My New Boss Is Goofy seems like a yaoi-bait, but it's more than that.
The show focuses on the character who heals from being a victim of power harassment.
The characters try to create a comfortable environment for him, and the goofiness of his direct superior plays a huge part in that — but he's not the only one healed by it.
The process of healing is depicted gradually and realistically.
The characters have actual jobs, and the specifics of their work projects add depth to the characters and strengthen their bonds.
Those of you who were brushing off My New Boss Is Goofy (Atarashii Joushi Wa Do-Tennen) as another yaoi-bait should stop and listen, because as the story unfolds, it becomes much less bait-y and much deeper.
What seems at first a simple office worker comedy morphs into a story of healing, focusing more on the process of overcoming insecurities and bad experiences through the interactions with those who bring you joy.
Power harassment versus power of cuteness
The premise of the show is pretty simple: Kentarou Momose had to change jobs because he suffered from power harassment from his boss. In his new place, he's wary, cautious, as his self-esteem is ruined and he always considers his actions from the point of something he had to be punished for. But his new boss, Yuusei Shirosaki, is not terrifying at all. Sure, he's a professional, he does his work well, he pays a lot of attention to the projects that their advertising agency, Minette, takes on, but he's also a huge goofball. He spaces out, he's clumsy, he's always in his head, he quite often interprets things literally, and that makes him incredibly adorable.
The healing power of Shirosaki's goofiness applies not only to Momose, as we learn throughout the show: it's what made another newbie, Aigo Kinjou, join their company; it's what made the section chief, Mitsuo Aoyama, become less anxious about his own position as a boss. And if at first you just see Shirosaki and Momose being cute in the same frame and squeal at their interactions, the last episode makes you realize that underneath that layer of cuteness lies a powerful message about learning your self-worth and helping those who struggle with it to overcome it.
Tangible growth
In Episode 9 you can see how Momose doesn't shy away from the interactions that at the beginning of the show he would decline with panic on his face. He battles through his doubts, and his colleagues, knowing that, support him in the way they know. They want him to be comfortable, they want his fears to fly away, they want him to feel accepted and needed, and this message has been declared gradually throughout the whole run of the show, culminating in this episode.
We've already talked about how these characters having an actual job helps sell the narrative, and in this episode it also plays a huge role: the company takes more anime-related projects to advertise and Kinjou, the resident anime-lover of the group of characters, has been summoned as an expert to educate others on the topic. This interaction not only adds depth to Kinjou's character but also lets others build bonds with him and makes the show feel even more grounded, without distilling its inherent cuteness.
So no, it's not just a series about cute guys doing cute things. It's a series that shows you how the broken soul can heal if it's put in an environment that lets it thrive.
Goofiness can make your troubles fly away.
Summary:
My New Boss Is Goofy seems like a yaoi-bait, but it's more than that.
The show focuses on the character who heals from being a victim of power harassment.
The characters try to create a comfortable environment for him, and the goofiness of his direct superior plays a huge part in that — but he's not the only one healed by it.
The process of healing is depicted gradually and realistically.
The characters have actual jobs, and the specifics of their work projects add depth to the characters and strengthen their bonds.
Those of you who were brushing off My New Boss Is Goofy (Atarashii Joushi Wa Do-Tennen) as another yaoi-bait should stop and listen, because as the story unfolds, it becomes much less bait-y and much deeper.
What seems at first a simple office worker comedy morphs into a story of healing, focusing more on the process of overcoming insecurities and bad experiences through the interactions with those who bring you joy.
Power harassment versus power of cuteness
The premise of the show is pretty simple: Kentarou Momose had to change jobs because he suffered from power harassment from his boss. In his new place, he's wary, cautious, as his self-esteem is ruined and he always considers his actions from the point of something he had to be punished for. But his new boss, Yuusei Shirosaki, is not terrifying at all. Sure, he's a professional, he does his work well, he pays a lot of attention to the projects that their advertising agency, Minette, takes on, but he's also a huge goofball. He spaces out, he's clumsy, he's always in his head, he quite often interprets things literally, and that makes him incredibly adorable.
The healing power of Shirosaki's goofiness applies not only to Momose, as we learn throughout the show: it's what made another newbie, Aigo Kinjou, join their company; it's what made the section chief, Mitsuo Aoyama, become less anxious about his own position as a boss. And if at first you just see Shirosaki and Momose being cute in the same frame and squeal at their interactions, the last episode makes you realize that underneath that layer of cuteness lies a powerful message about learning your self-worth and helping those who struggle with it to overcome it.
Tangible growth
In Episode 9 you can see how Momose doesn't shy away from the interactions that at the beginning of the show he would decline with panic on his face. He battles through his doubts, and his colleagues, knowing that, support him in the way they know. They want him to be comfortable, they want his fears to fly away, they want him to feel accepted and needed, and this message has been declared gradually throughout the whole run of the show, culminating in this episode.
We've already talked about how these characters having an actual job helps sell the narrative, and in this episode it also plays a huge role: the company takes more anime-related projects to advertise and Kinjou, the resident anime-lover of the group of characters, has been summoned as an expert to educate others on the topic. This interaction not only adds depth to Kinjou's character but also lets others build bonds with him and makes the show feel even more grounded, without distilling its inherent cuteness.
So no, it's not just a series about cute guys doing cute things. It's a series that shows you how the broken soul can heal if it's put in an environment that lets it thrive.
