Prism Rondo • Love Through a Prism

Prism Rondo • Love Through a Prism - Episode 20 discussion

*Prism Rondo*, episode 20

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**Streams**

* [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/81498882)

**Show information**

* [MyAnimeList](https://myanimelist.net/anime/63019/)
* [AniList](https://anilist.co/anime/202955)
* [AniDB](https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=19743)
* [Kitsu](https://kitsu.app/anime/prism-rondo)
* [Anime-Planet](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/love-through-a-prism)

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**All discussions**

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AnimeMod2026-01-16 13:53

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Dur_Gwana2026-01-16 16:22

first

DependentOnIt2026-01-17 08:02

Second.

Pretty disappointing overall tbh. Of course they end up together.

Really the only interesting thing this story tried to even remotely touch on was artists feeling stuck / jealously / self doubt and even that was meh.

Pretty much hot standard shojo

_ashtarte2026-01-17 14:21

This was definitely a character focused anime and the character development was spectacular and there was wondrous visuals. However, I'm inclined to agree that the narrative (manga included) was pretty straightforward, the Great War premise was such a good idea that honestly fell flat for me in the story. There could've been a lot more focus on the world and the people within it, which would've been central to artistic development. Professor Brant's line that it was the artist's destiny to capture the memory or moment for history would've been far more impactful if they actually were capturing the moment.

So many amazing plot points that could've been expanded upon, and Kit and Lili's separation was honestly so brushed over and abrupt, sure the separation could be sudden but the way it was dealt with felt almost trivial. So many emotions, concepts, and worldbuilding to explore that just never got touched upon or barely referenced.

MandisaW2026-01-17 18:48

The separation, the War, and its aftermath, took up a full third of the episode-count, and defined who they became as adults. It was the key trigger to their true "coming of age". I wouldn't call that trivial.

_ashtarte2026-01-17 19:34

Separation and war took 1 episode and Kit was just a dick during the separation. The aftermath took up the rest of the time. Of course it was done okay, I'm saying that there were so many themes throughout, other than just the character development, that could've played so much more of a role. The world shapes the characters, and I just didn't see enough of that world. That's the reason it felt trivial, it felt isolated and abrupt, and the aftermath just didn't have that impact that I knew it could've had.

Professor Brant's line that it is the destiny of artists to capture the moment in history is a huge thematic premise that just ends up gestured towards. Moral shifts, social restructuring, suffering, contradiction aside from just KitxLili—all of it just disappears and makes the love feel a little unearned and isolated. Ah! Kit shows up again 5 years later and he survived the Hunger Games or something—woahhh...?

My issue is it became so character focused it lowkey just forgot other characters and the entire world existed aside from checking off major events, when the other characters appeared their impact was basically minimal around this point of the story.

missuniversed2026-01-17 23:46

i trust this review

_ashtarte2026-01-18 00:07

Still a very good show and a must watch!

missuniversed2026-01-18 00:08

I tried watching from 17-19 and is Kit’s character that…flat? Lol. I’m kinda over nonchalant shoujo male leads even if they show bare minimum yearning.

_ashtarte2026-01-18 00:27

Righhtt Kit has so much character potential and I just did not see that develop

MandisaW2026-01-18 00:08

War & separation plotline starts with the Duke's death, in ep 15 or 16 IIRC. Could even argue it was foreshadowed during the party/visit arc.

> it became so character focused it lowkey just forgot other characters and the entire world

Of course it was focused on the 2 MCs, and the development of their relationship, that's how romance-drama stories work.

Story starts when Lili meets Kit, its most dire obstacle is when he's presumed dead and she's bereft of "color" [love & emotion], let alone the will to paint, and its climax is when they have their true reunion. That's a standard character-drama narrative.

> there were so many themes throughout, other than just the character development, that could've played so much more of a role

Most of the story is set while they are at the conservatory, so pre-war is the time period that gets the focus. The framing is entirely on these characters at a point when they are hopeful for their futures, and working towards discovering what their future-selves will be - who they want to be.

It was clearly a conscious decision to not include a dateline at the start. I thought it odd at first that they weren't precise about *when* Lili arrives, given that 1904 vs 1914 makes a huge difference. In retrospect, it was so that we'd have the maximum impact as viewers as war arrives at the worst possible time for her/them.

It's not a story about the rise & duration of WWI, they never even implied that it would be. You wanting it to be that doesn't mean they failed in some way. Just means you should read some other story.

_ashtarte2026-01-18 00:26

Completely missed my point... It's not that the story didn't focus on WW1, its that the story's choice to focus on the two main characters and isolate themselves from the social backdrop of the story, which was intentionally chosen, completely negates its own character focus else the whole 1900s setting is just a gimmick. Characters are contextualized to their world, this story could be copy and pasted into any shoujo anime about art and produce the same exact narrative. Especially with so many themes that they themselves brought up, like Professor Brant's quote that I keep referencing, and simply never addressed.

Secondly, it isn't even about episode count or if it was foreshadowed or not---the build up to the war and Kit's civic duty was just incredibly absent by the way! Even just a newspaper or two a couple episodes behind would've made it not so flat, but it played like a Shonen anime checklist where it went from one arc to the next arc like---oop! WW1 time, let me foreshadow on that very same episode! It's just, there was just a severe lack of suspense or reasons for me to care about the context the characters were put in. It was a plot point, not a story. Like geez, even though it was lackluster, Lili's parents threatening to bring her home had more weight on the story than the war.

> Of course it was focused on the 2 MCs, and the development of their relationship, that's how romance-drama stories work.

It surely impacted and developed their relationship, but it is basically told to us rather than shown. The characters changed but it wasn't a payoff it was a result. Is it a good shoujo anime? Yep. Did they play it safe and fulfill their arc and formula? Sure. But the things they missed out on could've made this 7/10 one of the best stories I'd have ever watched, but they flopped the opportunity. It's how a romance-drama works, I guess. Not that there's any other shows that have been able to accomplish it to varying degrees:

- Violet Evergarden
- 86
- Magical Revolution
- Witch Izetta
- Rose of Versailles
- Snow White with The Red Hair
- etc

When an anime sets itself up to be a historical drama with a character focus, I expect the world to fall back on the characters. When the anime sets itself up through the lens of art color, I'm curious as to what art entails for those characters. I'm sorry but you could make the characters a bunch of normal high school students and get the same level of character development. It succeeded as a basic cliche.

MandisaW2026-01-18 07:35

The time period constrains the characters' options, and defines how they relate to the world, each other, and themselves.

If it had been set in modern times, then all of the gender-role, ethnic-, and class-conflict would have been absent.

There is a lot of exploration around what it means to be a young woman in the 1910s, and what it means to be a "foreigner" in England at that time (even for Peter, who's English, and Joffrey, who's Irish).

Even the tension between freedom & duty for a noble at that time get some attention with the contrasts drawn between Richard, Kit, and their father, both during his Kit-like rootless bohemian artist phase & his Richard-like gentleman public servant phase.

I'm not missing your point - I'm saying that you keep complaining that the show didn't dive into what you wanted to explore, while downplaying or ignoring everything it actually was doing.

There are historical stories that focus on the era [or world] itself, and just use the chars as a lens. This one leaned more into the characters, but it absolutely did use the temporal setting as a key part of who these chars were, and why they did what they did.

I would def put RoV & AkaYuki in the latter category - those are clearly character-centric stories, just with lots of action. Basara, Yona, 12 Kingdoms, Saiunkoku, et al - there are a lot of shojo series with faux-historical settings where the period constraints & assumptions are part of what defines the MC & their arc. This series is in company with those, not a historical "window" like you're describing.

_ashtarte2026-01-18 08:07

Gender-role conflict barely existed. Ethnic conflict was absent. Class-conflict was boiled down to minor nobles being sad and higher nobles also being sad and uniting through art. This story is so copy paste, my entire critique is that the story had those things but never cared to explore them any further. Once again, the story had these conflicts, mentioned them, and did not explore them further. It's not that the story didn't explore what I wanted, but that the story set things up that it chose not to explore.

Genuinely, imagine someone watched this anime without reading the synopsis. Tell me that the story would've felt continuous and meaningful. Obviously the temporal setting was a key part of the characters, if it wasn't then this anime would've been a flop! All I'm saying is the narrative was flat, it set up powerful premises that it played safe on.

You don’t get to:

* Set it in early 20th-century Europe
* Introduce war, nationalism, class, gender, exile
* Explicitly monologue about art as historical memory

…and then say:

>“Relax, it’s just a romance.”

That’s thematic cowardice imo. You're, in a sense, right that the history matters structurally as plot points, but I already conceded this.

>Even just a newspaper or two a couple episodes behind would've made it not so flat, but it played like a Shonen anime checklist where it went from one arc to the next arc like---oop! WW1 time, let me foreshadow on that very same episode! It's just, there was just a severe lack of suspense or reasons for me to care about the context the characters were put in. It was a plot point, not a story.

The emotional arc would be identical in any shoujo setting. Only the excuses for separation would change, really. And also, the "gender/class/ethnic roles" they briefly brushed upon still exist today and I could probably pull up any modern romance anime with those tropes. The setting obviously restricts choices but it doesn't linger in those choices or contradictions whatsoever, it feels cheaply earned. A character-focused story does not mean forgetting everything around it, see the other anime I referenced.

MandisaW2026-01-18 20:57

>Gender-role conflict barely existed. Ethnic conflict was absent. Class-conflict was boiled down to minor nobles being sad and higher nobles also being sad and uniting through art.

Okay, now I get it. All that stuff was very present, you just apparently missed it 🤷‍♀️

Just to take one example, Joffrey wasn't just a "minor noble", he was Irish. That introduces an entire historical context around the British ~~rule~~ occupation of Ireland, the subordinate status of, and prejudice/oppression against, everyone associated with Ireland, incl families of British descent.

His prospects and opportunities were higher than the others' (excl Kit, of course), but they were still very much constrained. C.f. his complete dismissal by the nobles at the party.

And yes, the entire Commonwealth still has a ton of ethnic & class conflicts. But the UK just had their first Indian PM (albeit briefly, and fraught 🙃). That's a helluva lot different from the situation our Peter finds himself living in.

And to say gender-conflict "barely existed", dude what? That was the entirety of Catherine's arc, as well as a key tension for both Lili & Shin on the Japanese/filial obligation side. Arguably part of Dorothy and Peter's internal calculus as to their futures as well.

Gender-conflict includes conflict between what you want/who you are and the gender-roles society assigns to you. It's not only "men vs women".

You complain about the series not diving into its historical premise enough, but every character arc was literally swimming in it. The sociohistorical context clues were splashed everywhere. "History" isn't just dates & battles, my friend.

_ashtarte2026-01-18 21:00

Haha and you are clearly missing my point. These things were present! That is exactly what I am saying! It introduces those historical contexts and BARELY. EXPLORES. THEM. Where does it ever address the struggles between Ireland and England at the time, if we didn't know about the historical context then it would've meant nothing! You are literally arguing against a phantom, TRY to understand what I am saying.

This is exactly my point! These concepts are used as surface-level checkpoints, they aren't explored or contradicted. Yes, Lili has a filial duty and yes Catherine has certain roles to be as noble, but it isn't *explored*. They are told, not shown. Catherine was genuinely the only one that I saw this done with to an extent. Lili and Kit were noticeably just absent and everyone else just got sidelined and Catherine too later.

For gods sake try to understand what I'm saying, I know it's hard.

rainbowreflects2026-01-17 12:53

I absolutely loved it!!! It's not only about romance but about finding what you want for yourself.

A sentence that hit me was "Are you living your life to it's fullest or lying to yourself "

Ofcourse Kit and Lili not only shared love for eachother but also their passion. It was beautifully executed!!!

I also loved how the side characters found their paths in life, with purpose and passion.

It's a bit sad they dropped the whole series in one batch.....it would have made weeks of hype and discussions. Since i'm one of those peeps that can't restrain myself, I binged it😅😂

MandisaW2026-01-17 19:15

A defiant celebration of art, love, and the freedom to discover your true self. Very appropriate and moving message for our current times.

Hauntingly beautiful art & animation, and they clearly worked hard to capture the turn-of-the-century feel - not just in the places & character designs, but in the overall sense of transition, of excitement & trepidation for what's coming.

I'm a long-time HanaDan fan, so there were definitely some trope/character similarities to that series. Not enough to spoil it, or make it feel too samey, but some things, like how the Dorothy-Joffrey relationship wound up, felt similar.

I love these stories about adults finding their way in the world, juggling storybook romance tropes with real responsibilities and constraints. More of this, please.

Couple after-the-end questions:

+ So, Peter & Shin are gay-coded, right? That had been in my head from Shin's initial first-place piece, all the way to how they frame Shin's reunion with Peter in Italy.

Their interactions had a closeness beyond the general friend-group vibe. Also, Peter's frustrations seemed as much about his inability to seize *something* unspoken, as much as his voiced feelings about hitting his artistic limits.

+ Lili's parents likely won't see WWII, but what of poor Sakura?

+ Dorothy's husband isn't at the annual gathering. Maybe he's just back at home, farming or otherwise working.

But between the framing of his omiai photo, his age, and her admission that she was going to choose stability over love, I feel like he may have been [lost in the war](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeathOfTheHypotenuse).

+ The love confession & cave scenes had me sloppy with happy-tears, but Kit ditching the ship-passage ticket 😭😭😭

Kimberlite_12232026-01-18 12:54

Definitely. I feel like Shin is very likely gay and Shin seems to be more excited about Kit than Lili in Shin and Kit's private interactions. Damn honestly I just wish there were more subplots to explain the side characters' stories more.

Lili and Kit's story bore me a little since it's predictable - a male lead who is emotionally immature and closed-off vs. Shin the second male lead who is completely healthy and good looking. I wish they gave Shin a happy ending too romantically. Their engagement seems like a good cover up for that gayness being illegal as fuck front for Shin. Ok I'm blabbering too much about Shin, he's the only character I like. His art is not less impressive than Kit or Lili.

Dang it! I was also frustrated with the lack of communication and emotional skills from both Lili and Kit. I don't know how they end up together but it feels like a torture.

FortyFiveTeaLeaves262026-01-18 14:23

Unfortunately, it seems like Shin's het (or maybe bi? or comphet?) In episode 20's after credits scene, he's seen outside walking into Joffrey's bar side by side with another woman.

Though I think it would've been interesting if the series had a queer character and explored societal expectations of the time! The arts is known for being a space with lots of queer folk, after all. Whether gay or not, I agree that Shin def deserves a happy ending!! Such a thoughtful, self-sacrificing character :')

MandisaW2026-01-18 20:28

Oh, I'd have to rewatch that after-credits scene. I remember Shin being shown, but not with a random woman. (Maybe Catherine or Sakura??)

FortyFiveTeaLeaves262026-01-18 21:05

I also thought it could be Sakura, but they hid her hair and her eyes even though they didn't blur Dorothy's when she was the same distance away 🤔 its a bit blurry but she's also holding onto his arm

But honestly, I watched the scene at 5am this morning after binging and looking back, I think they purposefully made it ambiguous 😂 could be any of the other gals, a friend or a new woman, only the writers know for sure haha

Only-Track-87932026-01-19 09:50

its blurry but definitely he is with a woman ;)

MandisaW2026-01-19 18:03

Ah, well I do think he loved Lili - still got a gay vibe from him & Peter, but bisexuals existed in 1910 too 😅

Only-Track-87932026-01-19 09:50

yeah! i paused it and he is walking with a woman. I was trying to identify if its japanese or western but its too blurry. they leave us thinking ;)

MandisaW2026-01-18 20:38

>the lack of communication and emotional skills from both Lili and Kit

😅 Besides Boys over Flowers, I'm also a big fan of Skip Beat and Yona of the Dawn, so I guess I'm used to this particular brand of "clearly in love, but refuses to accept/clearly express it".

>Kit vs Shin

I wouldn't really call Kit closed-off. He's very frank about his feelings and open with his thoughts - almost too much. The tight-lipped aspect after his dad passes is more of a stoic "I want my beloved to be happy: Wartime Spy edition", not really an inability to accept or express his feelings.

Shin OTOH is feeling around the edges of what Japanese x English propriety will allow. He's always thinking about other people's situation before his own wants, which isn't entirely healthy either. Balance in all things.

As for emotional maturity, they're all only like 16-19yo, so that's honestly on-track. IRL most people don't really develop that sort of emotional self-awareness and ability to communicate until their 30s-40s, if they ever do. I certainly wouldn't expect it in a teen or 20smth.

>I wish they gave Shin a happy ending too romantically.

Happy ending doesn't necessarily mean married, esp in both the time period the story's set, **and** the time period Kamio Yoko was writing manga more actively. There's a throughline here that it's all about finding your own happily-ever-after, whatever form that takes.

Only-Track-87932026-01-19 09:49

OMG I DIDNT FEEL LIKE SHIN is gay coded ....he is such a green flag,loving Lili ..but yeah he is passionate with his dream too..

Only-Track-87932026-01-19 09:47

THAT SCENE BROKEEE MEEEE THE TICKET HUHUH I REWIND IT TO SEE HOW KIT CONGRATULATED THEM I WAS KICKING AND CRYING

MandisaW2026-01-19 18:10

That "pregnant pause" when Shin mentions their wedding. A non-reaction reaction shot from Kit.

Reuniting with her (& his brother, I'll say) was part of what kept him alive. He'd probably had a whole "come away with me" fantasy built up in his head 😭

She couldn't have done so that quickly even if Shin & getting-married wasn't in the equation. Heartrending, but realistic.

Arguably gave both of them some time to heal from wartime-hurts. Better to resume the relationship when healthy, not desperate.

aimza2026-01-23 13:37

I head-canon that he painted and drew her so many times when he was surviving the war. That he held onto that sketch of her and looked at it at his worst of times. And he leaves it in the shop hoping she'll see it and immediately go find him.

The long pause when he hears that shes marrying Shin made me so sad. Also when she tries to ask him if she's the woman in the painting, he cuts her off and doesn't answer. I wonder if Lili is in denial about it or truly oblivious to him loving her.

VitruvianXVII2026-01-19 23:08

Not sure I ever saw Shin as gay, Peter I got the vibe. It was pretty clear from the start that Shin was head over heels for Lili

MandisaW2026-01-20 00:38

Those are not mutually exclusive... 😅 Shin could just only be a very soft-spoken dude, but IMO he seemed to have some kind of inexplicable/under-explored connection to Peter.

Could've been one-sided on Peter's part, but Shin seemed kinda "blushy" to me - not literally, with the red-ears and all, but in terms of being extra-happy to be paired-off with Peter when they'd split up, walk & talk together, etc. IRL I'd read that as a light crush.

If they'd been in the same art-track, then I might've read it as more of a sempai-kohai situation, where Shin was just chuffed that his senior praised his work. Could still read that way, since Peter did have an interest in sculpture as a dealer\['s son\], just not as a fellow sculptor.

VitruvianXVII2026-01-21 00:55

> Those are not mutually exclusive...

I mean, if you said Bi then sure but there's no way he's gay imo

MandisaW2026-01-21 07:04

Ah, I see - yeah when I said a gay vibe, that was bi/gay. I could've been clearer on that 👍

MarvinTraveler2026-01-20 06:32

My apologies if this comment sounds harsh, by no means I have ill intentions, but I really liked this series and I think you are just drawing conclusions based on your own personal preferences.

At no moment in the story I feel like either Shin or Peter were insinuated to be gay. Shin fell in love with Lili, his own sister chastised him for not expressing his feelings, and at some point he genuinely seemed to be determined to left his art behind and marry Lili, with sincere concern and attraction. Right before the war related arc started, Peter says that his dream is to travel all over the world looking to disseminate art, including that of young and unknown artists, when Peter visits Shin in Italy it looks like Shin is just starting his career.

Curiously enough, in this anime the main couple are the ones that sometimes wreck your nerves, via not expressing their feelings, it’s all intentional for the sake of the end of the story but it drags a little too much in the last 3 episodes. All the other characters are delightful throughout, nobody is perfect but all of them act in the interest of cultivating friendship. Catherine sponsoring Lili to start her family business in London was, to me, particularly satisfying, as it establishes a perfectly logical reason for Lili to travel to England besides telling Kit “sorry about all that ‘me and Shin are getting married’, we dropped that and I’m here to be with you, brother of a Duke”.

MandisaW2026-01-20 10:11

Not harsh, just alternate interpretations of the text :) Like how I read the final eps as showing the maturation of Kit & Lili as individuals - vital to any healthy relationship, and not dragged out at all.

I will say that reading Shin as gay or bisexual doesn't have anything particularly to do with my preferences - more to do with the period and how the character was presented, how his actions "read", etc. Having affection for one character doesn't preclude having affection for another 🤷‍♀️

JumbleberryCrumble2026-01-21 20:36

I lowkey got those vibes from Peter and Shin too. Especially during the scene where Peter and Shin danced together, or the epilogue where Peter goes to visit Shin at his studio in Italy.

Well either way, their bond is certainly sweet. They do have a closeness that sorta feels like it's separate from the general friend group. And Shin's art and success was the thing that kicked off Peter's turmoil and mini-arc.

MandisaW2026-01-21 21:57

Right, dancing at the pub! I forgot that 😅

_ashtarte2026-01-18 01:03

Israel GPT generate me a spiritually Israeli shoujo anime about history and art that Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald J Trump would watch while making out on the couch, ensure it bootlicks aristocratic duty and gives an unearned happy ending to everyone so rich people can jerk their shit to it. Place it in a pre-war era but make it's story copy-pasteable to any other shoujo anime and any themes of social upheaval, war, consequence, memory, and the purpose of art just be sidelined for plot armor.

Affirmative! Generating an anime that genuinely fucks any expectations it sets up for itself to take a safe and cliche shoujo route, stealing all the themes from Blue Period and copy and pasting it here, making sure it does not offend the imperialist English and Japanese to maintain amicable relations between these highkirkenuinely genocidal nations. Routing through the mainframe of the British East India Company (why the hell is Peter given the high-life in this anime btw) and generating using the funding of the Church family which surely did so much diplomatically for the colonies and should be praised for their civic duty. Ensuring millions die in the background and have absolutely no social consequence on the psychology of the characters (because that's realistic, actually! Glory to the bourgeoisie!) Generated!

Interesting_Tip_73922026-01-18 05:17

I loved it, I’d give it a 7.5/10 overall. It was beautifully animated and the overall atmosphere/mood of the show was super nostalgic in the best way possible. As an artist myself, it resonated with me and had me in tears in certain moments. It was lovely.

Where it lacked a bit for me was: while I know it’s all part of the slow burn/build up, Lily’s inability to express herself over and over again during especially pivotal/important moments was really frustrating to watch. I found myself just getting really impatient and annoyed with her towards the end, which I never do when watching a slow burn. Their last scene together where they finally confess their feelings didn’t give me the release or catharsis that I was seeking. Idk, might just be a “me” thing though.

I also found the pacing to be a bit all over the place but I understand that was intentional, it’s just that the last few episodes felt kinda rushed and also way too drawn-out at the same time, haha. Overall really enjoyed it and would love to watch more series like this one.

Edit: a word

_ashtarte2026-01-18 08:32

100% I felt the same. I was definitely more frustrated with Kit though.

Only-Track-87932026-01-19 09:41

MEE TOO! hahah.guilty here. I wanted him to fight for her...

Only-Track-87932026-01-19 09:42

but i was crying out loud when I saw the ticket for Lili when he came looking for her huhu. I even rewind the scene when he painfully smiled and congratulated Shin and Lili. I WAS LIKE WTH MAN! FIGHT FOR HER HUHUH

PerspectiveHealthy422026-01-23 01:27

For me, it was because Kit naturally expresses his emotions through art, and Lili of all the people knew that Kit love her very much to the point of him painting her, isn't that their love language. What annoyed me was Lili, how many time did she tried to say she loves Kit but failed. It was just a little push, and I know Kit would have done the same.

Nevertheless, it still turned out to be the "perfect time in a perfect place" as I convinced myself. Because if they confessed too early, some things wouldn't have happened. The moment of their separation revealed to Lili that Kit is the color of her life.

Ugh, can't move on.

silentworm52026-01-18 20:19

No i felt the same. I think they could’ve actually stretched out the start a bit more, had more of those initial interactions. Like it was clear they were catching feelings but then she went to his house and he sticks her in his dead moms dress?? Just felt like it escalated too quickly. And after those episodes they actually had very few interactions in proportion to the rest of the series which meant the chemistry that had been there was lost to some degree. It also kind of lost me towards the end, it was like ‘okay obviously she’s going back to England, can she not just be there already’.

Only-Track-87932026-01-19 09:44

i agreee they have so minimal interactions huhu.we just had a short smooch.. i wanted moreee after all those years.. but I've read some explaining that artists are like that, its hard for them to express instead Kit's portrait is the symbolism of his love for Lili. her ONLY MUSE

VitruvianXVII2026-01-19 23:06

Certainly makes me glad I binged it at least.

Immathrowthisaway242026-01-22 10:56

You completely described what I'm feeling -- the lack of a catharsis. I just finished the anime and it left me feeling unsatisfied. I'm not sure if it was the minimal interactions between the two leads or their complete inability to communicate to each other. I couldn't even cry to their confession scene. It just lacked the emotions I need.

The ending also reminded me too much of Hana Yori Dango's ending with the timeskip and the rushed resolution.

Sad_Squirrel_12352026-01-23 00:16

I agree 100% I was literally like yelling at my screen the whole time, "JUST TELL HER/HIM ALREADY OH MY GOSH!" And then the ending like yeah I'm glad they finally kissed and whatever but Idk I was left unsatisfied for some reason. Rushed yet way too drawn-out is exactly how I'd describe the ending lol.

Overall it's a 8/10 for me. 1 point knocked off for the ending, another for cutting Kit's mane.

Jumpy-Context40862026-01-18 11:51

It was genuinely beautiful.
Easily my favorite anime of this season.

At first I thought it would be a chill, slow slice-of-life kind of story, but it turned out to be much more emotionally intense than I expected, in the best way. It’s warm, romantic, a little painful, and carries such a strong coming-of-age feeling. It honestly felt like everything I love was gathered into one series.

The visuals were stunning. The landscapes especially stood out. They weren’t just pretty backgrounds, they felt meaningful. One small detail I really loved was the scene where the scenery reflects in the train window. Moments like that made the emotions feel quiet but heavy at the same time.

There’s also this constant sense of nostalgia throughout the story, like love moving through time and waiting for the right moment to return. The way they eventually find each other again feels almost karmic, like some connections are simply meant to reunite.

I think the ending itself was handled beautifully and felt complete. I just wish there were more episodes to explore the stories of the other characters, because the world and relationships around the main couple felt just as interesting.

Overall, it was a really touching experience and one that stayed with me long after finishing it. I don’t usually write about series I finish, but this one felt too special not to mention.

Relevant_Problem25232026-01-18 15:53

As an casual anime watcher, who only watches occasionally. I finished this in 2 days, just this evening. I find it good, i didn't really get attached to the characters and felt the show was too short and i didn't really develop that love for the characters. As usual there were plot points i wished was explored more. Especially the major one that i really looked forward happening, because it would have brought so much tension, but it unfortunately didn't happen.

But all in all, i loved it, especially the theme of it being in the early 1900s. I loved the characters and their personalities. In general it's a great simple anime that won't take long to watch.
Also i kinda wanted something like "your name" esk vibes, the animation was beautiful and i was actually expecting something like it especially since it's much longer.

Specifically because rewatching your name makes me cry everytime. Cause i loved the characters and everything about it especially cause i resonate with "right person, wrong time" situation.

roxyryoko2026-01-18 22:24

I just finished binging it all! And although I do overall like it, I felt like the ending could have been so much more poignant. I never really bought that Lilly loved Kit, she seemed to love his art, love how his art made her feel, but the show just really missed the mark developing their relationship. Their big moment was looking for the Lillies and that was great but they really just bickered and Lilly was often mean or apologizing to Kit. It was obvious they admired and inspired each other but something was missing on why they fell in love with one another.
I honestly think Catherine and Lilly’s friendship was so much better written as an arc. Usually friendships get overshadowed in shojo so that was very refreshing

I kind of thought the ending could have been that [ending] >!Lilly and Shin should have discovered Kit’s painting in the shop, but they never find him. They hear it was done by someone lost in the war. Then, the art inspires them both to paint and sculpt again, they think they were always behind him artistically and they must catch up and capture the beauty of life and art!<I honestly felt like it would have been meaningful if Shin and Lilly did marry bc she had more time to really bond with Shin, and then it would have reflected that some people come into your life to impact you.

I also think it’d have been interesting to see the kimono inspired flapper era clothing and see London more impacted from the zeppelins

Pordioserozero2026-01-19 02:59

It would have been really funny seeing random western women walking with kimonos on the background on the last time skip...like It really took off

CrimsonAntifascist2026-01-19 10:42

I ain't that deep into the shoujo game, but, is it normal that literally everyone gets a short-hair cut by the end of it?

LemonRadiant30082026-01-19 12:06

I was so mad at that haha

WolfyDorky_chan2026-01-22 01:20

It's like a rule at this point, every shojo I ever watched or read had the characters hair short by the end lol.

CrimsonAntifascist2026-01-22 02:02

Sad affair, really. Some hot mid to late 20 somethings should have long hair.

onehumblecookie2026-01-23 00:19

I'm not aware / never noticed this, but in the case of this series, it ends in the 1920s after all and that was the trendy haircut at the time.

Sad_Squirrel_12352026-01-23 00:20

I literally said at the beginning of ep 20, "Kit better not get a hair cut his hair is so pretty" and what did they do? THEY CUT HIS MANE UGHHH!

meyrderovere2026-01-19 13:01

Gosick but with genders reversed, very well executed, they demonstrated the grow-up of main characters very beautifully. However, I found the end was a bit rushed, and \[spoiler\] >!the hellishness of war was clearly undermined. I wish there could be more pictures of war and war marks from a person who literally survived the war.!< Otherwise, very good anime. Suggest anyone who loved this to watch Gosick.

Embarrassed-Donkey472026-01-21 00:41

I immediately thought of Gosick when I watched this and I agree they did undermine the terror of war.

Starkioto2026-01-19 13:21

Also please stay till the end of the episode as there was more after the credits. I wouldn't have known to keep watching if I wasn't distracted by my dog before turning it off.

I loved the show but Lily got frustrating to watch when she couldn't express herself or everytime she did she would lash out at Kit, knowing it could be the last time she saw him.

VitruvianXVII2026-01-19 23:05

Very much enjoyed. Screw netflix though, hate batch releases

pastellion2026-01-20 01:52

Love Through A Prism is such an enchanting series that really swept me off my feet. However, after finishing the last episode, I still felt like things were missing (other than colors). I was mulling over Professor Brant's emphasis on the importance of conveying thoughts/feelings through words. There were so many moments where either Kit or Lilly could've said or done something to prevent misunderstandings. Especially with other characters actively encouraging Lilly to speak about her feelings, it felt like there were countless opportunities for honesty that never fully materialized.

I wish they could've communicated in their last few moments together before Kit departed, instead of yelling and leaving in silence. Their chemistry fell flat at times because I wanted to see them fight for each other or at least soften one another through honest confrontation. Without seeing that effort or vulnerability, the resolution felt less like the culmination of their growth and more like something the story moved past, making the ending feel unearned ):

Lilly's growth is more clear, as she idolized Kit through his art; in turn, she learned from him to be more honest and have confidence. On the other hand, I don't really know much about Kit. From what was shown, he thought she was beautiful in his mother's dress and believed she brought color into his life. But beyond that, it’s hard to tell what he learns from her. Did he learn what love is, or just that everything feels emptier without her? His feelings stay so internal and unspoken that his growth felt unclear to me, which sometimes made him come off as emotionally distant. Maybe I missed out on something? Hopefully someone has an answer for this!

I understand that saying “I love you” isn’t enough to capture the depth of their connection, but it was frustrating how often Kit failed to communicate, leaving Lilly anxious and uncertain. For a story that values expression so deeply, the repeated reliance on silence ultimately left their relationship feeling less transformative than it promised. I might be critiquing this sweet love story a bit heavily, but only because I was so invested in the world and the characters! Does anyone feel the same or see things differently? ;-;

Made me cry so many times though. 9/10.

onehumblecookie2026-01-23 00:25

I 100% agree to everything you've so eloquently put here!! I was so invested in this story that it lived rent-free in my head for two days after 🙈 Kit is a very very frustrating character and I hate how everyone always stood up for him and his sh1tty behavior and harsh words every single time! And Lily feeling like/being told that she needs to apologize! Like no girl, he's just an a$$, stop blaming yourself, arghhh

coconutterrr2026-01-21 08:15

this was easily my favorite romance anime i've watched. such a breath of fresh air both in the concept and the storytelling. and the art style is great too, as a bonus on top of that! i thought the pacing was pretty good, in terms of showing us the different personalities, goals, and growth of each character. however, although kit and lili were obviously going to end up together, i do wish we got more of their relationship. they have good chemistry and were drawn to each other, but i wish there was more done in a romantic context aside from the deeper messages conveyed through their art.

(also i know it's a little cheesy but i WOULD'VE LOVED TO SEE THEIR WEDDINGGGGGG)

overall, i think it was great storytelling and conveyed so many messages about life too. or maybe i'm just at that age where i start having existential crises. and it elicited so many emotions from me i couldn't really stop thinking about it while i was binging the series. we need more shows like this!!!

random musings:
\- shin is SUCH A GOOD GUY. i just gotta say. he deserves everything.
\- whatever happened with richard??? i loved that the brothers made up, but i think it would've been great to get more context on the family too after the war
\- and peter too! he set off on his own path and i think his character has potential for so many interesting layers

Severe_Garbage_53562026-01-23 09:42

lmao ok i thought i was the only one who was curious about richard. like where did he go?😭

Shot_Platypus80972026-01-21 14:42

I liked the idea of a rival turned friends turned lovers story.

It was really light in the first half and explored more realistic themes towards the end. I just wished that if they went with that flow, that it would also follow with how Shin and Lili are supposed to be married as they have more time with each other in those 5 years than with Kit for 6 months. Also, I kinda think that Shin and Lili mirrors a lot her parents personality wise. (Still rooting for my mc but I actually wouldn't mind if the story went that way).

I also wished they showed more romantic interactions with Kit and Lili. I feel like we lacked fond moments on why they really fell in love with each other aside from drawing and creating art together. I wanted to see more of Kit's perspective of Lili. Like what really captured him of her.

Overall I think this was a nice story involving many lessons with friendships and chasing our own dreams in life. A solid 7.5/10 for me.

Material-Ad70802026-01-21 15:41

WTF KIT That haircut why 🥺😭😭😭😭😭

PinkMilkshaks2026-01-21 20:59

This is the best thing that has happened in 2026. I was expecting a normal romantic story, but it was so so deep than that. Every frame was an art, every line had a meaning. I was rather overwhelmed at 19th episode, but the way it covered in 20th was spectacular. The good ending didn't feel forced either, though I still dont know what was shin's feelings. Overall, it was an amazing experience.
As an art person myself, it really resonated with me. Seeing the mention of flowers so many times, I decided to paint flowers! (I had planned lilies though, but it cant be helped.) Love it.

TutorBetter98732026-01-22 03:54

Im sorry, im so confused like why did literally almost everyone with long hair get it cut short. It kinda made me giggle cause it was literally everyone😭😭. Kit looked so good with long hair and so did lili. I just wanted to see if anyone else thought it was a little silly or weird.

aia_san2026-01-22 19:53

Watched this anime on a whim and thought i might just dropped it the moment it made me feel bored, but it didn’t. However, the ending doesn’t seem right to me. Kit and Lili’s connection are mainly about hwo they admire each other’s art but not really their feelings, or maybe bc they have a very short moments with each other. I feel like Catherine & Lili’s friendship is better than what she had with Kit. Also Shin has more interaction with her, they’re always there for each other, which again overpowered what she had with Kit hence him being married to Lili seems just right to me. This is hust how i felt but ofc i luv unexpectedly luv this anime so much it inspired me to learn how to sketch and paint (delulu me thinking i could actually do it lol)

kyimma2026-01-23 08:42

this was the most frustrating experience I have had watching a shojo in YEARS. Since i stopped reading Skip Beat!

By the end I really started to dislike all the characters including Lili. It took her so long to say what she wanted and just tell him how she felt. Even if they both knew, they also knew nothing was going to change. And then when he "died" and was lost at sea for five years?! are you joking?? FIVE YEARS?!

By all accounts he kinda sucks like I really was not a fan of him by the end of the show. He just kept making selfish decisions. and the way he just kissed her was so anticlimactic. He never expressed his emotions to her in a way that it felt genuine. I just found myself feeling so angry.

I like stoic guys but I also want a little bit of healthy yearning. He also suddenly decided he love her one day and there was not enough of a slow burn on their time together so it felt rushed and the ending went on FOREVER... overall it was deeply unsatisfying.

Kraftieee2026-01-23 10:28

This was way too short. Up to ep 14-15 i felt other than sharing a few choice moments idk if ive been convinced that kit and lilly were in love. That just felt second hand when it shouldnt of. There was no build up for me. What we got developmentwise from ep15 was good, but felt sudden.

Visually this was a stunning anime and the reason i picked it up.
And can we talk about the suspenceful forward jumps and then pull backs to conversations in the past? Very well done.

Ill probably still recommend this to everyone who asks cause the romance is very light you could almost forget its part of it.