WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Love of Kill Episode 1, "What's Your Name?" now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Winter 2022 anime season is well underway, with many returning titles such as Attack on Titan and new titles such as Tokyo 24th Ward and the new shojo romance series Love of Kill. In many regards, Love of Kill will remind viewers of related anime such as Kaguya-sama: Love is War or movies such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Love of Kill, as its name suggests, is no ordinary shojo romance, since the heroine Chateau is an armed and deadly bounty hunter who crosses paths with the mysterious and equally lethal assassin Song Ryang-ha. However, at its core, this story is about an impossible and high-stakes romance blossoming forth, not just bloodshed. It's perfect for Kaguya-sama fans.
The debut episode of Love of Kill introduces the two unlikely lovers in a parking garage, when Song Ryang-ha dispatches Chateau's target and politely asks for her name, to Chateau's bewilderment. In the following weeks, the smitten Song Ryang-ha continues to call Chateau to get to know her better, and he butters her up by taking care of her most dangerous bounty hunting assignments without even being asked. This impresses Chateau's boss, who credits her for these kills, but it's actually Song's doing, and he'll dispatch any criminal thug if it means scoring a date with the gorgeous Chateau.
Finally, Chateau and Song Ryang-ha have a few token dates, with Chateau carefully keeping her would-be lover at arm's length to protect herself and gauge what exactly Ryang-ha wants from her. Ryang-ha strikes a bargain with Chateau, continuing to take out her targets in exchange for a Christmas Eve date and Chateau not killing him as per her newest assignment from her boss. The Christmas Eve date proceeds awkwardly, but no one gets hurt, at least, and Ryang-ha's affection appears completely genuine.
His mysterious background and sudden infatuation mark Ryang-ha as a classic shojo-style male love interest, although so far, Chateau appears unimpressed. In fact, she knows that a relationship between them is impossible, and she intends to win this particular battle of wills. No way will Ryang-ha sweep her off her feet so easily, even with all these favors.
Love of Kill's central romance has yet to fully take root, and many obstacles stand in Chateau's and Ryang-ha's way before they can become true lovers, if they ever do. Their tense relationship and witty exchanges may call Kaguya-sama to mind, as well as the "duty vs. love" theme that Chateau the professional bounty hunter faces.
This makes Chateau the Shinomiya Kaguya of Love is Kill -- an aloof and sharp-witted shojo-style lead who must choose between her obligations and the budding romance she finds herself in. Kaguya's family wouldn't approve of her being with a "commoner" like the student council president Shirogane Miyuki, but Kaguya won't back down, and she pursues Miyuki with all her might so she can goad him into making a love confession first, after the battle of wits is won.
Similarly, Chateau must choose between her duty and her bizarre new relationship with Song Ryang-ha, who pursues her with a fierce passion. In Chateau's mind, this romance is impossible, but Ryang-ha seems determined to make it a reality, and at this rate, Chateau just might end up returning his feelings, especially if they complete a successful mission together or save each other's lives. Should that happen, Chateau will understand Kaguya's predicament and try to juggle her duty and her heart's desire -- amind guns, crime and car chases. Not even Kaguya had to contend with all that to win Miyuki's heart, but Ryang-ha, and possibly Chateau, will take on any danger if it means getting what they truly desire.
