Most series I’ve mentioned tend to engage with larger thematic representations or messages and motifs to tell a narrative. However, this isn’t how you need to interpret series, nor is it what most series actually go for. There are certain shows that are there just to entertain you and have fun.

Non Non Biyori may have thematic representations about friendships and how to live your life, but ultimately, it’s just a series about some girls who live out in the country doing country things, although if you really cared to look into it, this could be a theme too.

Non Non Biyori gives the audience a look into the daily lives of those living in rural Japan, without the stereotypical cities and culture. The girls go to school, hang out, and do whatever they want to, because they simply have the freedom to do so.

The show itself often engages with interpersonal relationships, whether it be between the girls or their families.  There are no real stakes and there doesn’t need to be. Even if you know that everything will probably work itself out in the end, the journey there is just as entertaining. The humor itself usually stems from the characters and their personalities or the setting itself, which is effective in subverting expectations for the average viewer.

There are entire sections and plot points dedicated to gags, such as   ‘removing your thumb’ or playing a table game. The humor hits because despite it largely comes in two forms, relatable and unrelatable. The relatable jokes are largely based around characters and them being children, meaning despite the difference in setting they still do things that you would expect kids to do. However, there are things such as rice planting or fruit drying that are much harder to relate to, but are still funny because they manage to subvert the audience’s expectation.

Non Non Biyori is slice of live comedy that follows 4 girls as they go about their daily lives in the country. Personally, I found it as simple entertainment that you would watch when you really didn’t want to think too much about the content you’re consuming.

Solid 7 out of 10 would recommend

if the genre is what you’re lookin for