou, Marin Kitagawa, and Sajuna Inui are deep into preparations for the cosplay photoshoot they have planned in the abandoned hospital. Marin is in awe of Sajuna’s ability to critique her outfit; so much so that she tries, and fails, to imitate her. But Marin and Sajuna both might be missing something important about the shoot – something that might make a big difference!

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Favorite Quote from My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9

My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9: Even Marin can have moments of self-doubt.

It felt startling, and very, very endearing, to hear Marin feeling inadequate. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Mirin exhibits such a huge amount of healthy confidence that it’s easy to forget that she’s just like the rest of us. She has moments of doubt, and she perceives herself to be lacking in some ways. 

And look at that. I’m talking about her like she’s a real person. That’s the effect of sound technique and execution!

In this episode, Wakana delivered Sajuna’s new cosplay outfit. Her emotional reaction was no less intense than what Marin felt the first time she saw her first Wakana outfit. In Sajuna’s case, she expressed her delight more clinically and precisely. The one small trait she didn’t like was something she and Wakana were able to address just by talking about it.

Sajuna’s critique was exactly what I hoped for from that character. I don’t know cosplay, but based on what I think I know, everything she said sounded spot on. Apparently, Marin thought so, too. 

“She sounds super cool!,” Marin thought, watching the two (04:57). “I wish I sounded like I actually knew what I was talking about!”

It was almost shocking to learn that Marin, too, feels inadequate from time to time. That just makes her character all the more endearing – and realistic.

Best in Show Moment for My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9

My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9: Shinju felt terrified her sister Sajuna would reject her.

Shinju wanted to cosplay, but she feared alienating her sister. The animation of her hands really conveyed her fear. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Shinju Wanted to Cosplay

A lot of craftsmanship and care went into building up to my favorite moment this week. It was so well done that when we actually get to the moment, it just flowed. The lizard part of my brain that would object to any little structural deficiency had to keep its mouth shut, because the scene was so well prepared. When this series started, I never thought I’d say something like that about it! I expected an ecchi-heavy rom-com. Instead, I got an ecchi-heavy rom-com with great characters that was expertly assembled.

I like it when a show exceeds my expectations.

Speaking of that, I figured that when we saw Wakana pick up on the possibility that Shinju Inui might be interested in cosplay in the previous episode, we’d see some aftereffect that soon. I didn’t know it would be in this episode, and I didn’t know it would be so simple and elegant.

My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9: Shinju didn't know how to feel when Wakana asked her if she wanted to cosplay

Shinju seemed embarrassed and scared that Wakana had seen she wanted to cosplay. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

The first obstacle they had to navigate was her choice of character. She wanted to cosplay as a man. Given her physique, that presented some challenges that the two of them had to navigate. Wakana threw himself into the problem with his usual professional focus. Dude’s just a nice guy, and it’s great to see that he honestly wants to help her. 

The second was that there was a reason she had not tried to cosplay before. She had not even expressed her desire before because she was terrified her sister would not like it. “I don’t know what I’d do if she hated me,” she confided in a terrified whisper to Wakana (11:35). He accepted her admission and gently encouraged her. He even agreed to keep their efforts secret until the reveal during the photoshoot.

Delivery: Wakana Helped Shinju Cosplay

The reveal was wonderful. Shinju’s voice actor, Hina Youmiya, completely drew me into the moment. Wakana presented Shinju to Marin and Sajuna, who at first had no idea who they were looking at. Then Shinju spoke.

“U-um… You see… I-I… also… t-tried cosplaying…” she stammered, her voice positively quaking with fear (20:36).

For a split instant, I didn’t know what was going to happen. I figured Marin would gush over her, but what about Sajuna? Well, Sajuna exceeded my expectations, just like the rest of the series has. She exploded with praise for her little sister.

My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9: Sajuna was very supportive of her sister's desire to cosplay

Turns out Sajuna was overjoyed at her sister’s cosplay! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Their hobby too often puts them on the edge of social acceptance. This show made me realize just how much I enjoy seeing people express themselves and even better, seeing people support each other. At least for me, the sincerity with which this shows presents that sentiment makes it something special.

What did you think of Marin teasing Wakana at the beginning of the episode? What were your favorite moments? Please feel free to let me know in the comments!

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7 thoughts on “My Dress-Up Darling Episode 9 Review – Best In Show

  1. People really seemed to like this show. Doesn’t sound like it’s for me, but then I thought that about Kaguya Sama: Love Is War. Now; I think that might actually be in my top 5 Ani-manga series. So I might check it out……..

    1. I picked it up thinking it might be a bit of harmless fun. The characters are so good to each other, though, and the show demonstrates such respect for cosplay, that I find it’s one of my favorites of this season!

  2. Update. As it turns out one search for it on Amazon yielded two things. 1) I can buy the season digitally for review… Which I guess I’ll do after I finish getting all the DVDs I’m getting. 2) Despite the fact there are only 3 or 4 volumes out? People are asking ridiculously high prices for these things! This may be Best In Show, but Volume 1 is NOT worth $22-$99!! At this point I decided to just buy the Season pass for the Season, which is releasing at the same rate your watching it right now.

  3. Yeah there was absolutely ZERO chance of Sajuna “hating” her little sister for wanting to cosplay as well, not matter what gender the character.

    But at the same time I can totally understand a younger sibling (and one who is, after all, still in junior high) feeling worried about that. She had a role: Sajuna’s photographer and social media manager. Was wanting to dress up as well too much? Would Sajuna resent it or think it presumptuous?

    No, no, and no! 🙂

    1. I am so glad it played out that way! The energy between these four when they get together remind me of my best moments from high school, when we put together a spontaneous science fiction magazine. I just not realized that.

      That might explain some of the show’s appeal!

  4. As much as I like these reviews? I’d like am even better if the series talked about were held by a studio or service that appreciated the power of selling this stuff on physical media aka DVD. Look at the instability of Anime streaming services or any service really now a days. Until the next generation grows up and can buy their own streaming memberships? All these services have hit the ceiling and need new ways to make money.

    It doesn’t help that services like Crunchyroll want to explore the same freedom of self content creation many streaming services enjoy, running afoul of fans who just want them to serve the Anime fandom. As such? I’d rather have my stuff on physical media, and not gamble whether or not the content In paying for will still be there tomorrow after a buyout… I.e. see Funimation being snapped up by Crunchyroll.

    Somebody message me back at my site when this series gets a DVD release. Hevk, I’ll even buy a BluRay player if I can get this on that format. Thanks.

    1. I get where you’re coming from. I buy the Blu Rays for my favorite series, because as you know, any given series could vanish from any given platform at any time.

      My favorite series of all time, Re:CREATORS, is only legally on Prime. There’s no sub or Blu Ray I can buy. It’s frustrating.

      I just checked for Princess Connect Re:Dive season 1. Amazon lists four disks, each over $130.00US.

      I mean, I could buy from CD Japan, but I’d need another Blu Ray player locked to that region to stay legal, and I’d need to learn Japanese…

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