LOVE and LIES Season 1 Episode 1 First Love

Love and Lies is a romantic drama anime that premiered in Japan in 2017 and is directed by Seiki Takuno. The show is set in a dystopian society where the government controls who people marry in order to ensure genetic compatibility and produce healthy offspring. The plot revolves around three students, Yukari Nejima, Misaki Takasaki, and Ririna Sanada, who are caught in a love triangle that challenges the restrictive laws of their society.

The first episode of Love and Lies season 1 titled "First Love" sets the stage for the series by introducing the main characters and their dilemma. Yukari Nejima is a reserved and introverted high school student who has just received a notification from the government that he has been assigned a marriage partner. To his surprise, it is his longtime crush Misaki Takasaki who lives next door and is also his classmate. The two of them have known each other since childhood and Yukari has harbored feelings for Misaki for as long as he can remember. However, before he has a chance to confess his love, he is hit with the news that Misaki is already in love with someone else.

The government assigns marriage partners based on genetic compatibility tests and Yukari's match with Misaki is supposed to ensure that they will produce healthy offspring. However, the government's intervention in people's personal lives has resulted in a society where love is restricted and marriages are arranged. Yukari's dilemma is heightened when he is introduced to his new partner, Ririna Sanada, a quiet and reserved girl who is also assigned to him by the government. Yukari is conflicted between his love for Misaki and his duty to follow the government's rules and marry Ririna.

In "First Love", we see Yukari struggling to come to terms with his emotions and the society he lives in. He confides in his childhood friend and neighbor, Takasaki, about his feelings for her and his disappointment at being unable to be with her. Misaki, however, reveals that she is in love with someone else who is not part of the government's matchmaking system. She is torn between following her heart and the law that dictates her marriage partner. Her complex emotions add depth to the story and highlight the oppressive nature of the society they live in.

Meanwhile, Yukari meets Ririna for the first time and is surprised by her quiet and reserved nature. Unlike Misaki, Ririna is obedient to the government's rules and accepts her assignment as Yukari's partner without resistance. Yukari is initially hesitant to accept Ririna's advances, but as the episode progresses, he begins to see her in a new light. In a poignant moment, we see Ririna reading a book on love and relationships, indicating that she is not opposed to the idea of love but is simply following the rules of the society she lives in.

Love and Lies season 1 episode 1 "First Love" does an excellent job of establishing the central conflict of the show and introducing the main characters. The dystopian society provides an interesting backdrop for a romantic drama and the love triangle between Yukari, Misaki, and Ririna promises to be compelling. The show explores themes such as love, freedom, and individuality and questions the government's role in people's personal lives. The animation is gorgeous, with detailed character designs and fluid motion. Overall, Love and Lies season 1 episode 1 is a promising start to a series that is sure to tug at the heartstrings of viewers.