Grand Blue Dreaming Season 1 Review: I Expected Diving, Not This Insanity!

Anime: Grand Blue Dreaming
Season: 1 (2018)
Episodes: 12
Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
My Rating: ⭐ 9/10

I Expected a Normal College Anime. I Was So Wrong.

When I first started watching Grand Blue Dreaming, I genuinely thought I was getting a relaxing college anime about diving, friendships, and maybe a little romance.

Our main character, Iori Kitahara, moves to a coastal town to attend university while staying at his uncle's diving shop. He looks like a perfectly normal young man, someone who might actually take his studies seriously.

BRO, I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG.

Within the first episode, Iori gets dragged into the madness of the Peek a Boo diving club, surrounded by muscular seniors who apparently believe getting naked and drinking alcohol are essential parts of university life.

And the biggest surprise? Iori isn't exactly innocent himself.

The more I watched, the more I realized that this supposedly respectable city boy is just as diabolical as the people around him.

Honestly, I laughed throughout the entire season.

The Comedy Is Completely Unhinged

If there's one thing Grand Blue absolutely excels at, it's comedy.

The facial expressions, misunderstandings, ridiculous drinking games, and constant bickering between Iori and Kōhei Imamura are comedy gold.

These two are probably my favorite comedic duo in the season. One moment they're working together, and the next they're practically trying to destroy each other's lives.

Then we have their university classmates, an equally ridiculous bunch who seem willing to do absolutely anything to get girlfriends.

And speaking of them, I absolutely loved the mixer disaster.

Remember when Iori and Kōhei desperately arranged a mixer to save themselves from their jealous classmates? Everyone was hoping to meet some attractive girls, but when Aina arrived with her friends, they were all wearing that ridiculous, exaggerated makeup!

BRO, THE EXPECTATIONS VS. REALITY WERE HILARIOUS.

The guys' reactions were priceless. Even better, Iori and Kōhei had already encountered Aina with that makeup at the university festival. Watching the whole situation spiral into another embarrassing disaster made it one of my favorite comedy moments.

Then there are the legendary seniors, Ryūjirō Kotobuki and Shinji Tokita.

These guys look like professional bodybuilders. During the tennis match, they absolutely dominated their opponents. But outside of sports, they're usually responsible for some of the club's most terrifying drinking activities.

Now, I do have one question.

WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP GETTING NAKED?!

Seriously! Sometimes it feels like the entire club has a supernatural allergy to clothing.

It's funny, absolutely, but the constant drinking and sudden nudity can also become a little excessive. This humor definitely won't be for everyone.

Still, the anime's comedic timing is so good that even when I knew something stupid was coming, I often ended up laughing anyway.

Iori, Chisa, and the Rest of This Crazy Family

One of my favorite character dynamics is between Iori and Chisa Kotegawa.

I remember an early scene where Iori ends up at university barely dressed and desperately needs Chisa's help getting some clothes. Her embarrassed reaction was both funny and surprisingly cute.

I genuinely enjoy their interactions. Chisa is much more serious and responsible, especially when it comes to diving, while Iori has a special talent for ruining perfectly normal situations.

Their constant disagreements create some excellent comedy, but there are also small, wholesome moments that made me appreciate their relationship.

The supporting cast is just as memorable.

Nanaka, Chisa's older sister, initially seems like the innocent, caring type, although her intense affection for Chisa can be pretty intimidating.

And Azusa Hamaoka? That woman is a walking disaster.

She's confident, shameless, and somehow just as chaotic as the other seniors. Whenever she's involved, you can almost guarantee somebody's dignity is about to disappear.

What makes these characters entertaining is that they're all ridiculous in different ways. Together, they make Peek a Boo feel like one big, dysfunctional family.

Aina's Story Made Me Appreciate the Friendship

Now, let's talk about something that genuinely made me happy.

Aina Yoshiwara finding somewhere she belongs.

When Aina first appeared, I honestly thought she was naturally blonde because of her ridiculous clown makeup and wig!

But behind that funny introduction was a character who had been treated badly by members of the tennis club.

They made her feel unwanted, like she was a burden to everyone around her.

That's why I was so happy when she joined Peek a Boo.

One of my favorite moments happens during the Okinawa diving trip. Aina hesitates to be honest about a problem during underwater training because she's afraid of holding everyone back.

But Iori notices and later reassures her that she doesn't need to hide her struggles.

The club isn't going to leave someone behind just because they're having difficulty.

That moment made me realize something important about this anime.

Peek a Boo might be full of idiots, but they're idiots who genuinely care about one another.

Behind the alcohol, nudity, and constant arguments, there's real friendship.

And honestly, that wholesome side of Grand Blue is one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed it so much.

The Okinawa Trip Was the Perfect Way to End Season 1

The Okinawa trip gave us some of the funniest moments of the season.

From the ridiculous boat activities and sleeping arrangements to Iori's diving exam troubles and the terrifying drinking traditions, the final episodes were absolute chaos.

But what really stayed with me wasn't another crazy drinking scene.

It was the ending.

Seeing Chisa looking through the photographs taken during their trip was surprisingly heartwarming.

Those pictures captured everything the group had experienced together: the fun, the embarrassment, the friendships, and the unforgettable moments.

It reminded me that university life isn't always about being serious or achieving something important.

Sometimes, it's about the friends you meet and the completely ridiculous memories you create together.

And that's exactly what Grand Blue managed to capture.

Final Verdict — 9/10: Absolutely Worth Watching!

I started Grand Blue Dreaming expecting a relatively normal anime about a university student discovering scuba diving.

Instead, I found twelve episodes of completely unhinged comedy.

Iori and Kōhei's friendship, Chisa's interactions with Iori, Aina finding a place where she belongs, and the surprisingly caring seniors made this season genuinely memorable.

Yes, the anime has a serious obsession with alcohol and people suddenly losing their clothes. That humor might not appeal to everyone.

But underneath all the madness is a warm and entertaining story about friendship, belonging, and enjoying the little moments of life.

My Rating: 9/10 ⭐

If you enjoy chaotic comedy with lovable characters and a surprisingly wholesome heart, I definitely recommend giving Grand Blue Dreaming a chance.

Just don't expect the diving club to behave like a normal diving club.

Trust me. They won't.