Apart from a few standout moments, the first half of the season doesn't quite capture the Rudeus we've come to cherish; instead, it feels like a lackluster imitation, almost as if the character growth from the first season has been undone. I find the inconsistency in Rudeus' character during these early episodes somewhat bothersome. While one could attribute this to his romantic drama, I still feel a bit disappointed by this apparent regression; your perspective on it may vary.
Fortunately, we don't have to endure this limp (okay I'll stop now) storytelling forever. The second half of the season delivers precisely what one would expect from Mushoku Tensei: engaging fights, humor, social interactions, and the witty Rudeous we adore. All of this unfolds in a fresh setting with new, enjoyable characters and intriguing world-building developments.
Now, let's shift our focus to the production aspects. The opening theme may not align with everyone's taste; it's passable but might leave those expecting a real hit somewhat disappointed. However, the overall music in the show is solid, featuring familiar tracks we've grown to love, along with some new additions. In particular, a fight scene (or an exchange of blows) in the second half of the season benefits greatly from an invigorating musical score, arguably becoming the scene's main highlight.
Discussing animation is a bit tricky. While there are a few scenes with the detailed, action-packed combat animation we've become accustomed to, it's not the primary focus of this season. The animation quality remains impressive and is easily on par with A-tier standards. However, given the relatively low number of actual fights this season, it feels as though more could have been done in that department, as if some corners were cut. This becomes evident in the scrimmage scene I mentioned earlier, which comes across as a sequence of partially animated still frames. Despite my overall enjoyment of the event, I can't help but scrutinize its animation. It's possible that the studio allocated more animators to the upcoming second part of the second season, which is likely to be more action-packed.
In conclusion, forming a definitive judgment is challenging. On one hand, this season of Mushoku Tensei delivers the essence of what we remember and love about the series: the characters, animation, sound, humor, and plot—all of which initially made the show great. On the other hand, the animation falls short of the exceptional standards we've come to expect, and the season's beginning feels somewhat prolonged and slow. I'm willing to give this season the benefit of the doubt and settle on a score of 9/10. I hope that my mixed feelings, stemming from both my love for the show and my disappointments, will fade once we get the second part of the second season. Nevertheless, it's unquestionably worth watching, and few shows can match its quality.
