Your Divorce Is Served – Series Review & Episode Guide

Hajime Otokita is a divorce lawyer who runs his own firm, Otokita Law Office. His only employee is Azusa, an energetic paralegal. Azusa's cheerful personality clashes with Hajime's serious demeanour, but she excels at talking to clients and keeping the mood light. Hajime also works with a private detective named Kai, who assists with investigations.

Hajime specializes in helping clients end their marriages. Although Hajime may seem grumpy, he has a reputation for securing large alimony settlements. Hajime listens to clients and notices subtle clues in their expressions or mannerisms. He relies on investigations to collect evidence that strengthens his cases. Kai supports this work by conducting stakeouts and taking photos. Occasionally, he goes undercover in disguises, planting recording devices, and completing missions without being noticed.

Hajime takes on a new case from Mao, a celebrity who writes monthly health and wellness columns. She's married to Nishiuchi, a popular morning show presenter with a polished image as a devoted husband. The two even won a Best Partner Award together. Behind the scenes, Mao caught him cheating and now wants a divorce. Mao doesn't have solid proof yet, but she suspects he's having an affair with his co-host, Saya. In fact, he may have even brought Saya into his home. Hajime agrees to represent Mao and help her secure a high settlement.

Outside of work, Hajime and Kai are dating and live together. Kai is younger, yet he takes charge of the household chores and looks after his partner. At home, Hajime drops his polished image. He prefers to laze around, stay in bed, and even rely on Kai to help him get dressed. Kai actually enjoys doting on him in their private life. When the couple works together on cases, they maintain clear professional boundaries.

Hajime has an older sister named Kaede. She's married to Owari, a divorce lawyer. The couple has a nine-year-old daughter, Anna. Hajime and Owari are rivals who don't get along. Due to their conflict, Hajime keeps his distance from his sister's family. Recently, Kaede has been hospitalized. She asks if Anna can stay with Hajime and Kai for a while. Hajime agrees, though he wonders why Owari isn't caring for his own daughter. Anna soon arrives at Hajime's home. She shows interest in her uncle's cases, gets along well with Kai, and brings new energy into their lives.

Your Divorce Is Served is a fast-paced legal drama with a BL twist. A divorce lawyer and his detective boyfriend team up to crack cases, so most of the story revolves around their investigations. This series is more entertaining than it is realistic. It lives for the theatrics, since some moments can be hilariously over-the-top. Hajime doesn't just serve divorce papers, but this diva also serves epic monologues, scathing one-liners, and dramatic revelations. If there's an opportunity to expose a cheater on live TV, he's going for it!

There are five cases in total. Each storyline begins with a client in an unhappy marriage, but they come with complications. This one is a celebrity! That one has a secret! Just when you've got it all figured out, the series gladly throws in another twist. It's fun watching Hajime strategize and Kai investigate until they make a juicy discovery. As a mystery fan, I'm fond of dramas like Your Divorce Is Served, which lets me play armchair detective. I constantly point out suspicious behaviour ("abusive husband!"), make educated guesses ("lying wife!"), and feel smug when my intuition turns out to be correct.

My favourite case is the one about the lesbian couple, and I liked the emotional episodes with meaningful LGBTQ+ themes. The other plots often follow the "bad husband, pitiful wife" formula, but most characters aren't interesting and feel awfully one-dimensional. The series also focuses too much on investigations, which eat up all the screen time. BL fans are here to see Hajime and Kai, but instead, we're stuck watching a random couple's marriage drama. I want fewer cases and more scenes of the leads away from work, which is where the real chemistry happens.

Your Divorce Is Served is barely BL. It's a serious legal drama, so don't expect much romance. Hajime and Kai are dating since the start of the story, but we have no context for how they met or why they fell in love. I like their cute domestic moments, which show Hajime's goofier side and Kai's warm personality. While these two clearly care about each other, their physical intimacy is limited. The most we see is a quick shot of them cuddling in bed. Can't the series include more affection? A casual touch or cozier body language would make this relationship feel intimate.

Hajime reminds me of Miles Edgeworth from the video games. His whole look… His attitude… It's hard to explain, but I'm hopelessly into it! The actor (Goki Maeda) doesn't emote much since his character is so serious. I prefer him when he drops the lawyer mode, like in his scenes with Anna. His co-star (Rintaro Mizusawa) is fine as Kai, even if he feels slightly underutilized in a role that has no big moments. The MVP is the little girl who plays Anna (Risa Masuda), who's an absolute star. Owari's actor (Terunosuke Takezai) also gives a strong performance as the antagonist.

I have mixed feelings about the fifth and final case. Some parts of the storyline feel like a stretch, since the series chooses over-the-top drama over logic or nuance. For instance, Hajime's sister really should have talked to him before dropping a huge bombshell. With that said, I like how the story finishes with an incredibly emotional arc. With everything on the line, the plot has never been more gripping. Any series that can get me choked up and leave my feelings in a knot is doing something right. Overall, Your Divorce Is Served has left a positive impression on me.