I was NOT prepared for what came next. Im going to focus this review mainly on the aspect that won me over: the character development.
The realization hit me as hard as good old Truck-kun: the vast majority of modern Isekai titles are just failed attempts at trying to replicate the experience of Mushoku Tensei. This is where it all started, and nothing that came after can really match.
EVERYTHING HERE CLICKS! All those mindless and dumb cliches we've seen a million times before were first used here, but here they ALL have a purpose, they all enhance the story and character interactions in ways other titles try to mimic but fail for some reason or another.
For example, the Escapism. Most Isekai titles make the mistake of dismissing the life the protagonist left behind, focusing completely on him getting everything he wants in the next one just for the audience's wish fulfillment. That is NOT the case here!
Rudeus suffered heavy bullying in his previous life to the point of withdrawing from society and becoming a shut-in, scaring away any further attempts at normal human relationships. These traumas didnt just magically disappear once he reincarnated, its all still in there, which gives him severe cases of PTSD everytime he hits a roadblock on his journey, meaning the author is constantly making correlations between his first and second life.
He is a perverted, sly bastard who doesnt think of anyone but himself, but mostly because he never had a chance to be anything different.
He's NOT in this new world to become an outlet for our wish fulfillment, he's there to find REDEMPTION. This is the story of an extremely flawed and scummy man trying to learn from his past mistakes and become a better person, and so far the anime and manga have succeeded greatly in portraying his progress.
All the power fantasy cliches and tropes are used here as lenses to shed light on real life problems such as bullying, depression, alcoolism (in the manga), PTSD, misogyny and pedophilia, all while still being very fun and entertaining to watch/read. THIS is what modern Isekai should ALWAYS have been about!
Many people are bashing the anime in the reviews mainly because all men in the series so far are huge assholes, including the mc. THEY ARE MISSING THE POINT. You cant have meaningful character development if the characters are already perfect SJWs in the first place. Becoming a better person is a long and painfully difficult process, expecting it to happen all in just one season is naive, to say the least!
I immediately started to read the manga after watching season I and am now starting the LN, so trust me when I say this, it only gets better and better! This series has the bone structure of a typical Isekai title, but filled with all the meat most are missing!
I never thought I'd writte the words "Isekai Masterpiece" in my whole life, yet here I am. Thats how good this show is.
