I have no idea how to start this review; I've got so many thoughts, but it's hard to latch onto one specific point. And to be honest its my first english review, i used to write it on russian before. So starting with a meme
It's amazing how the fantasy genre is getting a new breath of life lately. Take Frieren, for example, which many self-righteous critics will call "generic fantasy" as if that’s inherently bad. Now, even the mere presence of elves, dwarves, and orcs with their stereotypical racial traits, along with the simple existence of magic, are labeled as generic fantasy traits. So basically, 99% of fantasy is now generic. Does that mean we shouldn't watch fantasy anymore? No matter how well the world is built, from the birth of the universe to the heroes' journey, if the main story is boring and talentless, what’s the point of that world-building? Thankfully, Delicious in Dungeon doesn’t have such problems. I don't see the point in dragging it out; you've already seen my rating. For me, "Delicious in Dungeon" (or I’d even say "Dungeon of Delight") is my favorite and best fantasy of recent times. Yes, there is Frieren, but that's a different story, it grabs you in different ways, and let's forget about it for now.
In short, this is a comedic slice-of-life about food and dungeon monsters. But if you go a bit deeper, it's an amazingly well-crafted story with great dynamics, lots of humor, a pinch of drama, cool and colorful characters, excellent direction, and fantastic music. What more do you need to be happy? Right, delicious food to eat while watching (which is very important for this anime).
So, what’s the story about? There is a little spoilers to the first episode but it`s not so important so you can read it.
Spoiler, click to view
A group of adventurers goes into a dungeon for treasure, meets a red dragon, soils their pants, loses to it, one of their party gets eaten, two leave, and the remaining ones monster-obsessed Laios, Marcille (the best girl in anime, yes, and in recent times, don’t even try to argue with me), and Chilchuck. have to rescue their friend who is now in the dragon’s stomach. But there’s a problem: no provisions, no money, and they need to save their friend quickly before she gets digested. So, a genius idea strikes Laios: "If we can’t eat regular food, we'll eat monsters." Then they are joined by the local Gordon Ramsay and the main source of fanservice, Senshi, and the adventure begins. Another hero will join the party later, but you’ll find that out on your own.At first glance, it seems like an ordinary slice-of-life with a running plot that moves slowly, but... things are not as simple as they seem. To better understand, I want to make a comparison. There is Spy x Family, which I really love. I started reading it when about 20 chapters were out, and when the anime was announced, I was ecstatic. In Spy x Family, roughly speaking, the main plot moves forward, and then it’s ignored for 10+ chapters and revisited for 1-2 chapters. This isn’t bad, but only for those who knew it would be a sitcom in an unusual setting. Others might be put off because some episodes seem like filler, which they essentially are (it’s a sitcom, after all).
In the case of "Delicious in Dungeon," it’s the opposite: you start with a slice-of-life, which then introduces the plot (though it’s not quite accurate to say it that way, but it’s good enough for understanding), and around the second half of the second season (when it happens), the sitcom structure will almost completely disappear. Why is it wrong to say there’s no plot? Many details and events from the beginning of the story, which seem insignificant at first glance, will come back at the end, and your attentiveness will be rewarded with the satisfaction of realizing why and how things are happening. This is something I especially appreciate in stories: it’s a sign of quality and provides a lot of enjoyment while watching. Even the simple fact that Marcille takes care of her hair and often changes hairstyles plays a role in later events. I noticed this by accident while watching with friends and said, "Guys, have you noticed that Marcille changes her hairstyle almost every few episodes?" And then, when I read the manga, I was like, "Seriously? Even this little detail is part of the plot?" and it’s like that with many things. So, I’d recommend watching carefully; the story rewards it, and that’s cool. But this advice will be more relevant when the second season comes out.
I watched the anime twice. I watched each episode first with friends on Discord, and then again with my younger brother. And... um, the scene with Marcille and Falin in the bath... shame on them, there are children watching.
To sum up: "Delicious in Dungeon" is a blast, a must-know. Even if it’s not something great and genius (though in my humble opinion it is genius), it’s at least a very cool and fun story that, I bet, won’t let you get bored. This anime unironically rekindled my old love for fantasy. Every week, I eagerly awaited Thursday to watch the new episode. I haven’t felt this way in a long time. What else to say? Well, it’s awesome, great, wonderful, fun, in a word—delightful. Looking forward to the second season.
Eat a balanced diet! 2. Change your lifestyle! 3. Train properly! If you follow these three rules, you’ll become stronger and healthier before you know it!