Romantic comedies are a tricky thing to write. There’s a fine line between sweet and cringey, romantic and intrusive. It’s difficult to balance personal growth and romantic involvement, finding time and space to develop both the individual and the couple. But when a story gets it right, it can be a thing of beauty. That’s the case of Netflix’s delightful Romantics Anonymous, a classic rom-com full of charisma, courage, and zest.
Based on the 2010 French-Belgian film of the same name (dir. Jean-Pierre Amรฉris), Romantics Anonymous was directed by Tsukikawa Sho and written by Kim Ji-hyun and Okada Yoshikazu. A marvellously sweet Japanese-South Korean co-production, the series features eight easy-to-watch episodes released on October 16th.
The story follows Lee Hana (Han Hyo-joo), a talented chocolatier who works for Le Sauveur, a superb Japanese chocolate shop. Hana is an anonymous chocolatier due to her scopophobia, that is, an extreme fear of eye contact. Meanwhile, Fujiwara Sosuke (Oguri Shun) is the heir to a major confectionery company who suffers from contamination OCD โ he has an extreme fear of germs and can’t bear to be touched.
Fate brings Hana and Sosuke together when Sosuke is named the new head of Le Sauveur. To their utmost surprise, Hana realises she doesn’t mind looking Sosuke in the eyes, while he doesn’t mind touching her. Following them as they navigate this new relationship are the counsellor Irene (Nakamura Yuri) and jazz bar owner Hiro (Akanishi Jin), Sosuke’s best friend and Hana’s long-time crush.
Romantics Anonymous is an enchanting, humane, and absolutely irresistible rom-com that takes full advantage of the formulaic framework of its genre to deliver a contemporary tale about acceptance and kindness. Counting on an empathetic narrative, charming characters, and a stunning visual identity, the series blends the allure of a traditional romantic comedy with more complex, modern themes.
This review contains very mild spoilers. Read it at your own risk! If youโd rather read our spoiler-free summary, you can pin it at the bottom!
Adapting the Classic Rom-Com Structure
Kim and Okada’s tight script follows the structure of all its predecessors to a tee: the story focuses on the relationship between two people who experience challenges โ some of them comedic โ that ultimately lead them to a romantic resolution. It also ticks all the classic rom-com boxes: there’s a meet-cute, witty dialogue galore, a set-up done through a series of misunderstandings, and a very positive outcome.
However, Romantics Anonymous replaces the superficiality of romance as an ultimate goal with individual journeys of self-acceptance and self-improvement. This isn’t a story about a couple against the world, but about their existence in relation to an entire community that comes to welcome them for who they are. These characters are allowed to be flawed, diverse, and vulnerable. Their romantic involvements aren’t portrayed as “perfect matches,” but as bonds of care and comfort in which they can be themselves without judgment.
Romantics Anonymous skillfully navigates the pitfalls of its genre, masterfully avoiding love triangles, promptly resolving its conflicts, and granting its characters full autonomy. While some of its events might be seen as trite, they are always handled with maturity, sincerity, and compassion. Since the characters have clear personal motivations, the obstacles they face don’t necessarily hinder their ability to engage in a romantic relationship, but rather prevent them from becoming the individuals they aim to be.
Starting with the Individual: Focusing on Self-Discovery First
The individual self is given a lot of attention in Romantics Anonymous through a story that portrays mental health disorders and trauma with respect and sensitivity. Romances aren’t forced between people, and instead, characters are encouraged to embark on a quest for self-discovery first. Therapy and counselling are seen as natural elements of this process, even when the characters themselves don’t feel particularly comfortable with the idea.
For instance, Hana willingly opts for therapy because she wants to be more than just her scopophobia. Meanwhile, Sosuke begrudgingly starts counselling because his job demands it โ but he benefits from it nonetheless. Ironically, however, the most interesting response to therapy comes from Irene.
A counsellor herself, Irene only realises that she’d benefit from therapy at the end of the series. Throughout the show’s eight episodes, Irene is inspired by Sosuke, Hana, and โ to an extent โ Hiro. She sees in them the courage one needs to change, to become more self-aware, and to face one’s own personal hurdles.
After Hiro maturely decides to stop pursuing her, Irene comes to terms with the fact that she’s letting her traumas define her. Her chaotic upbringing is stopping her from living the life she’d like to lead. She then decides to give herself the attention and understanding she deserves. She takes a break and starts attending counselling sessions. Once she returns, she feels more at peace with herself and her past โ and that’s when she decides she’s ready to dedicate time and energy to something beyond herself and her career, proposing a fresh start with the lovely Hiro.
Romantics Anonymous & Love as a Choice
Being in love in Romantics Anonymous, then, isn’t a requirement, a need, or a lifeline. Being in love is a choice, a serendipitous result of a series of personal decisions. Despite its idealistic tone, Romantics Anonymous doesn’t see romantic love as an all-consuming, crucial, and perfect element of life. The opposite, actually: love happens every day, coming to the surface through the most ordinary, clumsy gestures. The narrative allows love to blossom and evolve naturally, with all its quirks and trials. A good example is Irene and Hiro’s relationship, but this perspective is also reflected in Hana’s view of romance.
Hana is an awfully naรฏve character โ understandably so, considering that her scopophobia stopped her from being fully exposed to society growing up. Her isolated life has one bright spark of magic: her crush on Hiro, the owner of the bar across the street. Her so-called “feelings” for him start after a single encounter, and she holds on to them for dear life. Romantics Anonymous then creates a contrast between her imaginary, fanciful crush on Hiro and the real, authentic bond that she develops with Sosuke. In the first, she’s often child-like in her pursuit, designing a fairy-tale of her own. In the latter, she’s genuine and outspoken.
Bit by bit, Sosuke and Hana grow closer through daily interactions that allow them to get to know each other. From the outset, they openly acknowledge their struggles and decide to tackle them together. Within the little bubble of their budding romance, they aren’t scared of being themselves, which leads to a relationship based on sincere and mutual care, appreciation, and consideration. Of course, it’s Oguri and Han’s adorable delivery that brings it all to life โ it’s almost impossible to take your eyes away from them as their bond evolves.
How Romantics Anonymous Ensures Thematic Consistency
Being yourself might be the show’s greatest theme, marking all of the story’s events, character dynamics, and development arcs. The narrative is sustained by a chain of acceptance, kindness, and responsibility that started with Chef Kuroiwa Kenji (Okuda Eiji) and is kept alive by everyone whose lives he touched. This chain is introduced to us in the first episode, and the script forges each and every link carefully throughout its following six instalments.
Every choice the protagonists make and every encounter they have inevitably lead to the series finale. Everything is connected somehow โ no moment is wasted, no interaction is forgotten. Romantics Anonymous then ties it all together in episode 8, creating a resolution that not only reinforces its themes but also clearly demonstrates its characters’ journeys, whether romantic, personal, or professional.
In order to make it all work, Romantics Anonymous gets rid of extremes: there are no evil antagonists and political intrigue makes for a minor subplot. The characters’ background is never exploited for dramatic impact, only serving to contextualise the narrative. It also relies on very humane protagonists โ Hana and Sosuke are honestly good people who just want to help others. They want to do their jobs in the best way possible. Beyond the fears they can’t control, they value and care about others wholeheartedly, and they try very hard to convey these feelings.
Most importantly, each episode of Romantics Anonymous uses one chocolate from Le Sauveur’s flagship product, the Rainbow Palette, as the foundation for its narrative. Chocolate is a vital element in Hana and Sosuke’s story: a symbol of their ability to connect with others despite their mental health disorders. Just like our characters, each chocolate from the Rainbow Palette has its own personality. Some of them may need a bit of a tweak, but they all spread joy. They are all appreciated for what they are, as they reflect the hard work of the chocolatier, the love of the giver, and the happiness of the receiver.
Chocolate is a clear motif, but such a well-rounded script wouldn’t just stop there. Through the relationship between the Le Sauveur employees, their suppliers and clients, we’re introduced to unique individuals who all face their own inner demons, hardships, and fears. We might feel that we need to wear a mask in order to fit in, but these characters encourage one another to push this mask aside to embrace diversity, champion equity, and create truly inclusive communities.
Here, the relationships within Le Sauveur deserve a special mention. There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing how the kitchen and floor staff respect and support one another. Besides their unwavering work ethic, they appreciate their singular strengths and help each other overcome their weaknesses. When Sosuke joins the Le Sauveur team, he fosters collaborative effort and always works alongside his employees to solve the business’s problems. He’s keen to encourage a spirit of persistence and growth: “It’s not about winning or losing. What matters is not giving up easily and always striving for better.“
What makes Romantics Anonymous truly special is how it doesn’t magically “heal” Sosuke and Hana in its last episode, but offers them the freedom of being loved for who they are. After all, no one is “perfect”. There’s no such thing as “normal”. Especially if you have suffered from mental health disorders yourself, the finale of Romantics Anonymous is extremely cathartic. It’s wonderful to see Hana and Sosuke as recognised, valued members of their community. It’s extremely rewarding to observe Hana working at the shop with her fellow chocolatiers or Sosuke building the company he’s always dreamed of alongside his cousin.
Romantics Anonymous reminds us that, despite what the world labels as weaknesses, we can still be loved and accepted. We can find ways to connect with others and to do the work that makes us happy. It’s okay to acknowledge that we struggle โ because we can help each other to take steps forward. It’s okay to be different โ because we are all somehow unique.
Besides a cleverly written script, Romantics Anonymous counts on beautiful and meaningful cinematography, stunning and thorough production design, and a quirky score. We also have to mention the careful work of an exceptional cast led by Oguri Shun and Han Hyo-joo, who deliver heartfelt performances and mesmerising chemistry throughout. Akanishi Jin and Nakamura Yuri also work extremely well together, balancing the story with a healthy dose of bittersweet longing and tangled emotions.
Should You Watch Romantics Anonymous?
When was the last time I watched such a flawless rom-com, I wonder… While Romantics Anonymous embraces romance without shame, it never forgets that love starts with the individual. The series gives its characters courage to change, empathy to offer others (and themselves) acceptance, and independence to pursue their own goals.
Full of personality, allure, and tenderness, Sosuke and Hana’s story goes beyond the traditional conventions of its genre to offer a narrative as bright as its characters. Artfully crafted and charismatically delivered, Romantics Anonymous proves that even the simplest of tales, when created with heart and thoughtfulness, can be remarkable.
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