Episode Highlights of Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru

Foreward

Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is a Fall 2024 Japanese TV drama. It's an adaptation of a manga by the same name. There is also an anime version of this work. Another name for this drama is "My Dress-Up Darling." By the way, Bisque can be translated as the word porcelain. So a literal translation of the title could be "That Porcelain Doll Falls in Love."

The drama was broadcast by MBS, which operates in the Kansai region of Japan. Though not widely broadcast in Japan (I watched it through the Japanese streaming site, TVer), this show quickly became my favorite romantic comedies of the season. 

Without further ado, here are my personal highlights for each episode.

Warning! There are light spoilers here, so be warned!

Episode 1 - Two Complete Opposites

Introverted Gojo Wakana’s love for Hina dolls is cute and endearing- he even talks to them! But it's also the main reason why he has no friends.  And we are introduced to the outgoing Kitagawa Marin, a blonde-haired, anime/game/Cosplay-loving Gal. The scene where these two seemingly polar opposites discover each other's passions in their high school home-making classroom is of course, the highlight of the episode for me.

Episode 2 - My First Friend

The scene where Gojo takes Kitagawa's measurements--oh dear, that was heart-pounding! But what was most memorable to me was later, when Kitagawa and Gojo go shopping. I loved the way they bantered with each other as they went from store to store. Even the background music was perfect! Ah, youth!

Episode 3 - Do I Look Like Shizuku-tan?
The scene which impacted me most was when a worn-out Gojo, weary from taking care of his grandfather, studying for exams, and bearing the weight of his promise to Kitagawa to make her cosplay dress, resolves himself to finishing her dress in time for an upcoming event. That wonderful background music once again plays, but this time for an extended period, and the whole scene gives the impression that Gojo really poured out himself in trying to do his best for Kitagawa. And when Gojo later puts makeup on Kitagawa, she looks extremely cute and adorable, like a little kid in a candy shop.

Episode 4 - Miss Juju's Request

Actually, the introduction of the Inui sisters was not my personal best highlight. Rather, it was practically every scene with Kitagawa. The reason being the look on her face and the thoughts in her mind every time she thought about Gojo as a possible love interest. To be precise:

1. While the two are at Gojo's house washing her costume
2. After Gojo sees her off at the train station
3. After the older Inui sister mistakenly assumes that Kitagawa and Gojo are dating
4. Kitagawa at home admiring a picture of her and Gojo on her smartphone
5. Smiling at Gojo at the restaurant because of his enthusiasm to learn how to take better photographs
6. And finally, the ending scene at the beach, where a nervous Kitagawa asks Gojo in a roundabout way to date her.

Episode 5 - Be Honest About  What You Like

To be honest about what I liked the most about this episode, it was the gothic-themed photo studio where Kitagawa and the older Inui sister, later to be joined by the younger Inui, wore their latest costumes. The studio was at once black but at the same time well-lit by both warm lights and mirrors reflecting the light. It was also very busy- at one point Kitagawa and the younger Inui are talking in front of a bunch of empty photo frames on the wall. Obviously a lot of time and effort into making the background to this scene. By the way, their costumes were very well done, in my opinion. And then, after the photo shoot, the four of them go to celebrate at a karaoke shop. They're all wearing costumes, albeit less elaborate ones. Gojo is dressed as a pink rabbit, a full-body kind of deal with a gigantic head attachment. After some conversation while the two are alone for a bit, Kitagawa can't hold back and kisses that big rabbit on the cheek.

Episode 6 - Unrequited Love

Appropriate title for this episode, as it's obvious that Kitagawa is on a one-way street of love over Gojo. He's so innocent and pure- very hard to believe from a high school boy. But he does show some normal teenage feelings when he gets all worked up in front of Kitagawa's front door- realizing that he'll be alone with her. Albeit for a good reason- to deliver her latest costume that he made. After entering her home, he gets nervous again walking up the stairs to her bedroom. But he calms down once he sees Kitagawa in his latest creation for Marin- a succubus outfit, complete with fangs, pointed ears, wings, and tail. After putting on her makeup, the two start a photo shoot in her room. And then comes the highlight. A move that Gojo makes during which he must be totally lost in the moment of photographing this devilish creature. Gojo brazenly suggests to Kitagawa that to get the best picture of her that he should shoot from under her body. So he lays on her bed with smartphone in hand, and beckons Marin to get on top of him so he can snap a good shot of her. The pictures turn out great- and then Gojo comes to his senses and realizes just how risque a position the two are in. He freaks out and grabs her around the waist, and the two get face to face- great mune-kyun moment by the way. Well, it would have been better if she didn't look so silly with all that makeup and whatnot on her! And guess who walks in on them right at that moment...

Episode 7 - Able to Love Myself

The highlight for me was Marin expressing her affection to a sleeping Wakana, as they spoke over the phone at night. On the one hand, it's a little depressing that it's still a one-way love thing between the two. Gojo is so oblivious to Kitagawa's interest in him that it's frustrating. But at the same time, I admire his innocence and pureness. Also, Blondie's feelings are puppy-like, and so together that makes them more-so the cute couple. Of note, in this episode a new cosplayer is introduced- Amano Chitose, who goes to the same school as the two main leads. Gojo ends up helping him with his costume as well.

Episode  8 - No More Lying About  What I Like

The lesser of two highlights for me is when Wakana visits a sick Marin at her place. He makes some rice porridge for her. I thought it was sweet of him to do such a thing. At the same time, I could tell it was because of the bond of friendship that he had formed with Kitagawa. But his act of kindness surely made her fall even more for Gojo.  The greater highlight for me was at the end of the episode, when Marin and Wakana are in class, The big topic is the upcoming culture festival, and whether or not Marin’s costume will be ready in time. She had taken it upon herself to make it herself, on the advice of the Inui sisters, who told her to distance herself from Wakana for a while. Gojo, realizing how hard it would be for Kitagawa to finish making the costume by herself, announces to the class that he’d help finish making it. When they question his skills, he admits that he’s the one who has been making her cosplay outfits. He then tells a surprised Marin that he won’t lie anymore about what he likes to do. Thus the title of this episode. 

Episode  9 - At Last the Culture Festival Begins

We finally get to see extended time with Wakana's and Marin's classmates. The culture festival is coming up, and final preparations must be completed.  Because Gojo has declared that he will help make Kitagawa's costume, that leaves less time for his other duty to make signs for the big day. But when he starts feeling guilty because he'd been helping Blondie out so much, he runs to his sign-making group, and they promptly shoo him away. They know how he's got his well-trained cosplay-making hands full at the moment, and so they assure him that things are okay without him. And this cooperative, caring, conscientious attitude that his classmates show to him (and Marin as well) is what makes the episode wonderful to me.  Moreso than any attempts by Ms. Gojo-Lover to be cute and lovey-dovey with Mr. Hina Doll. 

Episode 10 - The Most Beautiful Person in the World

One would never guess what I chose as the ultimate highlight of the final broadcast of this cute drama. Another appearance by the Inui sisters? NO. Marin's present to Gojo of a Hina Doll maker's coat, complete with hand-sewn name insignia? NO.  Gojo reminiscing on all the good times he had with Marin? NO. Wakana and Kitagawa meeting in the hallway at school on the day of the culture festival, where tall boy resolves to blondie that he'll make sure she ends up #1 in the cosplay event? NO.  Wakana-kun's application of makeup to Marin-chan, while their classmates ogle at them? NO. AH! It MUST be Rei-sama!!! ...NO! Well, all that's left is the final scene in the Home-Ec room, then. And Marin's love confession to Gojo...right??? .............Sorry, but NO!!! Nothing visual really compelled me to consider it as the highlight of the show. Instead, it was the music. The producers pulled out all the stops with the opening and ending theme, along with the excellent background music. They all contributed greatly to this wonderful drama. 

Conclusion

This drama, though released for the fall season, could have easily fit in the summer season slot. It had high-energy, bright colors, summer vacation scenes, beach scenes, and cuteness abound. Surely if the MPAA gave this drama a rating, it would rate a G, with no kissing, hugging, or otherwise physical contact. Come on, you can't count kissing a giant rabbit head!!! But still entertaining for both kids and adults, I'm sure. I'll miss Marin's bubbliness and hyper-excited talking voice. I'll miss Wakana's grandfather. I'll miss the swimming pool. I won't miss Wakana's oblivious nature towards love, though! Will there be a part two in the future? It's iffy. This drama wasn't widely broadcast. And through TVer it barely cracked the top 10, and then only for a day before dropping away. But we'll see. Anyways, I for one learned a little bit more about cosplay and Hina dolls, both very much fine examples of Japanese culture. And so for now, I bid adieu!