The story of Mushoku Tensei is really mediocre. It is a plot structure we have seen yet and yet again where our middle-aged shut-in protagonist gets transported to another world. However, while it is overdone, the show manages to compliment this structure in a unique and vivid fashion through it's art style, as well as its colourful imagery. Shots are beautifully composed in such a way that creates incredible amounts of catharsis and emotion, and the animation style is one that I have not seen much in other anime. This comes into play the most when paired with the opening theme performance. Each episode allows us as viewers to take a look into the lives and atmosphere of the locations, and is probably one of the most astounding factors at play towards carefully worldbuilding the scenery around the cast. This idea will hopefully carry forth into the next season as more and more of the world will be explored.
My issue with this show, however, comes (unsurprisingly) with the characters. Where do I even begin with the characters? That the protagonist is an actual pedophilic asshole? That the Greyrat family hierarchy contains some of the most disgusting and vile characters in the story? That scenes of underaged sexual abuse is played off for laughs? No matter how I look at this, there isn't a single aspect about the many of the characters (with certain exceptions) that I would say redeems the character in any way, shape or form. I can only hope that the characters can improve as the story continues, but as for now, there really isn't anything likeable about any of these characters.
Honestly, I am torn by this show. On one end, it's a show filled with breathtaking imagery and animation and extensive and impressive scenes that leaves me absolutely floored. On the other hand however, it's a show that completely goes out of its way (not in a good way either) to make sure you would h a t e characters in this story in such a way that the impressive animation doesn't even matter. As of now, the story of Mushoku Tensei is leading me to believe that there is so much more to explore for future seasons, but as long as the characters, and the executions of their actions stay as the same, it is hard to say for certain how much this show can actually improve.
Overall score range: mid 5 to low 6
