The Gorilla God’s Go-To Girl [Season 1 Episodes 1-12]

The Gorilla God’s Go-To Girl: A Strength-to-Heart Journey That’s Equal Parts Chaos and Charm

Let’s cut to the chase: The Gorilla God’s Go-To Girl (officially Gorilla no Kami kara Kago sareta Reijou wa Ouritsu Kishidan de Kawaigarareru) isn’t here to reinvent the wheel. But if you’re into reverse harems with a side of slapstick and a heroine who can crush a cannonball like a soda can, this 12-episode romp might just be your new guilty pleasure—flaws and all.

Set in a world where 16-year-olds get blessed by animal gods (think foxes, hawks, and… gorillas?), the show follows Sophia Leeler, a timid count’s daughter who’s supposed to get a “normal” blessing—until the Gorilla God (yes, that’s his actual title) decides she’s his pick. Suddenly, this blushing wallflower can lift carriages, shatter teacups with a handshake, and accidentally launch classmates into trees. Cue the Royal Knights, a squad of pretty boys who see her power (and her flustered reactions) and go, “We need her… and maybe we’ll flirt a little too.”

First off, the comedy hits hard when it leans into Sophia’s fish-out-of-water chaos. Episode 1 alone has her breaking a delicate teacup just by holding it, accidentally acing a knight exam she’s trying to fail (she tosses a spear through a target like it’s a dart), and saving a classmate from a falling chandelier—all while stammering, “I-I didn’t mean to!” Fans on MyAnimeList loved this energy: one user laughed at her “constant uncertainty,” calling her “not super bland” compared to other harem heroines. Another joked, “If I had a nickel for every gorilla girl romance, I’d have two nickels”—which, let’s be real, is two more than we ever expected.

But let’s talk about the boys, because what’s a reverse harem without eye candy? There’s Isaac, the golden retriever of the group who’s obsessed with her strength (“That throw was AWESOME!”); Eddie, the calm strategist who’s low-key smitten by her kindness; and Louis, the mysterious upperclassman with green eyes (fans swear he’s hiding a squirrel blessing—don’t ask, just go with it) who’s always there to catch her when she faceplants into a table. The dynamic works because Sophia isn’t just a damsel: she’s the one rescuing them from accidents, even if she panics afterward. As one viewer put it, “They reversed the damsel in distress—she’s the knight in shining armor… in distress.”

Now, the flaws. Oh, the flaws. The animation is cheap—like, “off-screen action with sound effects” cheap. One fan ranted about entire conversations happening over static shots of a cafe sign, and another called out the lazy character design (all the boys have bangs covering their eyes—we get it, they’re mysterious). The writing can also feel trope-heavy: there’s a mean girl who tries to cut Sophia’s dress at a ball, a “ugly duckling” moment where she “transforms” (spoiler: she just combed her hair), and a subplot about a bomb threat that’s resolved in 10 minutes. Some viewers checked out early: one said the comedy “totally missed” for them, while another groaned at Sophia’s constant blushing (“After Bureaucrat to Villainess, this feels grating”).

But here’s the thing: the show’s heart saves it. Sophia isn’t just a joke about strength—she’s a girl who just wants to fit in. When she tries to cut her own bangs and accidentally chops off a chunk (relatable), or when she hides in a closet at a party because her fancy dress makes her feel like a giant, you feel for her. The knights don’t just like her for her power; they like her for her awkwardness. Isaac defends her when classmates mock her, Eddie helps her control her strength, and Louis—well, he brings her nut tarts (squirrel theory confirmed?).

The later episodes also sneak in some surprisingly solid world-building. We learn about the “slums” where people with weak blessings live, hidden behind walls—adding a layer of inequality that makes Sophia’s struggle feel bigger than just her love life. One fan noted, “Rapid relationship progress and actually interesting world-building? Finally!” It’s not deep, but it’s more than we expected from a show about a gorilla-powered girl.

Is The Gorilla God’s Go-To Girl a masterpiece? No. Is it fun? Absolutely. If you’re 20 or under and love shows where the heroine is both strong and a mess, where the boys are equal parts cheesy and charming, and where you’ll laugh at a girl breaking a cannonball more than once—this is for you. Just don’t expect top-tier animation, and maybe keep a nickel handy for the next gorilla romance.

Final verdict: Grab your popcorn (and a stress ball—Sophia might crush it), and give it a watch. It’s chaotic, it’s cute, and it’s exactly the kind of show you’ll binge while texting your friend, “YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT SHE JUST DID.”

Rating: 3.5/5 gorilla handshakes (deducting half a handshake for the lazy animation, adding half for the squirrel theory).