The following contains spoilers for My Dress-Up Darling Episode 12, “My Dress-Up Darling,” now streaming on Funimation and Crunchyroll.
When My dear in disguise The last thing left of Marin and Gojo’s cosplay adventures, was a pretty steamy note with the most tension the main couple has faced so far. Many fans have noted that the charm of this show comes with an even balance between fan service and wholesomeness. The Season 1 finale, in contrast to the loaded penultimate episode, shows that balance. However, there doesn’t seem to be any mention of what happened before. Instead, episode 12 begins with a phone call from Marin’s father encouraging her to improve her studies.
Naturally, she asks Gojo for help, and while they study, she reveals that she earns money as a model and is saving up to buy a DSLR, inspired by Juju and her sister. To take a break from their studies, Gojo and Marin watch a scary movie together. Gojo is fascinated by the special effects, while Marin is absolutely terrified, which shows her weakness. Overall, this episode reflects Marin’s growing trust in Gojo, something fans haven’t seen from the normally headstrong cosplayer.
This continues as they pick up an assignment that Marin forgot at school, as she falls into the pool after taunting Gojo into messing with her. He is forced to save her and learns that she cannot swim, showing more of her weakness and her growing vulnerability to him. However, this moment is fleeting as Marin becomes determined to take Gojo to a festival.
At the festival, Gojo is enamored with how beautiful Marin looks in a yukata, almost as if she is one of the dolls he loves so much. After buying a lot of Marin-style snacks, they enjoy the fireworks show together. Reflecting on how amazing it is to see them up close rather than from the isolation of his room, Gojo realizes how much his life has changed this year. He looks at Marin, who catches his eye. They exchange a longing look until she shows her tongue stained blue from the shaved ice she was eating, breaking the romantic mood.
After the fireworks show, Marin reveals that her feet are full of blisters from the traditional shoes she wore. Gojo offers to give her a piggyback ride and they reminisce about how much fun they’ve had together this summer. Marin exclaims that she will be more careful next year and Gojo blushes at the thought of her adventures continuing.
In the post-credits scene of the season 1 finale, Marin calls Gojo on the phone and reveals that she watched the horror movie sequel alone; she now she is afraid to be alone in her apartment. She begs him to stay on the phone with her, and as they both lie in their respective beds, they reflect on how much more they want to do this summer, even though the new school term starts the next day. Gojo begins to drift off to sleep as they reflect on how much fun they’ve had together this year.
When Gojo is fast asleep, Marin finally tells him out loud that she loves him, even though he can’t hear it, and then points out the silliness of it all. She hangs up with an unrequited “see you later” directly at the camera, seemingly breaking the fourth wall for the audience. This is the icing on the cake for episode 12 and season 1 of My dear in disguise as a whole, and with it, a hopeful promise that a season 2 can be expected sooner rather than later.
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