Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2

"Screw it. I'd rather be a scumbag than have regrets." This one quote is but a symptom of Mushoku Tensei's true colors. A poorly conceived and erratically-focused power fantasy masquerading as some greater isekai story. Mushoku Tensei's anime has been praised by many fans for different reasons: its worldbuilding, its down-to-earth writing, its music composition, wonderful visuals, and its characters. Most notably, you'll even hear defenses for this series: it's an anime about a flawed man overcoming faults and achieving redemption in a different world. Rudeus, a creepy degenerate, is not perfect for a reason. However, it has been apparent to others that Mushoku Tensei isn't awell-built together isekai plot, but rather, a creepy degenerate fantasy where the "game is the game". An unfortunately shallow worldbuilding with uninspiring depiction, plot contrivances to give Rudeus perfect opportunities without much challenge, and a questionable depiction of personal agency, especially surrounding women and children. To compensate for the MC being a leech and the second coming of epst*in, other people are that much degenerate and stupid if not even more. Perversion is everywhere, SA is a measly off-comment remark, and degeneracy is the norm. Fans will say “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it” but that’s missing the point. Any piece of media can/will be received and responded to by audiences. Some viewers will go into further works they don’t necessarily like with an open mind. There’s a reason media can “shift expectations.” Media can challenge your views, and that’s why media is powerful. So how does this season fair with previous iterations? Even worse. Not only does it fail to “challenge your views”, but it also fails to write cohesive situations that can only be excused with "it's a fantasy". Choices in writing and production fall apart; this anime season, especially the later half, is an egregious storytelling of rushed problems, incomprehensible developments, and poorly handled traumas before setting up a complete character assassination plotline for many of those loved ones. Rudeus is…controversial to put it lightly. You have heard enough about his issues from other negative reviews. However, the first half of part 2 continues his path to achieve the good life and grow. Growing into a family man and overcoming his past faults for others made some actually like Rudeus's character for a moment (which is saying something). Other characters get some good arcs, such as Norn and Paul. Sylphie…is a character in the series "Mushoku Tensei". Composition-wise, the music remains strong, and while animation quality has taken a bit of a decline, parts that need stellar animation (e.g. ep 10's fight scene and ep 12's argument scene) are on point. While many fans may complain about the drop in animation quality, Directors still manage to create a show with component alignment. Voice Actors remain giving their heart and soul and a wonderful performance when the time comes for them. However, all of my praises end here. This is a point specifically from LN readers, not from me. The anime adaptation skips several conversations and chapters. Now, it’s not unfamiliar for anime to do this. To fit its restricted runtime, budget, and story points, it has to set constraints and cut material. This is just a symptom of making anime. As an anime-only fan, many sightings of potential cuts become noticeable. Big developments are missing reactions from other characters, and arcs are rushed to set off new events. An episode supposedly has a very important conversation cut, and its cut makes the act look even more reprehensible (we’ll get to “that moment” later). Even as a solely anime watcher, you’ll notice rushed developments without the needed downtime. However, before you say “Y’all should just read the LN already” to anime watchers, keep in mind that these are views of the anime’s work, not the light novel. If you wish to discuss comparisons to the light novel or complain about specific scenes missing, discuss it in those forums. I've seen enough “this is why I hate anime-only fans!” posts during this series airing. LN readers are allowed to feel upset, but fans have gotta stop plastering spoilers or attacking anime-only watchers just because there is disappointment surrounding this season. Be critical, not a d***. However, this iteration is still a disappointment overall, and it’s not just because of “adaptation no good”. The first half is still actively uneventful, and good arcs become sparse in a slow-running lagoon. In the second half, the plot and the people surrounding the plot take a turn for the worse without proper development for such setups. The most egregious of these (the streets won’t fu- with this one) has to involve Roxy. Do you like her characterization? Too bad! It becomes just as shallow as Rudeus's brain. Many aspects of her goals along many years of living and her 7-year journey get nullified, and she becomes nothing more than another girl accompanying Rudeus…who she feels flustered by now that he’s older! Plot Twist! Conveniently ignoring how Roxy is 50 and knew/taught Rudeus when he was 5 years old (Yes...I know Migurd age far differently and Rudy is mentally 50. Let me joke and talk my s*** again), she is no longer her own character with her own goals, but rather, just another one of Rudeus’s girl companions. This is all haphazardly thrown together over a mere 20 minutes of anime runtime and is far more poorly developed than previous interests, especially on both ends. But it gets far worse. Through one specific plotline, several other plot points become rushed and ideas fall apart. Viewers will either defend this girl with their lives or despise everyone (including her) for the illogical turn of events; as you can guess, I’m in the latter camp. You don’t need a ragebait video to understand how some viewers, including some established fans, were upset by the later arc of season 2 part 2. To put it simply, it’s a slap to the face of one’s intelligence. *POTENTIAL SLIGHT “SPOILERS”*. Not specific, but read at your own risk* Episodes 9-12 (especially episode 11) are a misaligned mess. Major plot events and aftermaths are ill-conceived and are merely situational for the sake of being situational. Such events that should be utterly story-shaking are moved on from quickly and become nothing more than devices for misplaced subplots that don't have enough development to be feasible. And the BIG "dilemma" loses the plot as it doesn’t know where its lead should focus. Events are illogical and make characters, especially Roxy, look utterly disgusting in context. People wouldn't defend those involved while criticizing past characters if these current events weren't portrayed in the story as the more "attractive" archetypes and outcome(s). This "dilemma" act also ends up completely undermining big story-shaking events in previous episodes as the dilemma is the means for resolution. Those effects are nothing more than a mere afterthought in the heat of something degenerate. But don’t worry. Just like in previous seasons, the anime’s “morals system” will try to validate its degeneracy once again. This time around though, the anime becomes just as hypocritical as Rudeus. Do you know how other girls called out other guys for specific perversion in season 1 (while not factoring in different religious beliefs)? Don't worry, your fictional waifus WILL accept your perversion! Rather than tackle these problems head-on, others will actively reward and excuse your actions when others in the past have been vindicted. The one who vocally hated a character for their past acts of degeneracy will actually RATIONALIZE the consequences of that character's actions if you're factored in. This MC's previous sense of morality? INVALID! Their original efforts to grow family-wise?! POINTLESS! MORALS ARE DIFFERENT HERE! Let’s just conveniently ignore how other characters were previously hounded for their lack of morality from multiple angles (season 1 for instance. Not just from one party's religion), and how this entire subplot STILL undermines big events from a prior episode. A character's acts to be better than past errors? You forgot this was a NEET's power fantasy where indulgence is best. Interesting debates and controversial views, especially those surrounding certain relationships, become nullified by a rush of flows, a lack of upfront communication between everyone, and an active inconsistency with tone. “This dilemma” isn’t bad because it’s controversial. Controversial media can challenge our world’s views on “morals”. It can set up believable scenarios with understandable roots where even “the moral police” has to see a different perspective. The fact that many fans can still see Paul as a well-written character (not person) is proof of this idea. Unfortunately, if it fails to be well-put-together controversial with consistent challenges, then it becomes nothing more than wish fulfillment. Mushoku Tensei rushes so hard into creating and indulging in “the dilemma” to get its way. This doesn’t help with an utter inconsistency when addressing this subject and an unfortunate degradation of characters along the way. It can't even challenge itself without portraying those challenging its ideas as guilty or insensitive as possible. Treat it like a cake that was “not like the other cakes”. It's gonna be sold and promoted for its unique style, but it'll still be criticized regarding a correct mix of ingredients and cooking time. The cake being poorly made isn't validated by its differences or challenges. You can gas it up like "the store-bought cake enjoyers ain't finna like this one!", but it'll still be judged for its final taste. Mushoku Tensei continues to leave a bad taste in your mouth while claiming it's something deep, challenging, and thought-provoking. It is still that uninspiring male fantasy masquerading under a big isekai story. Rudeus having the cake and eating it too is a pretty effective way to negate any sort of past efforts he made. But it's not supposed to make sense. It's supposed to be a fantasy for NEETs. Rudeus is their self-insert, he’s amazing af, and the waifus run a faucet for him. This season makes it very clear of that. I better see a harem tag on Season 3. *POTENTIAL SLIGHTLY SPOILERS OVER* I've never been able to favor Mushoku Tensei. However, I've continued this series with an open mind like a “critic” should. Despite having vast issues with its flaws, many developments from previous iterations left me intrigued. This series does have good moments, especially production-wise. I have to give so much credit to directors, voice actors, animators, and compositors. Of course, I have to respect Rifujin's original hard work. However, this season's final developments, not just with Rudeus's Parents but also with Roxy and Sylphie, become an insult to everything that was teased before about Rudeus's "growth". It will continue to be wish-fulfillment degeneracy. Rudeus is still that pest fans will either support or desire to ram into a wall. I've had friends say to me that the degenerative aspects that I despised were all en route for an interesting redemption story with great plot development and intriguing worldbuilding. But then, after so many attempts and compromises Rudeus made to grow as a person, he drops this line: "Screw it. I'd rather be a scumbag than have regrets." It is, and will always be, just that idealized male fantasy other critics perceived it to be. A hikikomori, family leech, and literal pedophile reincarnates into a poorly built fantasy world getting all types of looks, powers, benefits, and girl companions for free. Any sort of roadblock or tragic event is quickly moved on from and nothing but a directive to set up another otaku fantasy (usually sexual or romantic). Potentially interesting worldbuilding takes a backseat when "needed". Everything typically horrible in real life is simply "not that big of a deal in this world" so Rudeus can look better narratively as other characters look worse. Women have no sense of agency in the presence of our master. He can be celebrated, put on a pedestal, and prance around that he is a better person now than before, but that doesn't change that at his core, he will always be a degenerate pest. Now, he is just a hypocritical one that this new world validates. Despite having solid art and animation, a wonderful music composition, sparse solid characters, and moments that show something special underneath, Mushoku Tensei remains nothing more than uninspiring storytelling with trashy direction. Many plot points and character situations remain actively unexplored or rushed and will continue being unexplored and rushed. Good writing and worldbuilding are not a focus when the “game is the game” and you gotta “catch ‘em all”, right? Perhaps I’m just tired. My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined. If I continue with this series, I’ll probably fall into a state of trauma. And I doubt sex is the perfect means to make it better.