Why was My Dress-Up Darling's ending so controversial?

My Dress-Up Darling, created by Shinichi Fukuda, is an immensely popular manga that ended serialization in March 2025 with its 15th volume. With the second season of the anime adaptation scheduled for release in the Summer 2025 season, fans may be curious about how the source material ends and the reception it received from readers.

My Dress-Up Darling’s ending was highly controversial among fans, with many believing that the story rushed its conclusion and fell into a common trap seen in romance manga. This was highly disheartening since the series managed to stay consistent for the most part, delivering a fascinating blend of love, comedy, and cosplay.

My Dress-Up Darling follows Gojo, an aspiring Hina doll-maker who keeps his passion a secret. However, his life is turned upside down after the excitable Marin discovers his talent and enlists his help to pursue her own hobby of cosplaying. The pair’s dynamic becomes the emotional core of the series, as they hone their skills and form an adorable bond.

As the series progressed, Gojo and Marin grew closer to each other. Although there was a stumbling block due to Gojo’s internalized feelings of jealousy over Marin, the two overcame it by having an honest conversation and eventually began dating.

How does My Dress-Up Darling end?

My Dress-Up Darling ends in chapter 115, which takes place after a timeskip. Gojo and Marin had married each other and lived with his grandfather. Marin had become a successful model who appeared in ads while Gojo was an accomplished Hina doll-maker who was being covered in a special program on TV.

The pair continued being supportive of each other, with Marin motivating Gojo when his confidence was low. Gojo too, continued recognizing Marin’s value in life, internally monologuing about his disbelief at having married the girl who came from a world opposite to his.

In the final panels of the manga, the happy family enjoyed watching Gojo being awkward in the show while eating Chirashizushi. They were joined by Marin’s father, after which the four ate dinner and shared a casual conversation.

Why fans were dissatisfied with My Dress-Up Darling’s conclusion

As mentioned, most fans felt that My Dress-Up Darling ended in a disappointing manner, and this was mainly because it followed an infamous trend set by its predecessors. Romance manga has a tendency to end soon after the its main characters begin dating.

After hundreds of chapters of development and tension between its cast, the payoff lasts for a very short time, typically with a confession between the leads, a kissing scene, and a timeskip that shows where they end up. My Dress-Up Darling falls into this very same category.

The manga ended merely 8 chapters after Marin and Gojo got together, showing just one date between the two. Right after, there was no context given to the events leading up to Marin and Gojo’s marriage, as well as how they ended up in their professions.

Though the main characters always had a cute bond, fans were craving to see more romance between the two, ideally as they navigated the obstacles of dating life and matured into adulthood. Unfortunately, none of this was explored, and the final chapter seemed to be a rushed attempt at bringing the series to a close.

The final panel of the manga was also far from memorable, as Gojo, Marin, and their family ate a meal and laughed together. Though this would have fit any other installment, it was surprisingly ordinary for a series that had always stood out.

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Finally, many readers felt that the series abandoned its side characters along the way, only using them as narrative tools to explain the intricacies of the cosplay industry and as catalysts to bring Gojo and Marin closer. Characters like Akira, Juju, and many others did not receive a proper conclusion to their character arcs, while crucial figures like Nobara were introduced only at the very end.

Hence, My Dress-Up Darling’s finale may not have been terrible, but it did let down several fans who expected more from a series they loved for so long.

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