| I just started watching season four or season two's second half, however one considers it, today, and it got me thinking and wondering about something. I had put a lot of the world of this show and all its details mostly out of my mind for a while, but now coming back into it, it reminded me of something I've always been curious about with respect to this series or its format/structure. It just occurred to me that this really has no plot. I don't mean that in a negative way. I mean in the best possible way. Of course, if you're to break down its component parts, every season has its main focus, and there are multiple individual arcs and subplots occurring one after another (or simultaneously) within the same season and spanning multiple seasons, sometimes a smaller plot point can be featured and resolved within one episode or even within one scene or a few. But when I say no plot, I mean if you go back to episode one of the series and take it from there to now, there isn't really one conflict or overarching goal other than to just live life. Live the best possible life ("best" as seen and desired by this character) and that's basically it. Am I missing something? Again, not denying that there are long-running plot points. The happened in episode eight of the first season and we're still dealing with its fallout and ramifications, and discussing it. Among other things. But the series as a whole can't really be said to be "about" that as its main plot. It's not what the main character's daily life revolves around. I've heard others say in the past that it's just the unfolding of the life of Rudeus, but watching that, how different the day-to-day time in the academy feels from traversing the rugged Demon continent, that really comes across. So I was wondering as well, because I can't think of any - Are there any other series which do this? Just daily life in the life of the characters through time without having to be tied to a central specific plot? The entire genre of Slice of Life is about this, but the difference in what I'm saying is the phrase "through time". Most SoL series have one 11 - 13 episode season, and even if they have multiple and a few dozen episodes, the characters don't age much so you don't really get the feeling of an overview of their whole life. More like a snapshot of when they're 8 or 15 or 18 or something. And because Mushoku Tensei covers a wider frame of time and the character also travels and moves to different houses and locations (original home, Eris', the academy area, etc.), it also incorporates a lot more major events than is typical of SoL. So yeah, interested to know if anyone ever found a point of comparison with this series on that aspect. |
| Most isekai tend to have no real endgame outside living life/getting stronger. Slime, Bookworm, Overlord, Fabinku, ect. Isekai used to generally be about returning to the real world. Now it is wish fulfillment with the desire to stay there in most cases. Shoutout to isekai ojison for being goat. |
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WatchTillTandava said: I just started watching season four or season two's second half, however one considers it, today, and it got me thinking and wondering about something. I had put a lot of the world of this show and all its details mostly out of my mind for a while, but now coming back into it, it reminded me of something I've always been curious about with respect to this series or its format/structure. It just occurred to me that this really has no plot. I don't mean that in a negative way. I mean in the best possible way. Of course, if you're to break down its component parts, every season has its main focus, and there are multiple individual arcs and subplots occurring one after another (or simultaneously) within the same season and spanning multiple seasons, sometimes a smaller plot point can be featured and resolved within one episode or even within one scene or a few. But when I say no plot, I mean if you go back to episode one of the series and take it from there to now, there isn't really one conflict or overarching goal other than to just live life. Live the best possible life ("best" as seen and desired by this character) and that's basically it. Am I missing something? Again, not denying that there are long-running plot points. The happened in episode eight of the first season and we're still dealing with its fallout and ramifications, and discussing it. Among other things. But the series as a whole can't really be said to be "about" that as its main plot. It's not what the main character's daily life revolves around. I've heard others say in the past that it's just the unfolding of the life of Rudeus, but watching that, how different the day-to-day time in the academy feels from traversing the rugged Demon continent, that really comes across. So I was wondering as well, because I can't think of any - Are there any other series which do this? Just daily life in the life of the characters through time without having to be tied to a central specific plot? The entire genre of Slice of Life is about this, but the difference in what I'm saying is the phrase "through time". Most SoL series have one 11 - 13 episode season, and even if they have multiple and a few dozen episodes, the characters don't age much so you don't really get the feeling of an overview of their whole life. More like a snapshot of when they're 8 or 15 or 18 or something. And because Mushoku Tensei covers a wider frame of time and the character also travels and moves to different houses and locations (original home, Eris', the academy area, etc.), it also incorporates a lot more major events than is typical of SoL. So yeah, interested to know if anyone ever found a point of comparison with this series on that aspect. I've watched Re:Zero, Slime, and some other famous isekai, compared to them I'll say Mushoku Tensei is the best isekai out there. I love it. |
| I wouldn't say that not being summoned for particular reason of defeating Maou-sama constitutes as lack of plot, because the story is entirely character driven and as in any good story an antagonist are protagonist's personal flaws, mistakes and struggles he overcomes throughout the series. |
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rohan121 said: Most isekai tend to have no real endgame outside living life/getting stronger. Slime, Bookworm, Overlord, Fabinku, ect. Isekai used to generally be about returning to the real world. Now it is wish fulfillment with the desire to stay there in most cases. Shoutout to isekai ojison for being goat. In this series, is the 90s to early 2000s classic isekai protagonist, shoujo longing for home. There's probably a not insignificant portion of the audience which identifies more with her goal and plight, and longs for that generation of isekai rather than the escapist power fantasy. thunderkitten13 said: This post is peak media illiteracy lmao, like of course there’s a plot. The argument could be Rudy’s “growth” throughout the series and how he becomes a better version of himself from before he won the genetic lottery…but that’s just typical isekai slop, and is as unoriginal as it gets lmao. In the way that virtually any series or film could be said to have a plot, yes. But here the "plot" is just character development. There is no central conflict, central villain/antagonist, or central goal, other than just living life. In the same way, Non Non Biyori has a "plot". Whereas other series have that same manner of character development, measure of a character or characters' growth, progress, and maturation by start to end, in addition to an actual overarching central conflict and plot. Saimatsu_Fan said: no it's not unique, character driven stories are extremely common plz consume more than one popular piece of media I've consumed probably a great deal more than you. I've seen literally thousands of live action films, including quite obscure ones, old and new alike, and of many national origins, as well as hundreds of live action and cartoon/Western animation TV series, and hundreds of anime series, again including many more obscure ones. The difference, as I said to the other user who voiced a similar sentiment, is that many so-called "character-driven" stories still have much more of a central plot in terms of goal and conflict. |
WatchTillTandavaJul 31, 5:18 AM
WatchTillTandava said: Are there any other series which do this? Just daily life in the life of the characters through time without having to be tied to a central specific plot https://myanimelist.net/anime/486/Kino_no_Tabi__The_Beautiful_World https://myanimelist.net/anime/35079/Kino_no_Tabi__The_Beautiful_World_-_The_Animated_Series |
No, this isn't my signature. |
Zarutaku said: https://myanimelist.net/anime/486/Kino_no_Tabi__The_Beautiful_World https://myanimelist.net/anime/35079/Kino_no_Tabi__The_Beautiful_World_-_The_Animated_Series This is a good example of a series which in part does this, but it's a Slice of Life. It also used to for the longest time have the SoL genre tag on MAL and in a decision I definitely reject and disagree with, only recently removed it being labeled as such on its archival page on MAL with the accompanying genre tag. The difference though is in line with other SoLs I mentioned in the OP - it comes across as much more of a snapshot of a short window of time of the main character's life, because they don't visibly age (excluding flashbacks like the one main flashback episode) and go through various different life events tied to spanning years and decades. |
WatchTillTandavaJul 31, 5:38 AM
WatchTillTandava said: This is a good example of a series which in part does this, but it's a Slice of Life. Maybe https://myanimelist.net/anime/52482/Sasaki_to_Pii-chan Sasaki just wants to live his life in piece iirc, coincidentally he and Rudeus have the same voice actor. |
No, this isn't my signature. |
Zarutaku said: Maybe https://myanimelist.net/anime/52482/Sasaki_to_Pii-chan Sasaki just wants to live his life in piece iirc, coincidentally he and Rudeus have the same voice actor. Ooh, that is a good example! I did watch this as a seasonal in the winter and it was one of, I thought, the better and one of my preferred series of the season and overall year thus far (despite some big flaws in execution), but I hadn't had it in mind. Yeah, this is much more in line with what I'm thinking about this series. Not that the main character starts as a baby or young child or notably visibly ages either, but perhaps because it's been renewed for at least a second season, there is more of a sense that we will be following this character's day-to-day activities doing a variety of different stuff over time for a while. Maybe the key or magical ingredient then also lies in the variety of different life activities and the sense of the passage of time. And being at least partially a reverse isekai, it feels even more unique in that sense (since they aren't as common). |
thunderkitten13 said: Do you not understand that MT is about Rudy marrying Roxy to bring about a descendent with the possibility of being a thorn in Hitogami’s side/defeating Hitogami? Why would I "understand" what I haven't even seen featured in the anime yet? Nothing about that (the Roxy marriage, any potential descendants doing anything, etc.) was shown or discussed in the first season or first half of the second season, and I said to begin with in the first sentence of my OP that I just started watching the second part of the second season yesterday (so maybe it's shown or touched upon later in this one, but wouldn't know it yet), so perhaps you're jumping the gun to jump down my throat? Not going to address the rest of the rude rant because you're making ignorant assumptions based on what you apparently wrongly think I've seen in the anime, yet haven't even seen yet. |
WatchTillTandavaJul 31, 6:16 AM
| for me the voice in his head is the plot though. if he stop having a velvet room moment with the white figure i would agree that it has no central plot. i'd say isekai that starts from baby like ascendance of a bookworm has no central plot because they gonna do what they want and then consequences follow. slime anime would be the one without central plot. spider isekai comes to mind |
Saimatsu_Fan said: what a nothing burger reply Your response is the epitome of "nothing". You just mindlessly insult and provide zero of value. You either lied or made a 100% wrong and false assumption about which media I consume. "plz consume more than one popular piece of media" - Please. You've absolutely no clue what I've seen. I corrected the misinformation. That's not nothing. I then spelled out completely clearly why I believe this is different from what you're referring to, and if you disagree, then that's fine, but you haven't given a single meaningful reason or argument as to why. So again, "The difference, as I said to the other user who voiced a similar sentiment, is that many so-called "character-driven" stories still have much more of a central plot in terms of goal and conflict." - No, that is not "nothing" at all whatsoever either. It's a clear explanation. I've watched plenty of obscure anime and most except pure Slice of Life have more of a plot, regardless of how character-driven or not. |
WatchTillTandavaJul 31, 9:42 PM
thunderkitten13 said: You are trying to say there’s no plot. I don’t think you realize how dumb you seem lol, like s1: Rudeus learning to grow stronger; Rudeus and Roxy growing and maturing together while trying to find clues as to the whereabouts of their loved ones s2: Rudeus tries to fix his ED (LMFAO), loses his father and learns why he should’ve been a better son to his real parents instead of a pedo. Just because you feel something is right…doesn’t mean you are right. Sure, it is your opinion there’s no plot…but the facts point to their being one. So no, Mushoku Slopsai is not original or innovative lol. How dumb I seem? You seem outright illiterate of basic text when I say in the very first sentence of my post that I just started watching the season that same day and then you reference future plot points and events as some attempted "gotcha" which anyone with a modicum of sense and reason would recognize I haven't even seen featured yet in the anime. As for everything else, I already addressed some of the plot points you mentioned in my OP. There are various different subplots which I already acknowledged in the first post before you said a single thing. I'm talking about the overall plot of the entire series (up to what I've seen) and like it or not, fact remains that it's still a lot more loose and vague than most other anime I've seen out of hundreds, including character-driven stories. Your big beef seems to be with the series itself and the desire to put it down and denigrate it. I realize as a popular series it has its lovers and detractors. That's not really the point and I have no desire or intention to change your mind about that. I'm not some avid superfan of the series to start with. It's a solid 7/10, in line with the majority of what I watch, mostly rated 6s or 7s. |
WatchTillTandavaJul 31, 10:51 PM
| Mushoku tensei isn't unique in any way, so the answer is always going to be yes. |
on thunderkitten13 said: Why are you eating the anime LMAO what are you trying to prove? First, you decided to make a bold assertion without completing the anime. Then, you double down on your claim by saying the plot is “vague”. Look at the comments. Plenty of other MT stans are calling you out for your ignorance. Why are you cooking a nothing burger of a thread lmao. It just seems like you are trying to glaze on the series but chose one of the least original aspects of the series I think I've ascertained the source of the conflict then. You're interpreting my thread and original post as somehow putting forth a "bold assertion" when it's more like something I find interesting about the series and want to hear other impressions and analysis of from those also watching and interested in the series. Some got what I was asking and referring to, and engaged with that. Others disagreed and explained their reasoning, which is all fine and welcome. The goal is not and was never to prove anything or to win some argument as I wasn't even making one. More like sharing an impression of the series as I perceived it and why. That aspect has made me enjoy the series more, so from my vantage point it can't be a bad thing. All replies I've gotten so far, whether providing other recommendations of anime with similar traits or disagreeing and explanations, have been good, interesting, and useful, and I appreciate them. I don't appreciate the two or so over the top needlessly rude and insulting attack-type replies from you and that other user, but whatever - it's MAL and the internet. |
thunderkitten13 said: Again, you made a stupid observation based off ignorance. You also double downed on that stupid observation. If you don’t like people disagreeing with you, don’t start threads on the internet while making the most ridiculous claims and having the gall to defend them while also admitting your own neglect to study or even complete the source material. Finally, I called you an idiot and dumb. I could’ve called you a million things that are infinitely worse, but called you these things simply for the fact the thread you created…is dumb! Lol. You are trying to paint a Monet painting out of garbage with this post. It actually wastes everyone’s time, including mine. Don’t get salty when you make threads that offer nothing of substance. If you don’t like people calling you out for your dumb takes, get off the internet. I disagree with your characterization of it completely as there is nothing stupid or false about the observation despite your own disagreement with it, for reasons I already clearly explained. This isn't a math equation, but completely opinion-based and subjective. Disagreement in a useful and informative way is great though, not the problem at all, and I also already explained that. So again, mischaracterization on your part. But as I see we're neither going to agree nor are you able to post anything of worth or value or in a constructive manner at all, it is what it is. I could call you every epithet under the sun too in line with my view of how you've acted and presented yourself, but it would accomplish nothing. I'll continue to post as I see fit, now and always. Don't reply if you can't be bothered to "waste" time. One point beyond the core disagreement though - Saying someone should have to "complete the source material" to post about their thoughts and feelings on how an anime series is up to the point they've watched it is completely beyond wrong and ridiculous, and would only stifle discussion around here. Especially when the person, as I did, clearly and openly states what they've seen so far of the series and made no claim about completing or even touching the source material. That's an extreme gatekeeper mindset which helps nothing and perverts what the discussion on a sub-forum for the anime series is supposed to be about. If you only want to write about and hear from those who've completed the source material, then visit the sub-forum for that, not one for the anime series where a person creates a thread topic about what they've seen of the anime. Ridiculous behavior. |
WatchTillTandavaAug 1, 5:27 AM
BatoKusanagi said: Mushoku tensei isn't unique in any way Only One Anime Has Truly Unskippable Openings (sadly just the 1st season) |
No, this isn't my signature. |
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