DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2
NOVEL AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
MANGA AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu - Shitsui no Majutsushi-hen
MANGA AdventureMushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
ANIME AdventureMushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2

REVIEWS

• 

  Railgun

  90/100
  Taking a Step Forward, Accepting and Praying

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  Taking a Step Forward, Accepting and Praying

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  ___ # __“Life is full of its ups and downs”__ Mushoku Tensei fully embodies this saying, and this cour effectively illustrates it. ____ Story: 90/100 Characters: 90/100 # ___“I’d forgotten what it meant to live earnestly”___ Mushoku Tensei excels in its subtlety in displaying the depressive tendencies of Rudeus. After the events of Season 1, he regresses back into a similar state to his previous life - a withdrawn pessimist. As early in Episode 1’s opening scene, he is shown slumped with a disinterested attitude to those around him; the rain falls - a parallel to his mental state. Though he avoids socialising, Rudeus puts up a sickeningly (to Soldat) polite façade when talking to others. This is simply his coping mechanism in order to avoid being hated - following his abandonment by Eris. Yet, teaming up with Counter Arrow and witnessing their unwavering determination to fight to the end rejuvenates Rudeus’ fighting spirit, albeit slightly. When he returns, he burns his remaining connection (bundle of hair) to Eris, signifying his acceptance of loss. Mushoku Tensei emphasises that depression can become a downward spiral if not stopped in its tracks. Highlighted is the imperativeness of avoiding self-depreciation while concurrently cherishing what holds value to oneself. Thereafter, this can become one impetus to continue to move forward, slowly but steadily. Later, his fallout with Sara and the discovery of his erectile dysfunction led to Rudeus nearly committing suicide. This is immediately stopped by Soldat, who then invites Rudy to join his party as an adventurer. Through his time with them, our main character is able to improve his fragile mental state and build self-worth once again - being surrounded by those supportive. However, wounds heal but scars will remain. This saying is evident in Episode 6, during which Rudeus is encircled by a dozen students. His reaction (see image below) to his situation - one very similar to bullying, causes him to recall the events that led him to regress into a NEET. Clear is the fact that he still has not completely overcome his trauma, this is executed effectively and realistically by the anime. He is saved by Fitz (Sylphy), who is able to better Rudeus’ mental state and grow closer to him throughout the cour. On a separate note, the anime is successful in immersing its viewers in the world of Mushoku Tensei. The controversial elements in slavery and his treatment of the Beastgirls are not addressed as an abnormality - helping the story in its alluring world-building. Firstly, regarding slavery - I think that it would be more surprising if a fantasy world like the Six-Faced World was devoid of this. While contemporary society rightly condemns this practice, it's crucial to acknowledge that fictional worlds need not adhere to our own moral standards. Our MC does not adopt a strong ethical stance on every matter, a departure from the archetype of a conventional hero of justice. Besides, he explicitly mentioned that he does not view Julie as a slave, but rather as a disciple akin to Zanoba. The character of Rudeus Greyrat is a refreshing deviation from the typical foolhardy altruistic, one dimensional Isekai protagonist. Now, on the treatment of Linia and Pursena. To be blunt, there is no justification for his extreme actions - this is the nature of Rudeus. It is worth recalling, that he also received a similar unjust punishment from their kinsmen. That being said, it is clear that he did not plan for the shocking sight Fitz was greeted with when she entered Rudeus’ room. This lack of planning ahead may be a sign of his ongoing developing maturity. While not immediately apparent, Sylphy's character growth has become evident since her introduction in the first cour of Season 1. While her inherent nature and affection for Rudeus remain unchanged, she re-emerges as a more independent, assertive individual who is willing to advocate for others. Unlike the source material, she is immediately introduced as Sylphiette to the viewer, rather than the androgynous Fitz. This facilitated Episode 0 to be presented from her POV, allowing viewers to gain insight the bonds between herself and her companions whilst showing how the childhood friends’ paths converged once again. ___ Animation: 85/100 It is relatively obvious that there is a decrease in visual quality when juxtaposed to the high standards set by Season 1. Unfortunately, especially in the first few episodes, there were moments where still shots were used often and the animation felt choppy. Thankfully this did eventually improve to a quality similar to the preceding cours. Still, one can appreciate the attention to detail littered throughout the season. These include [Nanahoshi humming a Studio Ghibli song](https://www.reddit.com/r/mushokutensei/comments/16922im/nanahoshi_singing_a_ghibli_song/) (foreshadowing her being Japanese) to [Rudeus growing ever so slightly taller than Sylphy](https://www.reddit.com/r/mushokutensei/comments/169kdj9/just_realize_curent_rudeus_are_getting_taller/?share_id=Jv4q0rJMsbQN1sPnl_laz&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1) between episodes. However, the most symbolic was in Episode 7 (07:15) during which the route that Rudeus and Sylphy traversed serves as a profound allegory of their respective journeys since Turning Point 1. While Sylphy’s manifests as seamless and unobstructed bridge, Rudeus’ encounters clear imepdiments which he must metaphorically ‘leap’ over to make progress. It’s the minute details that show the careful artistry invested into the creation of this anime. ___ Audio: 90/100 The following section will primarily delve into an analysis of the opening theme, Spiral: In the first sequence, Eris, Sylphy, and Roxy are personified to be birds with the colours red, green, and blue respectively, and are shown to have escaped like cages, signifying their newfound independence. Meanwhile, the unknown female silhouette crumbles showing Rudeus’ current declining psychological well-being and new insecurities. Rudeus initially appears miserable and abandoned but gains strength to search for his mother, guided by a blue bird. Roxy's enduring influence is evident, paralleling her role in helping him overcome his reclusive past. As the sequence unfolds, we are shown a more confident Rudeus slowly but steadily making his way up an emblematic ‘Spiral’ staircase. Behind him, is a red bird, who glances uneasily at Rudeus before taking off her separate way. A green bird that gradually becomes white is, of course, Sylphy (the same as hair’s change in colour). Similar to Roxy, she is able to open the eyes of our MC (whose eyes are visible for the first time), and he reaches out to her. When Rudeus awakens in Ranoa, we can see his pendant glow emerald, alluding to this season’s main heroine. Furthermore, in contrast to the beginning of the OP, Rudeus’ downcast look turns hopeful as he now gets up willingly, with more conviction. On a separate note, this cour's OST upholds the brilliance from Season 1, complementing the story and animation. Similarly, the ending does a great job of capturing Sylphy’s feelings towards Rudeus - which fits perfectly into this cour. ___ Enjoyment: 95/100 Having read the web novel, I was satisfied with this cour as a whole, though it is undeniable that there were parts that could certainly have been improved. Nonetheless, every episode felt like it was over in an instant - something few shows are capable of doing. ___ Conclusion: Undoubtedly, Mushoku Tensei stands out as one of the most controversial anime. Nevertheless, it is an anime that inspires and motivates. This is not a story about escaping reality, it is one which causes one to seek amelioration. [That with just a little bit more courage, there is a tomorrow that can be changed.](https://youtu.be/Y7jskzeZsa4?si=MYQyucK0rN7o3N1T&t=57) I believe that Season 2 Part 1 was successful in its discreet yet significant character development, deep immersion, and powerful symbolism alongside many other merits. Though the cour was devoid of a ‘Turning Point’ unlike the previous instalments, it still did not fail to produce a thoroughly captivating anime. ___ Now, as we eagerly await Part 2, one of the most anticipated arcs, I can only pray that Studio Bind will be able to exceed our already lofty expectations. ___ ___
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• 

  nashyyyy

  70/100
  Stellar animation, great sound, thrilling to watch, but still suffers from the same old problems at the end of the day

  This very well might be the most controversial anime of the last few years. I want to make one thing clear though. Mushoku Tensei is an anime and Light Novel, NOT a political statement. Are the controversial aspects of MT cause for concern and gaping holes in the consistency of the show? Depends on how you look at it. But it isn't fair to the series if it is judged based on today's standards as it is clearly in some medieval/fantasy world.

  Mushoku Tensei season two can be separated into two arcs essentially, the post-Eris adventuring arc and then the Ronoa school of magic arc. The first arc is standard Mushoku Tensei, business as usual. Rudy, being the stud that he is, goes adventuring solo, finds a group of people, and does his thing. Obviously, I don't want to spoil things but then he finds himself at a school. Here, the style changes, there is less action and an increased emphasis on humor, more than what was typically present in episodes past. There is also a large romance element at play as well. Towards the end of the season, there are some major plot developments that keep viewers guessing. Sound, animation, and voice acting are all TOP NOTCH, I need not say anything further, the production team absolutely killed it yet again.

  Now on to my criticisms, first off is the story. I know that Mushoku Tensei is an adventuring story but there is no real tension in the series, there really isn't any end goal. This is a major issue because it just saps a lot of the tension and excitement from the series. I guess it is fun to watch Rudy and his friends/lovers run about and have fun but there is no goal for Rudy, which is made evidently clear at one point later in this season. We get almost nothing about Hitogami and Orsted in this season which is yet another bummer. Rudy is also stupid overpowered so we know he's probably not going to die as he is eons more powerful than anybody and everybody on campus.

  The main purpose and moral that Mushoku Tensei is trying to push is that Rudeus, having been reincarnated into this world, has turned over a new leaf and actually wants to work to improve himself unlike in his previous life as a shut-in. Here's where the controversies of MT finally become a cause for concern. Rudy is SUPPOSEDLY trying to fix himself but almost everything he does is contradictory to that very goal whether that is worshipping literal panties or groping random girl's breasts, it just hurts to see no sign of improvement in a character that I try to support and defend. In the first cour or two, yeah, I can understand some lapses in judgment but in season two we don't get any of those inner character shifts where he strives to become better. Moments like Paul's reunion and Rudy's bond with Eris were very beautiful parts of the first and second cour but it seems like most of these moments are just gone in season two. Remember how I said that Rudy has no end goal? Let me tie that back here because, in season two, the world just feels like Rudy's playground. The inspiring story of the shut-in on his way to start fresh in another world is paused so that he can let his degenerate fantasies of old run free with his newfound power in his new world. That sentence alone encapsulates what goes wrong with Mushoku Tensei season two. If you love Mushoku Tensei, you'll most likely love this. If you were skeptical about the first and/or second cour. You might want to steer clear of season two. Final score: 7/10

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• 

  Mcsuper

  87/100
  A Hurting Protagonist's Journey Of Recovery And Self-Discovery

  (The above video contains audio from the OP, feel free to unmute.)

  Ah, Mushoku Tensei, an isekai widely regarded as one of the best of all time, but as things get critical acclaim, it gets a whole lot of clashing discourse. This season was the subject of a lot of argument around the anime community, and while that was a little upsetting to see, I’m glad many people continued to talk about this wonderful isekai series, even though it was clear that the first cour of Season 2 was not nearly as good as Season 1.

  Whether it’s positive or negative, Mushoku Tensei makes you care about what you’re watching, it has a morally grey protagonist, who attempts to improve himself, and that’s what I enjoy watching. I don’t like Rudeus’ personality, but that’s the point, as while I don’t like a lot of his actions, I do like how he’s written. I don’t want to see another overpowered protagonist with no personality to show for, I also don’t want to see a goody-two-shoes protagonist that’s all for world peace, because let’s face it, the world has its darkness no matter what we do, and a character with a “perfect” personality is just plain boring. Furthermore, the world-building continues to be stellar, as unlike a good chunk of isekai, it’s actually rather interesting seeing the vast world and its different settings, like the university.

  This season was a very enjoyable one, but it did have a rough start, as it rushed through the first arc, skipping a lot of context from the light novel. I’m not a reader myself, but it was clear that it wasn’t really up to snuff, at least compared to how well S1 was adapted. The events in the first arc, with Rudeus being depressed after the departure of Eris, while you kind of feel for the guy perhaps, some of the moments with him and other characters just rubbed me the wrong way. There was just too much of a focus on the perverse nature of Rudeus’ character, and while it was present as well in the rest of the cour, it felt more interesting there. The second part of the season in Ranoa University was a much more intriguing and engaging part of the story, as it mixed together big reveals around Rudeus’ past, along with some light hearted moments as well, which I feel the first arc lacked. We also got to see the return of a character I have missed dearly, and if you have watched Episode 0 with The Silent Fitz, then you know exactly who I’m talking about.

  From a production standpoint, it was abundantly clear that this was a step down in terms of animation quality, and it could be due to a rushed production, or a lack of resources from Studio Bind. That said, the quality did improve, especially with the background shots still being relatively solid. It just didn’t have that majestic, detailed look that Season 1 had. Maybe you could say that Season 1’s production was something truly miraculous, truly special, compared to what we got here. The soundtrack was still solid, and both the OP and ED were great, though I did miss the openings playing in the background, as those felt more unique, and gave the series its special identity.

  This series has a very rich cast of characters as well, and I mentioned Rudeus already, but I’ll elaborate and say that he’s still the weirdo from before, but there is significant character development to be seen, and some of the actions he takes are pretty thought-provoking, whether it’s because of his ED, or because of his PTSD from previous tragedies from Season 1. The series calls back on those past events very effectively, whereas a lot of other series may have just thrown those events of the past to the wayside, never looking back. Fitz was another very great character, and it was interesting how we all knew who Fitz’s identity truly was, but we were just waiting for Rudeus to figure it out. The pay-off from that was very worth it, and the process was honestly awesome, as we got to see thoughts from both of their perspectives, which led to some good recurring jokes. Every character in this anime has a level of depth to them, whether they’re a main character or side character, which is kind of rare to see in media these days, so props to the author for utilizing every character to their fullest potential.

  (A very effective display of a callback to a previous event from Season 1 with the Dragon God Orsted, with Rudeus remembering his past trauma)

  Overall, this cour, while somewhat controversial, was a wonderful ride, and powered through its hiccups in the beginning, to still reaching great heights in the end. Despite a decline in animation quality compared to the previous season, I still enjoyed it a lot, which is a testament to the quality of the story at hand here, and there is surely much more to come, with the second cour in April 2024, and whatever lies beyond that.

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