Mushoku Tensei (AKA Jobless Reincarnation) took the anime world by storm, but it didn't manage that without a few bumps in the road. Yes, the show is on the edgier side, so if you don't like characters physically assaulting or sexually harassing each other for laughs, there are going to be a handful of scenes you'll have to skip. And yes, you will have to suspend some disbelief when we're talking about a show where a thirtysomething gets reincarnated as a child and falls in love with other kids.
Many have talked about this, so I won't dwell too long. I just want to ask: Have you ever refused to watch a show because the main character killed people? In Western media, we have 'good guys' like Nathan Drake or John Rambo gun down enough people to make the most infamous serial killers in history blush, but we're able to see past all that. So, why not do the same with Mushoku Tensei?
Drug use is often seen in Western media, but it's seen far less in Eastern media. Either way, it doesn't mean you should become an addict. Different cultures depict different kinds of bad behavior differently, and art is the perfect place to safely explore these topics. All I ask is that you give Mushoku Tensei an honest shot.
Right off the bat, the premise of the show is unique. Your standard isekai format where a NEET wakes up in a medieval-era world is turned upside down when main character Rudeus Greyrat opens his eyes to realize he's a freshly born infant to a pair of newbie parents.
Pacing throughout Rudeus' early childhood is excellent, and at the beginning of the show, there's always a new interesting character to meet or a developmental milestone to hit, whether that's learning something new or going on an adventure. Before things have a chance to get boring, though, tragedy strikes, uprooting people from all across the world and setting our characters on a new journey.
By the end of the first season, you'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll cry. Hard-hitting emotional moments creep up faster than you'd think in a show that starts with a kid sneaking around and stealing panties to sniff, but by the end, it's a tear-jerker. Plus, while there is a cast of cute girls that like Rudeus, there is very much a main girl where there's actual relationship progression.
Character development is also excellent. Rudeus' past life of being a good-for-nothing NEET isn't forgotten, and he slowly learns to overcome the things that held him back in the real world while making friends and falling in love along the way. Characters aren't overly simplistic, either. A philandering rapist is humanized by the love of and devotion to family; a hardened killer can't stand to see children getting hurt; and a lecherous delinquent gets his heart broken for the very first time.
Looking back, it's hard for me to see anything missing from Mushoku Tensei. Outside of the occasional moment you might find in bad taste, the pacing is flawless, character development is impressive, stakes remain believably high, romance actually happens, and the episode count isn't short enough to make you feel like you've missed out or long enough to feel indulgent.
You might not love the isekai genre, which is very fair, but it's hard not to love Mushoku Tensei. If there's any part of you willing to overlook just a few edgy elements in a Japanese cartoon, it's worth it here.
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