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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
The series that keeps disappointing.
The series that disappointingly fails at being the masterpiece it very well could've been all because of its titular character.

Now, I am not an experienced reviewer so bear with me, this will be relatively similar to a childish rant. Also, I dropped this series at volume 20. I don't wish to have a differing opinion for the sake of it, and I feel it may be necessary to point that out. I also think if you enjoy this series, that's fine. Albeit I will definitely side eye you.
Well, Mushoku Tensei, MT, or as I refer to it, the ... "Diddy Isekai," written by author Rifujin na Magonote, the influential, famous, and equally infamous fantasy series' first volume was published on January 24th of the year 2014.

Fast forward 7 years and I discovered it. I found this series when I was 13, a little jit scrolling Hulu during 2021 who stumbled upon the first three episodes of the first cour of the anime. I fell in love. I was obsessed with anime, and was also horny as can be. MT was made for me. Before I continue, yes, I'm sixteen, so if you don't want to read a kid's review on your favorite anime because I don't understand fiction and have no literary skills now is the time to click off. Anyway, I fell in love with the cast and the world. Just during 2023 and the beginning part of 24 I read the novels up to volume 20. The series starts off, and it seems rather promising. It's weird, very horny, but interesting for an isekai. Especially in the current decade, an isekai that wasn't like the garbage of late was an incredible feat. It was already popular but due to the adaptation it skyrocketed in popularity and easily became the talk of the town. It wasn't just talked about because it was weird, like a Redo of Healer was, it was met with adoration.

In the first six volumes (or the first full season) Mushoku Tensei begins setting up an interesting world, and an interesting magic system. I applaud Mushoku Tensei for these things even to where I left off, it never once lacks in quality when it comes to its magic systems, world building, or political systems, I truly believe this is some of the best you will see in fantasy anime of such things. I however, want to jump straight to my gripes. That is with the character writing... and so, the rant begins.

You see, in these first 6 volumes Rudy is portrayed as a flawed character, that's because he is. However, it isn't like he gets off Scott free, he faces backlash for his wrongdoings. No, I don't think there isn't any development at all, but in my eyes, I don't see enough development, or enough repercussions or anything you can even see as portraying what he does as wrong to be able to defend Rudy as a character. Even though it starts off promising, it doesn't beat Rudy into shape, he stays scummy for all of what I've read. For an example, in the 1999 American drama series "The Sopranos" the titular character who's last name is literally the title of the series, "Tony Soprano," is an incredibly flawed character. He is disgusting, he's a mob boss, he's as bad as can be right? The show doesn't expose you to all these things he's doing and then pats him on the back and tells the audience it's for the funny. No, he's a villain, that is made clear. Despite his being evil, his character is still entertaining, and without many spoilers, he does during the series face repercussions. Though it's hard to fully give an example when talking about Tony Soprano could be longer than this review. Anyway, my point is that I can defend Tony being a character because of how he is written.

To bring up one other example, within another anime and light novel series, "Monogatari." The protagonist of Monogatari is also very flawed, but the way Monogatari is written you can essentially bullshit your way into excusing Koyomi's existence. Not his actions, but the existence of his actions. I can't do that for Rudy, I quite literally can't think of a reason as to how or why he should even be allowed to exist. I can't defend his existence, because there isn't anything in the series that makes me think about his character in depth. To bring up Koyomi Araragi once more, I view his character as very important for how the stories in the franchise unfold. His existence effects the cast in multiple ways. These ways could also be very fucked up, like his influence on younger girls like Nadeko or Hachikuji, but they feel necessary. I could talk about Monogatari for hours, so let me get back to what I'm trying to express. Nothing Rudy does feels necessary, it feels like its for the audience to laugh at or for the audience to be turned on by and to self insert themselves into. I think this is bad. I don't think that is good storytelling, maybe you disagree, and that is fine, but this is my major gripe with this series.

Though what makes this series even more disappointing, is that it has other great characters. I get how the main three girls can be entertaining and enjoyable to read or watch. I think Orsted is an incredible character. I think Ruijerd is great, a few of Rudy's other friends are great. I think Paul is honestly another fantastic character, or well one who could've been. He's flawed but he's utilized in what I thought could've been really impactful and meaningful but once again everything the author attempts with Rudy falls flat on its face. It's always Rudy. I've never read something that completely shits the bed because they made the worst main character ever. (I'm exaggerating.) Worse than a boring main character, a main character who is interesting but utilized poorly and is also a complete scum bag.

Sure, Rudy does "mature" but not to the extent that I can really look past how fucking weird he still is. Like, he still marries his teacher because she looks like what a "loli" would in his past life (kinda weird imo), he marries his second cousin after preying on her for years, (kinda weird imo) and then what could be considered the most "wholesome" relationship he has, is with his first wife, of whom he impregnates and then fucking leaves to risk his life and while he's out leaving her to worry herself sick, he cheats on her and she literally has to accept it. Oh I forgot to mention, Rudy is mentally 40 something and she is 16 or so. Even after marrying, he still has weird thoughts about his sisters, who are teenagers. That's my fucking age, that is disgusting. That's my cousin's age, someone who I view as a close friend, someone who I'm very protective over, she's like my little sister. If Rudy tried talking to my cousin I'd punch him in the face. If you, the one reading this has a sibling, would you let Rudeus around them? That's the problem, everyone likes Rudy, because they think he's a good character. People think this is a redemption story, how the hell is it a redemption story? Rudy is the biggest fucking scum bag ever and I can't find a way to defend it, and he's the main character of your favorite isekai, hell, maybe your favorite piece of fiction.

The closest thing to repercussions he faces is later in the novels where the biggest twist happens. This twist is absolutely incredible, when I was reading it I locked back in and wanted to give it another shot, but still, it isn't OUR Rudy that faces these repercussions. Once again, MT disappoints. A series, a fantasy series at that, implementing time travel, and WELL, half way through the series! Holy shit, this is a time to celebrate! Though it's Mushoku Tensei, and Mushoku Tensei has a main character named Rudues Greyrat, who the author forgot to write well and instead used him as a character to self insert himself in and write out his fantasies. Not only is Rudy a pedophile, but most likely, you, the reader, are too. You fetishize little anime girls and probably southern asian women as well. You're insufferable and smell bad. You're the worst type of anime fan out there, and your favorite character is Rudy. In fact, you ARE Rudy. You are literally Rudy. Happy? No, because Rudy is a scum bag. Do you want to be Rudy? I'd hope not! Even if he does develop drastically in the next 7 volumes I haven't read, the fact I've read 19 out of 26, almost 3/4 of the series, and he's still so insufferable is downright disappointing.
To summarize my thoughts on this series:
The "peak" that Mushoku Tensei is, is the sky. The sky that chicken little saw falling, because Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation falls flat on its face every time it attempts something special.
If you read this far thanks, and also I'm sorry, I wrote this in about an hour or two on a whim.