With Great Power Comes Great…Sadism… Apparently.
Voyager: No, but seriously. Did… did the lead of Isekai Cheat Magician just get “Great Responsibility’d” by the irresponsible mentor?
EvilBob: I think he did. Also, did Kunai just spank a religious symbol? Worse yet, she seems to have enjoyed it. Despite appearances to the contrary.
Voyager: Yeeeah… this week is weeeird.
EvilBob: That’s… one word for it. So uh…
Voyager: Yeah, um…
EvilBob: You’re… going down?
Voyager: Bring it on…?
OPINIONS
EvilBob: Maou-sama, Retry’s second episode is okay I guess. We still don’t have a plot which I’m not sure is necessarily a bad thing yet. The characters are fun to watch even without a specific goal to work towards. Kunai himself seems to be a true chaotic character, he does some things that seem good while other times he does things that could seem somewhat evil-ish. Like how he got Luna’s money for example. Overall, it’s enjoyable and it hasn’t disappointed me yet.
Voyager: Isekai Cheat Magician actually managed to have a pretty solid second episode. It’s still a bit of a bother that they skipped out on the intro which, while not as drastic a miss as with Arifureta, does decontextualize the relationship between the leads a little. That said, the one thing this show does better than the manga and worse in others is the exposition. What they decide to spend exposition on in the anime is a lot… different. Focusing more on how they got there. In the manga, by this point they hadn’t revealed as much of that information and instead put more focus on expositing how their powers (or at least Rin’s) worked. It was an odd choice. Overall, though, it’s still a pretty fun show, all things considered.
EvilBob: So, how’re those oh-so-interesting characters treating you?
Voyager: …I don’t want to talk about it.
EvilBob: But they’re just so interesting.
Voyager: I don’t want to talk about it.
EvilBob: So I guess I win by default?
Voyager: No!
EvilBob: Can you give me a good reason why I don’t?
Voyager: Well, because… my characters finally took steps forward in… their… development? A-and we finally get to see that Rin is smart.
EvilBob: … Is that the best you can do?
Voyager: Well what makes your clown car of characters so interesting?
EvilBob: Ah! Well since you’re so curious, I’ve mentioned before that Kunai is a chaotic character. He’s a protagonist that can be evil or good depending on how he feels. And while that is an interesting aspect for a protag, on its own, it pales in comparison to the way he interacts with every new character they run into. Also, each character seems to have some weird quirk to them. Even the bandits from this episode were kinda fun to watch.
Voyager: …But… all that means is your characters are occasionally kinda funny.
EvilBob: Which is one more thing than yours have going for them!
Voyager: …of course you realize, this… means war.
Voyager: Please. Do enlighten me about that riveting story of yours.
EvilBob: W-well um, it’s complicated.
Voyager: I asked for your story. Not your relationship status.
EvilBob: That’s just a low blow.
Voyager: ‘bout as low as the bar set by your show, eh?
EvilBob: …
Voyager: Too soon?
EvilBob: And hurtful. *whimper*
Voyager: Aw, well it’s okay. I’ll make it all better… by showing you how it’s done! See, story is character arc. In order to progress a character arc, there must be some semblance of plot. Be it in one episode, or over the course of the entire series. And what Isekai Cheat Magician sets up for that plot is actually pretty cool. A bit of obligatory worldbuilding and exposition, here and there, then putting it into practice by showing our heroes having advanced a little (mind you, not fully) and giving us a clear goal from here on. Our lead even had a minor revelation unto himself regarding his attitude towards Rin in the beginning. I still say that would’ve come across more had the show not skipped most of the introduction, but whatever.
EvilBob: M-my show has a plot!
Voyager: Does it, now? What is it?
EvilBob: It’s… complicated?
Voyager: Ah. That golden oldie. Well, come back when you finally figure out what it is, ‘kay?
Voyager: So…
EvilBob: Just finish me off, already…
Voyager: Ah. Resigned to your fate, I see.
EvilBob: The visuals in my show haven’t changed at all and yours actually got a little boost with the effects so…
Voyager: Dude. I can’t show off if you make my argument for me.
EvilBob: I know. Consider it my form of revenge.
Voyager: …not cool, man.
CONCLUSION
Voyager: Victory really is becoming an expectation at this point, isn’t it? I must be rather good at this.
EvilBob: Yeah, yeah. Keep laughin’. One of these days you’re gonna be humbled, mark my words.
Voyager: I’m a bastion of humility, thank you. Anyway, what do you guys think? Did Maou-sama Retry deserve this one? Or was Isekai Cheat Magician rightfully crowned? Let us know, down below.
EvilBob: Thanks for letting us waste your time, people.
Voyager: And thanks, as always, for reading. Keep up the Awesome!
EvilBob: And keep it Classy.
Voyager: Take Care
I’m really quite enjoying Isekai Cheat Magician. I thought there was some lovely character work between Rin and Taichi this week and the friend dynamic being set up here. That said, I really don’t like Maou Sama Retry all that much at the moment and it is only hanging in my watch list by a thread.
Yeah, it’s actually turning out pretty good. I think it has the potential to be another surprise hit, for sure. But I don’t think it’s quite there just yet. I give it another two or so episodes before we know for sure.