Read this carefully: you have to watch this anime.
If you had told me a few months ago that one of my favorite anime of the season would feature a hitman and a cross-dressing con artist looking for a wife, I would have laughed in your face. It sounds insane. It’s about a poison expert hitman who urgently needs to marry to stop his strict clan from forcing his lesbian sister into an arranged marriage.
Yes, you read that right. It’s chaotic, but it works perfectly.
I went in completely blind, with zero expectations, and it hooked me immediately. Gero, the protagonist, is an impeccable killing machine who spent months building up immunity to poison. However, he is an absolute disaster when it comes to talking to women. Despite his blood-soaked job, he is the biggest “green flag” I’ve seen in years. The guy literally stops to consider the dynamics before asking out someone he just rescued from a kidnapping. A total gentleman.
And then there’s Kinosaki. My goddess, Kinosaki.
The twist that he is actually a guy caught us all by surprise. But thanks to the voice of Shion Wakayama (Takina Inoue from Lycoris Recoil), he steals every damn scene. His dynamic with Gero forms the heart of the series. And I swear, he gives the most mature, realistic, and grounded dating advice I’ve ever heard in any anime. In fact, a large part of the community secretly prays they end up together. Would it be the best ending? For me, at least, no.
But pay attention here: don’t get it twisted.
This isn’t a romantic comedy. It’s a battle shonen.
Yes, Gero seeks love to marry, but the main course is the action, and it’s sick. You’ll meet an Insect Master who literally uses giant centipedes under his shoes to levitate down the street. You’ll see a girl manipulating water in a brutal way (Himekawa) and a disturbing Sound Master capable of hypnotizing people with the frequencies of his voice. It’s bizarre, eccentric, and visually incredible. Plus, the character designs lack the generic, super-clean look of current anime; they have texture, scars, and real personality.
Oh, and let’s talk about the music. Because, seriously, it’s a beauty.
The opening, “Kill or Kiss” by Yurina Hirate, has been on loop on my Spotify for days. It has an intense electronic vibe, and the lyrics “Kill or kiss, kiss kiss or kill kill” will drill into your brain. It’s literally impossible to skip the intro.
And then, the ending.
“Shake Na Baby” by AKASAKI is an absolute banger that will blow your mind; it sounds incredible. It’s a visual and musical gem. In my personal opinion, I prefer the ending over the opening.
To wrap this up, I’ll put it this way: it’s stupid, it’s violent, and it’s incredibly tender.
Don’t overthink it. Just give it a chance. MARRIAGETOXIN premieres every Tuesday on Crunchyroll. You won’t regret it.
And hey, if you want to know more about me and my upcoming cosplay projects (yes, I confess I’m already plotting how to cosplay Kinosaki), follow me on Instagram! Drop by my profile, send me a DM, and let me know what you think of this anime.
