WARNING: The following contains spoilers for My Dress-Up Darling Episode 2, ""Wanna Hurry Up, and Do It?" now streaming on Funimation and Crunchyroll.
The premiere of My Dress-Up Darling set polar opposites Gojo and Marin on their cosplaying adventures as he agreed to help his classmate make her dream cosplay -- Shizuku-Tan from the lewd video game Slippery Girls 2. As Marin explains where her character is from, Gojo stares in absolute disbelief.
Marin's fully-detailed explanation puts poor Gojo in quite a culture shock, given he's spent all of his life making traditional dolls and doesn't know a thing about anime, manga or video games. At first he even thinks Marin is joking, but the look in her eyes is completely serious. His shock, however, initially comes from the fact that Marin plays lewd video games in the first place.
When questioned, Marin proudly states "Does being a boy or girl matter when you really like something?" and Gojo immediately flashes back to his former (and only) friend who disowned him for being a boy who loved dolls. With tears in his eyes, he ecstatically replies with "Absolutely not!" and says he is excited to work with her.
Combining his unusual passion for dolls and clothing with her love of lewd video games and anime, Marin teaches Gojo that it is okay to defy gender norms. Although one lives in the "popular world" and the other is a shut-in, they have a deep level of understanding and can confide with each other in their adoration for things society doesn't deem worthy of sharing.
Agreeing to break these gender norms together, Marin unexpectedly visits Gojo one weekend and finds his house and doll shop by googling "Gojo dolls." After agreeing to take measurements for the cosplay, Marin brazenly strips down to a floral swimsuit while Gojo almost faints from embarrassment. After an excessive amount of pep talk, Gojo reassures himself that this is only a business interaction and to stop being so embarrassed.
After Marin teases him about measuring her bust point, Gojo finally sees her blush when he measures her inseam. With the playing field evidently leveled, Marin gives him a copy of Slippery Girls 1 and 2 for reference as she leaves for the day. Gojo's grandfather later walks in on him playing the lewd video game with no hint of embarrassment, and is shocked to find his grandson taking notes and watching rather seriously.
Two episodes in, and it's already hard not to love the adorably bold Marin. There have been complaints of Gojo being a boring character, but his demeanor will surely change as his confidence grows. Episode 2 definitely showcases a steamier side to the story, but fans are hopeful that this is but one facet to the adorable slice-of-life romance anime. There is no doubt My Dress-Up Darling is emerging as a breakout of the Winter 2022 season.
My Dress-Up Darling airs every Saturday on Funimation and Crunchyroll.