Naked Dining – Series Review & Episode Guide

Ichijou is a well-liked office worker who lives in the city. After his grandmother passed away last year, he recently received a time capsule letter from her. She wants him to visit her home and retrieve some of his old belongings. Ichijou follows her advice and arrives at the deserted countryside home. The nostalgic visit evokes fond memories of Ichijou's grandmother, who used to be an excellent cook.

While browsing his childhood mementoes, Ichijou is shocked when an intruder arrives at the home. Ichijou almost attacks the stranger, identifying him as a burglar. However, Mahiro clears the misunderstanding and introduces himself as a friend. Ichijou's grandmother, Mizuchi, had a close bond with Mahiro. She taught him cooking lessons, like a protégé. She also gave him spare keys to the house. After her death, Mahiro occasionally visits to keep the place tidy.

Mizuchi used to dream of travelling the world to taste different cuisines. After her health deteriorated, she couldn't go outside anymore. Ichijou is surprised. Although he communicated with his grandmother through video calls, he didn't know about her knee problems. He feels guilty about not caring for her. Despite her ailment, Mizuchi maintained her adventurous spirit in the kitchen. She liked to cook food from different countries and passed these recipes to Mahiro.

Ichijou wants to cook one of his grandmother's recipes. He buys ingredients at the local grocery store, which Mahiro owns after inheriting it from his mom. His friend, Ryu, also works at the store. Mahiro knows a lot about the different foods and helps Ichijou shop for the ingredients. After returning home, Ichijou prepares the meal. However, he has an eccentric habit. Ichijou likes to strip naked before every meal. Eating in the nude is relaxing and gives him a sense of liberation.

Since Ichijou is alone at his grandmother's home, he undresses and enjoys the meal without clothes. Yet, Mahiro suddenly arrives at the house unannounced. Both are shocked to see each other. Mahiro feels awkward about seeing his acquaintance in the nude and makes a hasty exit. Ichijou feels embarrassed that someone has discovered his secret quirk. This encounter causes uneasiness between them when they meet again.

Naked Dining grabs your attention with an eccentric premise. Not many stories feature a quirky protagonist who enjoys meals in the buff. Yet, nudity only plays a small role in the story. After the novelty wears off, the series follows a traditional narrative with familiar plots. The early episodes give gentle, relaxing vibes. The leads bond pleasantly in the calm countryside setting. They have harmonious exchanges, from casual chats to cozy cooking lessons. Despite its unusual start, Naked Dining is surprisingly down-to-earth.

I respect the story's meaningful messages about open-mindedness. Mahiro doesn't limit his views despite living in a small town. He embraces diverse cultures and introduces foreign cuisine to others. As the characters enrich their knowledge and perspectives, exploring the world isn't confined to a physical journey. Likewise, the series draws clever parallels between Ichijou's nudism and his repressed feelings. In both cases, he learns to be comfortable in his skin, liberating himself from his insecurities. Naked Dining shows moments of brilliance with insightful themes.

Unfortunately, Naked Dining often rehashes overused tropes. Some storylines, like love triangles, secret crushes, or misunderstandings, seem typical. I can guess how each scene unfolds since it always mirrors predictable cliches. The romance also stagnates, stalling time with mild-mannered interactions. The tedious relationship drama worsens during the second half. Expect annoying issues or needless conflicts that separate the couple. After a while, the lack of excitement sets in. Naked Dining falls into a dull rhythm and doesn't compel me to watch the next episode.

Ichijou and Mahiro are an incompatible couple, sharing little chemistry from start to finish. They underwhelm me during many milestones in their romantic journey. Their first kiss occurs under iffy circumstances and causes confusion than elation. Similarly, the love confession scenes are tense and generate much frustration. The prolonged relationship drama becomes unbearable in the last few episodes. Shimizu is a pesky love rival, but I despise how Ichijou treats her. He behaves despicably and exploits her feelings, souring my opinion of his character.

The actors (Shori Kondo & Goto Yutaro) appear comfortable in their roles. They give suitable emotional responses to each corresponding scene. However, they don't share an on-screen spark. In terms of conveying their attraction to one another, they haven't persuaded me. The story does them no favours, constantly manufacturing drama to separate the couple. Also, their high school connection feels randomly tacked on. Ichijou and Mahiro don't bring a sense of romantic fantasy. Secretly, I prefer Ryu better as a love interest and ship him with either of the leads.

Naked Dining has a happy ending that unites the leads after resolving their last-minute disagreement. Despite their reconciliation, the couple doesn't seem right for each other. After investing five hours into this romance, I still don't care about them. My indifference extends to the rest of this middle-of-the-road series. The story touches upon a few topics that interest me, but they get overshadowed by other annoyances. Overall, Naked Dining seems bland and dispensable. Like a dish without a defining ingredient, it lacks a unique flavour to stand out in the BL genre.