Hiro Fujiwara’s Maid-sama! is a classic shojo manga series, often recommended as one of the demographic’s staples. However, it’s not immune to criticism and has had its fair share of controversies over the years. The anime concluded in 2010 with no hope of a second season, but the hype around this series hasn’t entirely died down. By extension, criticisms of the series are still equally as relevant.
Some viewers felt that Usui was a creepy love interest and didn’t appreciate that he blackmailed Misaki into going easier on the student body by threatening to reveal her job at the maid café to the entire school. Some also called Usui a blatant stalker since he followed Misaki around school and harassed her at the café. Viewers also felt like Misaki’s potential was wasted. They argue that the show’s sexist portrayal of her dampened her potential to be a strong female protagonist since she had uncharacteristically weak moments where she relied on Usui to protect her.
Why Do People Love Maid-sama! So Much?
Despite these issues, it’s worth noting that the series was perceived much differently domestically than it was to Western audiences, where most of the outrage originates. The series was less popular in Japan than worldwide, hence the lack of a second season. It didn’t perform well in Japan simply because audiences weren’t tuning in to watch it. However, Western audiences didn’t take too kindly to the series’ more problematic aspects, creating a culture of discourse among shojo fans.
With today’s climate, it’s unclear whether or not Maid-sama! would fly if it were currently airing. Not many series can maintain relevancy a decade after their anime adaptation ends, especially if it didn’t receive a second season. In Maid-sama!’s case, it may not be as popular as other one-season wonders like Ouran High School Host Club, but it’s still extremely relevant in shojo circles today. At its core, Maid-sama! is just a kitschy shojo series. However, it challenged other sugary-sweet narratives during the same period by introducing a snarky protagonist with an equally sarcastic love interest.
Many found Misaki’s character extremely likable because she refreshingly broke the mold for shojo protagonists. She’s tough, doesn’t tolerate nonsense or disrespect from anybody, and commands respect just by walking into the room. Despite his obvious flaws, viewers also appreciated Usui’s presence in the story because his banter with Misaki was entertaining. Their back-and-forth dialogue throughout the series built up their romantic chemistry in an entertaining way and didn’t feel as contrived as other romances at the time.
This all helped to make Maid-sama! the perfect series for people tired of cookie-cutter, fluffy romances with no push or pull in either direction. It was chaotic, witty and pushed the envelope in a way other shojo series of the time simply didn’t. Though it has plenty of flaws, Maid-sama isn’t necessarily meant to be taken seriously. Nonetheless, just because a show is campy doesn’t make it immune to criticism.
Maid-sama’s Controversies & What They Mean for the Series’ Legacy
The most common complaints about Maid-sama! are that it’s sexist, Usui is a creep and there’s too much sexual harassment in the show. These claims aren’t exactly unwarranted since even the series’ most avid fans can vouch for its most uncomfortable moments, like when Usui lifts up Misaki’s skirt and comments on what she’s wearing underneath. Misaki started working at the maid café to make ends meet, but it seemed like Usui was exploiting this fact for his own pleasure by using this information to his advantage and asking her to be his personal maid for a day. That’s not to say that Usui didn’t undergo any character development since he expressed regret for his behavior later on in the series. He also frequently reminded Misaki to take a break when she was overworking herself between her duties at the café and as the student council president.
Meanwhile, Misaki’s character also received criticism for how she was written into the story. At first, she comes off as a total spitfire and tough student council president who wants to keep the male students in line. She initially seems fiercely independent and refuses to rely on anybody else. However, Misaki had several moments of weakness in the series that resulted in her depending on Usui for protection and support. Many argue that it might send the wrong message to young girls watching the show, stating that Misaki is a strong female lead who deserves respect from the male cast and the narrative. Instead, she is eventually watered down into yet another damsel in distress, albeit one with a little spice.
Like any work of fiction, Maid-sama! isn’t immune to criticism. It’s a praiseworthy series in many regards since Misaki is a strong female protagonist who works hard and doesn’t accept disrespect from anyone. At school, she’s a bit more aggressive with the male students than she’d ever be at the café, but even so, she holds her ground and forces creepy customers to respect her or bust. She doesn’t tolerate rude comments or sexist behavior in any way. However, this attitude seems to shift once Usui comes into the picture. He constantly reminds Misaki that she can’t do as much as he can since she’s just a girl, and he forces her into vulnerable moments. In today’s climate, Maid-sama! would likely draw more outrage than compliments because of its issues with sexism and how it treats an otherwise strong female lead.
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