Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! 3

Only 3 episodes out at the time of writing, so is this really enough to judge this season so far?


YES!!!


Konosuba is more than an anime. More than an Isekai. More than a story, or a work of fiction. It is, simply put, a masterpiece. It is more than all these things. It is a life lesson. It is a grand metaphor on life itself! It teaches you to never take life seriously, and to always see the bright sides of things! Sometimes in life, you don't need a grand story, full of crazy twists and turns, or a story of grand proportion. You need a ... story, full of 4 incompetent, lovable idiots that always get the job done when push comes to shove. The Megumin spinoff that aired April of last year was entertaining in its own way, but it missed out on what makes Konosuba, 'Konosuba'. It missed the character dynamics, the interactions that stem from our 4 main characters. Sure, more Konosuba is great, but the way our main cast interacts and compliments each other with their personality, flaws, and gimmicks is something brilliant in its own right. I think Konosuba portrays the way people interact with their friends in real life the best, out of any anime I've ever seen. They tease, roast and joke with each other, but they do care for each other when the time calls for it, you know, like actual real human friends do! The voice acting work only reinforcing this narrative about their friendship they have, and you can tell every voice actor had a blast while recording their lines too! They actually have personalities too! They are believable. It's brilliant, and it just makes our cast a hell of a lot more memorable than your likes of generic swordsman #108!


Comedy anime is like finding a diamond in a cave full of coal, with the coal being 'walk in at the wrong time on a girl', or something along the lines of a quickly put together compilation you would see on the front page of youtube, so its good Konosuba is actually funny! Before we move on, yes, I will admit some of the jokes have me staring at the screen like I've been scorching in the desert for 17 hours without any water, but for the most part I do believe that the comedy is incredibly good across all seasons, the OVAs and the movie.


I also believe all the characters are well written, believable, and great for the most part. But Kazuma. Kazuma is on another level. He doesn't just speak for himself. He speaks for the people. He doesn't shy away from his sexual urges, or get flustered like your average Isekai protaganist, instead he subverts our expectations. OF COURSE HE WANTS TO RIDE THE WOMEN! He's no ideal hero that fights for justice, someone like Kirito and the other ones like him, or is he trying to live out in a world where he has everyone under control with sheer power alone, like Ainz, no. He's just a guy living out his best life in this fantasy world he has found himself in, and that is what makes him so brilliant. I believe that he is the best character to come out of this show, and is the most memorable anime character in recent years.


The humour in this season so far has been brilliant as well. Konosuba doesn't just take the jokes from the light novel, but uses something only the anime, as a medium can have. The voice acting, that compliments the bonds between the main 4. The animation, that compliments their actions, their personalities, and their tone, and even the episode intermissions (an example being near the end of episode 3), everything about Konosuba is brilliant, and I can say that so far, the anime is doing the source absolute justice. Some might have complaints about the animation being 'low - budget' or 'lazy', but this is how Konosuba usually does it, and I believe that the animation only further compliments the jokes that happen on screen. The facial expressions that are created from Konosuba are some of the most amazing things an anime can produce. I can only describe it, as pure entertainment value!


As far as story goes, its nothing special, the usual 'kill the evil lord taking over the land' sort of deal, but that's not what the focus of the anime is of. It's just entertainment, as I said. Eye candy. There is never a dull moment where I found myself wanting to skip ahead in the episode, or go on my phone while I watched. With a market full of generic Isekai, Konosuba is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the genre, and is brilliant in what it does, which is provide entertainment to the viewer. The staff has done a brilliant job so far this season, as they have done so far as well!


So yes, in conclusion, Konosuba is one of the best anime I have ever consumed in recent years. I would even go so far to say the best. While I believe it is a great show, it is also not for some people. Give it a shot, see what you think, if you like it, great! If not, great, skip it, move on! It's just a fun show overall, and one of the best produced in the last decade.


And yes, Kazuma is best girl too.

Personally I feel isekai has caused the current generation to lose more iq than sniffing glue. Since it became nothing more than a cheap hook followed by mediocre followups with a lack of proper storytelling and buildup. I also feel isekai has effectively cockblocked the ln medium and audiences from other shows.

I first want to mention I have nothing against edgy and dirty humor. In fact I do think it makes a show stand out.

Konosuba started off great. Our main hero eventually meets the girls Aqua, Megumin, Darkness one by one. They all feel unique and it becomes a joy to spend time with ... them. You love their unique quirks. But what happens if you push it further and further. Then the cracks start too show.

Konosuba has a limited cast. While this does look great on paper because it look like you can properly develop them. As a comedy show, eventually their uniqueness wears off, and they feel almost like background characters. Dividing it among 3 and you will lose the appeal of the characters by season 3. It effectively almost ruins what you like it about it in the first place

Konosuba after probably the first just becomes a chore to go through. Gags start getting repetitive. Plot just moves too slow and just isn't interesting at all. Certainly not enough to break the boundaries of the genre. And even if you treat it as procedural tv show it simply doesn't even work in that regard since the show isn't breaking the bounds of what to make you laugh.

The situational humor runs out. The verbal humor runs out. Konosuba having forced humor in the beginning but forced humor just becomes unfunny if you are keep on trying it.

There is certainly not enough action which hampers the overall plot and narrative as well. Now for a short perhaps 1-2 season show about comedy, you can dial it down. But if you start pushing it more and more further by season 3, you are just going to get it tired of it. You can think of it like watching too much sitcoms. But Konosuba has to relyon the same character quirks and gags which ruined their novelty. It makes you question why you like the character in the first place and why you bought their figure.

Kazuma is arguably the best character in the series and anchors it. He is interesting enough through his interactions with other characters. He is a joy to listen to. The voice actor does an excellent job in his portrayal. But he alone cannot carry a long series.

Continuing on Konosuba effectively turns a comedy show just into background noise while you mess around on your phone.

But ultimately Konosuba just does not live up to the hype that the community generates it. It's hype is largely due to its viral craze in 2016. But as a show you want to build towards something better and better and Konosuba just doesn't cut it. It is like a new dish. At first it tastes good. But serve it again and it just spoils the good experience you had.

You want a show to leave a lasting impression and you simply cannot do that if you look at the show through a lens that you want to relive 2016 again by watching later on. It is just not going to happen. You need to be building and raising the stakes to add novelty. Konosuba ultimately will be a series you will fall out of if you keep on watching. You will inevitably look at a series more critically as you keep on watching. It will just happen as you watch more and more anime, and see more and more.

Konosuba is not a bad show by any means. But it needed to elevate the stakes and real push the boundaries to warrant its views and blind praise

This review covers the first three episodes of the series.

Unfortunately, 2024 finally granted audiences' wishes with this new release. However, as is often the case with sequels, this one might leave a few fans scratching their heads, especially those who skipped the Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! Legend of Crimson film from 2019. It's probably a good idea for fans to watch that film along with last year's spin-off before jumping into season 3.

Episode 1: This episode lacked the usual facial humor, witty remarks, and beloved gags involving Kazuma and his allies. Regrettably, numerous familiar characters from previous seasons and films ... were present. From Sylvia to Chris, their appearance in season 3's initial episode felt unimpressive. Despite their brief moments on screen, fans might find their return rather disappointing. Additionally, this episode continues to insist on the possibility of Megumin and Kazuma ending up together, despite the lack of genuine connection between them. While Darkness competes for Kazuma's affection, the portrayal of Kazuma and Megumin's relationship feels shallow and contrived, making their moment at the campfire feel forced and unconvincing. On top of the feeble attempt at world-building with the plant monster's introduction, this kickoff for Konosuba's third season fell flat and failed to impress. The storyline is uncomplicated and, in line with typical KonoSuba tales, lacks a defined sense of progression or overarching narrative. While Jun Fukushima's portrayal of Kazuma showcases versatility in his vocal delivery, the frequent shifts between emotional depth and exaggerated antics feel erratic and off-putting. His ongoing exchanges with Aqua, voiced by Sora Amamiya, provide the familiar comedic elements of KonoSuba, but the repetitiveness of their interactions may fail to elicit laughter and instead feel stale and tiresome. Studio Drive replaced Deen as the animators behind KonoSuba, the animation quality in this anime leaves much to be desired. Poorly choreographed, with unclear movements and awkward transitions between frames. Overall, the animation falls short of expectations, failing to capture the dynamism and visual appeal expected from a modern anime, backgrounds are often bland and uninspired, lacking the depth and detail needed to bring the world to life.

Episode 2: Get ready for more stupidity in KonoSuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World Season 3 Episode 2! As Kazuma, Megumin, Aqua, and Darkness fumble through preparations for their dinner with Princess Iris, get ready for cringe-worthy attempts at selecting formal attire and practicing etiquette. Unfortunately, what could have been an opportunity for genuine comedy falls flat as the characters' incompetence feels forced and stale. Don't expect much laughter from this predictable and uninspired episode. Ep 2 of KonoSuba largely shifts its focus towards the plot, it does so at the expense of the trademark comedy that the series is known for. Instead of delivering the expected laughs, the episode feels overly serious and lacks the humor that fans have come to love. Additionally, while the character work is commendable, the introduction of new characters Claire and Princess Iris feels forced and detracts from the dynamics of Kazuma's party. Overall, this episode falls short of expectations, failing to capture the essence of what makes KonoSuba enjoyable.

Episode 3: Episode three of KonoSuba is a colossal disappointment that falls far short of even the lowest expectations. From its bewilderingly nonsensical plot to its cringeworthy attempts at humor, this installment manages to miss the mark on every conceivable level. The episode opens with Kazuma inexplicably finding himself in Princess Iris's castle, a development that is never adequately explained and serves only to further muddle an already convoluted storyline. His interactions with Princess Iris and his party members are rife with awkwardness and discomfort, lacking any semblance of genuine chemistry or comedic timing. Instead of eliciting laughter, these scenes leave viewers squirming in their seats, wondering how such a beloved series could have gone so horribly wrong.
Adding insult to injury is Kazuma's increasingly insufferable behavior, which borders on outright creepiness at times. His pursuit of the NEET lifestyle feels less like a charming quirk and more like a sad and desperate cry for help. His interactions with Princess Iris and his party members only serve to highlight his flaws, leaving viewers feeling more alienated than entertained. Overall, episode three of KonoSuba is a disgrace to the series, a bloated and directionless mess that squanders the potential of its once-beloved characters and premise. Fans would be wise to steer clear of this trainwreck of an episode and pray that the series can somehow find its way back to its former glory.

The first three episodes of KonoSuba's third season have left much to be desired, failing to capture the charm and wit that made the series a beloved fan favorite. Instead of delivering the trademark comedy and endearing character dynamics that fans have come to expect, these episodes have been marred by awkward pacing, forced humor, and bad storytelling.

From Kazuma's uncomfortable interactions with Princess Iris to the stale and predictable gags that fall flat at every turn, it's clear that the magic of KonoSuba is nowhere to be found. The plot feels disjointed and aimless, with each episode failing to build upon the last in any meaningful way.

Overall, the first three episodes of KonoSuba's third season are a disappointing misfire, a far cry from the brilliance of earlier seasons. With its inferior writing, unconvincing character dynamics, and stale humor, this season is shaping up to be a major disappointment for fans. Here's hoping that the series can somehow turn things around in the episodes to come, but for now, it's hard to recommend anything other than steering clear of this shitty offering.