Despite what the narrator says this is NOT a story a romantic comedy about a guy and a girl who used to be a guy, but a story about two life long friends going on an adventure. A buddy comedy would be more accurate to call it than a romantic comedy. A road trip in another world with a lot of baggage.
This is a satirical isekai fantasy and does not try to pretend or delude the audience by pretending to be anything but that. Between mocking romantic tropes one would find in a traditional rom-com to obvious cracks at more popular isekai stories, the show is full of jokes designed to make the most harden isekai fan laugh. And it does a good job. The characters are where the show shines with its straight-laced lead of Jinguuji and its wacky gender-bent "heroine" Tachibana, the two are a classic comedy duo trying desperately to avoid catching feelings for one another until they get their real feelings sorted out. While the show lacks a deep or meaningful plot, it makes up for that by showing the audience a pretty deep look into the complicated relationship between childhood friends. Like I said this is a buddy comedy. If you've been friends for someone for long enough there will be hidden resentments and envy on both sides. This show does a good job consistently hinting and flashing those resentments throughout the season until finally the curtain is pulled back and the two leads are forced to face each other and come to terms with the fact that, like a romantic relationship, even a platonic friendship is complicated. Jealousy, envy, how one is raised, how one grows up, and of course gender dysphoria form a labyrinth for the characters to navigate which at times can be more daunting than any demon lord.
There isn't much of a plot beyond traveling to the demon lord and the shenanigans that ensue due to Tachibana's beauty so I'm not going to say much beyond that is the shows weakest point. If you want a deep fantasy tale with original ideas and concepts, look elsewhere. If you want to laugh at two 30-something year olds acting like teenagers in another world then this is the show for you.
Lastly I want to give a few shout-outs to Schwartz and Lucius who came through in the end. At first you look at them both and think they're just one-off jokes. HAHA look at the Kirito character, laugh at his foolishness. Yes he is foolish but he is far for a one-off joke character. He actually grows and matures more than even many main isekai protagonists you see in other shows. He had a more than significant place in the story and that is in no small part thanks to Lucius who serves as a much needed buffer, teacher, and support for Schwartz which allows him to grow from a painfully obvious joke character to a real character.
I want to give a nod to the door to Tachibana's apartment. You see something that silly and think okay that's cute but whatever. But it actually was used as a real tool than just a cheat skill which deserves praise.
This is a satirical isekai comedy but the characters make it so much more. Tachibana gives the audience a look at the complexity of gender identity which is never an easy subject to examine. Jinguuji is a refreshingly intelligent and sturdy no nonsense character that is nice to see in this genre. Schwartz is an example of how even the most obvious of gags can be so much more if effort is put into development them. The elf queen was fun to watch as well. So this is a story that while disgusted as a rom-com about two dudes trying to avoid falling in love with each other and more about two dudes who are trying to work together to achieve a common goal while preserving and unraveling 20 years of complicated friendship. That to me is worth watching.
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