MUSHOKU TENSEI: ISEKAI ITTARA HONKI DASU PART 2

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
NOVEL AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
MANGA AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
SPECIAL AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2 - Eris no Goblin Toubatsu
ANIME AdventureMushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu

REVIEWS

• 

  Railgun

  94/100
  Reunions and Departures

  ___ **Obligatory I've read the Webnovel and spoilers warning** ___ The 2nd season of Mushoku Tensei (MT) was an anime that I had been excitedly anticipating since the conclusion of the first cour in late March this year. This being my joint-favourite novel series (with Zaregoto), I came into this season with high expectations and fortunately these were met spectacularly. Without further ado, let's begin this review, shall we? ___ ___ #**Story** : 95/100 ___ We pick up where the first cour left off after the Metastasis (Mana Calamity Disaster) as our lovely cast goes on a journey, with one goal - to return home. A simple objective, yes, but as they say - it's about the journey, not the destination. Throughout the adventure, we are introduced to the Six-faced world where Mushoku Tensei takes place, allowing for some key world-building that is imperative for the future storyline. From the Demon Continent to Millis to the Shirone Kingdom our protagonists visit, we are able to experience the vast differences that exist in this universe. The first major event in this season was certainly Episode 16's reunion between [Paul](https://anilist.co/character/88347/Paul-Greyrat) and [Rudeus](https://anilist.co/character/88348/Rudeus-Greyrat). Like most, I enjoyed this section of the story, though I felt that it *could* have still been slightly more dramatic (hopefully the BD can help us out here). Along with Episode 18 covering Roxy's return home, I felt that Mushoku Tensei was thorough in stressing the importance of unbreakable bonds between family members and making sure each and every watcher was able to rethink and remember those that matter most to us. It brings to light the different perspectives instead of viewing a situation from one single plane and to see beyond what's on the surface and not jump to conclusions at one's convenience. Following on, Orsted's encounter was excellent. Episode 21 was crucial in getting the point across that just being isekaied does not mean that one will automatically be the strongest or even close to being at the top of the food chain. It also reveals more information about the world of MT and what some may call a *power system* by introducing the Dragon God. Episode 22 as a standalone is absolutely wonderful, showing the departures of two well-loved characters without making it seem too long-winded and unnatural (in Ruijerd case) whilst ensuring that the viewer continues to ask questions about Eris' decisions simultaneously. These 24 minutes also provided us with a sex scene, which I felt turned out superbly. This part of the episode is of utmost importance to Mushoku Tensei in the way that it was executed. It is a fact that MT is a controversial anime, and for good reason - it does what many other shows do not dare to, overstepping the said boundaries and breaking made-up taboos. The show doesn't even try to hide Rudeus' perversion nor shy away from *delicate* issues - these two cours *have* shown Mushoku Tensei faces it head-on. Therefore, to those who still say that the show is a simple explosion of ecchiness or perhaps show disgust whenever the series is disputed, I can now safely say that these 23 episodes have done enough justice to show that this is simply art. If you pay closer attention to the frames in the sex scene, it can be noted that the most sexualised (can you even call it that?) part is their kiss or perhaps their clothes lying on the floor (huge props to the animation directors and those working on what to animate - they chose the path of symbolisation instead - with the wine glass that Rudeus had been holding). Well, to those who want additional pieces of evidence, if you once again pay attention to the other episodes of the season, characters are presented in a manner that could be classified as fanservice but rather as a method to display the Six-faced world to us. As a final point in this section, I would like to add that this universe is not the same as the one we live in and that characters will do things that are illegal or may be extremely looked down upon in our society. However, saying a show like this is despicable and should be (in the words of a livid Twitter user) ***cancelled*** is ridiculous. I said it once and I will say it again, Mushoku Tensei is art and if you cannot appreciate it, then you are the one losing out. To conclude this first major section, I would say Mushoku Tensei has been able to connect to the viewer on a sentimental level and is able to provide us with an extravagant array of emotions - from excitement to sadness to fulfilment. Overall, I was pleased with the story in the adaptation of MT, and feel it is worthy of a high mark. ___ ___ #**Characters** : 90/100 ___ Mushoku Tensei did not fail to ensure that their characters developed and progressed over time. The journey of Dead End lasts for several years - from parts of Eris and Rudeus' childhoods to their early teenage years. Before covering the characters would I like to mention that, unfortunately, I do not have enough steam to evaluate every character so I will simply cover those that I feel have the biggest impact this season. Firstly, I would like to talk about Rudy, our protagonist. He himself has become more mature over the years: developing more self-control (though he *is* still quite horny) and becoming more adaptable in different situations. As the story progresses and he is constantly met with difficulties, such as his reunion with Paul, he learns to appreciate and be grateful for what he has and to become more empathetic over time. This is something that his former self could have never achieved as a NEET but has finally been able to get out of his comfort zone and face his challenges over and over again. The end of the season shows growth in a subtle way and can be referenced to the ED of the season. Rudeus finds himself in a similar situation to when he was shunned and bullied in his old life (leading to him self-isolating and shutting out others). However, the decisions he makes this time are different, knowing that he cannot curl back into a ball and waste his life away. It is a slow but applaudable coming of age - well-done Rudy! Eris was too able to grow, though it may be less noticeable. From the violent, selfish tsundere that we met in the middle of the first cour, her experiences on the journey have led to her becoming increasing level-headed and stronger as a warrior. Though keeping some of her tsundere traits, Eris is a great representation of a subtle but progressive change in one's character over time. Her departure in Episode 22 shows a hardened will and determination with a strong motive. To you anime-onlys, please look forward to the future! Roxy's development in this cour is strikingly similar to Rudy's in the previous cour whereby she faces her past as she returns home for the first time in several decades. Her reunion and flashbacks show the tight family bonds that one must remember, that there will always be someone that wishes us the best. Finally, Paul's character is excellently represented in the show as, unlike many father figures that we see in anime, he is so clearly a flawed person. He is someone who lacks self-control, is whimsical but he is someone that knows what's important to him and is determined to do what he can to make sure he can fulfil his aims. It is his flaws that make him a wonderful character, in which he can see how human Paul really is. As a whole, I thought that Mushoku Tensei was able to capture important emotions through the journey of the cast. I look forward to seeing how they fare in the upcoming seasons. ___ ___ ___ #**Visuals** : 90/100 Fortunately, the animation of this season too did not disappoint. The animation retained the smooth, crispness that we saw in the first season and even upped its game in the fight scenes. ___ ___ #**Audio** : 95/100 The soundtrack this season was sublime, in which we were treated to numerous openings (OPs), one for each region that captured the tone and ambience of the area well. The Shirone Kingdom, for example, resembles both Indo-Chinese and Nepalese lands and uses its instrumental to capture the sounds of those locations. The Chinese instrument, the Èr Hú is used in the OST and in the OP **遠くの子守の唄** in the aforementioned Kingdom. In addition, the OP for the Millis continent reminds one of the Christian hymns (Millis region being very similar to Christianity); these well-crafted melodies allow for the viewer to be immersed in each motif seen in the different regions. The OP we hear in episode 11 is craftily executed as it is the same one we hear during the first 8 episodes of the first cour, reminding us that our cast has made it back home, to the Asura Kingdom. Also of note was **風と行く道** , the season's ending song (ED), which brings a nostalgic tune at the end of each episode, almost as if it is allowing the viewer to reflect on themselves and of their past. Moreover, the visuals of the ED are beautiful and boast ingenious foreshadowing along with it. ___ ___ #**Enjoyment** : 100/100 It doesn't even need to be said - my enjoyment of Mushoku Tensei was through the roof. ___ #**Final Thoughts** : ___ Mushoku Tensei is neither a redemption story nor a battle Shounen. It is a unique journey that does not necessarily need an objective or a goal. The series is unique in unmatchable ways through its magnificent storyline, progressive characters, reliably clean animation, majestic soundtrack while still ensuring that this journey is an enjoyable one. ___ ___ Now that the curtains have fallen for the second season of this masterclass, as does this review - so let's hope to see each other in the next chapter of this story! ___
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• 

  RiPHopscotch

  95/100
  The End of One Journey, the Beginning of Another

  Despite the existence of countless, very cliché quotes about how “it’s all about the journey, not the destination”, there is more than just a kernel of truth to that saying when it comes to storytelling. The beginning should serve as a way to hook the audience and the ending needs to tie everything together with a nice bow, but the “meat” of the story is going to be what happens inbetween those two points. The journey needs to be compelling with a cohesive narrative, and should include characters that have clear goals that they’re trying to accomplish. These characters should also (the vast majority of the time) have personal arcs that can show how they’ve changed at the conclusion, helping the audience feel as though what they just saw had a real and lasting impact. When I watched Mushoku Tensei’s first cour, I thought the potential for all of this was apparent, even if it was a little rough around the edges. I just didn’t expect that potential to be realized so soon; this second cour delivers on the show’s earlier promise, while at the same time smoothing out those rough edges quite a bit. When everything was said and done, I came out of it totally blown away by the overall quality and passion put into this series, eagerly awaiting more.

  When we last saw Dead End – a party comprised of Rudy, Eris and Ruijerd – they were just about to begin their travel in earnest, with two goals: return Rudy and Eris to their homeland, Fittoa, and repair the reputation of Ruijerd’s race, the Superd. Considering the distance between the Demon Continent and Fittoa, as well as the fact that the Superds were essentially known as boogeymen from one end of the world to the other, accomplishing either goal was not going to come quickly.

  *The gang goes camping in a wasteland*

  Rudy had just turned ten when he and Eris were teleported to the Demon Continent, and at the end of the first cour he’s a couple months older than that. By the time this leg of the journey is complete, three more years have passed and he’s thirteen. So what happens over the span of those three years? In short, quite a bit. Dead End travels across almost the entire world, so they encounter new people from all kinds of backgrounds and races, then subsequently deal with the surprises and twists that come with that. But the Teleport Incident was very wide reaching, and that gives them the opportunity to reunite with some familiar faces as well. The story is great, and has fantastic worldbuilding with some real emotional peaks and valleys. The writing never feels like we’re just getting a large block of exposition, but at the same time I was never confused as to what was happening on screen. The plot really shines, however, because it does such a good job of not only presenting the cast with opportunities to grow and bond, but also showing that these gradual processes are taking place before the audience’s eyes.

  At the heart of Mushoku Tensei’s cast, and really at the heart of Mushoku Tensei itself, is Rudy. I don’t want to spend a lot of time rehashing lengthy arguments that everyone has heard a million times here, so I’m not going to. As this is ostensibly a review, however, I do feel obligated to say something brief: if you watch this show looking for some kind of karmic punishment to be meted out to Rudy for his transgressions, you’re going to be disappointed. I’ve said it before, but nobody is “wrong” for being disgusted by a character. With that being said, the message the character is being used to deliver should also be considered. Sometimes characters are disgusting for the sake of being disgusting, sometimes characters are disgusting in service of something a little more complex. I personally view this series, and Rudy, as examples of the latter. This is a story about how someone who is profoundly undeserving of a second chance gets one anyway, and about how Rudy seizes that opportunity and changes for the better – through both his own desire to improve and through the assistance of those around him. It’s a story about rehabilitation, not retribution, and to drive that home I’d like to share how the author, Rifujin na Magonote, replied when asked if he had gone too far with Rudy’s flaws in an interview.

  “I think the balance was right. Because he's a controversial character, his mountain of regrets makes the act of redoing life more meaningful. Of course, I have no issue with criticizing Rudeus at the beginning stage, and it's up to you to decide whether you don't want to see the story because of that. With that said, if there's someone like Rudeus close to you and that person were to have even a slight change of heart and try to start over, I sincerely hope that you won't abandon them on the spot.”

  When viewing the show through that lens, I think this cour does an absolutely phenomenal job of showcasing Rudy’s growth and the effort that he’s putting in. My favorite example of this starts with Dead End fighting a giant serpent, early on in their time together as a group. As a result of Rudy’s actions a young adventurer who could have been saved was killed, and at the time Ruijerd didn’t hold back on Rudy, didn’t let him rationalize anything away or absolve himself of blame; there was no possible way for Rudy to not take responsibility for his poor choices. We see his failure, as well as how his past life influenced him in making that decision, not to make what he did okay but simply to offer insight as to why he acted that way. But he did learn from the experience. A little over a year later, when presented again with the choice to be a bystander or to become an active participant, Rudy steps up. Even though he’s scared out of his mind and questioning why he’s forcing himself to get involved, this time his actions directly save quite a few lives at the risk of his own. Is he perfect? Far, far from it. But, while he still has a long way to go, tangible progress is being made. Rudy is putting forth genuine effort, and he has surrounded himself with people who help bring out the best in him.

  

  One fairly common pitfall that some writers fall into is the creation of a character who has no reason for existence outside of the protagonist. When done in a more light-hearted or comedic setting this works fine, but in a dramatic character study like this someone existing solely to make the lead look good might spell disaster. What I really appreciate about all of the characters in Mushoku Tensei is the agency they have and the growth they exhibit. They have dreams, goals and aspirations totally separate from Rudy, even if they might be helping him along the way.

  I know after talking about how I liked the characters for their agency and growth it’s weird to begin by discussing a connection to the lead character, but Ruijerd’s relationship with Rudy does a fantastic job of showing both these things. When we initially met Ruijerd in the first cour, he was an alien super-warrior with a draconian sense of justice. His moral code was absolute: crime is wrong and criminals should die. As extreme as this is, it allowed him to function as a foil to Rudy, who never had any morals in his past life, and certainly didn’t pick up any from Paul in this one. Ruijerd might not be the leader of the party, but he isn’t just getting dragged along for the ride, as he is constantly checking and challenging Rudy just to make sure he’s doing something for the right reason. And as the story progresses, Ruijerd also changes in subtle ways. He sees the effort Rudy is putting in to do the right thing and will bend his rules ever so slightly to help him out, and Eris’ genuine love for adventuring rekindles his own. The changes are subtle, but they are there, and they help keep the decisions Ruijerd makes over the course of the journey believable.

  *"He's just standing there... menacingly!"*

  Eris’ development, on the other hand, is much more pronounced, which makes sense for a character that is so extreme in many other ways. She’s high energy and adventurous, two traits that make her a blast to watch and super likable. Eris is also from nobility though, so she’s spent her entire life getting her way; alongside her other traits, she’s selfish. As one might expect, “selfish” is not a particularly desirable quality to have when adventuring, and to her credit Eris changes. But what’s really fantastic about this growth is it’s done while staying true to the character’s roots. Eris doesn’t become a paragon of moral virtue, she just extends her circle of selfishness to include Ruijerd, Rudy and a few others she meets along the way. Her thinking goes from “how will this impact me” to “how will this impact us” – but even with her growth, Eris is unmistakably a brash noble who is going to fight to get what she wants. And a lot of the time what she wants isn’t really related to Rudy. Like Ruijerd there are things that she feels she needs to do in the future, but, unlike Ruijerd, by the end of this cour it becomes apparent that something Eris still has a major problem with is communication.

  *You don't need to be from this world to recognize bad handwriting*

  Even if the story and characters of Mushoku Tensei aren’t someone’s thing, I think many will agree that the production behind the show is outstanding and that Studio Bind outdid themselves with this series. Visually there is a lot to love, as the background art is gorgeous and the character designs feel so appropriate for the setting. What really stands out is the animation, however. This show isn’t super heavy on the action, but when it does happen it’s brilliant. Combat is fast paced with explosive amounts of energy, and seeing how insane power levels get portrayed is great, but my favorite aspect is how Rudy’s magic is animated. The reason anime characters tend to yell their attacks isn’t so their opponent knows what’s coming, but is instead a carryover from manga, where the author needs to let the reader know what attack is happening. However, since Rudy casts spells silently, Studio Bind can’t simply have him vocalize his magic and be done with it – instead they have to animate it. While other shows may be okay with just a bright ball of fire and some yelling, Mushoku Tensei will show a sharpened, red hot drill being formed from the earth, spinning thousands of times per minute, and then flying at someone, or will have a spell form swirling storm clouds that start a torrential downpour, drenching the entire area. It’s genuinely a joy to watch, and whenever there is action on screen I find myself glued to the edge of my chair.

  

  It should go without saying, but production is more than just how pretty something looks – it’s also how pretty something sounds. Mushoku Tensei sounds very pretty. The insert music from the OST is fantastic, contributing to the fantasy atmosphere and setting the tone of the show effectively while also never crowding out what’s happening on screen. The sound effects themselves are also generally good, whether it’s something from combat, like the metallic clash of sword and spear, or it’s something more quotidian, like the sound of bread being torn. The audio does two things particularly well, however. The first is the voice acting. I’ve always been of the opinion that voice actors really only get to flex how good they are in dramatic or comedic roles, and this cour of Mushoku Tensei certainly had the drama I was referring to. Eris’ voice actress in particular, Ai Kakuma, stood out for her performance, and I have no qualms saying that without a portrayal on her level the character would be half as good. She brings so much emotion and energy to Eris, and really seems to understand on a fundamental level how she is feeling at any given moment; it’s really just great stuff.

  

  The other thing I want to shout out is the openings, all five of them. Yes, this 12-episode cour of Mushoku Tensei has five openings, one for each region the characters visit. Every opening track is tailored by Yuiko Ohara to convey what the audience should expect going in: when Dead End is traveling through the Beast People’s territory the opening is up tempo, mysterious, and heavy on the strings, and when Dead End is traveling through a region where religion is a huge part of day-to-day life we get something much more akin to a hymn. The fact that it’s all the same artist performing the songs helps keep things cohesive, like it’s all the same world, even if the actual sound of the songs differs wildly from one to another.

  I also had a lot of praise towards the first cour for how it used the opening sequence to do some world building. That’s still done here, but Studio Bind has definitely mixed it up a little bit as well. Sometimes the opening will be used to show characters doing something, especially traveling, as opposed to solely being used to make the world feel like it’s alive. So despite my high praise for how the first cour used openings for world building purposes, I actually really liked the change, and I think it made the pacing of the show so much better than it might have otherwise been. The impact of this can be felt on Dead End’s return to Fittoa when, since of course nothing can be easy, instead of just reusing the first opening it’s been remixed. Initially it was cheery with barely contained energy, but now it sounds tired, strained even. How it sounds and what it shows fits the narrative perfectly, and it’s dozens of little things like this that Mushoku Tensei does so well. Those little things add up, and create the fantastic end product that we get when everything is said and done.

  *Gotta say, I'm kinda digging opening sequences having narrative significance*

  People often call Mushoku Tensei the “grandfather of isekai”. As dubious as I am that it has a legitimate claim to that title, I’m equally certain that this isn’t just "good for an isekai", this is just great, with no qualifiers needed. The story is fresh and takes enough risks to keep me guessing at what will happen next, the characters are incredibly well written, even if they aren’t all incredibly good people, and the production and care put into the show is mind boggling. And look, I get it – the show isn’t for everyone. It’s controversial for good reason, and for some people Rudy legitimately ruins the entire thing. But my heart broke a little when I was watching Dead End finally arrive at their destination, and Rudy's story isn’t over. This was just the first leg in a long journey, and personally? I cannot wait to see what happens next.

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• 

  SagePanic

  47/100
  The Grandfather of Isekai, For Better Or For Worse

  Alright, I wanna get right into it. Mushoku Tensei is a series known for being the grandfather of the insanely popular Isekai genre of shows, and it has a lot to its name, but these 23 episodes that they open with are not good. Straight up.

  I want to give credit where it is due, though, so let me talk about the technical aspects. This show is done by Studio Bind, and it’s actually their first time ever doing an anime series. Let me tell you this—be excited for what else this studio has to bring to you, because from what Mushoku Tensei shows you, it will at the very least be visually stunning. Each scene in this show is so beautifully done, and each visual quirk added to each design or moment is so important to what makes it so amazing to watch. The magic in this show comes not only from the spells cast, but from each water droplet, each window of crown glass, each fight scene, each facial expression, and everything about the world it brings to life.

  The sound in this show is front-to-back bliss as well. The voices cast for each character are perfect, with each talent being able to show off a wide range of emotions, while still keeping in character. The songs in the show manage to team with the visuals greatly as well. This show has no real OP, but instead, an opening sequence of events. Each episode starts off with scenes that showcase the vibrant, and lively world that our characters live in, and their adventures—all backed by these grand, and breathtaking folk ballads to accompany the equally grand and breathtaking scenes of animation. Once you set aside the plot, this show is nothing but a technical marvel.

  Now, let’s get into the plot. Oh geez.

  This show follows Rudeus Greyrat, and his story from death, rebirth, and the life that comes after. Before Rudeus dies, he’s an absolute no-life and a shut-in; he even misses his own parents’ funeral to jack off in his room. However, he still dies protecting someone from their own death, and for some reason, he opens his eyes to a brand new world. In this life, Rudeus learns how to interact with others once again, fight with magic, and much more. Above all, though, he’s still a degenerate. He is a pervert and a lecher through and through.

  Though there are a lot of very slice of life moments in this show, it’s not one that lasts forever. There is a lot of tension and action laced between each episode. While there are a lot of episodes that just felt weird to me or were just there to set things up in the future—the one with Pax stands out to me the most—it’s not all bad, at least. There are a few moments in the show that actually get me invested. Above all, the moments where Paul and Rudeus interact in the second cour are the most important to me. It shows actual moments of growth and reflection for two flawed characters, and that’s something I desperately want from this show. It gets you to understand Rudeus and Paul from both sides, and in the end, it makes their reconciliation all the more impactful.

  One of Rudeus’ strong points to me, though, was his show of trauma. It was so interesting to see how his PTSD still carried on into the new world. He is an emotionally and mentally stunted person who never got the chance to live a good life because of that trauma. It’s a point where I can actually slightly understand Rudeus. Though, still, the show itself puts a lot of this baggage aside for “children sexy owo.” I would like it more if in an entire season of the show, you would put more moments of reflection for the person we are basically always following. That would be cool.

  I'll try to keep an open mind to the rest of the story as it plays out, but my biggest problem is that while I get that it's trying to set up character growth in the future, a lot of Rudeus' perversion is played off pretty light-heartedly or it just comes out as a joke. I also get that Mushoku Tensei as a story is supposed to be a biography of Rudeus Greyrat and his growth, but a lot of the time they really want you to side with Rudeus. If we think about it from a storyteller's perspective, Rudeus is set up to do a lot of good things. He is a very selfless and heroic person a lot of the time, but his degeneracy brings him down a lot from me seeing it like that. I understand that his actions aren't unrealistic if we consider the fact that if a guy like him were to be sent to a fantasy world like Mushoku Tensei's, it wouldn't be too far off. What I don't like is really just how everyone else seems to react to it, especially how a lot of the female cast is treated. Rudeus gets off scot-free a lot of the times, with his sexual harrassment leading to nothing but a slap on the wrist, and—in my opinion, the strangest part—no lasting effects on really any of the relationships he makes.

  I find it weird how people like Eris feel a bit weird right now. I think Eris is a bit too lenient with Rudeus, especially that scene where Rudeus said that he might touch her next time she's asleep or something. I get that their relationship is deep and close, but that feels like a bit too much to let slide. This applies to a lot of the other female characters as well. If they don't want you to necessarily side with Rudeus, I think they still want you to be able to understand him. Fiction is no stranger to morally grey or generally-non-heroic characters, but again, my biggest point is that the show just fails to show the actual severity of Rudeus' nature. If their point is to show off Rudeus' degeneracy as a bad thing for character development, I think more of it should be more serious and less fanservice jokes. Sure it’s shown heavily, but is it shown properly? It may be heavily shown, but the tone isn't there for me, man.

  What drives me so crazy about this show is how it never seems to learn its lesson. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Cour 2, Episode 11. Jesus, what a disappointment. This episode is emblematic of what a lot of this show feels like to me—tons of good moments, but it’s able to make it all fall down just that quick. Let me give you a run-down of what happens in this episode:
  This episode starts off amazingly, with actual moments that go on to affect what will happen in the future. Party member and mentor figure, Ruijerd acknowledges the trials and tribulations that Rudeus and Eris have gone through, and the ones that they will have to go through in the future, before saying goodbye to them. This is so emotionally engaging, and I actually believed that I cared about Mushoku Tensei. Afterwards, Eris is put into a tough place emotionally because she's just passed in the eyes of someone she admires, but has to part ways with them; and then she reunites with people she cares about, but immediately has to make a decision with stakes this high. I get really invested now. Later that night, she's so emotionally desperate, and goes over to Rudeus because that's the only place where she thinks she can solve all her problems. She asks him to sleep with her, but Rudeus for the first time has the thought that he should control himself because he would be taking advantage of someone he cares about if he doesn't. Oh my God, an actual moment of reflection and growth for this guy. I am absolutely blown away by how much growth Rudeus has gone through by the fact that he stops himself from taking advantage of an emotionally distraught girl, even if to him, he sees her as attractive.

  But then, Eris says something about kittens, and then there's this really long scene of flashbacks interlaced with shots of Eris and Rudeus that heavily imply something sexual—all with elegant violin music playing over it. And then Eris leaves him in the morning. And then I stop caring once again. How does one ruin a good and emotionally engaging experience with important chances for character growth like this.

  Let me calm down again before we close off this review.

  I mean, yeah this show is a slow burn and there will be tons and tons more to come in the future, but to show as little growth as Rudeus does in these 23 episodes is just disappointing. Even if you’re supposed to find him icky, presentation and execution proves that showrunners still secretly want us to look at the sexy lolis or whatever. Off topic now, but they had a scene with Rudeus and another guy where they leered over this figure of Roxy and it was really long and really weird. But also they made a figure in real life of that exact same figure. Above all, making money is what matters, right; so to sex up a lot of the visuals at the cost of maybe actually showing how creepy Rudeus is would in the end net them more people watching the show.

  With all the hype this series receives, it’s gotta get better, right? But right now, considering it really is just one season so far and how long an anime takes to deliver, a lot of that isn't shown unless you are in the anime community. Someone else might not be so well-informed on what comes in the future and they won't get to see it come to fruition since they would be repulsed by the beginning. The only reason I still hold out hope for this show is because people keep telling me it gets better, and I want to believe that. That's why I think it's important for the show to present the message better. I so badly want to understand this show and the hype around it, but it makes it so hard for me.

  It’s not enough that it’s a biography of Rudeus’ life, because I don’t give a crap. A story is first and foremost a work made by an author. To write a biographical tale that showcases a deeply flawed person, you still have to write an engaging story. So to have a main character that does these kind of messed up things in the show have no real consequences related to these actions or any kind of seriousness regarding their behavior—I don’t care if I’m not supposed to sympathize with them or they’re supposed to be flawed, I will just end up hating them and hating the show.

  There’s a lot about these cours to love, but so much more not to.
  I am feeling a Decent to Strong 4 on Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.

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