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When talking about this show, it seems the natural place to start is the premise. I’m sure it’s what drew most people to the show initially, myself included, and I really think it’s quite good. The synopsis of the show is that Catarina hits her head and remembers her past life (I’m not quite sure how that works). In doing so, she comes to the realization that she has been reincarnated into her favorite otome game (again, I’m at a loss), and that she is none other than the antagonist of the game, Catarina Claes, who is doomed to a terrible fate of being either ... killed or exiled. Despite my nitpicks, I personally haven’t seen anything quite like this before and I was excited to see how Catarina would deal with this predicament. I was anticipating an uphill battle where Catarina tries to alter the inevitabilities etched into the game’s programming. I was expecting things outside of Catarina’s control to go wrong as the game’s way of fighting back and keeping up the natural order of the game. I thought that the story would feature Catarina going to great lengths to win over these characters who are meant to oppose her by design, particularly Maria, the game’s protagonist. Were my assumptions correct? I couldn’t have been more wrong. What does the show do instead? Simply put, things are much, much easier.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the show’s premise doesn’t matter at all. The inciting incident of this story happens when Catarina is still a young girl, before she ever truly went down the path of a villainess, and with plenty of time before she is set to meet her doom at the age of 15. Not that she needed much time at all because winning over these characters is easier than one could have ever anticipated. The pattern that dictates each and every one of these encounters is that Catarina meets a character in the game, she intentionally or unintentionally solves their problems simply by being nice to them, and they quickly fall for her. Now, if all the characters are in love with Catarina, how could she ever achieve a bad ending? Well, the answer is she can’t, but the show will continue to pretend there is some sort of danger present for the rest of the season. Despite everything I’ve just laid out, though, I do understand that the plot isn’t very important to the show. What this show really focuses on is delivering a reverse-harem rom-com.

The characters in this show aren’t very interesting. I’ve heard it said that the characters are this way because they mimic the common archetypes of otome games, which makes sense, but when the focus of your story is placed this much on the characters, there should be more to them. On top of that, as a whole, I didn’t really find them all that likable either. First, there are the four conquerable princes of the game. There’s Geordo, who is Catarina’s overbearing fiancé. Then, there’s Keith, her clingy adopted brother. Next, you’ve got Alan, who is just your standard tsundere. Lastly, you’ve got Nicol, who is quiet and lacking personality. Once you get the Expanded Harem DLC, you receive Mary, the loyal best friend, Sophia, the shy and reserved one, and lastly, Maria, who’s sweet, pure, and with the importance of just another harem member, despite being the protagonist of the game. At the end of it all, Sirius, or Raphael, is also added to the list. Then, of course, there’s Catarina, herself, who is dense, kind, and simple-minded. She routinely friendzones up to seven people at once, commanding even the most seasoned harem protagonists to take notes and watch as she somehow misinterprets people just outright confessing to her. All in all, these characters work for the laid-back, wholesome vibe the show aims for, but there isn’t anything more.

The drama attached to the characters in this show is very repetitive and quickly forgotten after it’s dealt with in their introductory episode. I think Keith’s really shines in particular, but the rest are forgettable. Mary, Sophia, and Maria each have a very similar backstory, involving them feeling isolated and lonely until Catarina offers them friendship. Oh, and Sirius also has a very interesting backstory to say the least. So much so that it really is a shame when it is resolved the same exact way as usual with Catarina solving all his issues simply by being nice. On the other side of things, the comedy in this show isn’t anything great. Almost all the jokes center on Catarina misunderstanding what another character says, which is expected from a harem show. I do think the comedy is serviceable to the appeal the show is going for, but it rarely ever got a laugh out of me.

So, what is the appeal of this show? With everything I’ve said so far, I’m sure it must sound like I hate it. However, I do understand why people like it, and it was one of the few shows that I caught every week and never fell behind on. The reason is that, despite all the flaws I’ve mentioned, My Next Life as a Villainess invites you to just relax and not think about those things. This show delivers a wholesome and cute experience and a pleasant escape from the real world. This show isn’t really boring either. There’s always something new happening that isn’t ever very good, but just entertaining enough to satisfy you. Watching the whole show is painless save for a few eye-rolls and even some laughter at the show’s attempts at drama. After it’s finished, though, you know that there isn’t anything more to what you just saw, and it isn’t even clear whether or not you enjoyed it while it was on.

With all that said, I will be catching the second season next year. I’m interested to see where the story goes from here now that it’s seemingly given up on acting like Catarina is in danger. Additionally, I’m planning on reading the spin-off manga, the Verge of Destruction Arc, when it is released in English. In that story, Catarina remembers her past life at the age of 15 rather than as a young girl. With less than a year left and her villainous deeds already done, she might actually be in some real danger in that story. Then again, if it’s handled by the creator of the original series, I’m sure Catarina will apologize or something and they’ll all forgive her instantly. All in all, My Next Life as a Villainess isn’t really worth seeing, but watching it isn’t a bad time either. Just don’t expect anything great or memorable.