Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2

After the mysterious mana calamity, Rudeus Greyrat and his fierce student Eris Boreas Greyrat are teleported to the Demon Continent. There, they team up with their newfound companion Ruijerd Supardia—the former leader of the Superd's Warrior group—to form "Dead End," a successful adventurer party. Making a name for themselves, the trio journeys across the continent to make their way back home to Fittoa.

Following the advice he received from the faceless god Hitogami, Rudeus saves Kishirika Kishirisu, the Great Emperor of the Demon World, who rewards him by granting him a strange power. Now, as Rudeus masters the powerful ability that offers a number of new opportunities, it might prove to be more than what he bargained for when unexpected dangers threaten to hinder their travels.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Greyrat, Rudeus Main

Uchiyama, Yumi Japanese

Greyrat, Eris Boreas Main

Kakuma, Ai Japanese

Superdia, Ruijerd Main

Namikawa, Daisuke Japanese

Migurdia, Roxy Supporting

Kohara, Konomi Japanese

Sylphiette Supporting

Kayano, Ai Japanese

Orsted Supporting

Tsuda, Kenjirou Japanese

Dedoldia, Ghislaine Supporting

Toyoguchi, Megumi Japanese

Greyrat, Paul Supporting

Morikawa, Toshiyuki Japanese

Greyrat, Zenith Supporting

Kanemoto, Hisako Japanese

Greyrat, Aisha Supporting

Takada, Yuuki Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Oowada, Tomoyuki Producer

Yamanaka, Takahiro Producer

Ootomo, Toshiya Producer

Reviews

Dec 19, 2021

Namaryu

Recommended

Isekai.

You’re probably familiar with this term. The sheer number of shows that come out each year from this genre has gotten to the point that many are just sick of it and would rather skip than watch the same formulaic anime. However, not every Isekai is created equally.

There is one which has gathered somewhat of a cult around it - one that is seen as the grandfather of modern isekai, using pre-existing tropes but executing them properly. One that truly has the right to call itself an isekai.

Welcome to Mushoku Tensei.

This is the tale of a man known as Rudeus Greyrat and how he ... is forced to live in a new environment with completely unfamiliar customs, traditions and a never before seen power - magic. Contrary to most Isekai stories fans are familiar with, Rudeus’ flaws and regrets from his previous life carry over to his new body - flaws and regrets he often needs to reflect on. Throughout the series, the audience can see how he grows physically and also mentally. However, that does require patience. Changing is not a process that can happen right off the bat, instead requiring years of time and effort to accomplish. It’s an aspect of the show which is constantly being driven home.

The world around you and the people you meet will change as you grow. Nothing is static and will always move, forcing you to mature along with the world around you. It may be a painful experience. It might be sufferable. But truly living life to your fullest, not having any regrets and doing all you can so you can die without any is a task hard to accomplish.

The characters in this show have some of the most realistic depictions of human beings that I have ever seen. In a typical Isekai series, the MC and their party are often tropey characters, ones whose personalities can be described in a few adjectives, very one dimensional and uninteresting entities. But when it comes to writing compelling characters that resemble us humans, it is important to factor in the fact that mankind does make mistakes and that nobody is perfect. We are all flawed individuals that often make mistakes, act irrationally and hurt others. Most of us have plenty of good sides but also bad ones that we try to mitigate or get rid of. We have complex personalities, and these aspects are what defines us as human beings.

In Mushoku Tensei, the way in which audience is introduced to the characters is by showing them in the worst light possible, with their flaws on full display, to later make their growth visible as they change. Throughout the duration of the journey these characters have to face their vices and develop as people, slowly mitigating aspects of theirs that hurts those around them. The series teaches us that sometimes first impressions could even prevent us from seeing someone for who they really are - confusing it with who they appear to be. Willing to see past the flaws of someone and giving them a second chance is something that people should strive to achieve.

Often times changing yourself requires a lot of effort and many just give up without ever trying to get back up. Looking at yourself in the mirror and acknowledging your mistakes is an important part in life. To see the flaws within ourselves and understanding what parts of us hurts those around us is the first step in becoming a better person. However, simply having the conviction to change is not enough and it may often require help of other people that will extend a hand and direct you on a different path.

The animation and art is extremely well done, by some very talented animators that bring the series to life. It’s fluid, it’s natural and it heavily immerses you to the world, captivating you almost instantly. There is a lot of depth put into it, showcased by various elements such as the grip on a sword, balance on the sand, fire changing color depending on the heat, the list goes on. These are aspects highlight just how detailed this show is and is part of what makes it so compelling and grounded. To add to the immersion, Mushoku Tensei has many openings, changing depending on the region the characters are current in. Each of these songs perfectly sets the mood.

Overall, Mushoku Tensei is a story unlike any I’ve seen before despite, at its core, not doing anything groundbreaking. It has managed to execute the tropes flawlessly and has such wonderful character development and high production value that it stands out amongst many others from the same genre. I’m sure it’s one that’ll be remembered for years to come. This is only the beginning of the long tale of Rudeus Greyrat and I'm convinced that many wish to see more of it.

If there was a person next to you who struggles to change, who is suffering a lot, who is unable to read the room and may often hurt those around them - would you be willing to give them a second chance and help them on their journey?

Or would you abandon them on the spot, turning a blind eye and ignoring them?

That’s an answer that only you can find and I hope this show will open your eyes to it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Dec 19, 2021

Space_Boyfriend

Mixed Feelings

Mushoku Tensei is one of the most divisive anime I’ve seen on MAL. Certain online communities have fallen apart and friendships between anime viewers have also ended because of this show. I’m not even joking. Take a look at the MAL forum posts for MT. It’s almost impossible to have a cordial discussion between a fan and a critic because of all the back-and-forth and toxicity. It’s also why almost any criticism or praise has been met with immediate backlash. That’s why I will admit that this review will not be completely impartial. However, I still want to try and capture both sides of the ... debate, because reviews are opinions meant to help potential viewers. So this review will not be just one, but TWO reviews. One shall only criticize MT as a wholly bad show and explain what people don’t like about it and the other review shall only praise MT as a flawless masterpiece and explain what fans like about it. I have put full effort into both. Here is what I have to say.

Why MT is one of the worst anime in modern media:

Mushoku Tensei is conceptually appalling. It is one of the worst incel redemption stories ever created and has spawned so many more. It combines all of the worst parts of anime and media in general into an ‘enjoyable’ experience for a specific group of viewers. It uses male dominance and toxicly masculine beliefs to justify its system as ‘real’. No one would be complaining if that was not present in the show. MT is a male power fantasy about a 34 year old man who got hit by a truck and reincarnated in another world with all memory intact, a cliche premise at best. Rudeus is also an unlikeable MC, but not for a well-written reason. His primary flaw, making him the most dislikeable amongst most if not all critics is that he is proudly pedophilic, even in his second life, and has extreme issues with self-control; if he was a person in real life, he would be in jail because of all the sexual harassment he’s committed. A good way to redeem Rudeus would be both acknowledgement of his horrid actions, never repeating them again, and actively making up for what he’s done, but as of now, it only gets worse and worse.

One of the contributing factors to Rudeus’s failure to change is the comedy, the subjectively worst part of MT. Let me just say my bar for comedy is fairly low. My favorite genre is comedy. If something is funny, I cannot hide a smile from my face. However, if Rudeus was a comedian, he’d be compared to Bill Cosby and Louis C.K.. Yes, that’s the type of person he is, unapologetically so. Pedophilia and rape jokes were never funny and still are not. Comedians who think otherwise are delusional, attempting to normalize such sensitive issues as ‘comedic’. When a character-driven story is focused upon an incel and there is comedy, degenerate comedy is always sure to follow. Some of these stories are successful like Onanie Master Kurosawa, arguably Re:Zero, and even Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun. But why do these media succeed while Mushoku Tensei doesn’t? It’s because the incel comedy either evolves or outright disappears along with the incel characters they relate to. Mushoku Tensei’s comedy has and always has remained the same in both cours. Whether it be peeping on young girls naked or treasuring their underwear, Rudeus keeps repeating his actions. It is evident that Rudeus’s fundamental flaws are not actually acknowledged, staying true to MT’s dark incel comedy rather than criticizing him for what he is. For instance, take the infamous figurine scene, a whole minute exhibit of a Roxy statue Rudeus had crafted. One of the characters narrates every last detail about the figurine from Roxy’s clothes coming off to the little features of her nude body, practically breaking the fourth wall. Rudeus feels no shame nor regret towards his nasty creation and actually provides even more information about it. This scene is considered a funny marketing gag to fans, but at the end of the day, fans are still going to buy it. The audience is never shown why this statue is morally bankrupt nor offensive. If there were any actual self-criticism of MT’s ‘waifu marketing’, rather than just self-awareness, all efforts have fallen flat. Mushoku Tensei is unabashed in its comedy, but it never actually reflects upon itself and shows the audience why it’s wrong. Instead, it capitalizes on ‘waifu marketing’ and perpetuates it even further.

Even if Rudeus stays a pervert, he can still grow in other ways right? If Rudeus actually demonstrated character development, it would be obvious. The evidence for character development is clear from a comparison of Rudeus at present and the past. What are his flaws at the beginning of the show? He is a NEET lolicon who has made many poor life decisions. Rudeus never addresses his mistakes with a direct apology nor actually tries to make up for his bad habits from the past, only occasionally ‘reflects’. Has he changed from any of these obvious flaws? Not really. Even though he stopped being a NEET, he is still a pervert with the same bad habits. He also doesn’t actually apologize for his bad behavior towards friends and family. Instead, he selflessly saves a bunch of helpless people from whenever he hops towns and becomes a hero on multiple occasions, but he never addresses his fundamental problems as a human being. That’s why Rudeus is a failure of a redemption story. He uses his heroic acts of kindness saving generic villages as a bad excuse for actual character development. It would be nice if the writer actually acknowledged this.

In fact, Rudeus is one of the most idealized heroes since Shield Hero. He’s a Gary Stu that’s never considered flawed by other characters except his adversaries. Even when he gets placed in prison, he will still help his captors when they are in trouble. He is a hero who doesn’t bear grudges. Anything questionable or nonconsensual he does, whether it be peeping, or touching someone uncomfortably, is immediately forgiven by his harem and everyone else since they love him or will eventually bow down to him. No one in real life would be able to do this because the stuff Rudeus does can be scarring and even traumatizing. But since Rudeus is a Gary Stu, he will always be unconditionally forgiven. Rudeus is unconditionally loved and Rudeus unconditionally loves the young girls in his harem but in an extremely uncomfortable and morally disgusting way. In fact, he’s usually rewarded for his bad behavior that’s portrayed as good or funny even. In the world of MT, Rudeus is normal. If he makes a ‘mistake’, he takes responsibility and is forgiven for that. And then he does the same thing again, and again, and again…it’s a cycle. He is inherently a hero in the frame of the story. When people look at Rudeus in fear or look down on him, the audience is always supposed to empathize with him. He’s not actually flawed enough to not be considered perfect because of the way Eris, Ruijerd, or any ally will always love and support in all he does even if he’s in the wrong. It’s not normal. Just because he doesn’t see himself as a hero doesn’t mean the audience is being told not to. It’s all about the framing of the narrative.

Even ignoring everything said before, Rudeus is handed all his power-ups whether it be reading a foreign language or incantation-less spellcasting while still in a diaper, a tremendous advantage along with his mind as a 34-year old, meaning he is overpowered. From a writing perspective, he is unrealistic even in the confines of his own fictional world, making him objectively flawless. He still gets handed super-powers in the second cour like his future sight eye, giving him an obvious advantage over everyone. This is not only boring to watch but it also means Rudeus will always end up on top, just like any other male power fantasy. Even when he loses a battle, there are never any substantial consequences.

And we have the other problematic characters...Eris is a tsundere and also Rudeus’s cousin. Because of Rudeus’s tendencies, particularly in episode 11, in which Rudeus disgustingly grooms her, that means there is incest. She’s literally 14/15 but still fanservice for Rudeus and the audience. I hate to call a minor this, but she is one of the waifus of MT; just cause ‘adulthood’ in MT is 15 doesn’t mean she is actually an adult. She’s the perfect young girl to comfort our ‘miserable’ protagonist and his struggles as a ‘flawed male’ when he’s practically perfect. Her own arcs can be broken down into training and friendship. Training arcs have never been praised and still are not in MT; it’s a weak substitute for character development, especially if there is no thematic value to it. Even when Eris actually becomes strong enough to overpower Rudeus, Rudeus will immediately be given superpowers such as foresight to continue his male domination over her, so it’s meaningless. Even when Eris gets a full arc with the Doldia tribe, a group of beast-people that Rudeus’s party encounters, she remains the same person. People like Eris’s character for her progression from a cold personality to a warm one. She remains 2-dimensional the entire time. The only thing that makes someone feel emotion towards her is the cheesy piano music in the background during her ‘development’. It is literally impossible to find someone like her in the real world because she is a tsundere.

Roxy is a loli. Her development is apparently from an ‘immature’ loli to a ‘mature’/kuudere loli so she got even worse from a writing standpoint. Her purpose is to get sexualized for merch and help Rudeus out. Her backstory is provided as development but it doesn’t explain anything about how she became a kuudere. An inability to communicate in what is essentially the writer’s cringeworthy attempt at a segregated setting leads to Roxy running away from her village without explanation and somehow surviving in the middle of a desert. Tears fell down from Roxy during a painful reunion but none fell from the audience since there is never enough build up or reason to care for such a shallow character nor story of alienation. Even if her backstory was more impactful, the more lasting impression on the audience is the aforementioned ‘comedic’ nude statue of her in a following episode.

Rudy’s father, Paul, is one of the worst characters of MT. Not only is he complacent in forcing the idealism of toxic masculinity on Rudy, he’s very misogynistic in the process. When he is no longer the confident alpha male he once was, we’re supposed to empathize with him for his failure. The recurring media trope is that once a strong male loses something of importance, then we’re supposed to admire their development from that. But this development never addresses his problem as a character. He is a domineering alpha male that takes control of everything and doesn’t see people, not even his loved ones as equal. Paul is so toxic. His development is the laziest possible way to develop a toxicly masculine male. Rather than using a resolution that involves Paul acknowledging and working towards his flaws, every horrible thing Paul has done will be forgiven since he is now a hero who rescued all the villagers from the tragic mana accident. Paul doesn’t address what’s wrong with him as a person, Paul uses a workaround as an easy way out and we as the audience are supposed to forget all the horrible things he’s done. The writer thinks that just having Paul suffer and just apologize is enough to make up for all of that. But that’s not how mending family and relationships work. Apologizing is the BARE MINIMUM. Then, you have to put the work into changing as a person, actually treat other people with human dignity, and learn to put others before yourself. Paul’s core development is “forget[ting] everything [that] happened” rather than accepting his mistakes and growing as a person. Like father like son, he is a failed redemption story.

Even the antagonists are one-dimensional. They all have barbaric motives at best. They’re comparable to old Disney villains. Once bad, always bad. Interior motives don’t matter since we know they will either betray Rudy or are just overtly horrible people. A pathetic antagonist is not the same as a good antagonist. They should have as good of a motivation and character as the protagonist, instead of being as cliche as possible. One of the antagonists use threats of rape too. We don’t need that. Rape threats are not good dialogue and it doesn’t characterize them in a complex way. It only adds on to their simple personality of being sexist and horrible like everyone else in the show. Just because Rudeus knows the antagonists are creepy or pathetic doesn’t make it better. It’s the same as SAO antagonists. Their only purpose is to be defeated so the protagonist is rewarded and heroized.

People always praise the audiovisuals but there are sometimes numerous still frames and off-model faces in scenes where there is no sakuga. Sometimes Rudeus and Eris will look blurry if they are in the background or if the angle is pointing at the side of their faces. There are even a few times that they are barely recognizable because the budget wasn’t allocated consistently. The music is also annoying. It actively tries to pull your heartstrings and force you to feel certain emotions but it always fails. The overall OST is just boring and lacks any feeling to them since they are for the most part reused and just generic background music. It has no identity of its own. Even the world-building, MT’s ‘strongest point’ might as well not even exist. They just go from one generic village to the next after Rudeus’s party saves the day. If explaining how magical powers work is considered good world-building, then any sci-fi show or movie has inevitably failed because they don’t explain magic. World-building doesn’t make a story good. I cannot even name a single MT arc nor town because the location and setting doesn’t really matter.

Why did I watch MT? Because it’s become the new SAO, the new Re:Zero, the new best isekai…except that it’s supposedly the FIRST best isekai. MT is popular for all of the wrong reasons. Mushoku Tensei at its core had potential as a legitimate redemption story, but it failed miserably and did not even attempt to fulfill its primary theme of character growth beyond a surface level because Rudeus at his core never changed. It’s a relatable tale for people like Rudeus in his first life, except it’s actually an escapist tale of fake struggles and undeserved rewards for doing less than the bare minimum. If you’re not sure whether or not MT is for you, just give the first few episodes a shot. If you’re disgusted, drop it like a piece of shit in the toilet. If you’ve managed to watch all of Mushoku Tensei and find yourself still not on the hype-train, know you’re not alone and that you should be rightfully appalled by this utter catastrophe of an otaku fantasy.

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Why MT is a dark masterpiece

Mushoku Tensei is the best isekai in existence and will forever be remembered that way. It is a redemption fantasy about a 34-year old man hit by a truck, reincarnated in another world as a newborn known as Rudeus Greyrat. Premise sounds familiar? It’s because MT was the first isekai with this premise and inspired every other one that we know of today. In his former life, Rudeus was bullied into becoming a HS dropout, becoming a shut-in, refusing to even attend his parents’ funeral many years later. However, his reincarnation is a second chance at living life to the fullest and where his story really begins.

Unlike most isekai, Mushoku Tensei is unapologetically a cynical view of how the real world functions and will use morally ambiguous, but believable themes to express its intentions. It has a realistic main character that can be related to because he is flawed and honest about it. His internal conflicts are a part of how flawed real people are and how they must learn to become better and have self-control. Rudeus’ constant battle against his lust and his past self is derived from his subtly hinted shame. If he truly was horrible, he would be Makoto from School Days. He simply is not. He struggles with self-restraint. Yes, he is a pedophile, but Rudy always gets called out for it and apologizes. Just because I am a fan does NOT mean I support everything Rudy does. In fact, I think it’s funny when he gets punished for his pervy-ness. Rudeus has anxieties and fears that he confronts all the time. He has very low self-esteem and tries to improve but struggles. Even when he started out with an advantage and is given help by Hitogami, he is still plagued by his past traumas and failure to protect others. He is an extremely in-depth character for that reason. Even if Rudeus has mostly developed away from being a shut-in, the appeal is that he still has much more to grow. The fact is, Rudeus is selfish and makes mistakes. He isn’t able to save everyone all the time. There are occasions where he almost let Ruijerd and Eris almost die, and actual people get killed due to a simple mistake. Rudeus has blood on his hands and still feels that way every time he fails at protecting friends and family. However, when presented with a choice between letting a stranger live or die, Rudeus will actually think about it. A perfect hero would not even think. Rudeus is not like that. He just has basic morals. He’s not heartless but he values his own life. Rudeus is the perfect example of how people can realistically change, little by little, regardless of how slowly that is.

By Rudeus’s side we have Eris, a strong female lead. She works hard and is like a rival to Rudeus, strengthening their relationship as well as herself, whether it be her physical training to become a warrior and an adult, or her tender, subtle care for Rudeus and vice versa. Her individuality as a tomboy subverts gender roles and is well portrayed. Eris is a perfect example of a character that shows instead of tells. The way she expresses herself through her actions makes her a human person. It’s hard not to like her as a person. The way she shows genuine emotion and weakness through uncharacteristic tears is so heartwarming, because of how much she values her relations with others. She's just so innocent and pure. Despite suppressing these emotions, she tries her hardest just to be equal to Rudeus, particularly in ep11, making her another admirable character. She brings life to Mushoku Tensei with her exciting personality and has inspired other girls like herself in other isekais, but none will be as good as the original.

Roxy is another well-written, in-depth character. Even when she’s not on screen, Roxy’s personality shines. For example, her very inferiority complex is revealed through details put into a figurine of Roxy, crafted by Rudeus himself, also showing self-awareness of what’s wrong with the anime industry. That’s a product that someone could consider buying because of the thought that went into its creation and on the screen. Funnily enough, it’s nuanced art. On a more serious note, Roxy’s backstory is probably the one that hit the hardest. Her childhood is one in which many can relate to, not being able to fit in with everyone else. Using barely any dialogue at all, the writer shows how alone Roxy was, being unable to make a single friend or even talk to a single person, due to a disability. Amongst her village, she is deaf. She can’t understand others and others cannot understand Roxy. It’s a simple metaphor for being unable to talk with others in real life, but it is even more emotionally resonant because of how believable it is. It explains why Roxy rushes to become an adult and desires to hide her weakness so she can’t be pitied any longer. She seeks to be more than she is, which is something we should praise. Despite her size, she ends up being one of the bigger people of the series, by returning to her village and reconnecting with those she had abandoned, making for one of the most heartfelt moments of the series.

Another one of the underrated characters is Paul. In the first cour, we see how imperfect he was as a father but how he still addressed his mistakes and tried to raise Rudy right. However, this cour, Rudy’s father becomes a shell of his former self. He’s someone who tries to right his wrongs after losing everything, which leads to one of the most climactic moments of the series, the reunion between Paul and Rudeus after the mana explosion. Due to how physically and seemingly mentally healthy Rudeus appeared, Paul shuns Rudeus for having a carefree life, guilt-tripping Rudeus for not suffering enough and putting his efforts into saving others from the village, despite the fact that Rudeus had indeed undergone such experiences. However, Paul’s conflict with Rudeus is one of genuine meaning as it came from Paul’s own failure to protect his family and village. The value of life is significantly emphasized and development is shown through Rudeus’s own empathy toward Paul and reflection as a person. Through communication between father and son, both Paul and Rudeus are able to accept not just each other’s mistakes as human beings, but also their own. For some reason, Paul’s development is heavily underrated in his arc despite the fact Paul had to endure nightmares for months about family members dying and Rudeus losing body parts. By acknowledging his own mistakes as well as Rudeus’s own struggles in the Demon Continent, the audience was able to witness one of the most clean resolutions to a family squabble in anime! Paul’s own redemption arc really showcases how the writer does not leave even supporting characters untouched.

Rujierd is my personal favorite character in Mushoku Tensei. Just like Scar from FMA, he has one of the most conflicted moral compasses and some of the best characterization in the series. In the beginning, we learn he’s from the Superd tribe, a clan shunned for their former rampage in the Demon Continent, and is portrayed as an antagonist. However, Ruijerd is simply someone who wants to clear his clan’s name of wrongdoing and improve relations with other races. His initial inability to see individuals beyond just ‘good’ and ‘bad’ was horrifying as he brutally murdered anyone who he deemed as ‘bad’, particularly those who harmed children. Ruijerd’s development beyond such a shallow form of judgment is quite refreshing compared to the typical do-good hero one would see in other isekai, as Ruijerd learns how to compromise his own values with others in order to protect those who are important to him, Rudy and Eris. He is the supporting character that is needed to train and protect Rudy’s party as they try to find their way home, until they’ve grown into fine adults.

The antagonists of MT add to the dark atmosphere of the show as a whole. They’re also comedically written to the point where it’s obvious they are meant to be laughed at. The way Rudeus sees them as people who can be taken seriously or as a threat makes sense because that’s what a real person would do in real life. Characters like Pax quite literally act like a child and that’s how they should be viewed. They have very believable motivations. Just because some of their dialogue lines are offensive, doesn’t mean the whole show should be treated like this as a whole. Context matters. They serve to showcase how messed up the world of MT is, it’s not rainbows and sunshine. They’re not there to heroize Rudeus either. In the Doldia Village arc, Rudeus actually debates whether or not to just flee to safety rather than fighting the antagonist. When Rudeus struggles against Pax, he uses the perverted Roxy figurine to set himself free. Rudeus isn’t perfect, even in combat scenes which is why he’s written well. The antagonists only serve to showcase Rudeus’ complexity and creativity as a person.

The art and animation are just as brilliant as the story itself. It has some of the best sakuga since Demon Slayer. Compound that with the sound and you have the best possible audiovisual experience to accompany the best possible characters. Even though there is no opening song, the expansiveness of the world-building can be seen throughout the journey of Rudeus and his party. From bristling yellow fields to snowy lands to the intricate treehouses in the Doldia Village, Studio Bind illustrates their passion through animation. There’s a reason Studio Bind has not animated any other shows/movies, and it’s because they knew Mushoku Tensei was one of the best, so they pulled out all the stops, rightly so. Heck, they even invented their own fictional language, just like Lord of the Rings and Futurama! And don’t forget how the magic system, power system, and power-ups are explained down to the most minute detail, almost as well as Hunter x Hunter. On a technical level, Mushoku Tensei is a masterpiece. I think even critics will begrudgingly have to agree with that.

In conclusion, Mushoku Tensei is a must-watch for fans of subversive isekai. It’s a gift of 2021 with the best possible quality. It’s hard to imagine this won’t age well considering how it’s still well-received by fans even 7 years since the light novel was first published. To those out there unsure what to feel about the series, don’t let anyone decide your opinion. Your opinion is rightly your own. Even if I don’t view MT as flawed, I can acknowledge those who do and I hope they do the same for me as well. It is a controversial series, but it’s one full of love and passion, which is why it is a masterpiece.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Dec 19, 2021

SagePanic

Not Recommended

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.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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