Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

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Mushoku Tensei: A Fulfilling Journey about a Broken Person’s Second Chance at Living.

Seeing that the light novels are officially done in Japan, I wanted to ramble a bit here and give my thoughts on a series that was initially one I dropped, to end up being one of the best series I have read of all time and one that played a big part in impacting my life forever.

STORY

This series is not a straight-up ‘redemption’ journey, it is about Rudeus living a life with no regrets and trying to live in a satisfactory way by the end without wasting his chances. It is not about ... him being whitewashed to being a perfect human being with zero flaws but growing amidst them and learning from his mistakes to do better and find a real purpose in his life, and stick to it as much as possible.

Knowing that, Mushoku Tensei is an exceptional story that serves as not just a character journey for Rudeus Greyrat’s life in his second chance in this new world, but as a prequel to something even potentially greater down the line. It is a series that explores Rudeus’ character in tons of depth, and progresses well over time with him constantly aging and growing – which prevents the series from ever feeling stagnant for me, as there was always a sense of direction with what the story wanted to accomplish. But it is also a series that fleshed out its worldbuilding and lore so immensely that the world felt alive when reading through the books and I was immersed in the little details of each continent and the cultural differences between all of them, and a series that also features plot elements and twists that are phenomenally executed and written in a way that Rudeus is only a part of the world and what is happening, not being the main guy the world is revolving around.

This is a series that excels too in being many different things. It can be a great adventure story like how the Dead End crew were traveling from the Demon Continent all the way back home, or a great slice-of-life story exploring Rudeus living his daily life and getting to actually spend time with people outside and bonding with them naturally, or even his chapters as a parent. It can be a dramatic, action-heavy story, or a purely emotionally complex one like with the whole Paul-Rudeus reunion in Volume 5. The series tackles many themes, and many different tones at different times and pulls them all off really well. Nothing feels forced, there’s genuine nuance and thought-provoking elements to them that made the story feel even more hearty and polished than what I was expecting early on.

The magic techniques, the hearty character interactions and moments, the excellent fights that were well-paced too alongside the detail, the great sense of progression and development for characters and the storytelling, and great payoffs too for character and narrative arcs too throughout this series as a whole. Mushoku Tensei always offered something different with each volume and excelled for the most part in whatever it was trying to accomplish narratively and emotionally.

Rifujin na Magonote’s writing shined immensely here overall, and by the end, I was left satisfied with his work and the journey of this series completely. There are just too many elements to this story besides just Rudeus’ development that shines here, so I can only praise how good the writing and storytelling were from start to finish. Everything felt so well thought out that a part of me felt like he crafted the world and many plot points before he even began writing about the main character and his story to come. It’s not something I can compliment often for any series, let alone an isekai-based series (which I normally hate in general). Even the 26-volume length it had felt just about right, the series never felt rushed, nor did it feel stagnant, just exceptionally paced and, consistently fun and engaging throughout.

CHARACTERS

Mushoku Tensei is superbly written from the narrative elements and underlying storytelling and buildup to the future series to come, to the well-thought-out, detailed and immersive world-building that makes the series and world feel real and alive. But what shines for me more than anything are the characters in Mushoku Tensei, especially one very controversial and complex protagonist in Rudeus Greyrat.

Rudeus Greyrat in his previous life was a broken human being. An overweight, demotivated, and depressed person who was locked in his room for decades after facing intensive bullying and trauma, to the point of being a reject in society in his eyes, and relying mainly on games, eroges, and anime to help him just live through. A guy that was living but felt dead on the inside and lost his ability to communicate and bond with anyone properly, and a guy who was terrified of the outside world too. He was a person with a ton of regrets about how he wasted decades of his life from being spineless to turning to help and finding the strength to give his life a second chance right there.

It's easy to understand why a lot of people hate Rudeus, especially for his perverse tendencies (early on in particular). Since he was drowned in many eroges, hentai, and anime for decades, his social skills and treatment of women were really poor early on and he thought of his second chance as a way to do whatever he wants with no genuine consequences, like a video game.

But it is when he makes mistakes that hurt others when he experiences pain in this world and realizes and reminds himself constantly how much a second chance is meaningful to him, that kept him pushing forward and enabled him to grow and mature as a character. His development does not turn him into a saint and a guy with no flaws whatsoever, but he does develop into a pretty outstanding and morally complex character as a whole. A guy who knew he was scum in the past but is living a second life to just feel satisfied and gain closure in a way that he never got to do in the past. To stop blaming everything on others and realize how much accountability he needs to take with his own actions, to go from taking advantage of his parents and thinking of them as evil, to being a father himself and understanding what they went through and how he needs to be in the future to avoid situations like that. To use mistakes as stepping stones to becoming a better person in this world and living a life that he can feel satisfied with by the end, regardless of how flawed or bumpy it can be at times. He does not care to be the strongest person ever just for fun, he grows in a way where he wants to protect and cherish his family in this world, the people that help give him happiness, and more reasons to live. Considering how he failed to communicate at all with anyone in his past for a long time, pushed his frustrations to others, and struggled with his treatment of women early on, he really did grow leaps and bounds by the end in a believable manner without just whitewashing every single trait of his in the past.

He was definitely an unlikeable person to me early on, but even before this series, I always believed that unlikeable characters can still be phenomenal characters, and Rudeus is one I could call a phenomenal character by the end. He might not have grown in ways some people might expect with a ‘redemption’ story, but the whole point of this story is to learn from his mistakes and grow from them to live a proud, satisfying life in this new world. Even if some of the morality and relationship elements clash with our world and their standards nowadays.

Beyond him, the other characters feel incredibly fleshed out and are enjoyable to read through, especially given how many of them are as morally complex to read like Rudeus. Eris was a spoiled brat who mistreated everyone when nothing went her way and was abusive, Ruijerd was a person that went to overly extreme lengths to fulfill his promises in a stubborn, clouded fashion, without trying to understand the kids and their strengths himself. Paul was incredibly talented but was lazy to fulfill his potential in the past, and a sleazebag who still was trying to be a good dad despite not being mature enough early on to understand how to tackle that situation (especially with him having a son like Rudeus who was mentally older than he was). So many characters have complex issues or flaws, but despite them, still manage to grow, develop and live in ways that feel satisfying for me to read through. Besides Eris, Roxy and Sylphie are also fantastic heroines, and the other side characters were great too. None of the development elements felt forced too in this story, all were subtly done without having any character feel static whatsoever.

One real aspect I loved, was how fleshed out each character felt and how I can easily imagine the journeys everyone were undergoing even when the series hadn’t focused on them for a long time. The series focuses mainly on Rudeus, but the writing is so strong, that I can imagine many of these characters be protagonists of their own series in this world. There are Eris and Roxy manga spinoffs for example, but those can be applied to Paul and his past journey as an adventurer with his party, Ruijerd and his journey of redeeming the reputation of the Sperds, Norn and her journey to find her worth amidst her two more talented siblings, Orsted and his journey, etc. That is a good indication of how well these characters were written and treated, all having depth, realism, and great development elements to read through. For such a complex and dysfunctional cast on the surface, this series has one of the best groups of characters I have read in light novels for sure.

ART

Like the story and characters, one huge way that the series evolved over time was with Shirotaka's art. The illustrations and volume covers early on were solid for the most part. But the illustrations from Volume 7 I would say onwards, went from solid to amazing and complimented the growth and progress of Rudeus' journey extremely well. Seeing illustrations of Rudeus and his family in the first volume, to how much they grew alongside the quality of their art was outstanding and even made me emotional when reflecting on the illustrations after finishing the series. In general, the art is fantastic, evokes tons of emotions well and captures the storytelling well. The art really benefitted from this series having their characters grow up, that's for sure. There is even a map, which is nice to have for a series that does a great job with its world-building in general. Just comparing the earlier covers with the ones by the end can tell how well the art evolved with time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

"You only realize the real value of something you discarded when you get the chance to pick it up again." - Rudeus Greyrat

That quote summarizes my experience with Mushoku Tensei. I was one of those people that picked up the series without warnings, read the start of it, and felt grossed out to the point of dropping it early. But I gave it a second chance and moved forward through the difficult times and what I got by the end was a personal, gripping, and emotional rollercoaster of a story, filled with tons of adventure, action happiness, heartbreak, complicated moments, and more importantly, tons of heart.

As a guy who was a shut-in for a couple of years and felt like there was no hope for me to recover the rest of my life and even had no willpower to brush my embarrassment aside and communicate with my loved ones about the depression and anxiety-riddled years I went through, this series opened my eyes and gave me that strength I needed to let go of my pride and open up to everyone. And to find the motivation to not give up while I still have the chance to live and push forward. To wake up and take a step. Even if the road down the line continues to be extremely bumpy and motivations might lose a bit of strength from time to time because of that, it is still important to never give up and still find a way to enjoy life. Don't aim for a perfect life with no mistakes, but a life where I can feel satisfied by the very end. Because of this series, I finally gained the confidence to abandon being a perfectionist, speak to my family after ignoring them for years, and not wallow in my self-pity anymore and grow up.

To that, I'm grateful that I got to read this series and glad to have experienced the complex, bizarre yet touching, endearing, empowering, and genuinely life-changing journey that is Mushoku Tensei. It makes me happy that I gave it a second chance, to see what value this series offered underneath all the layers of controversial elements that people criticize deeply on the surface (sometimes even superficially or untruthfully, without adequately exploring what the series was trying to portray and using stuff out of context to make the series’ image look even worse in the process). It’s definitely not for everyone, and I would not recommend it casually for anyone to read, but it is still one I would proudly call my favorite series.

A massive thanks to Rifujin na Magonote-sensei and Shirotaka-sensei for their wonderful series here, can’t wait to see the Redundancy portion be adapted and see where the franchise as a whole goes from here.

Disclaimer: Before I start with the review, I would like to assure the readers that I am not another reviewer who would judge a story’s worth based on how comfortable I am with its content or voice out hate if such content does not align with my views. Reviews for this story tend to be dichotomous: it either goes along the lines of “MUSHOKU TENSEI IS DISGUSTING AND ANYONE WHO ENJOYS IT IS WORSE THAN SCUM,” or the contrary that goes along the lines of “MUSHOKU TENSEI IS A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL NARRATIVE AND ALL OF YOU HATE IT BECAUSE YA’LL ARE SENSITIVE SNOWFLAKES.” I’d ... like to deviate from that pattern. I have two goals for this review: One, objective analysis and criticism; and two, to address the controversy behind this infamous title. I’d like to be of help to readers and those eyeing to give Mushoku Tensei a try, so please bear with me and read what I have to say.

Mushoku Tensei is derivative. It exhibits themes, formulas, and patterns seen in other successful series. The use of such suggests that the series aims to attract an audience rather than to create a story of good quality–however, Rufujin na Magonote, the author, created a main character with a believable background that aligns with his goals and personality. He creates this world, though derivative and generic, with history and diverse cultures, religions, and politics. The world and characters have a strong foundation, and how they are written allows the story for different possibilities. Mushoku Tensei is arguably the best Isekai to be written. However, looking at the quality of stories of the same genre, being the best isn’t really much of an accomplishment, is it?

Isekai as a genre has established a reputation in the anime and light novel community for being trite and formulaic in nature. The premise was limited to ideas such as the main character being transported or reincarnated in another world to fulfill a particular purpose: slaying the demon lord, trying to go back to their original world, or simply fuck around with the story having no conceivable plot. Mushoku Tensei could have easily fit into these descriptions, but it did something different. It used the idea of reincarnation to create something meaningful: redemption. However, it ultimately fails to do so through reckless writing decisions.

Mushoku Tensei is, first and foremost, a redemption story. It doesn’t try to hide that–It even markets itself as such. The story depicts our main character as this unforgivable bastard in his previous life and shows his regret in life living as a neet. He decided to do one last act of good before Truck-kun claimed his newest victim, and lo and behold, he reincarnated in a new world where he could start anew. Some may argue that it's a fantasy, romance, or comedy-based narrative, and while the descriptions fit, it doesn't outweigh the prominence of the redemption premise Mushoku Tensei portrays–or tries to. This leads us to the controversy this story holds.


Rudeus as a Character: Addressing the Controversy

As mentioned, Mushoku Tensei is a controversial title. First, I would like to discuss the controversy before dealing with the story itself. If you’d like to skip this part, do go ahead to the next section of the review. I believe that the reason behind the title’s backlash is due to two things: the main character being portrayed as a pedophile and the author’s objectifying portrayal of women–more so for children. For avid consumers of Japanese media, these aspects may not mean much, considering how prevalent this trend is in the industry. However, Mushoku Tensei is prominently about redemption, and these writing decisions make the audience question the point of the story.

Pedophilia is evil. I think everyone can agree on that. I won't be deconstructing pedophilia as something to be taken personally nor provide thought-provoking commentaries about its evil. It is a sensitive subject, and whether or not it deserves credence in Mushoku Tensei's narrative is still debated. Yes, discomforting scenes are common in the light novel, but that doesn't decide its overall worth. If uncomfortableness equals a poorly-written story, then literary pieces such as Nabokov's Lolita wouldn't get the praise they deserve. It all depends on how an author handles the characterization and the intent behind that. I will only criticize pedophilia as a plot device and its relevance to the narrative. In Lolita, for example, the author uses pedophilia as a genuine depiction of a pedophile's rotten heart through a satirical narrative. The Monogatari Series mocks common tropes in modern anime through exaggerated depictions. Both of these tales handle pedophilia with satire as it coincides with a deeper topic. In Mushoku Tensei, Rudeus’ damning flaws were intended to be a character foundation to create a redemption story. However, the intent behind that characterization was never addressed. It does not do anything special with its portrayal of pedophilia or general indecency that would justify its use - it merely provides fan service.

Rudeus’ character has a solid foundation. While he excels at magic competency, it isn’t his entire identity. He is still a very much flawed and vulnerable character. He still has room for growth which is integral for redemption. Rudeus' introduction in his previous life heavily emphasized his flaws as a person, socially and especially morally. He's a shut-in, a free-loader, a drop-out - he even refused to attend his parent's funeral so he could beat his meat to child porn. However, the story failed at creating a redemption story the moment he exhibited no guilt and regrets in his previous life after being reincarnated. Many of the mentioned flaws were resolved, but others were prolonged for later use, and another was never addressed at all. Among all his flaws, pedophilia stands out the most, depicted through numerous scenes and monologues. Normally, emphasizing the character's flaw that much means only one thing, right? That it would be the story's primary conflict in which the character would enter a stage of development that would allow him to change, allowing those flaws to stay relevant to the narrative. Wrong. Chekhov's gun remained unused. Rudeus is still the same person who entertains himself with the fantasies of fucking children. It rendered the pedophilic aspect of his character useless. It is nothing more than a portrayal of lechery, ultimately having no relevance to the story. Its redemption story was the primary conflict but already failed to create a deeper narrative the moment he objectified every woman before seeing his new life as a second chance (Feminist literary criticism is real criticism, btw). Like literally every woman is sexualized, not by Rudeus but by the author–except the grannies for some reason, although I'm sure it has nothing to do with the author's preferences for women.

Pedophilia is akin to mental illness, where treatment isn't guaranteed, even with the technology and techniques gained through medical and technological innovation. And even with technology, medication, or psychiatric treatment, it would undermine the concept of redemption if it were to be used in the story since it wouldn't even be an authentic change. That's why I didn't understand the decision to make Rudeus a pedophile in the first place. The story didn’t need that–rather–the story would have thrived in its absence. His terrible qualities as a family member in his previous life would have been the perfect conflict he needed to resolve, but it was overshadowed by the emphasis the author placed on Rudeus’ interest in children. It's a thoughtless decision made by an amateur author who didn't understand the intricacies of what he was writing nor realize how hard it would be to create a string of developments that would allow Rudeus to deviate from the aforementioned problem. Either that or he made that decision to gratify those desperate for fanservice - you choose.

There are many arguments that defend the author’s writing and characterization though, and go as far as to defend Rudeus himself. I’d like to refute some of these common arguments so I could cohesively state my perceptions pertaining to the controversy later on. The first argument states: While Rudeus has immoral preferences for women, the whole point of the light novel is that he would redeem himself in his new life, and that won’t happen overnight. Having read all the volumes and even the redundancy chapters of Mushoku Tensei, not once does he even tries to change or feel regret towards that part of him. While he redeemed other parts of his character, the single most condemning flaw of the character remained unresolved. Second argument: Mushoku Tensei is a piece of fiction, furthermore, it is set in a medieval European setting where the standards of morality are much lower compared to modern society Rudeus previously lived in. My refutation is that the new rules instilled in this new world do not absolve Rudeus of any ethical concerns because he still upholds the knowledge of moral notions in his previous life, therefore, said notions should be the base of his redemption. If the protagonist was originally from this fantasy world, then that would be excusable due to the ethnocentric notions he will pick up growing up in the said world (Although that’s a whole new topic). The final argument states: Rudeus is reborn into a new body, therefore having an underdeveloped brain. This underdeveloped brain is at fault for his interest in children. That would be a good argument if his backstory didn’t mention him beating his meat to fucking child porn (Let’s call it Loli porn to sound tame – the author, probably). In spite of that, the argument that his physiologically underdeveloped brain is at fault for his interest in children is inherently dumb. If his brain really was underdeveloped, then that would negate any sexual desire – why is he horny 24/7 after being birthed? Like damn, after reincarnating, this bitch retained his memories AAANNDD his testosterone level?

Although many of the changes were actually just him acting his physical age, Rudeus did undergo development. He overcame his social trauma the moment he first set foot outside, he found profound purpose in life through his competency in magic and the company of family and friends, and he acknowledged his unacceptable behavior as a family member in his previous life after an important event in the story. However, he never underwent any significant development when it came to his sexual desires. While Rudeus exhibits proper manners, kindness, and sympathy, people need to understand; propriety does not equal a moral person.

You might ask why one single aspect of one character's personality is so important for the story. It's only one thing, so it shouldn't be that important, correct? Unfortunately, that is not the case. Rudeus being a pedophile and making no effort to change defeats the whole purpose of redemption, regardless of his development in other aspects.


Other Characters: Dependency as a Flaw

However, Rudeus isn't the only literarily flawed character in the story. The three heroines are an integral part of the stor - excuse me - of Rudeus' harem. Sylphiette, Roxy, and Eris are the three main candidates to be Rudeus' love interests. However, unlike any other light novel, they're not just there to fit into the "dere" types, and while they can be categorized as such, each of them exhibits depth that gives their character individuality and receives development - at first.

Motive tells a lot about a character in more ways than one, and it's integral in creating a compelling character. It's a step to let a character be their own without being relevant due to codependency. However, the flaw with two-thirds of the mentioned girls is that they exhibited no conceivable motive, and later on, the best conclusion the author could formulate is that these two, Sylphy and Roxy, are motivated by the notion of being by Rudeus' side. Eris, on the other hand, exhibits her own goals. While Rudeus was still in mind when Eris made her decision on whom she wanted to be, it's not solely for Rudeus, but the predominant nature of that decision is that it's her genuine goal. Her resolve was influenced by the people around her and her experiences before the decision. Contrary to the other two heroines who wanted to live for Rudeus, Eris wanted to stand by Rudeus, not as a love interest, but as an equal. However, by the end of the light novel, Sylphy, and Roxy are reduced to damsels in distress in need of protection. Eris proved to be useful on many occasions, but no scene portrayed the development she went through, mentally and as a swordswoman, that would show the fruits of her efforts. Any depth and the potential they exhibited were ultimately ruined, again by reckless writing decisions.

In the later volumes, especially the final battle, these girls along with the other side characters are placed into battle suggesting that they are indeed useful. However, these were after several volumes where said characters were essentially forgotten. How convenient how these characters, after having no appearances for many volumes, suddenly appeared for the climax. The writing felt rushed and forced. The author bit off more than he can chew by having too many characters intended to hold relevance when he can't even create a coherent plot direction.


Worldbuilding: A Strong Foundation

As previously mentioned, Mushoku Tensei follows a formulaic plot and generic structure to create its world. Don't confuse the light novel with the anime in how the world was handled. Studio Bind's prudent planning and research allowed Mushoku Tensei's world to gain more depth with their attention to detail, even creating languages with their own writing. On the other hand, the light novel doesn't show any effort with these aspects of the world, with the exemption of its magic system.

— PREMISE —
Mushoku Tensei, the beloved 'crème de la crème' of light novels, written by Rifujin na Magonote. The story revolves around a 34-year-old Japanese ugly fat paedophile NEET pathetic loser who was run over by a speeding truck and dies. He then embarks on a second chance in a fantastical world replete with magic and swords. You can't get more generic isekai than this.

— IMPACT —
Undoubtedly, Mushoku Tensei bears a significant influence on the trope of reincarnation into another world, emblematic of the isekai subgenre. The novel even contributes to the proliferation of the well-worn 'reincarnation via truck-kun' cliché, thereby augmenting the saturation of ... this trope within the medium. And when I say 'isekai subgenre', I don't mean 'isekai anime' or 'isekai novel' was a thing in the past. While the trope had indeed existed in past works, it wasn't recognised as a subgenre by itself.

— INITIAL SETUP FAIL —
The premise of a 34-year-old ugly fat paedophile NEET pathetic loser's reincarnation into a fantasy world offers potential for exploring personal growth and transformation. Yet, the transition between his former life and the new realm suffers from abruptness and a lack of seamless integration. His demise, sparked by a contrived act of saving strangers, raises questions, as does the rushed shift from despair to newfound determination. This alone suggests the author have not invested in or cared for this potential aspect of the story.

— PACING AND AUTHENTICITY —
The pacing of character progression stands as a detraction, as the rapid advancements in magic and swordsmanship occur at a pace that undermines authenticity. The early chapters of the first volume hurriedly portray Rudeus's swift ascension to Advanced-ranked mage within a short timeframe, eroding the authenticity of his achievements, diminishing the sense of earned growth and neglecting the crucial element of struggle that should accompany the potential character development for a failed NEET, who should have to strive and labour to seize a second chance. This detracts from the essence of the redemption narrative the fans acclaim the work for.

— INCOHESIVE —
Despite introducing an array of characters, events, and subplots, the narrative falters in weaving them into a meaningful tapestry. For instance, the abrupt introduction of the mana calamity and the disappearance of the Fittoa region further underscores the narrative's tendency to introduce major events without proper buildup or integration, the subplot involving Pax, the seventh prince of Shirone, strays from the overarching themes. This subplot could have been an opportunity to delve into political intrigue or power dynamics; however, it introduces unnecessary complexity without substantially contributing to the main story.

While these side stories may enhance world-building, they ultimately distract rather than enrich the narrative. A subplot involving Aisha's brother and Rudeus' concealed stash of Roxy's panties does not advance the main plot or offer meaningful insights—it's random nonsense.

— PROBLEMATIC —
Mushoku Tensei, as generic as contemporary isekai light novels, exemplifies the observed trend of reducing female cast to submissive satellite characters, or rather, sex objects. Lacking autonomy, they are portrayed as weak and dependent on men and in need of protection from other one-dimensional evil rapists.

Another concerning aspect lies in how the novel deal with its shameful horny and sexist content. The novel contains several instances of double-standard portrayals of sexual assault, paedophilia, and slavery, which are played for laughs or used as plot devices. Rudeus frequently engages in sexual fantasies involving underage girls, and there are several instances of sexual assault throughout the novel. The dramedy itself stoops as low as small-penis shaming, ridiculing the protagonist for having a small penis and erectile dysfunction, which can be uncomfortable or potentially offensive to those suffering from penile dysmorphic disorder.

— SUPERFICIAL WORLD-BUILDING —
While gesturing toward intriguing elements such as the convergence of worlds and the human-demon conflict, the narrative merely presents these concepts in an expository manner, lacking in-depth exploration. Infodumps abound, exemplified by the fleeting mention of Dragon God Orsted and other powerful entities, which were disconnected from the main narrative, as mentioned in the 2nd volume, and the endeavor to depict the Demon Continent as a harsh and perilous environment. Unfortunately, it remains expository, resulting in vital information such as character backgrounds and the history of the Superd being conveyed through lengthy monologues—it was boring!

— AIMLESS AND INCOHERENT —
Starting from volume 3, the narrative structure switches to episodic chapters, each presenting a new encounter, challenge, or revelation. While this approach offers variety, it also leads to a lack of a strong overarching plot. Rudeus encounters diverse characters and situations, each with its distinct focus, yet the overall direction remains unclear. For instance, the sudden revelation of Zenith's consciousness and her joyful life lacks proper setup. This twist diminishes the emotional resonance of Zenith's prior struggles and Rudeus' journey to save her. Crucial events like battles and revelations often unfold abruptly, lacking necessary buildup and thus feeling rushed and impactless. For example, Rudeus' encounter with Orsted serves as a pivotal turning point, yet the narrative fails to offer context to comprehend the event's significance or its implications for narrative. The absence of a clear central conflict or goal for Rudeus turns the story into a collection of episodes rather than a cohesive broader narrative. Some chapters can even be read out of order without feeling a significant difference. That doesn't align with the grand fantasy epic fans claim it to be, because that's not how one is written.

— SHALLOW RESOLUTION —
The story's conclusion, while offering closure to the protagonist's journey, disappointingly leaves narrative threads untied. Promised confrontations remain unrealised, leaving a sense of unfulfilled promise. If anything, it undermined the significance of the fantasy adventure aspect in favour of the harem element.

— OTAKU'S WISH-FULFILLMENT —
In light of the aforementioned pitfalls and narrative weaknesses, a pertinent question arises: How can a light novel with so many writing flaws manage to be a top-selling and highly-rated novel? It's a valid and significant inquiry, and the answer lies in the realm of Otaku's Wish-Fulfillment, a concept this novel adeptly capitalises upon.

Rudeus embodies traits that deeply resonate with the otaku audience. Plunging into a fantasy realm, he carries an intimate understanding of the tropes and mechanics inherent to such worlds. This mirrors the way genre-savvy otakus immerse themselves in fictional universes. What did you think the rushed pacing and swift development of Rudeus's ascension to an Advanced-ranked mage in the first volume for? Was it because slow-pacing is boring? No. Rather, they were calculated choices designed to cater to readers who shared that wish. It served as effective foreshadowing for the narrative's direction, successfully hooking numerous otakus. They found not only a relatable protagonist but also a vessel through which their desires could be fulfilled. Rudeus' journey serves as a testament to the 'loser to hero' transformation. His evolution from a underachieving recluse in his former life to a powerful and respected figure in the new world actualises the aspirations of the otaku demographic, thereby fulfilling the otaku's wish.

The narrative frequently revolves around Rudeus building his own harem of female characters. These relationships often follow a pattern of admiration, dependency, and protection, aligning with the wish fulfillment of having attractive and devoted female companions. The development of these relationships frequently involves Rudeus aiding the characters, which reinforces the idea of the protagonist's exceptionalism and the fulfillment of a hero role.

The inclusion of elements like magic, adventure, and world-saving quests further caters to otaku interests, as these are common themes in LitRPG fantasy anime, manga, and role-playing video games. Rudeus' encounters with powerful villains, such as Orsted, resonate with the trope of 'the everyman' being chosen for extraordinary destinies.

Compound that with the fact it's an ecchi light novel filled with horny fan-service, catering to readers desiring romantic and physical connections with attractive fictional waifus. The sex and harem present in the story serves as an outlet for otaku fantasies and desires that revolve around forming bonds with multiple partners.

— CONCLUSION —
Mushoku Tensei is plagued by a multitude of issues, encompassing thematic content, character depth, plot direction, tonal balance, double-standard depiction of problematic content, shallow characters, a meandering and aimless plot, LitRPG jargon overusage, an edgy tone, and immature presentation, detracting from what could have been a meaningful and engaging grand epic fantasy story.