If the premise of this show is fairly unremarkable, seeming a bit like a Maison Ikkoku knock-off, the execution of it is fine.Kawai Complex has just enough wackiness to balance out the fact that Shiro is totally creepy and that Mayumi is really annoying, and Ritsu's character looks like it has potential. In fact, I'm hoping that they'll go into her living her books as the opening theme implies, which could certainly add some fun to the show. The fact that Sumiko is a perfectly normal and motherly figure is a point in the show's favor, as she serves, at least in this episode, to balance out the crazier members of the cast, specifically calling them out when they misbehave or do something foolish. That other characters appear to recognize each others' flaws is also a plus, and drastically reduces the annoying factor of some overused types, such as Perpetually Drunk Busty Woman or Creepy Pervert. Usa himself has some appeal in the way he sees himself as utterly sane and normal, even when some of his actions in attempting to see Ritsu would indicate otherwise. In other words, Kawai Complex has a sense of humor about itself that makes it more fun to watch than it might otherwise have been.

The visuals are a mixed bag here, with a lot of characters on still or bright backgrounds, and for some reasons there are a lot of polka dots in use. This episode also has a surprising amount of text written in bright colors against the background, which probably worked better when there weren't translators trying to squeeze subtitles in against them. There's something appealing about how the characters look, which alleviates some of the background issues, and Ritsu's subtle changes of expression work very well with her character.

My one major issue here is probably unique to me, but I have to wonder – is it intentionally “manors” in the title, as in “large houses?” Or should it have been “manners,” as in proper behavior? The Complex certainly could be classified as a “manor,” but th