“The truth is I wanna meet someone I like and lead a fun, happy life as much as the next guy!”
This is what poison assassin, Hikaru Gero, blurts out in a fit of passion, right before taking out a room full of people.
And it’s not something you’d expect a seasoned killer to say in any situation. But this alone sets the premise that “MARRIAGETOXIN,” the newest series showing on Crunchyroll, is anything but your typical high-stakes action anime.
©Joumyaku・Mizuki Yoda/SHUEISHA, MARRIAGETOXIN Project
“MARRIAGETOXIN” follows protagonist Gero, who is faced with the dilemma of finding a wife to have children with to secure the Poison clan’s bloodline. Unfortunately, because of the nature of his work, he adamantly believes pursuing a relationship is impossible. When the Poison Clan turns its attention toward his sister and threatens her to leave her girlfriend, marry a man, and reproduce against her wishes, Gero realizes that he can no longer escape the duty he’s expected to fulfill.
The thing is, he’s not actually opposed to the idea after all. As fate would have it, he crosses paths with a con artist and marriage swindler, Mei Kinosaki, whom he had been employed to kill. After a tense discussion between the two that leads Gero to finally admit his desire to find true love, he instead saves Kinosaki and strikes a deal with them to be his matchmaker and help him find a wife.
©Joumyaku・Mizuki Yoda/SHUEISHA, MARRIAGETOXIN Project
It’s not usual now for anime to get you hooked in just the first episode. “MARRIAGETOXIN” hits you with surprise after surprise that feels refreshing. There is a perfect balance between action scenes and comedy relief that keeps the narrative interesting. I’m either glued to the screen so engrossed by the methods Gero uses to showcase his poison assassin skills, or breaking out a chuckle as he fails miserably to charm his dates with his non-existent rizz. Kinosaki as a character is also so interesting that I truly can’t wait to learn more about them as the series goes on. Although I cannot say for certain yet whether I’ll be rooting for Gero and Kinosaki to be the relationship endgame (realistically, they might not be, but who knows?), I do look forward to how their dynamic will continue to evolve, especially with the dangers that surely come their way.
“MARRIAGETOXIN” episode 1 delivers a very strong start that I believe will resonate even more as the show progresses. This series has the potential to be everyone’s newest favorite anime of summer 2026—at least, I know it’s already mine.
“MARRIAGETOXIN” episode 1 is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.
(ALSO READ: The Crunchyroll Anime Awards Are Returning to Tokyo This May—Here’s What to Expect)
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