LogFAQs > #961638817

33. Mushoku Tensei
https://anilist.co/anime/108465/Mushoku-Tensei-Jobless-Reincarnation/

Unlike some other shows where I can understand the massive popularity, I have no clue why people like this one. I guess part of it could be that a lot of isekai follow a similar formula and anything that is a little different is suddenly good. Because of the way anime is a LOT of stuff is very similar and even when compared to other popular media the anime fandom seems to heavily latch on to things that break from the norm.

The thing the show does very well is develop its characters. A lot of care is taken where the leads have pretty significant growth and you can see small changes in their personalities throughout. But they don't quite lose who they are at their core so they still keep some of their more negative attributes as well. This is one of the strongest parts of Mushoku Tensei as the cast is painted to be more or less realistic in terms of how much they could in a fantasy anime.

But that does come with somewhat of an asterisk. While the large picture parts of the main cast are well developed a lot of the minor issues for them and the ones for side characters are barely addressed. They are mentioned, and at times confronted about them, but nothing really happens. It's like imagine if every side character in Re:zero was Felt, that's kind of what I feel like here.

The major aspect I have an issue with is the world building and the narrative. They go to a lot of places but things we learn are very character centric... which yes help the characters develop but it does feel like they just dangle these potential plot points at us and then just don't do things with them. Several times I felt like they finished an arc without really advancing any of the narrative plot at all and then they reveal new things only to not really resolve things there either. There is just a lot of "we did a thing" and the story goes "nope you messed this up" type crap.

I want to say too that while I understand where the "he's really in his 30s and he's going after a child" group is coming from. It's like, he was reincarnated its like saying if you were incarnated as a dog... what the f are you going to do wit with besides another dog? If anything it's Roxy people should dislike because she IS in her 30s and WAS NOT reincarnated. But of course people don't because Roxy is a cute girl.

Also, the god character sucks. I already talked about characters like these in the To Your Eternity writeup and most of the things there apply here too.

32. Shadows House
https://anilist.co/anime/125038/SHADOWS-HOUSE/

Shadows House has some of the best world building of the season. The anime only takes place in a relatively small area, but you learn so much about how and why things happen. What's more is that a lot of it ties into the cast and their development too.

That out of the way this IS A CLOVERWORKS anime and it does CLOVERWORKS THINGS. As good as all the set up, character interaction, and wonderful presentation is.. the ending is just awful.

Note: This officially marks the 7+ line and every show from now on I scored a 7 or at the time of the ranking is trending to a 7+. This means I think all shows from this point on are good.

31. Uma Musume S2
https://anilist.co/anime/124223/Umamusume-Pretty-Derby-Season-2/

Note: This Write up has Spoilers

One of the really weird things about S2 is that the main character from S1, Special Week, is now a side character. It focuses on Toukai Teiou, a horse girl that can only be described as a prodigy with great expectations put on her by her fans and herself.

A major strength of the anime is kind of a double edged sword. For a great deal of it it's about working hard, improving, aiming to be on top. Much like any sports anime. The fun and diverse cast really help carry this sort of "by the numbers" plot. But then things change, the injuries start happening and the anime stops being about being the best and more about acceptance and knowing the people who really support you will always do so. It's just that the show piles on all the bad news in succession and while emotionally it gets the point across very well there is just such a stark difference in tone and it's very sudden due to the nature of how it happens.

With that said, in a vacuum what does happen is handled very well. The anime does a great job at letting you experience the emotions of the characters where you are taking the journey with them. Even if you only thought the first season was okay, this one takes a pretty big step up.