Anime

Rudeus Goes on a Crusade for His Roxy Doll

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei is a series that has courted controversy from day one, mostly due to the behavior of the main character. When Rudeus was first reborn into this new world, he wasn’t a good person. He was a lazy bum that used his young age to get away with things that would land him in jail. He’s a flawed protagonist trying to become a better person; that’s the whole point of the series. However, even though he’s come a long way since starting his second life, he still tends to do things that some call controversial. For example, when he learns that one of the figurines he created got destroyed, he goes on a crusade to avenge this slight. 

In his defense, though, if someone came and destroyed something you worked long and hard on, you’d also react with hostility.

The Accused has Trampled on the Idol of the Goddess Roxy

It’s been a month since Rudeus and Zanoba bought Julie from the slave pens (and essentially adopted her), and her lessons are going well. She’s a smart, hardworking, and already starting to get the hang of wordless magic. Life’s going well for the three (and Sylphie, whose still crushing on a clueless Rudeus.) That is, until Rudy asks Zanoba to look at his masterpiece, the figurine he made of his beloved master, Roxy and…see for yourself.

Some people would consider Rudy’s hostile response to seeing the figurine destroyed as a major overreaction. Those who know him, though, see this as in-line with his character. Remember, Roxy was the whole reason he overcame his fear of the outside world; her teachings were all that kept him going after Dead End split up. So when he learns that Lilna and Pursena smashed it after besting Zanoba…he rallies the banners (Zanoba and Julie) and declares they’re going on a crusade.

To his credit, Rudeus handles things in the most efficient matter, not letting his anger overtake him. In addition, the curb-stomping shows just how strong he really is compared to most people. Traveling back from the Demon Continent did wonders for his strength.

The Crusade Leader Shows Remarkable Restraint 

What Rudeus does to the Doldian Duo is something that, under any circumstances, cannot be condoned or justified. Holding two girls captive in your bedroom as he conducts his trial is not something that should be done. The fact that he also gropes them briefly is also not something that should be condoned. None of this should be done to another person without their consent (people do do this stuff for enjoyment; let’s not judge them.) Even Rudeus can’t justify it to himself when he realizes he could use magic to fix the Roxy doll.

While many will complain about this online and saying this makes Rudeus a scumbag, they’re forgetting a few key things. Firstly, he is a scumbag, but one that has taken great strides towards becoming a better person. Put Rudeus in this exact scenario before Eris left him, and he would’ve happily enjoyed it without a care. Instead, he shows remarkable restraint, only resorting to scaring them so bad that by the time he frees them, they’re calling him “Boss.” Given their nature as delinquents, this will save him a lot of headaches soon.

Also, before you judge him, ask yourself: if you found out that someone had taken something you poured your heart and soul into and destroyed it, how would you react? Would you not react similarly to Rudeus and want to go John Wick on the one responsible?

Sylphie is on the Top Waifu List of 2023, no Challenge

The one good thing from this whole crusading phase that Rudy went through is that he wound up growing closer to Sylphie, or, as he knows her, Fitz. The opening of the episode makes it a point to show how much Sylphie’s taken after Rudy, even having a similar exercise routine in the morning. Plus, she doodles a picture of him in class, which is adorable.

In a way, this whole episode serves as an argument as to how Sylphie is perfectly matched to Rudeus. When he tells her about what he did, she doesn’t freak out or report him, but instead listens and even offers to ensure that Lilna and Pursena learn their lesson for good. Seeing the two acting so mischevious together is heartwarming in and of itself, but when they’re both alone in his bedroom afterwards, things almost become romantic. It’s only Sylphie’s fears that keep her from revealing her identity then and there. Still, this whole experience is a good thing.

I’ll be honest: after seeing how miserable Rudeus has been for years, seeing him spend time with his first friend like this brings a smile to my face. This is probably my favorite episode of the season to date. Bonus points for seeing how adorable Julie is!

I Give “The Kidnapping and Confinement of Beast Girls” a 4.5/5

Akiraiger is Here to Save the Day!!

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When you’re a little boy, you dream about becoming the coolest thing when you grow up. Things like it being realistic, or even physically possible, aren’t that big a concern. Whether it’s being an astronaut, a Jedi, a race car driver, or a superhero, if it’s cool, most little boys are going to want to be one. And that’s what Akira now wants to do for his bucket list: he’s become the superhero Akiraiger.

This is gonna be fun!

The Superhero Akiraiger Appears

So after remembering this time from his childhood where he dressed like a superhero and beat up some bullies, Akira decides nows the perfect time to become one for real. Despite the fact that he’s got no powers, no brilliant mind, or a ton of money. Yet he wants to be one anyway, and he’s got a lead.

At the Shinagawa Aquarium, they this special suit made from titianum mesh and steel fibers built to withstand bites from crocodiles and sharks. In other words, if he wears it, Akira will be zombie bite-proof. Thus, Akiraiger and his partner, the Blonde Nudist (Kencho dyed his hair and strips to attract zombies) are born. 

Sadly, there’s a flaw with Akira’s plan: his new super suit doesn’t stop things from biting into him. Thus, he still gets bit, and it hurts. The upside, though, is that his first outing leads him to save a group of people that includes a familiar face.

Shizuka is Like an Ice Princess…at First

Shizuka, the girl that Akira ran into on his beer run, makes her return amidst a group of survivors running that he saves. And even though she’s grateful for the rescue, she remains a veritable ice princess. She starts psycho-analyzing Akira and tearing down all his rationale. For example, she pegs him as this insecure guy whose doing this to boost his self-esteem. And that he’s risking his life and Kencho’s life for something stupid! It’s brutal to watch!

This episode does a good job of highlighting the contrasts between Akira and Shizuka’s mindsets. They’re like Kirk and Spock; Akira is the one with the crazy plans and let’s his gut and emotions guide his actions, while Shizuka is the one who relies on logic and rationale. She sees no point in working with Akira because she thinks he’ll get them killed. Ironically, it’s Alria’s willingness to act on emotions that saves her life when they’re cornered by a zombie shark. 

No, I’m not joking. There’s a great white shark turned into zombie that ate divers that are also turned into zombies. And now the divers’ legs are sticking out of the shark and using it to hunt for fresh meat. It’s the kind of thing that’s both hilarious and terrifying. It works!!

Shizuka and Akiraiger Will Return

So, in the end, Akira, Kencho, and Shizuka take down the zombie shark with a plan that would make Captain Kirk proud. Akira wears her down enough to get her contact info, and they all head their separate ways. Shizuka says that she doubts that she’ll ever see them again, but she’s in the opening and credits. She’s going to come back. However, it seems that Akira and Kencho can’t do much more in Tokyo, and the plague’s getting worse. Thus, they decide to say Sayonara Tokyo and head into the country for Akira’s hometown.

Zom 100 Episode 5-Shizuka Embarrassed

This was another funny episode from one of the best anime of the year. The only problem is that it got delayed a week due to some sort of athletics competiton, which cost it some momentum. The good news, though, is that the dub is now out for all to enjoy. Given how it has Zeno Robinson voicing Akira and Xander Mobus as Kencho, I’d say its in good hands. As for Akira, he’s doing a great job of living his life to the fullest, and I salute him. Also, I ship Akira and Shizuka. The sparks are there!

I Give “Hero of the Dead” a 4.5/5

Ranoa University Welcomes You, Rudeus!

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 5 Review

When the new season of Mushoku Tensei started by focusing on Sylphie, I had a problem with that. I thought revealing “Fitz” was Sylphie early on would ruin the surprise for when they reunite at Ranoa University. After seeing the new episode, though, I take it back. It makes their reunion hilarious to watch. While some may complain about the idea of Rudeus attending school instead of going on a big adventure, they have to remember this isn’t your carbon-copy isekai, it takes its time to focus on the cast and lore. 

Admittedly, as someone who read the light novels, I know they do miss out on a few things. In a first for the series, though, the show now has a dedicated opening sequence rather than just the song.

Welcome to Ranoa University, Rudeus! 

After months of traveling with Elinalise (and learning to tolerate her sexual escapades), Rudeus has finally made it to Ranoa University like he always wanted. Granted, a lot has changed for him since he wanted to attend as a child, and his reasons are… embarrassing. However, dreams don’t always turn out the way people envision them when they’re young. What matters is that Rudeus made it, and on a scholarship, no less. He also ends up reuniting with his childhood friend, Slyphie, when asked to duel “Fitz.”

Some people might complain about how Rudeus doesn’t remember the first friend he ever made when he sees her. They may also complain about not recognizing the wand Fitz uses is the one he gave her. However, a few things should be kept in mind. Firstly, it’s been almost ten years since he’s seen Sylphie. Secondly, she’s deliberately disguising herself as a boy, and her hair’s changed color. As smart as Rudeus is, he’s still a teenage boy. 

As previously stated, though, the fact that Rudy doesn’t recognize his best friend makes his attempts to be respectful amusing. If only the same could be said for the introduction to his classmates in the special students class.

The Special Students Introduction falls a Little Flat

In the previous review, I mentioned how many of the people Rudy meets at Ranoa will play important roles in his life. Knowing that, one would think it would do a good job of establishing who they are and how they’re connected to him. To my dismay, they don’t do as good a job as they could; or fully include everything from the light novels.

First, we have good old Zanoba, whose just happy to see his kaster again. After the debacle with his brother, both got sent abroad, and Zanoba is now attending this school. There’s a part in the LN where Rudy hits him with a stone cannon and he just plows right through it.

Then we have the resident Beastmen, Linia and Pursena, AKA the cat and dog girl. They’re both cousins from the Doldia tribe, with Linia being the daughter of the chief, and thus, Ghislaine’s niece. However, Rudeus never mentions any of this, or how her Dad owes him for a previous misunderstanding. 

Then we finally have Cliff Grimoire. He hates Rudeus’ guts, and it has to do with a run-in he had with Eris a few years ago. There’s another article that will discuss it, but it boils down to her not shutting up about how awesome he is, and he got envious. Sadly, the anime also cuts out a part when Cliff mentions Eris calling Rudeus “small,” which he takes the wrong way. It’s not much, but it’s a funny example of how bad his self-esteem is. 

Can’t Wait to See Rudeus and “Fitz” Learning about Each Other

Minor plot points aside, the episode remains a good one for one reason and one reason alone: Rudeus and Sylphie reunite after years of being apart. Going to Ranoa University together was the whole reason Rudeus went to tutor Eris. He may not know it yet, but he’s already living out his dream. Unfortunately for him, Sylphie doesn’t plan on telling him who she is yet. It might be due to her shyness around the boy she’s liked since they were little, or maybe she wants to tease him, or both. Regardless, Sylphie isn’t talking. However, this might end up benefitting Rudeus more in the long run.

Because Rudeus has no clue that Fitz is really Sylphie, she’s got the chance to make him fall for her. She’s already working at it, too. When a misunderstanding leads to the girls dorm trying to lynch Rudeus, she’s the one who ends up saving him. She even manages to tease him a little, enough to make him blush.

Say what you want about the “childhood friend romance” trope, but there’s a reason why it’s good. The show may not be big on action for awhile, but now we get to see Rudeus have the school life he never had in his past life! Enjoy your time at Ranoa University, Rudeus!

By the way, the dub’s out for season two. Just saying.

I Give “Ranoa University of Magic” a 4/5

Why Cliff Grimoire Hates Rudeus So Much!

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So, if you’ve been watching the new season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, you’ll know that Rudeus’ going to school. He’s got a free ride into the best magic school in the world, and he doesn’t have to attend classes if he doesn’t want to. The only mandatory course is homeroom with the other special students, and he’s either met or has indirect connections to them. One classmate, though, makes it clear from the get-go that he doesn’t like him: Cliff Grimoire. And the crazy thing is that Rudeus hasn’t done anything wrong to him; he’s never met the guy. Yet Cliff hates him anyway.

There are several reasons why Cliff’s got an axe to grind with Rudeus. However, All of them stem back to an incident several years ago that I didn’t cover in my first season recap. An incident covered in a 2022 OVA starring the resident tsundere, Eris. Since Cliff will be a VIP in Rudeus’ life from here on out, it seems fitting that I backtrack and recap this in full. Gather around, and you shall hear the tale of “Goblin Slayer Eris Greyrat or: How I Pulled Up on an Arrogant Brat and Gave Him a Reality Check.”

From the Streets Did He Emerge 

So, backstory time. Cliff was born to a loving family in Milis, only for them to get murdered by bandits. Thus, he wandered the streets of Millishon as an orphan, alone and sad. Then one day, the Pope of the Millis Church, AKA this world’s version of the Catholic Church, found and adopted him. And before you question how that can happen, there’s no rule about Catholic Priests and Nuns adopting kids. So, that’s good for him.

Now that he’s the grandson of religious royalty, Cliff gets the finest things life offers. He’s got the best clothes, food, tutors, the works. So he starts learning how to magic, and he’s good at it. Everyone’s telling him that he’s a magical genius. It has nothing to do with the fact that he’s the Pope’s grandson and a likely candidate to become Pope in the future!

So, since he’s a kid, Cliff lets this praise go to his head. This becomes a problem when he sets out to try adventuring for the first time.

You Shouldn’t Have Made Eris Mad, Cliff!

So, you might recall when Dead End made it to Millishon. While Rudeus was dealing with all that stuff with his Dad, Eris went on a solo adventure. Ever since she was little, she had this dream of hunting goblins. And now that she was older and more robust, she wanted to scratch this item off her bucket list. So she goes to the local guild and takes up the goblin-slaying quest when she notices Cliff arguing with this adventuring party. He keeps trying to get them to let him join their party, and, remember, he’s got an attitude. He thinks he’s hot stuff, and they should feel honored he’s offering to help them. That only makes them mad, and they’re about to fight when Eris steps in and talks them down.

Does Cliff thank Eris for helping him out? No, the ungrateful kid snaps at her for butting in and tells her not to stick her ugly face in stuff that doesn’t concern her. Big mistake. Eris, being Eris, responds the same way she does to anyone who makes her mad: punching their lights out! Even Rudeus, one of the people she listens to, isn’t safe from this mad dog!

Eris Tells Cliff, “You not that guy, Pal.”

So, for whatever reason, Cliff does a total 180 after getting punched by Eris and starts following her around, saying he’s sorry and how impressed he was with that punch. So he keeps trying to talk her into letting him join her on her mission and bragging about how great he is. Eris, barely pays attention to him, though, since she’s not impressed. She can tell from a glance that Rudeus is more potent than this guy. But since he keeps following her like a stray puppy, she relents.

She soon regrets this because Cliff proves he’s weaker than he thinks. He is strong; it’s just that she knows Rudeus is stronger and wiser, so she’s not impressed. And all his attempts to prove otherwise backfire. He burns the goblins, so they can’t bring back proof. He gets them lost in the woods. He’s not that guy, and Eris lets him know it. 

So, eventually, they come across this group in the woods. On one side is this knight of the Millis church and this little shrine girl she’s guarding. On the other side are these Papal assassins. Eris doesn’t know this, but there’s a power struggle in the Millis Church. The side the night and girl are on is anti-Demon and Beastmen, while the Pope’s side promotes co-existence. However, Eris doesn’t know this, so while Cliff watches, she jumps in and wastes the assassins. Who also happen to be some of Cliff’s teachers. Cliff just watched his teachers die!

Again, Cliff is not that guy!

So, after getting punched, talked down to, and watching this girl kill his teachers without realizing it, is Cliff mad? Does he swear revenge for everything that happened? No; as soon as they get back to town with that knight and girl, the first thing that Cliff says is :

“Will you please marry me?”

Yes, that’s right! Despite hitting him in the face with a hard dose of reality, Cliff doesn’t hate Eris. He’s got a crush on her! Eris’ response? “Absolutely not!” And poor Cliff can’t understand why. He doesn’t get why she’d reject a genius like him. She responds that he’s not that guy; Rudeus is that guy.

Eris then goes into this whole spiel about how amazing Rudeus is. He might be younger and smaller than her, but he’s smarter, can do magic without incantations, and is just an all-around badass and future CHAD. She probably throws in a remark saying he’s better-looking than Cliff, too, and will likely be a total chick magnet when he’s older. 

Hearing all of this, it doesn’t take too long for Cliff to realize that Eris is in love with Rudeus. And compared to someone like him, he’s got no chance in Hell. Thus, Cliff heads home to sulk and think about the heavy dose of reality he just got.

Cliff Grimoire Be Hating Rudeus

So, in a single day, Cliff realized that there was someone better at magic than him, got rejected by his crush, and had three of his teachers die. In other words, he got hit with a heavy dose of reality. But the one thing that Cliff can’t stop thinking about is Rudeus, this guy he’s never even met. He’s jealous of him, not just because of Eris, but because he’s better at magic than him. And that resentment stays with him for years.

Now, the bad news. Thanks to Eris’ meddling and saving that shrine girl, the anti-Demon faction in the Millis Church got stronger. Power struggles ensue, and since he’s the Pope’s grandson, Cliff’s a target. Thus, his grandfather sends him to Ranoa University to train and learn in peace. And that’s when Rudeus shows up in their classroom one day. 

And that’s why Cliff hates Rudeus from the get-go. However, that doesn’t mean he’s going to hate him forever. Cliff Grimoire will become one of Rudeus’ most significant allies in life. You’ll just have to wait and see what happens, though. 

Akira Needs Love, Too!!

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Ep 4 Review

Dating in the modern day is hard; there’s no argument about that. Things like dating apps meant to help people meet and fall in love have only complicated an already complicated act even further. Throw in a zombie apocalypse, and the chances of finding love in the world seem even bleaker for people like Akira. It only gets worse in this episode as Akira gets close to finding love…only for it to be ripped out from under him.

As someone who struggles to find love today, I feel your pain, Akira. 

The Quest for the Perfect TV…and Date.

Now that he’s got Kencho living alongside him, Akira’s ready to enjoy that new life with his bro. They’ve got a rooftop camp set up, plenty of food and drinks, and Akira can play video games all day. Kencho even decides to get in on Akira’s bucket list by adding something: wine and dine with a flight attendant. This only leads Akira to remember a painful fact: he’s never had a girlfriend, while his best friend can date anyone he wants. 

This is another reason I like Akira so much as a character: I can see a bit of myself in him, especially in my social life. College was fun, but it kept me so busy I never had time for dating, something I now regret. While I’ve never worked at a place as horrible as Akira did, it can still get in the way of having a social life. In addition, there’s the subtext found in this conversation about how detrimental the kind of job Akira had is to society. The stress may keep people from going out to find love and have families. That may be why a lot of countries have declining birth rates. In other words, the show’s saying work culture is killing people’s chance to find love. Again, I relate to it. 

Source-Sportskeeda, Crunchyroll,

At any rate, Akira heads out on another scavenging mission, this time to find an even bigger TV to play video games on. It sounds, and is, stupid, but remember, the show’s advocating the importance of happiness and mental health even in dark times.

Akira Comes So Close to Scoring…Okay, He Doesn’t!

When their adventure predictably ends with them being chased by a mob of zombies (and zombie firefighters spraying actual fire), the duo takes shelter inside an underground mall. Said mall’s already occupied by a group of one man whose name we never get and three beautiful women. All of whom are flight attendants. 

The second Akira and Kencho realize this, they’re on cloud nine as the whole thing soon turns into an impromptu mixer. At least, it does for Kencho. He wins over one girl so fast that they’re already going off on their own the next thing Akira knows. 

Yes, they do sleep together. The show doesn’t dance around that.

Meanwhile, Akira tries to impress the others by drinking an entire bottle of tequila…only to end up puking into a toilet. Anyone who drinks too much alcohol at once can relate to that.

Despite that, he does end up having a sweet moment with one of the attendants, where they both talk about why they wanted to work the jobs they had. While things didn’t turn out well for Akira, the woman, Yukari, admits that despite all the bs, she still likes her job. It’s a sweet moment, even if Yukari does have a boyfriend.

Too bad the old man got infected by a zombie bite. RIP, flight attendants.

Source-But Why Tho?, Crunchyroll

Even this Can’t Get Akira Down

So, to his dismay, Akira loses his best chance yet to find love, but he and Kencho do get that giant TV they wanted, scratching two more items off their bucket list. The last conversation that Akira had with Yukari also inspires him to add something new: remember his childhood dream. 

I love Akira’s optimistic attitude more and more with every episode. Even when mankind’s facing possible extinction, he can bring out the absolute best in people through his carefree nature. By all accounts, he should be dead by now, but he isn’t. It’s part of why this anime’s so fun and inspiring. Keep living your dreams, Akira, no matter how silly or crazy they are.

One last thing: by the time you read this, the dub for Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead will be out. Whether you’re a pro-dub stan or just want to support the voice actors, you should watch it. Zeno Robinson’s voicing the main character, and he’s been killing it with his roles over the last few years. That, and when you hear him as Akira, you can imagine Hunter from The Owl House.

I Give “Flight Attendant of the Dead” a 3.5/5

Dang, Rudy is Swole as Heck!!!

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 4 Review

It’s been two years since Rudeus returned to his former home, only to set out to find his Mom. More importantly, it’s been two years since Eris slept with him and left without properly explaining things. Now, he’s trying to move on with his life regardless, but…being unable to form romantic relationships due to trauma is hard. Then, a path forward opens as if by date or divine intervention. One that could end up fixing the damage Eris’ foolishness wrought.

Also, Rudeus is swole as heck.

Rudeus isn’t a Cute Boy Anymore. He’s a Man!

The first thing the episode makes apparent is what this time skip has done for Rudeus: he’s gotten stronger. Thanks to his magic, he can now take on a red dragon and kill it on his own. That’s a feat that would require several parties to pull off. In other words, he’s gotten stronger than he was as a kid.

Secondly, at this point, Rudeus is now fifteen. In his new world, fifteen is the legal age of adulthood, and it shows. He’s gotten taller, his constant exercising has given him a body most guys would kill for, and his cute boyish looks are now handsome. To top it off, he’s becoming renowned throughout the land as Quagmire Rudeus. Life’s going well for him.

Except…deep down, he’s still miserable. As I said last week, what Rudeus has is ED; impotence brought on the trauma he went through. Which stinks! He can’t get close to anyone in the romantic sense, so he’s essentially given up finding love. He’s channeled all that extra energy into bettering himself, but you can tell he’s not happy. He wants to regain what Eris took from him!

And that’s when two important things happen.

A Fateful Friend and a Fateful Letter

After returning from destroying the red dragon, who strolls into the bar Rudeus is at, but Elinalise Dragonroad. If you’ve read my recap on what Roxy was up to, then you’ll know three things about her:

  1. She was in a party with Paul and Zenith.
  2. She’s probably Roxy’s best friend.
  3. She’s got a sex drive that puts Rudeus’ to shame.

She needs to have sex regularly because of her curse, but she also likes it, so she’s not too concerned. 

Also, even if Rudeus could do it, Elinalise wouldn’t. She can’t stand the idea of being Paul’s daughter-in-law because something between them made her hate his guts. However, that doesn’t stop her from going after everyone in Soldat’s party. 

The other, more important thing is that Rudeus gets a letter from the Vice Principal of the Ranoa Academy of Magic. AKA the school that Roxy went to, AKA the school that Rudy wanted to attend with Sylphie. The whole reason he went to tutor Eris was so they go together, so everything’s coming back full circle. Word of Rudeus’ skills has reached even their ears, and they want him to enroll as a special student. That means he doesn’t have to pay for tuition or attend any classes he doesn’t want to. In other words, he just got a full scholarship to the best magic school in the world. 

While that offer’s enticing, Rudeus wants to join his father and Roxy and find his Mom first. That’s when the Man-God appears to him for the first time in years and gives some advice. If he wants to cure his impotency, he’ll find it at Ranoa University. He doesn’t say how, but he says that it will happen. 

So, bet. Rudeus is going to school.

It’s Time for School!

Again, Mushoku Tensei is one of those series that is a slow burn, but when it gets going with the action or drama, it does a great job at showing it. And unlike many isekai that focus on the action side of things, Mushoku Tensei treats the slower moments with the same respect and gravitas that they’re entitled to. And that includes the Ranoa University arc.

Some people might see what’s about to happen as a boring slice of life and just want the action, but Mushoku Tensei isn’t a pure action isekai. At its core, it’s about a guy trying to live his second chance at life to the fullest, which includes the slower moments. In addition, to hammer home the importance of what’s to come, the final minutes of the episode depicts numerous people at Ranoa University that will come to play a role in Rudeus’ life. He might not have met all of them yet, but he’s connected to them in some form.

So, yeah. I’m looking forward to the next few episodes and seeing how they adapt what’s to come. This was a good start to this new arc.

By the way, the dub for the second season has started. 

I Give “Letter of Invitation” a 4/5

You Thought Rudeus Was Getting Better? Think Again!

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 3 Review

Let it go on record that I read ahead about what happens next in Mushoku Tensei. As such, I knew that this moment would happen, but I didn’t make things any easier. If anything, knowing what would happen in advance makes it more painful. Everyone who thought Rudeus was moving on from Eris, prepare for a bitter truth. 

Darn You, Eris!!!

So, on the surface, it looks like Rudeus got his act together. He’s building his rep as “Quagmire Rudeus,” he’s been working a lot with Counter Arrow. As for Sara, it becomes obvious that she’s falling for him. So when she asks him out, he agrees. It could be fun. And she does start sending out all the signs that she’s into him like that. So, Rudeus decides to move on from Eris altogether and takes that leap.

It was at this moment, though, that his despair reached new heights. In that crucial moment, Rudeus realizes something terrible: his trauma over Eris leaving him…has rendered him impotent.

Now you see why I made such a big deal about Eris leaving as she did. However unintentional, she hurt him to the point that he has lasting trauma. Regardless of how you feel about Rudeus, he doesn’t deserve not being able to find love.

Soldat Proves to be a Real Bro

What happens next reverses my opinion about another person completely: Soldat. Even though he acted arrogant and kept insulting Rudeus. But when Rudeus tries to drown his sorrow in beer, and Sol does that again, Rudeus just let’s all that anger burst out until he starts crying. It’s here that Soldat proves that he’s a real bro.

Soldat lets Rudy vent about all of his problems and the trauma he got from Eris. He’s watching the guy bawl his eyes out and asking why Eris left him! Then, like a real bro, he tries to give him a pick-me-up. Granted, taking him to a brothel to get “professional help” isn’t a good idea, but it’s the thought that counts. 

None of it works, though. As the woman who tried helping notes, what happened with Eris has left him scared of women. He needs help from a girl he KNOWS won’t laugh or run out on him. That’s part of the reason why I never liked Sara. She’s too much like Eris, too quick to judge people. Case in point, when Rudy gets drunk and starts bad-mouthing her, Sara overhears it and slugs him! So much for Counter Arrow.

Moving on to the Next Arc

So, this episode marks the end of the events of Volume 7 of the light novel. While it’s happening sooner than I thought, I’m not going to complain about the anime rushing things. I never liked this part of the story, and I didn’t like Sara. In fact, I question why the promo material for this season put so much emphasis on her. She barely has any role to play in the story. 

The good news is that next week, the anime’s getting into a portion that I’m looking forward to. In the episode’s stinger, we see the elven friend of Rudeus’, father, Elinalise, looking for him. Without giving too much away, Rudeus is about to do something he’s kept on the backburner for a long time now.

I Give “Abrupt Approach” a 4/5

Seeking a Bro for the End of the World

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Ep 3 Review

Pro-tip for surviving the zombie apocalypse: there’s strength in numbers. The more people working in one group means greater odds of survival, especially if those people work well together. As Akira continues his carefree life during the end of the world, he realizes he’s missed on so much time with his friends. Being Akira, he decides to make up for lost time. Even if that means going into a zombie-infested hotel. The things that one will do for the sake of their bro are amazing.

Enter Gray Fullbu-I mean, Kencho

So, back in college, Akira had a best friend on the rugby team named Kenichiro “Kencho” Ryuuzaki. He was the opposite of what Akira was before the apocalypse. He was extroverted, charismatic, good-looking, and had a successful, high-paying job. He could date most beautiful of women and would brag about it to Akira, to his irritation. As a result, their last meetup a year earlier ended on a sour note. Now, Akita’s ready to fix that.

There’s just one problem: he’s trapped in an upscale love hotel filled with zombies. Kencho’s hasn’t eaten in days, he’s out of water, and he has to listen to his now-zombie date moaning in her restraints.

Yes, it was that kind of hotel. Akira, though, doesn’t care. He still heads out to get his bro.

Kencho Is Going to be the Comic Relief

Despite all odds, Akira manages to find Kencho and says he’s sorry for snapping at him and that he should’ve listened to him and quit his job. The zombies cut their reunion short when they have to break for the roof and pull a rooftop jump that would make Assassin’s Creed proud. It’s here though that Kencho ends up opening up about his own problems.

In this day and age, there are jobs that, despite being well-paying, require people to do less than reputable things like lie. In Kencho’s case, he had to lie to a lot of customers as a salesman, something that he hated. The worst part is that this happens in real life. People have to throw away their dreams and morals to keep a roof over their heads. They gain security but lose what makes them who they are.  

Inspired by Akira’s determination to live his best life, though, Kencho decides to follow his bro’s example, and become a stand-up comic. So, he jumps across the street…and strips naked as he does so, much to Akira’s amusement.

Believe it or not, that’s not the first time I’ve seen a guy strip like that in an anime. Gray from Fairy Tail does that a lot! It’s hilarious!

Two Bros Hanging Out During the End of the World

So now that Akira has Kencho, this solo survival game has become a duo. And as before, even though the world is falling apart, the two are happier than ever. Together, the two might end up surviving the zombie apocalypse.

Overall, this was another banger of an episode. The comedy remained as black as ever, and the fact that it was S&M gear that wound up saving Kencho’s life makes me laugh. I think that Kencho will be a fun character to have around, even if he does strip naked a lot. 

Shizuka Might be Top Waifu 2023 Material

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Ep 2 Review

It’s the end of the world, there are zombies around every corner, and the future of mankind is in doubt. But if you’ve spent three years of working in a hellish job like Akira has, you don’t care. You’re just happy to be free to do whatever you want now. As Akira navigates life in the zombie apocalypse, he remains happy as ever, caring only about his own wants. He’s essentially the antithesis of Takashi from High School of the Dead. However, he soon runs into a woman who fits more in line with the mentality of HOTD. Enter Shizuka, who, despite her cold nature, might be in the running for top waifu of 2023. 

Akira Makes Homer Simpson Proud 

While the rest of Japan (and probably the world) are freaking out over the zombie apocalypse, Akira’s enjoying his job-free life. He finally cleans his apartment, throws his trash out onto the zombies below, and his only plans are to sit back and drink some beer. It’s the kind of attitude that would make Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin proud…until he runs out of beer. Thus, Akira’s first day off gets cut short when he has to go on a beer run through his zombie-infested neighborhood. 

In real life, the last thing people should care about in a disaster is having enough beer to drink. As if to contrast this, the episode introduces viewers to Akira’s neighbors who react to things more realistically: they’re panicking and don’t know what to do. Then Akira shows up, casually climbing down a pipe with a smile, and they’re dumbfounded. The contrast makes the moment work as a black comedy. 

As lovely as it is to see someone remain so cheerful despite the world going to Hell, the episode introduces us to someone whose demeanor is Akira’s polar opposite: Shizuka Mikazuki. 

Shizuka, the No-Nonsense Survivalist to Akira’s Fool

When first introduced to Shizuka, the anime depicts her from Akira’s perspective. She’s young, intelligent, attractive, and utterly serious about how things are now. She criticizes how foolish it is for Akira to risk his life to get something non-essential to survival and refuses to give him her contact information. She doesn’t mention her name in the episode; I had to look it up afterward. But after showing Akira’s return home from his beer run, the episode does something interesting. It shifts perspectives to depict how Shizuka’s handling things.

The contrast between the two couldn’t be more significant. Unlike Akira, Shizuka’s living in a high-rise apartment where she’s got a home treadmill to stay in shape. She’s constantly trying to contact other people to determine how widespread things are. Her tv’s always playing every zombie flick or show in existence to help her understand what she’s dealing with. She’s a smart and dedicated woman determined to survive the apocalypse and is more than capable of doing so. 

Here’s the unspoken question that the anime’s asking about Shizuka, though: is she happy?

Happiness is Most Important in Bleakest of Times

When faced with a catastrophic event like a natural disaster or a nuclear meltdown, the last thing most people think about is being happy. They’re more focused on staying alive, which is only natural, and waiting for things to return to normal. Here’s the thing, though: what if returning to normalcy could take months or even years? What if things can never return to a standard of normalcy? Staying constantly focused on survival in something like a zombie apocalypse can be mentally taxing to even the strongest-willed people. We’ve already seen a recent example of how people react to a globally-disruptive event like COVID-19, and how that put people under a lot of stress. Dealing with that every day can make people bitter and cynical at best, or break them altogether. Yet Akira’s happier than ever. 

The thing about Akira that Shizuka doesn’t understand is that he understands the importance of being happy, especially when things are at their bleakest. While his actions are reckless, his desire to follow his new bucket list (which we see him write this episode) does wonders for his mental health. If he survives to see the zombie virus cured, he’ll come out of things far better than someone like Shizuka. She’ll be even more bitter and cynical than she already is, and some of her seems to understand that. Surviving is important, but so is remembering to have fun.

So, I stand by my assertion: Shizuka has the potential to be a top-tier waifu for 2023. She may be cold and cynical initially, but that will likely change as the series continues. Given how she’s in the opening and ending, it’s a given that she’ll run into Akira again. Once she opens up some more, fans will start clamoring for her. 

I Give “Bucket List of the Dead” a 4/5

‘Zom 100’ is a Hilarious Jab at How Corporate Jobs Can be Hell!

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Review

Once upon a time, working an office job for a big corporation seemed like the ideal life. To get paid working in a safe place that required minimal physical labor sounded like a dream come true. Then people realized the truth: office jobs suck! You face annoying commutes to work, do something that, in the grand scheme of things, has no value, and potentially deal with bosses that are either jerks or idiots. And when a person deals with that day in and day out, every day, can you even call that living? It’s less like you’re living and more like being a zombie. 

Then again, being a zombie might be an even better alternative. That seems to be the philosophy that this new, hilariously comedic horror anime called Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead seems to live by. When everyone living through a zombie apocalypse is the equivalent of hell, this show looks at us and asks, “Was life before any better?” 

Akira Tendo, the Corporate Slave Zombie…

The first episode opens with one of the most depressingly realistic introductions to a character I’ve seen in a while. Meet Akira Tendo, who, at the young age of 24, already lives like he was dead. Three years ago, he got a job at a production company fresh out of college. At a glance, it looked like his dream job. He’d be doing what he loved, his co-workers seemed nice, and he even had a crush on this cute one named Saori Ohtori.

It took less than a day for him to start hating it. 

If people in America think corporate jobs are bad, then that’s nothing. In Japan, there’s the concept of a “black company.” In essence, it’s everything negative about working in a big business office job. Everyone’s expected to work overtime without pay; the bosses are more like slave drivers and concern for mental and physical health is nonexistent. It gets to the point where some people would rather die than live like that. I’m being serious.

As depressing as this is, Zom 100 plays up Akira’s horrible life for the sake of black comedy. We hear his coworkers bragging about how much overtime they’re putting in; his boss is an abusive demon, and that girl he likes? She’s the boss’ mistress! He can hear them making out from inside the man’s office. By the time we’re introduced to him, he’s more a zombie than a person.

Again, it’s exaggerated for comedy’s sake, but it’s still a big jab at how corporate work sucks.

Wait, a Zombie Apocalypse? I NEVER HAVE TO WORK AGAIN!!

One day, as Akira’s reluctantly headed to his terrible job, the thing so many people dread happens. The zombie apocalypse begins, and Akira starts freaking out. Then, as he’s busy running for his life, he realizes something. Something that will offer him salvation from his hellish life: he never has to work again. 

Then suddenly, the formerly monochrome world Akira’s in lights up in an explosion of colors. It’s a big, neon-colored expression of how Akira’s happy for the first time in years. Everyone else is reacting to this like it’s Highschool of the Dead, while Akira’s treating it like the best day of his life. It’s a brilliant moment of black comedy that left me grinning at the sheer audacity. The show’s saying that it would be better to face down zombies rather than sit in an office and do a job that gives you no fulfillment. 

So, now alive for the first time in years, Akira does what he should’ve done years ago. He heads to Ohtori’s place to confess his love but finds she’s already a zombie, along with his fat boss. So, killing three birds with one stone, he quits his job, throws his boss out the window, and then confesses to Ohtori before running for it. And he’s still happier than ever.

Get Busy Living Before you Get Busy Dying.

Afterward, Akira realizes that odds are, he’s going to die and become a zombie himself. Before that happens, though, he wants to live his life to the fullest. So, he grabs a notebook from a convenience store and comes up with his bucket list of 100 things to do before he dies. And that is where the first episode is.

There have been many zombie apocalypse stories told over the year, including anime like Highschool of the Dead. But this might be the first time in living memory where the idea of a zombie apocalypse doesn’t look that bad. Yes, society collapses, and people have to fight to stay alive. But when you contrast that to how horrible Akita’s life was before this, could you even call it living? Life is meant to be more than just slaving away at a job you only do to pay the bills. It’s enjoying yourself. Maybe Akira has the right idea about what he’s doing. Regardless, I’m going to enjoy watching this series.

There’s more, though. The dub comes out on August 6th on Crunchyroll and Netflix (and has Zeno Robinson as Akira), and the latter is making a live-action version of this. Clearly, the anime distributors seem to have a lot of faith in this, so that should encourage you to watch it. Even if we can’t all quit our dead-end jobs, seeing someone like us do that makes our world a little brighter?

I Give “Akira of the Dead” a 4.5/5