You Are Ms. Servant blends comedy and drama into a whimsical slice-of-life anime

Every month or so, I embark on a quest to find my next slice-of-life anime obsession. There’s something inherently captivating about the everyday experiences of an Average Joe, a welcome escape from the ups and downs of my real life. Fortunately, my search for a new anime binge was short-lived when I stumbled upon You Are Ms. Servant, a captivating story about a former assassin turned maid and a wealthy, amiable teenage boy.

The concept of a cold-blooded killer attempting to change their ways immediately piqued my interest. This was largely due to my fondness for Yor Forger from Spy x Family, another anime character who navigates a world of violence while maintaining a cozy family life. Initially, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the two, but I soon realized that Ms. Servant, also known as Yuki, is a character with her own unique set of attributes and a compelling origin story.

You Are Ms. Servant begins with Yuki showing up at the doorsteps of Hitoyoshi Yokoya, a high school student left alone in a big house. She asks Hitoyoshi to employ her as a servant after her previous master recommended that she go there. The reason for this career change isn’t too apparent, but that just adds to her mystery. However, Yuki’s idea of “serving” deviates from the typical house cleaning standards, as she only knows the ways of a murderous executioner. Essentially, all she did was take out the human trash before, bringing a new definition of what it means to be a maid. 

At first, Hitoyoshi hesitates to employ such a person (and rightfully so) until he eventually decides to just go with it. Even though they are complete strangers, the two create memories together that can either pull at your heartstrings or make you roll on the floor with laughter. The beginning plays more into the comedic approach, as Yokoya explains to Yuki how cleaning doesn’t mean flushing out human scum. This leads to a bunch of hilarious scenes where she makes a sad attempt to tidy the house.

It’s hilarious to watch a merciless killer clumsily mop a floor as if it’s one of the hardest things she can do. But the part that really got me laughing out loud was when Yuki discovered the delicious wonders of tonkatsu sauce. She becomes so obsessed that a living embodiment of the sauce talks to her in her dreams. As someone who also loves tonkatsu, I completely understand. Plus, Yuki never really had a decent meal before, so everything tastes like a five-star meal to her. 

Yokoya’s reactions to this, and pretty much anything she does for that matter, make it even more whimsical. Almost every scene has him looking dumbfounded at all the wild things she does around the house. 

Then, sometimes, their dynamics completely change to a more serious tone. Considering that both characters lived a pretty isolating life prior, they often go to a dark place in their minds. Even though I love to have a good laugh, I did appreciate this aspect of the anime. It adds a sense of realism that not everything is chipper, and it helped me understand who they are as characters as a whole.

It also brings a sense of mystery to the story, gradually uncovering the truth about their past. There are brief snippets here and there regarding Yuki’s violent upbringing and Hitoyoshi’s peculiar family life. Each episode seems to add more pieces to the puzzle, leaving me wanting more to decipher the tangles of their past.

The blending of comedy and drama was a concept I didn’t expect from You Are Ms. Servant. I know that mixing the two together can be challenging to do since they’re utterly opposite from each other. Yet, this anime has just the right balance of these elements. When the two characters are alone, it leans more on the drama scope through their loneliness. On the other hand, when they’re together, it’s more of a comedy anime to ease the tension. This balance creates a unique viewing experience, bringing out some of the most wholesome and emotional moments between the characters.

Despite only meeting not too long ago, Yuki and Hitoyoshi already have the makings of being a Found Family. This concept, often seen in anime, refers to a group of individuals who are not related by blood but form a close-knit, supportive unit. I like that it separates from the standard romantic-based anime, as the two learn to live and help each other regardless of their differences. They also establish a pretty good teamwork system, in which Yokoya shows Yuki the ropes of maintaining a clean house. I admire that they equally put in the work, rather than having the maid just do everything. Honestly, I was worried that it would turn out that way at first, but I’m happy that the anime took a different direction by having them slogging away together. 

I’ve noticed that more and more anime have centered around the idea of a Found Family, including Spy x Family and Buddy Daddies. This further diversifies relationships, where not every familial bond is blood-related. Thankfully, You Are Ms. Servant adds to this uniqueness more with Yuki and Yokoya’s distinct companionship.

All in all, you should definitely check out You Are Ms. Servant if you’re looking for a cozy anime. The show has everything for a slice-of-life, from humor to wholesomeness to drama. You can expect episodes every Saturday on Crunchyroll.