Official Trailer
Rating: 8.3/10 | Genre: Animation, Comedy | Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 60 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: Shun Horie, Sora Amamiya, Aoi Yuuki, Nao Toyama, Rie Takahashi
I just finished binging all 60 episodes of Rent-a-Girlfriend and honestly? I’m kind of a mess about it. This show is exactly what it promises to be: a chaotic, messy romantic comedy that somehow makes you care about a guy who literally rents girlfriends to impress people. It’s not perfect. There are definitely moments where you’ll want to shake Kazuya and tell him to get his life together. But it’s also weirdly addictive in the way that only a good rom-com can be.
Season 1
So the premise is genuinely ridiculous and I love that the show leans into it. Kazuya is a broke college student who gets dumped and immediately signs up for a rental girlfriend service out of spite. He meets Chizuru and there’s instant chemistry. The first few episodes nail the awkwardness of the situation perfectly. You can feel how weird it is for both of them, and that makes it work.
But here’s where it gets messy: they can’t actually keep the fake dating thing private. His friends see them together. His family thinks she’s real. By episode 3 or 4, the lie spirals out of control and you’re basically watching two people get tangled up in increasingly complicated situations.
The show does a good job of actually making you care about Chizuru as a character and not just a love interest. She’s got her own problems. She wants to be an actress. She’s dealing with her own family drama. That’s what saves this from being just another dumb harem anime. The writer clearly understood that if you want people to stick around for 60 episodes, you need to develop your characters.
Where Season 1 stumbles is the pacing. With 60 episodes, there’s definitely some filler. You’ll have arcs where it feels like things aren’t moving forward, and you’re just watching the same conflicts play out over and over. Kazuya makes the same mistakes. Chizuru gets frustrated for the same reasons. It works well enough, but you can definitely feel the padding.
The supporting cast is what keeps things interesting though. Kazuya’s friends are genuinely funny, and they add real stakes to the fake dating situation. His grandma becomes increasingly important to the story, and she’s way more likable than Kazuya deserves. There are also other rental girlfriends that get introduced as the season goes on, which adds more layers to the world.
Kazuya himself is kind of the weakest part of the show, which is a problem since he’s the main character. He’s a coward. He lies constantly. He makes terrible decisions and then acts surprised when things blow up. The show wants you to root for him to grow up and become a better person, but it takes forever for any real change to happen. By the end of Season 1, he’s still basically the same guy who rented a girlfriend in episode one.
If you’re going into this expecting something groundbreaking, you’ll probably be disappointed. If you’re going in expecting a fun, silly rom-com that’s willing to sit with its characters and let their relationships actually develop, then you’ll probably have a good time. I fell into the second camp, even when the show frustrated me.
Would you actually watch all 60 episodes, or do you think you’d tap out once the novelty of the premise wears off?
Episode Guide
Season 1 (60 Episodes)
Episode 1: Rent-a-Girlfriend (7.2/10)
Jilted and heartbroken, 20-year-old Kinoshita Kazuya turns to Diamond, a Rent-A-Girlfriend app that leads him to a fateful encounter with Mizuhara Chizuru, one of the talents on offer.
Episode 2: Ex-Girlfriend and Girlfriend (7.1/10)
Immediately after deciding not to rely on pretend dating anymore, Kazuya is hit with a triple whammy of reveals: Chizuru not only goes to his college but lives next door to him, and his grandmother is coming to visit and wants to see her.
Episode 3: Beach and Girlfriend (6.7/10)
Kazuya barely has time to deal with the fallout of the situation in the pub before the gang heads off on a short trip to Izu, where they run into someone unexpected.
Episode 4: Friend and Girlfriend (7.6/10)
Mami’s plan comes to a head as Kazuya decides to set the story straight, to mixed reactions.
Episode 5: Hot Springs and Girlfriend (6.3/10)
The aftermath of the ferry incident signals a clear shift in Kazuya’s feelings. Meanwhile, there’s a conspiracy brewing at the hot springs inn he and his family decide to visit.
Episode 6: Girlfriend and Girlfriend (7.2/10)
Having to spend a night in the same room with Chizuru sends Kazuya’s heart and mind racing. Meanwhile, Kuribayashi Shun has a surprise in store…
Episode 7: Provisional Girlfriend and Girlfriend (7.4/10)
While Kazuya desperately tries to get Ruka to promise she won’t reveal his secret, she tells him her own.
Episode 8: Christmas and Girlfriend (7/10)
Christmas rolls around with Kazuya not having met Chizuru for ages, and he sees something he never wanted to see.
Episode 9: Lies and Girlfriend (6.6/10)
Ruka is hellbent on knowing the full story behind Kazuya and Chizuru’s relationship, and once she does she decides to take action.
Episode 10: Friend’s Girlfriend (6.9/10)
Kazuya learns that Kuribayashi's been down in the dumps and tries to figure out how he can help him.
Episode 11: Truth and Girlfriend (6.8/10)
On Chizuru's request, Kazuya goes on a practice date with Sumi, another rental girlfriend. Will he actually be able to help her and stay out of trouble while he's at it?
Episode 12: Confession and Girlfriend (7.2/10)
Chizuru and Mami go on an awkward rental date unaware that Kazuya has seen them together. How can Chizuru handle this situation?
Episode 13: Dream and Girlfriend (6.3/10)
As Mizuhara looks set to quit the rental girlfriend business, Kazuya goes to watch a play, one that could be pivotal to their relationship.
Episode 14: The Usual Girlfriend (6/10)
As the fallout from the play becomes clear, things go back to normal between Mizuhara and Kazuya, until…?
Episode 15: The Return of the Girlfriend (5.8/10)
Mizuhara has lost the key to her apartment and comes to Kazuya for some reason… and she's not the only unexpected visitor!
Episode 16: Night and Girlfriend (5.8/10)
Kazuya has barely dealt with the aftermath of Mami's visit when he gets another aggressive visitor!
Episode 17: Birthday and Girlfriend (6/10)
Kazuya tries to clear the misunderstanding Chizuru is under, all while enlisting Sumi's help to get her a fitting birthday present.
Episode 18: Booze and Girlfriend (6/10)
As Kazuya wonders if his birthday gift was good enough, he and Chizuru find themselves in a crisis in the form of a boozer.
Episode 19: Ex and Girlfriend (5.8/10)
Kazuya wakes up with the worst hangover ever and struggles with his fragmented memories. Meanwhile, someone finds out about his workplace and decides to make an appearance.
Episode 20: Youth and Girlfriend (6/10)
Kazuya decides to spend his all-day date with Mizuhara reclaiming his lost youth… in a very peculiar fashion.
Episode 21: Kiss and Girlfriend (6.4/10)
When Nagomi hears that Chizuru's birthday has already passed, she decides to throw a combined party for both her and Kazuya, and she refuses to take no for an answer!
Episode 22: Ring and Girlfriend (6.2/10)
Kazuya can barely process Ruka's actions when Nagomi decides to drop another bomb on the party.
Episode 23: Guide and Girlfriend (6.2/10)
Kazuya has hardly begun to process the fallout from his birthday when he gets asked to go on another practice date with Sumi, this time with her taking the lead!
Episode 24: Girlfriend and Me (7/10)
Chizuru reflects on her journey to get her here, and Kazuya acts on his idea to help her.
Episode 25: Home Cooking and Girlfriend (6.8/10)
Kazuya and Chizuru have decided to make a movie together so that Granny Sayuri can see it. That's all well and good, but now they have to sit down and work out all the details.
Episode 26: Girlfriend Next Door (6.8/10)
Ruka demands an explanation from Kazuya and Chizuru, and Mini overhears it all going down! What will she do with this information?
Episode 27: Expert and Girlfriend (6.8/10)
With the momentum of the crowdfunding campaign stalling, Kazuya must turn to Mini, who happens to be an expert on the matter!
Episode 28: D-Day and Girlfriend (6.7/10)
Mini's earnest appeal makes things awkward. Meanwhile, Umi makes a request in return for retweeting the campaign.
Episode 29: Filming and Girlfriend (6.5/10)
Filming for the movie begins, and seeing her act in the flesh, Kazuya realizes that Chizuru exists in a whole different dimension from him. Meanwhile, Mini is hatching a plot of her own.
Episode 30: Final Scene and Girlfriend (6.5/10)
Kazuya and Chizuru end up at a ski resort, finding themselves having to shoot the final scene for the movie all on their own. Chizuru decides she has something to say to Kazuya.
Episode 31: Kazuya and Girlfriend (6.5/10)
It's Ruka's birthday, and Kazuya has to stay true to his word and grant her anything she desires. But what does she want, really?
Episode 32: Family and Girlfriend (6.5/10)
Sayuri tags along with Kazuya and Chizuru as they scout out the cinema they'll be screening their movie in, and it brings back memories for her.
Episode 33: Parting and Girlfriend (7/10)
With Sayuri's prospects looking bleak, Kazuya pulls off the only thing he can do for Chizuru and her.
Episode 34: Spontaneous Trip and Girlfriend (7/10)
Not knowing what to do, Kazuya looks to good old Sumi for advice. She decides to take him on a trip to help clear his mind.
Episode 35: Girlfriend and Boyfriend (6.5/10)
Kazuya decides to rent Chizuru out for an entire day and puts together a date plan to help cheer her up. Will he be successful?
Episode 36: Ideal Girlfriend and Girlfriend (7/10)
Seeing Chizuru overcome with grief, Kazuya decides to give her an outlet and sees the ensuing moment as a big change in their relationship.
Episode 37: Routine and Girlfriend (7.8/10)
Summer break is over, and routine returns to Kazuya's life. Something he needs to fix, and fast.
Episode 38: Sigh and Girlfriend (7.8/10)
Kazuya suggests that he and Chizuru get lunch together. How will she take it?
Episode 39: Daikanyama and Girlfriend (7.8/10)
Chizuru and Kazuya are invited to a party in the super-fancy area of Daikanyama.
Episode 40: Decision and Girlfriend (8/10)
Kazuya has his mind set on making his move, and Chizuru has realized something too.
Episode 41: Promised Time and Girlfriend (8.5/10)
Mami finally confronts Chizuru. How will this explosive situation turn out?
Episode 42: Family Trip and Girlfriend (7.8/10)
It's time for the Kinoshita tradition—a two-night, three-day trip to Spa Resort Hawaiians!
Episode 43: Hawaiians and Girlfriend (7/10)
The Hawaiians stay begins in absolute chaos as Mami has joined the fray!
Episode 44: Strings and Girlfriend (6.7/10)
Chizuru and Kazuya deal with a little incident, blissfully unaware of the moves Mami is making.
Episode 45: For My First Time and Girlfriend (6.3/10)
Ruka has her doubts about this trip, and her doubts are amplified by the conversations she has!
Episode 46: Ring Finger and Girlfriend (6.7/10)
Chizuru and Ruka have run-ins with the Kinoshita family women.
Episode 47: Guilt and Girlfriend (7/10)
Mami confronts Chizuru and urges her to make a decision.
Episode 48: Paradise and Girlfriend (6.3/10)
Kazuya's filled with guilt after Nagomi's display of gratitude, and Chizuru has a decision to make with Mami.
Episode 49: Ex-Girlfriend, Nanami Mami
What is Mami planning to do by renting Chizuru out? What's going through her mind?
Episode 50: Rental Girlfriend (9/10)
How will Mami respond to Chizuru? And can Kazuya process what he thinks is a rejection?
Episode 51: The End of the Girlfriend (10/10)
Chizuru's rental GF secret may be out. How will people react, and how can Kazuya and Chizuru escape this?
Episode 52: Climax and Girlfriend
Unable to bear Chizuru being treated as the one in the wrong anymore, Kazuya decides to speak up.
Episode 53: Legitimate Girlfriend
Chizuru did as Mami said to try to convince everyone. How will they, and Kazuya, react?
Episode 54: Long Time No Girlfriend
The Hawaiians trip is over, and Kazuya is left to deal with the aftermath.
Episode 55: Valentine's and Girlfriend
Mini reports back with her findings on Chizuru, and Kazuya has hope again.
Episode 56: Investigation and Girlfriend
In an attempt to understand her feelings, Chizuru shows up at Kazuya's house.
Episode 57: Bra and Girlfriend
Episode 58: Episode 58
Episode 59: Episode 59
Episode 60: Episode 60
Where to Watch
Stream on: Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel, Sony Liv, Anime Times Amazon Channel
Buy on: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies