Summer 2023 Mid-Season Isekai Round-Up

Published: 8/21/2023

The Summer season features seven isekai titles and one reverse-isekai title. I have followed six of these beyond the first episode (the exceptions being Sweet Reincarnation and The Great Cleric). With all of these series now having completed at least half of their season run, let’s take a look at how each of them is faring.

(Note: Order below is based on the order in which they debut each week.)

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation s2

Episodes so far: 8 (including episode 0)

Rating so far: B+

Episode 6 dredged up a whole big controversy involving the episode’s blasé application of slavery, and then episode 7 followed it up by having him effectively kidnap two beast girls who dared destroy one of his Roxy figures. I’m pretty sure that whole sequence was intended to be an exercise in earthy humor, but the original writer’s sense of comedic execution has been shaky before, and that whole sequence was more uncomfortable than fun.

It’s a shame that this more objectionable content is getting in the way, because it is overshadowing a very welcome development: Rudy being reunited with Sylphie at the Magic Academy. Of course, he’s not currently aware that Fitz is even female, much less Sylphie, but seeing the way she’s bonding anew with him as a teenager as she patiently waits for him to figure it out has been quite enjoyable, and new apprentice-not-slave Julie is suitably endearing. The new setting has also introduced plenty of new characters (and the return of a previous one!) and a large number of possible story angles, so there’s lots of fodder her for a good run the rest of the season. (And novel readers assure that the sketchiest parts are now past, too. . .)

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander The Dungeon

Episodes So Far: 7

Rating: B

This isn’t a great series by any means, and it has certainly had some issues with artistic quality control (the last couple of episodes have looked a bit rough), but the series is making the most out of its bizarre spin on standard isekai fare. A lot of the credit for this goes to the central characters. Boxxo is quite engaging in the way he has to find creative ways to do even basic things like communicate, but Lammis is nearly as much of a star as his veritable partner. She has an invitingly cheery personality, is sexy without being sexualized, is sharp enough to quickly figure out how to communicate with Boxxo, and looks completely natural both carrying Boxxo around in a harness and attacking like a pugilist. I also love the creative ways that the story works in the vending machine angle in every episode. This one could be appreciable even by those who are not normally isekai fans.

The Devil is a Part-Timer! s2 p2

Episodes So Far: 6 this half (18 overall)

Rating: B-

This one has also had some occasional artistic quality control issues, though not as much so as Vending Machine. While these six episodes have had some moments, overall the second half has not risen above the largely-lackluster delivery of the first half. A lot of the blame for this involves the series having to slog through some of the franchise’s weakest source material, though Emilia’s return to Enta Isla (and especially her failure to come back on schedule) is pushing the story towards one of the most plot-dense parts of the overall storyline. The introduction of Emilia’s father and Alas Ramus’s “younger sister” Acieth are also promising developments, but even so, the production only occasionally accomplishes the flair which made the first season so much fun to watch. At least in this case we know that the franchise is capable of better, and scenes like the one shown above are still juicy, so there is legitimate hope for more.

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior

Episodes So Far: 7

Rating: B

This one has also had some artistic issues, though more because of limited animation than artistic consistency. That aside, it has been a surprisingly engaging series, with Pride being desperate to avoid descending into the wickedness that distinguished her role in the game but still adopting a somewhat fatalistic attitude towards that outcome; she even still regards here younger sister Tiara (the protagonist of the game) as the “true Queen” even though she’s formally been recognized as the heir apparent. Seeing how she takes advantage of her strength as the game’s “last boss” has also been a treat, as has seeing the way she has engendered more trust and loyalty than she fully appreciates by changing the direction of several key characters. It’s not on the same level as last season’s How Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion because it lacks a true foil for Pride and a sense of mystery, but it has established some of its own appeal.

My Unique Skill Make Me OP Even at Level 1

Episodes So Far: 7

Rating: C+

Artistically-speaking, this is one of the weakest series of the whole season (not just among isekai). Its storylines so far have also been far from exciting. Still, the story has just enough plusses to make it barely-watchable. One of these is the enjoyable and wholesome relationship between Ryota and Emily, though the series has yet to clarify if Emily is a member of a shorter race or just a small human; her demeanor certainly suggests that she’s older than the child she looks like she is. The other is some somewhat interesting world mechanics, where food production is entirely based on dungeon drops, and taking drops out of the dungeon and leaving them unattended for a while can cause them to turn into monsters – but monsters who can leave special rare drops when defeated. The most recent two episodes have also introduced a new female character, one who, based on the OP, will become a regular. A solid English dub also doesn’t hurt.

This is never a high-priority view for me, but if you want a more low-key isekai then My Unique Skill fits the bill.

Am I Actually The Strongest?

Episodes So Far: 6

Rating: C

A combination of production difficulties and scheduling conflicts have knocked this series out on two different weeks now, but thanks to being one of the season’s earliest debuting series, it doesn’t feel much like it’s behind. That may have helped the production standards, as this one looks better (and maintains its quality control better) than some other series in this grouping. However, the series has problems elsewhere which become increasingly apparent as it progresses. One is essentially hand-waving the technical side of how Haruto is able use his barrier magic to do basically anything, whether it’s heal, make a clone, or even effective create cable and Internet service to allow his little sister to become a budding otaku. That is related to the bigger issue of genre clash and intense anachronisms; flying around like a masked super-hero is one thing, but anime productions being viewable in this world, too? Adding in one of the most pathetic dragons you’ll ever come across in fantasy anime doesn’t help, either. There is at least some potential in a developing plot involving how the mother that abandoned Harutdo may have her sights set on either controlling or eliminating Haruto’s sister Charlotte, and in general this world does seem to have a more established Big Picture, but even as power fantasies go, it’s standing on shaky ground so far.