It's almost impossible to hate a certain anime genre when one comes to adore it. For instance, romance and reverse harem anime fans will always be on the lookout for the show that fits the bill or follows the typical roadmap of that certain genre. Take reverse harem shows, for example; most of them start out promising a juicy love saga where the heroine should at least end up with one of the guys the audience is rooting for.
But a few reverse harem shows go so far off the rails that they end up becoming an incredibly cringe-inducing experience, which many viewers later label as a "guilty pleasure". One doesn't necessarily like it, but there's something infectiously fun about a series with one-dimensional character stereotypes desperately attempting to tell poorly written stories. So, what are some of the cringiest reverse harem shows that the anime community still binge-watch?
Diabolik Lovers Is an Iconic Hot Mess
Diabolik Lovers is almost at the top of every list that discusses the "worst reverse harems" ever. The thing is, it's not necesarilly the worst, rather, it gets on the viewer's nerves, since it repeats the same cycle until the season finally ends. There's absolutely no character development, and it feels as if everyone is just going on at the same pace they started. The female protagonist has no personality at all.
Instead of being in charge or having some charm, she's as bland as ice cream without sugar. Being stuck in the midst of a dozen vampires might give a person some edge or boost to do something, but she's just being played around, even by the vampires' rivals. Reverse harems make a point of having at least one male character stand out for their intense feelings or advances, but there's absolutely no one in Diabolik Lovers who viewers can cheer for in terms of the romantic element.
Nobody Ever Makes a Move In Uta no Prince-Sama
One thing that Uta no Prince-Sama has achieved after a decade-long run is maintaining its supremacy in the idol genre and giving fans a bit of consistency. It's hands down one of the better otome game-turned-anime adaptations, but it still manages to fall short. One can't call the show "bad"; it's just so detail oriented in terms of exploring the male idol perspective that the romance element fades in the background.
There are literally tons of handsome boys in the show, and everyone wants to sweep Haruka Nanami off her feet. But that's the problem; they just "want" to, no one is actually making a worthwhile move to accelerate any romantic relationship with the lead protagonist. Yes, the show is borderline cringe, but it's still a guilty pleasure watch for many, and a subtle introduction to the idol genre for beginning anime fans.
Brothers Conflict, the Most Infamous Reverse Harem of All Time
At first glance, Brothers Conflict looks like another typical reverse harem lacking any substantial character building as the story progresses, and then suddenly, things start to happen out of nowhere. The show has all the makings of a typical reverse harem romance with a predictable storyline, stereotypical male types, a damsel in distress, and absolutely no genuine romance at all. One thing the series does have going for it, however, is the infamously bizarre plot regarding the protagonist's relationship to her love interests -- that being that all thirteen boys are her stepbrothers.
These are all the elements that scream "watch me," and that's why Brothers Conflict is always on the list. But that doesn't change the fact that it kind of downplays its potential. There's no doubt that the visuals are enjoyable, and there are romantic scenes worth squealing for but nothing that would make the audience want to watch it again. It's a great one-time watch if one doesn't mind the cringe.
Amnesia Is Unfortunately Forgettable at Best
It's safe to say that Amnesia is far from the same realm as Brothers Conflict, and it has a far better story and characters. It centers around a young girl who awakens one day with no memory of her life but only has a phone and a bunch of numbers to start with. It's an interesting story because it's somewhat supernatural mystery and love story, where the female protagonist suddenly starts to travel between parallel universes, all the while dealing with a bunch of broody, handsome boys. Amnesia could've easily been one of the better reverse harem shows, but it fails to explain its highly complicated plot.
It almost becomes confusing as the episodes progress, and by the end of it, Amnesia leaves viewers incredibly unsatisfied with the sudden, violent plot twist. That might be the only thing that makes it cringey; otherwise, it's enjoyable from a romance standpoint, and the scenes are fulfilling, especially because the "heroine" is literally dating different guys in these parallel universes she travels to. The pace and execution could've been better, but Amnesia still makes a worthy "cringe-worthy" reverse harem show.