Mushoku Tensei can’t decide what it wants to be. It tries to be a story about self-improvement. We’re supposed sympathize with the protagonist, Rudy, as he overcomes his trauma and makes the positive life decisions he was never able to in the past. Even from the first few minutes of the first episode, we can see that Rudy, who has hit rock-bottom, is not an awful person, sacrificing himself in an attempt to prevent some highschoolers from getting hit by a truck. He exhibits consistent character development that continues throughout the series; he overcomes his fear of going outside, defends Sylphiette against bullies, and does not let stereotypes and prejudice cloud his judgement. Rudy’s best qualities are that he genuinely cares for the people around him and having died once, he’s acutely aware of the value of a life.
Unfortunately, Mushoku Tensei’s definition of “self-improvement” does not include “not grooming children.” It’s almost like he views the people around him as NPCs that he can do things to. Although this behaviour subsides in later episodes and he treats others with more respect, he is still a pervert, and nothing he does can justify his earlier actions. Mentally, Rudy is a middle-aged man who fetishizes young girls and monologues about how they would make perfect wives in the future. He looks at his family maid with lecherous expressions that make her clearly uncomfortable, steals the panties of his mentor Roxy, tries to grope and undress a pre-pubescent Eris while she is asleep, and idolizes his scumbag father for being a womanizer. Rudy’s relationship with his father relies mostly his father’s offhand remarks about dominating women in bed and encouraging Rudy to do the same. His relationships with other men in the Greyrat family are also heavily characterized by debauchery although to a much lesser extent. It seems like for every step Rudy takes forward, he takes two steps back, and I really can’t find many reasons to like him at all.
That being said, Mushoku Tensei is a great show in all other departments. It has fantastic world building, witty dialogue and stellar performances to go with it, spectacular production value, and many likable characters. It has its heartfelt moments and its funny moments, but it also has many moments that are so tonally different and that are in poor taste. They’re not funny. They’re not charming. They add nothing of value to the show. Mushoku Tensei comes with an asterisk that the main character is a perverted creep who commits sexual assault. And that's a huge asterisk.
In a time when we want to make anime more accessible to general audiences, Mushoku Tensei; with its fanservice, sexualization of female characters, and blatantly perverted main character; makes us anime fans look bad and furthers anime's reputation as degenerate cartoons made for pedophiles and incels. I would be ashamed to admit I enjoy parts of the show without condemning other aspects, and I really can't recommend it.
Ultimately, I think Mushoku Tensei is an alright show. However, having heard so many good things about the source material from my friends, I can’t help but be a bit disappointed that in a story centered on self-improvement, the protagonist succeeds because genetics blesses him with magical talent and good looks and not because he completely reformed his twisted personality.
I was promised redemption. I didn't get it.
