The series Romantics Anonymous opens with a delightful montage of Hana Lee (Han Hyo-joo) in her kitchen, dancing joyfully as she crafts exquisite chocolates. Her cheerful process of blending, pouring, and perfecting each shiny piece is captivating. However, the scene quickly shifts as she discreetly places the chocolates outside a shop, only to flee in a rush when spotted. Her initial exuberance gives way to a palpable sense of panic.
Based on the acclaimed French-Belgian romantic comedy film Les Émotifs Anonymes, Netflix’s eight-episode adaptation is a charming Japanese-South Korean co-production. It beautifully portrays a budding romance where overwhelming social anxiety presents the most significant hurdle for its protagonists.
Hana struggles immensely with social anxiety, finding it impossible to make eye contact and preferring the isolation of her home, even avoiding professional help. A major turning point arises with the passing of her mentor and friend, the owner of Le Sauveur, the chocolate shop where Hana works as the mysterious ‘anonymous chocolatier’. This event introduces her to the new director, Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri), who insists on face-to-face meetings – a terrifying prospect for Hana.
Romantics Anonymous (Japanese Series)
Meanwhile, Fujiwara is equally burdened by his own aversion to physical contact, meticulously carrying a comically large briefcase stocked with fresh shirts for any accidental splatters. He also faces his father’s increasing disappointment and impatience regarding his condition and work. The loyal staff at Le Sauveur, accustomed to their brilliant former owner, now report to this rigid and formal corporate representative. He is a stark contrast to the warm, sweet, and vibrant ambiance of their chocolate shop and its popular ‘Rainbow Palette’ — a collection of seven unique chocolates. Nearby, at a local jazz bar, Hiro Takada (Jin Akashi), a contemplative bar owner and musician, initially captures Hana’s attention.
Jin Akashi and Yuki Nakamura in Romantics Anonymous
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy of Netflix
The famed rainbow palette chocolates become pivotal to Hana and Fujiwara’s burgeoning slow-burn romance. As Fujiwara navigates the complexities of managing suppliers, engaging with vendors, and painstakingly recreating old recipes, Hana emerges as an invaluable partner. A genuine friendship blossoms, and upon discovering their mutual social anxieties, they pledge to support each other. Hana prepares for a date by practicing with Fujiwara, only to realize he can comfortably share a handshake solely with her. Their bond deepens over their shared vulnerabilities and a mutual passion for chocolates and the future of Le Sauveur.
Over its highly bingeable eight-episode run, Romantics Anonymous thoughtfully explores how Hana and Fujiwara confront their mental health challenges. Both seek guidance from Irene (Yuki Nakamura), a compassionate psychologist who helps them navigate their anxieties through support groups and virtual counseling sessions (Hana attends hers wearing a Kendo helmet). We witness Hana’s gradual transformation, her growing confidence, her enjoyment of her colleagues’ company, and her blossoming pride in her work. The show’s pacing is commendable, avoiding abrupt, unrealistic cures and striving for a grounded portrayal. However, Irene’s decision to discontinue counseling Hana after learning of her connection to Fujiwara, a friend, feels like a notable oversight.
The series features beautifully crafted shots of chocolate making (though more would have been welcome!), picturesque excursions to yuzu orange farms and tranquil lavender fields, all set against the backdrop of a blossoming romance. Any obstacles are resolved with convenient ease, and the presence of a lurking antagonist is swiftly addressed. There’s no grand, violent conflict here; the plot points may be predictable, but this contributes to the show’s effortlessly charming and lighthearted appeal. Even at Hana’s workplace, everyone is depicted as kind and encouraging, ensuring she feels included and allowing her to slowly open up to them, with characters consistently offering support rather than jealousy.
Shun Oguri truly shines as the initially stiff but ultimately warm-hearted Fujiwara, sharing a natural and sweet chemistry with Han Hyo-joo’s Hana. While the writing (by Kim Ji-hyun) favors Hana, presenting her as more vulnerable and nuanced on screen, Hyo-joo takes a few episodes to fully settle into the character. Despite being a slow-burn romance, the shorter episode lengths, each under an hour, are a refreshing change, especially when many K-Dramas tend to stretch into longer formats.
As a delightful and easy binge-watch, Romantics Anonymous perfectly hits the mark. It’s charming, sweet, and with all that delicious chocolate, who could resist?
Romantics Anonymous is currently streaming on Netflix.