Each of the three girls have personal reasons and conflicts surrounding their strengths and weaknesses. Of the three, Fumino has the largest set of family problems to overcome. Fumino also appeals to me the most of the three. She’s more my type than the others, but her estrangement with her father also makes her the most interesting of the three. Rizu’s family accepts her as she is. Uruka, who is also Nariyuki’s childhood friend, also has general support. While Fumino is one of the most popular girls in school, she remains isolated because of that popularity. Nariyuki’s treatment of her as an equal opens the possibility of genuine connection and friendship she lacks otherwise.
As you can expect from a harem anime, there’s plenty of outlandish events to put Nariyuki into awkward and embarrassing situations, such as having to fill in for his mom at a lingerie store. Of course Fumino, Uruka, and Rizu have to shop there. Their teacher, Mafuyu Kirisu, must also visit that day too. He has to measure the girls’ cup size while wearing a mascot suit, which is a rather unique fan service comedic situation.
The teacher Mafuyu offers the most troubling situations, however. In reality, she would’ve been fired or convicted in the courts if her fan-service situations happened in reality. But We Never Learn focuses on the fantasies of socially awkward male audiences. Nariyuki gets to hang out with three smart, beautiful girls who need his help (and his protection) along with a hot teacher who develops a sort of relationship with him. It’s pure fantasy.
Each of the ladies around Nariyuki tie into a different aspect of his personality. Fumino allows him to be sensitive and be present for her needs. Rizu allows him to be a big brother (he is one already, but it isn’t thoroughly explored in the anime). And Uruka lets him relax in warm familiarity and confide. Finally, Mafuyu hits on the usual teen guy interest in older women who appear more experienced but who are really not. Finally, Asumi Kominami plays the role of older sister, offering advice for Nariyuki and picking at him.
Fortunately, We Never Learn keeps most of the harem fluff tame. There’s fan service, but it isn’t over the top. Rather, it focuses on the interaction among the different personalities and personal problems each has. Nariyuki is relatively clueless about romantic feelings, but he isn’t completely unaware. Rather, he thinks he is misreading the signals; after all, girls like Fumino and Rizu couldn’t be interested in him romantically. And Uruka is just his childhood friend. This reflection offers a different sort of denial than the usual blindness. Although Nariyuki has his share of that. Most of us, especially those of us who are more intellectual, go through a period of denial. We are blind at what we offer people. We can’t see what may appeal to them.
Even as an adult I’ve done that. I see signals and write them off as either hopeful thinking or misreading.
However, We Never Learn eventually has Nariyuki become aware of the feelings each girl has toward him. In fact, this is one of the few harem anime where one of the girls is chosen! Well, to be clear, Nariyuki doesn’t really choose her. Rather, she finally steps up and bluntly makes her feelings known. I won’t spoil it. But it is unusual to see a selection in a harem. Few ever single out one female protagonist. This would, after all, break the fantasy and audience projection harem anime offer. However, We Never Learn doesn’t rely on vicariousness. Nariyuki has a defined personality and a commendable sense of responsibility to his single mother and his younger brothers and sisters. He has his own internal conflicts–he doesn’t know what to do with his life. He isn’t the bland, no personality, male. In fact, despite the embarrassing situations, he steps forward in admirable ways. It’s a rare harem protagonist who can measure cup sizes without passing out.
We Never Learn has heart and interesting character interactions. It has potential as a serious drama (which I would’ve preferred over yet another rom-com), and as a rom-com I enjoyed watching it. The characters held my attention, and I liked Fumino, namely because she had a more interesting personal conflict. It would’ve been possible the center most of the story on her life. We Never Learn offered unique comedy situations, and while Nariyuki wasn’t astute, he also wasn’t a complete bone head.
I have watch We Never Learn during its first run in the Spring 2019 anime season and I could not get through the series as I felt annoyed with the show for the most part. It was likely my least favorite anime of that season. Much of the jokes were not funny to me and rubbed me the wrong way. I never liked when I see characters, particularly the protagonists, in these stories get in situations they are misunderstood and it’s framed as to be funny, especially when it’s situations they could easily have been resolved if the characters in the situation just explain themselves instead of flustering. Plus Nariyuki annoyed me with how clueless he was at times.
Also, I find the motivations for Fumino and Rizu going against the subjects they are good at in favor for the subjects they struggle with to not be as great, especially with Rizu. In fact it may just be Rizu when I think about it. Fumino’s reasons for going into astronomy seem more reasonable when I look back. If Rizu’s reasoning for pursuing Psychology is just so she can better connect with people there are other ways she could get the help she needs without going through the struggle of pursuing something she is not quite as good at. It would have been better if her reasoning for going into psychology was due to having a genuine interest in studying human behavior and/or wanting to help people using psychology. It also would had been nice if we have seen some moments in which we see Fumino and Rizu studying the disciplines of their interests during their off time while Nariyuki is around to observe and perhaps even participate. It would have led to some great moments as well as character development. Of course I do not know if the story does this around the time I drop the series down the road or even if it happens past the anime adaptation, which is in the original manga.
Regardless it’s a shame because in terms of the thematic question/theme We Never Learn is going with it’s something I can relate to, especially because it’s something I am currently going through with the profession I want to go into.
With all that said it seems like We Never Learn is well liked enough, and from what I read from your post it would seem the story started to get a bit better when it shared Fumino’s background. Plus you explaining the reasoning behind Nariyuki not picking up on what the girls are feeling makes it seem more understandable. In fact you made this anime seem better then what I experienced. I wonder at times if I should give this series another try (but if I do it would be through the original manga).
P.S For me Uruka Takemoto appeals to me the most out of the three girls, but mainly because she looks the most attractive, but at the same time I do also ship her with Nariyuki since she was the first to like him.
I agree that Rizo’s motivation is weak. Besides, her math skills are in demand in psychology. Someone has to crunch all that research data! I also think the story could’ve used more time with the girls studying together without Nariyuki. It would’ve given more time for their character development.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Really? I never though psychologist needed math for that reason, but I guess that would male since considering I think those scientist deal with statistics to some degree. As for the girls doing a study session together without Nariyuki, I think that would of been a good idea. I can guess this was not done out of the fact that Nariyuki is a protagonist of a harem story and so has to be present in the girls lives much of the time we see them on screen.
One more thing, I forgot to mention this in my last comment, but I am with you in that the story does have potential to be a good drama. In fact I thought We Never Learn was at it’s best when it was not doing comedy, but was focus on the plot of the story instead.
Well you’re welcome.
Many comedy anime would do well (perhaps better) as serious dramas, but I also tend not to like comedies.