Episode Guide
Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Despite its sexually suggestive title, Japanese series My Husband Won’t Fit plays much closer to a slice-of-life melodrama than a comedy. Split across 10 episodes of varying lengths, the series blends elements of drama and romance together with tiny sprinklings of amusing observations, used to build the characters. Admittedly, it does take a while to warm to the pacing of this title. Despite several time jumps forward, the series is surprisingly slow-paced, thanks in part to its use of long shots throughout the show. At the heart of this drama is a shy girl called Kumiko. After leaving the Boondocks for university, she meets Kenichi and the two hit it off immediately. As they begin to grow closer and things get more intimate, a serious issue in the bedroom comes between them and forms the crux of drama at the heart of this one. As the episodes progress, the romance and cute awkwardness between the two characters paves way for more drama as Kumiko tries to find a solution to the problem. This inevitably leads to tensions between the two characters which bubbles over into several dramatic moments late on that ask some really interesting questions about the significance of sex in relationships. Where My Husband Won’t Fit really shines though is with its characterisation. Making the most of its slow pacing, this Japanese drama takes its time to get us acquainted to the characters, building up a believable relationship between the two protagonists in the process. As time jumps forward, that feeling carries over and seeing the changed dynamics of their relationship evolve over time as the issue becomes more problematic is part of the allure with this one. Of course, given this is a Japanese drama, a lot of the quirky and social cues between the characters are soaked in Asian culture. It works well here but for those not accustomed to some of the more traditional social cues inherent in Asian culture, My Husband Won’t Fit may feel a little alienating. Still, the acting is good and Kumiko is certainly a likable protagonist, especially later on when she’s grown up. It won’t be for everyone but for those who can take to the pacing and enjoy slice-of-life dramas, My Husband Won’t Fit is an enjoyable Japanese drama. The issues are relevant, explored respectfully and have enough emotional weight to them to make this worth checking out. Of course, it does take a while to warm to the characters but if you can take to this one, there’s certainly an enjoyable drama here.
