With Valentine's Day only a few days away, you might want to watch something romantic with your significant other. Or maybe you'd like to watch a nice rom-com to get your mind off the fact that it's yet another lonely year. Either way, we've got you covered! Whether you want a pure romance, a dramatic one, or one filled with erotic love, check out our Valentine's Day bingeable recommendations.
Falling in love for the first time is one of the most exciting moments in one's life. As a tidal wave of foreign emotions floods us. It's easy to be hesitant and worry about whether our love will be reciprocated. After all, with our first real foray into romance. So comes our first foray into heartbreak. And few shows capture those highs and lows like 'The Dangers in My Heart' (Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu). While the first couple of episodes might scare off some people as it goes over how the male MC talks about wanting to murder the female MC, Skipping the show over this would be a disservice to oneself. It is a masterclass in character development and genuinely shows how feelings can develop in the right circumstances. The Dangers in My Heart is a must-watch for anyone into school romances.
.png) |
| © The Dangers In My Heart |
Did you know that there are several different types of love? The most playful of these is 'Ludus.' For those unaware, that is the name given to what most people would refer to as "cute love." where both partners often flirt and tease each other. In marriages, it is this type of love that is present in the honeymoon phase. And few shows capture this as perfectly as Tonikawa.
How would you describe the perfect way to ask someone to marry you? Well, if your reply wasn't nearly getting isekaied by truck-kun and then asking a stranger to go out with you. Only to then have her say she'd go out with you on the condition that you marry her. You didn't answer that correctly. That's exactly how Tonikawa starts. But rest assured, that outlandish meet cute gives us one of the best married romance stories in anime. And we enjoy that innocent and playful romance over two seasons!
 | |
| ©Tonikawa |
Sometimes, though, romance isn't just warm fuwa-fuwa feelings. Sometimes, chasing the person you love can hurt. With that said, how far would you be willing to go to be with the person you believe to be 'the one?' How much would you be able to take if it led to being with the person who completes you? That's a question that Fruit Basket's Tooru Honda has to contend with daily.
Life can be pretty unfair at times, and due to circumstances beyond her control, Tooru finds herself living alone in a tent after her mother passes away. As she's discovered by the family that owns the property she's currently camping on. She's offered a new home and family. But she soon realizes that her life has taken quite the Fortean turn, and with it comes an unexpected encounter. One that leads to a difficult but rewarding love.
A note on this show is that it has two separate shows. The original aired in 2001 and consists of 26 episodes. And the fully adapted reboot spanning three seasons (63 episodes.) It's a longer watch, for sure, but it's an epic journey every step of the way.
 |
| ©︎ Fruits Basket |
Romance is difficult, even when everyone accepts what you're doing as naturally. Now imagine how much harder it is for a same-sex couple with all the stigma and homophobia that is sadly still present in the world. Imagine how it must feel to realize that you're attracted to a person that others would not approve of. Now, imagine how it must feel to start to fall in love with someone of the same sex as you while you thought yourself to be aromantic.
Well, that's the story that Bloom Into You (Yagate Kimi ni Naru) covers so well. The story follows Yuu Koito and Touko Nanami. A first-year and student council president in a somewhat convoluted fake relationship to fill the void in Touko's heart ends up bearing fruit in both girls as they realize that even pretend emotions can quickly become real.
Sex gets the short end of the stick nowadays. For some reason, it's perfectly fine to show violent content all around and blast violent news 24/7, but show a boob and its outcry. Sexual attraction isn't a bad thing; it's a part of life, one as natural as breathing. For a lot of couples, even before intimacy, sexual playfulness is one of the healthiest ways to bond. After all, getting aroused by someone you love is part of the overall deal.
 |
| © Bloom Into You |
So say you want something a little bit ero and a little bit fun. What should you watch? Mayo Chiki is the show for you! What do you get when your mom and sister love wrestling to the point that you're always the grappling dummy? A fear of women, of course! That's something Kinjirou Sakamachi knows all too well, as his family's constant attacks have left him so afraid of women that even a slight touch can cause him to panic.
 |
| © Mayo Chiki |
Because of this, he tries his best to live a life free of the opposite sex. But one day his life is turned upside down as he inadvertently finds out that the most popular guy in his school is actually a girl! She knocks him out to maintain his silence, and upon waking, he is made an offer he can't refuse. Stay quiet and get help with his phobia. But with that help comes an unforeseen emotion—affection.