DAKAICHI -I'm being harassed by the sexiest man of the year- Episode 7 Review: Can I keep liking you?

DAKAICHI decided to take us on a trip down memory lane in this week’s flashback episode to the first time Junta and Takato met. I’m not gonna lie, this episode really tugs at the heartstrings! After watching it, I had to go back and rewatch the first episode again, because… reasons…

Plot

Junta first met Takato during his debut role in the drama Vial of Sun, but no matter what he did, Takato seemed to harbor an extreme dislike for the fledgling actor. Junta on the other hand started feeling his heart yearn for the veteran actor, as new feelings of love blossom in his heart Junta’s monochrome life is suddenly starting to fill with color.

Episode Highlights

Sepia Colored World: This episode is an extended flashback to the very first time Takato and Junta met and in a rather interesting stylistic choice, the flashback is toned in sepia. The muted color palette persists throughout the episode.

A dash of color: When Junta starts to realize his feelings for Junta the scene shifts to that of a blank white background with drops of watercolor being added to it.

Back to where we started: The whole episode is a flashback but at the end of the episode, it transitions back to the first time they met in Episode 1, except we see those events from Junta’s perspective. Unlike Takato, who spent the better part of that episode gripping about Junta stealing his number 1 spot, Junta’s internal dialogue is much more singular: win Takato’s heart.

Themes and Trivia

Just a little foreign: There’s a habit in anime to have at least one character that has just a little foreign blood in their veins and in DAKAICHI that character is Junta. When asked about his light hair and eye color, he remarks that one of his distant relatives was a Spaniard (native of Spain).

Tease the ones you love: Like a little boy tugging on the pigtails of the girl he likes, Takato is openly stiff with Junta from the start. But, his manager states that he’s only acting that way because he sees Junta as a genuine threat.

Comments

This was such a sweet episode!! Before this episode, I just thought Junta was a horndog with a hard on for Takato, but after… alright, he’s still a horndog with a hard on for Takato, but now there’s a backstory so he doesn’t look like such a creep. I love seeing how his feelings for Takato came about, not because he just wanted to get in his pants, but because he got to spend time with him and get to see sides of him no one else did. I kind of wish the series had started off with this episode, since it really does make Junta’s intentions seem more pure, buuut, it is what it is.

I really liked that there were quite a few parallels between their drama series, Vial of Sun and Junta’s burgeoning feelings for Takato, since it allowed for Junta to grow as an actor.

The Way We Met

Honestly, this is my favorite episode of the series so far. It gives some great background on Junta and Takato’s relationship and some key insight into Junta’s actions at the start of the series. Even if you hate the series, Episode 7 is a must watch, sure to warm your heart!

I’ll be back next week with another DAKAICHI review, but in the meantime, be sure to check out MANGA.TOKYO’s other amazing Fall 2018 reviews!!

NEXT TIME: Hug 8: H-Hands off My Swim Trunks.