Disclaimer: This review is of the whole show for seasons 1-2. I don't have time to review each half season. Review has spoilers
I haven't been so conflicted about whether or not I like a show. On one hand, Mushoku Tensei has some amazingly heartfelt moments. My favorite scenes involved Rudy addressing his past life's shut-in trauma and conflicts between the main cast. I related a lot to Rudy as someone who as struggled with depression and became a shut-in for several years during a real dark phase of my life. I think the show has one of the best representations of depression in anime. I don't know much about the author's background but it seems like they went through something similar in order to create this realism. Mental health issues and character conflicts felt real, raw, and genuine. I think this is the show's greatest strength and sets it apart from generic isekai.
But then this show pulls some bullshit out of nowhere and brushes over some crazy fucked up stuff. Slavery, rape, sexual assault, and sexualizing minors are all casually displayed as if it's normal and okay. The constant switch between genuine and degenerate vibes weirded me out. That combined with the plot switching from a story about growing up as a kid, to traveling the world in an adventuring party, to battling depression, to university life made it feel like the show constantly kept me on my toes but not in a good way. I had issues with the pacing and wished the show had slowed down to give more time to setup expectations. For example, up until the mass teleportation event the show had been about learning magic, growing up, and a sprinkle of politics with the Greyrat family tree hierarchy. Then out of nowhere they are teleported to another side of the world and the story for the remainder of the season is about getting back home. For all the different subplots the story is trying to do, it needed more time than 12 episode half seasons. Given the scope of the story, seasons 1-2 could easily have been doubled in length.
And don't get me started about the bullshit 3-wives romance subplot. I just got done reading the 14-book Wheel of Time series that also has a main character who was reincarnated, has crazy magic powers, gets their left hand cut off, and ends up marrying all 3 of his love interests. If I had a nickel for every time these same events happened in a story I would have 2 nickels, but it is a weird coincidence nonetheless. IT IS TIME TO STOP. I AM GOING TO LOSE MY SHIT IF I SEE THIS SOMEWHERE FOR A 3RD TIME. The polygamy in the series is done poorly, cringeworthy at best, and robs the show of it's good moments. I was left genuinely annoyed at the end of season 2 when Slyphie is just okay with Rudy returning home with another woman. Character conflicts in the show were done so well otherwise, and then Rudy just gets a pass for acting unfaithful while his wife is pregnant. Nah man that's a load of bs, I don't buy it.
Lastly, don't get me wrong I am a cultured man of refined degenerate taste. But if a show is trying to be genuine then degeneracy should only be lightly sprinkled on top at best for quick comic relief. This show goes too far in my opinion and for no other reason than to gain more popularity. It's still better than most isekai so I am sticking with my score of 75/100 though lmao.
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