Say "I Love You"

Every so often, I manage to stumble upon a gem that is far deeper than it seems to be. Even more than things like Vermeil in Gold, which hits me out of nowhere, this one looked promising, but was far more thorough in its message than I would expect out of a single season of anything. With trends in anime still looking more at action series, this one was certainly a diamond in the rough.

Say "I Love You" is a show that at its core is about vulnerability. Our main character, Mei, has been socially outcast by her peers at a young age, and so decided she neither wanted, nor needed any companionship. She claims to be content by herself, and not only keeps from seeking friendship, but actively pushes any attempts away. Now in high school, a popular student by the name of Yamato happens upon her.

Yamato is quick to push for simply friendship at first. He shows her genuine compassion, and the intimacy that can come with any connection. Eventually, she agrees, and with Yamato finds a whole slew of friends along with him. Over time, we see into every member of the group, learning about their insecurities, as they discover the importance of trust and relationships in all forms. Mei also slowly heals from her past, eventually forming a romantic bond with Yamato, and the entire time, he just wants to hear her say the words "I love you".

Every episode came with a new type of intimacy to focus on, and that was incredibly intriguing, covering things from sharing one's feelings, to jealousy, to fear of secrets and cheating. We see the entire group of friends becoming more secure with themselves, because of the things they work past together. It strengthens their bonds, and eventually turns into a strong platonic love that is shared between everyone, and keeps them working together.

Over time, we do see Mei opening up, letting down walls, and feeling safe in showing vulnerability. She acknowledges the importance in allowing yourself be open to the possibility of hurt, because of the reward within the risk. She develops true, healthy attachment rather than simple infatuation that most media covers, and honestly, I loved every moment. In so many ways, this shows more about love than some romantic television shows can feature in a handful of seasons. It never touches the ideas of sex, but gentle physical intimacy is featured in several ways.

Intimacy is a heavy theme throughout the series. Again, not sexually, but things like sharing one's deepest thoughts, anxieties, and pasts. We see characters helping each other through major life events and how that truly naked time brings people closer. The struggle and pain every character goes through when debating the risk of being vulnerable, versus the reward of companionship and connection is something most adults learn late in life, and here we see teenagers working their way along this rite of passage into healthy relationships.

That's what it is, a story of risk. Rather than the action series that have a monster at the end, and a battle of weapons and violence, we have the conflict within. The juggle of emotions and trauma, or assumptions of how people might behave that we battle against in a pursuit of peace and fulfillment. I would love to show this to every teenager out there, so they can see the importance of honesty, transparency, and vulnerability. Maybe if they learned earlier, we'd wind up with some better adjusted adults, who know how to navigate their friendships and partnerships in a less superficial way. And maybe, if we're lucky, we'll learn not to be quite so afraid of not just loving, but telling those we hold close "I love you".