Fall ’23 Mid-Season Round-Up

For the last two seasons, I have done a mid-season round of of isekai titles. While there are certainly enough of them this season (eight total, if you include reverse-isekai) to do a piece on just them, We also have a bevy of series about characters displaced within their own timelines (four in all!) and a number of other quality and not-so-quality series that I feel are well deserving of some mention. Hence, this time will be more a general survey of titles that I am following and where they stand at this point.

Note #1: I am not including the two titles that I am episode-reviewing, so look for the individual posts on The Eminence in Shadow and The Apothecary Diaries. A few other titles – among them Precure Full Bloom, Ragna Crimson, Undead Unluck, and The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess – fall into the “I might still finish them but I am not fully caught up” category. Pluto will almost certainly get a full write-up once I have a chance to finish it.

Note #2: Finally, I solve the technical problem, so this post is now intact! All commentary is based on episodes aired through 11/21/23.

A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special

Rating So Far: C

This “transported back in time into my earlier self” scenario features the protagonist reliving his training days in an effort to produce a better outcome than “everyone dies.” Fine concept, but the series so far has mainly used it to justify why younger Desir is both abnormally knowledgeable and skilled for his situation. Classism plays a strong part here, but this is a wholly run-of-the-mill treatment of that aspect. Nothing in the training scenarios excites much, either, and action scenes are limited by the mediocre animation effort. Even after seven episodes, it isn’t gelling into anything special.

Berserk of Gluttony

Rating So Far: C-

It pains me to rate this one this low, as I am a fan of the source novels, but this is one of the year’s most disappointing adaptations. I am not impressed by the character design aesthetic (with faces that are too long and chins that are too pointed), and the storytelling and production values just sap much of the sense of danger and dark moodiness that the content is supposed to have. Even Myne (above), who should have been a stand-out character design, does not impress. The novels were always more than a bit edgelord, but the anime version fails at adequately conveying that. The series does have some mildly interesting concepts and a saving grace in the character of the sword Greed, but I can’t recommend this feels-like-an-isekai-but-isn’t series.

Butareba

Rating So Far: B

This story about an otaku getting reincarnated into a pig with a motormouth thought track (voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) was not well-received at first, which is unfortunate, because that’s selling the series very short. The relationship which forms between the pig and Yethma girl Jess continues to lie at the center of the story, and it is a pleasant and sometimes playful one, which the pig can’t always dominate; Jess is well capable of occasionally throwing him off with somewhat flirtatious teasing. However, the bigger attracting factor for many may be the world-building. Something is very strange about these telepathic girls who wear silver collars and how they fit into the world’s picture, and the more Pig (and the audience) learn about it, the more shifty it gets. Violating a Yethma will get a person executed, but so will transporting a Yethma in any kind of cart or carriage? But yet Yethma have to travel to the mysterious Capital once they reach a certain age, and never return? The series has done a good job so far of building a vague sense of unease and dread at what fate might ultimately await Jess on her journey, and that’s carrying the story at least as much at this point as Pig and Jess are. This one I can recommend.

Dead Mount Death Play

Rating So Far: B+

The second season (or second half?) of this reverse-isekai title has been packed with all sorts of intersecting plot threads, and the plethora of story lines to follow here make each episode a delight. The bigger picture is starting to emerge, and that’s helping to make the second half even stronger than the first. In a weaker year, this would a contender for a Top 10 title for the year. Sadly, there’s just too much good stuff out there this season alone.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Rating So Far: A

Speaking of “good stuff,” this one joins the two I’m episode-reviewing as top of the class. This tale about an immortal elf wizard who’s outlived the Hero’s Party she was once part of, and is only after the Hero’s death starting to realize how much that (for her) comparatively-brief time meant to her, is a triumph of fantasy storytelling. For a character who isn’t very outwardly expressive or emotional, Frieren is still a joy to watch, and the series’ approach is a wholly fresh angle on standard fantasy storylines. The writing beautifully uses flashbacks to support points made in Frieren’s modern times and promote subtle, sentimental connections, such as the implication that the Hero Himmel’s penchant for having statues made of him may have less been an exercise in vanity and more about making sure one special person didn’t forget him. The thoughtfulness of the overall approach is making me look at fantasy stories in a different way, and the little bits of humor stuck in here and there are cute without being distracting. The series also looks great, has remarkably robust action sequences, one of the year’s better OPs, and a leading contender for the year’s top ED. If you’re any kind of fantasy fan, you should be watching it.

Goblin Slayer II

Rating So Far: B

I am tempted just to say “more of the same” here and leave it at that, but this season has shown a bit more character development than the first, especially for Goblin Slayer. His laser focus on goblins isn’t quite so complete, as he’s shown helping to train newbies and interact more with those around him, even including having a night out drinking with the guys at one point. He’s also much more appreciative of those around him, even if he doesn’t usually say it directly. It’s a positive change, which helps offset the slight negative of the stylistic shift on character designers. (I’ve gotten used to it after a few episode, but the differences were very distinct at first.) Except for one episode that puts most of the prominent female cast members in swimsuits, there hasn’t been a lot this season to get hugely excited about, but the series also doesn’t disappoint. Its OP “Entertainment” is one of the year’s best, too.

Helck

Rating So Far (for this season’s half): C

Talk about a series that’s squandering its early potential! This half has been hamstrung by a flashback explaining Helck’s past (and the situation in the human realm) which took a whopping 6½ episodes to play out. This being twice as long (or more) than it needed to be isn’t the writing’s only sin; it also keeps Vermilio – who is arguably the series’ most interesting character – sidelined for all that time. And while there was some payoff for all that plodding, I have yet to be convinced that the wait was worth it. Helck was on a downward slide before the end of last season, and it definitely bottomed out during the flashback. Episodes 19 and 20 have given some signs of the series starting to pick back up again, so we’ll see if it can recover.

I’m Giving The Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued A Crash Course in Naughtiness

Rating So Far: B-

This has been a silly, cute, and surprisingly enjoyable little story about a cantankerous sorcerer who’s trying to get a noblewoman on the run to break out of her shell, have a little fun, and enjoy life. How tame the “Demon Lord’s” naughtiness is has practically become a running joke at this point, but watching Charlotte gradually get more confident – and the way Allen is clearly starting to fall for her despite himself – has been quite appreciable. This isn’t the most memorable of shows, but it has proven to be fun and makes for some good light viewing.

I’m in Love With The Villainess

Rating so Far: B-

This “transported into an otome game” isekai variation is a mostly-pure comedy about main character Rae falling madly in love with nominal villainness Claire and the latter’s consternation about how every effort to dissuade Rae only has the opposite effect. However, amidst all of the fun there have been a handful of impactful serious moments, such as Rae’s frank admission that she is an actual lesbian but doesn’t expect Claire to reciprocate in that way, despite all her expressions of adoration. Episode 8 also brings a startlingly-serious plot turn, with promises of more. It’s not a high-priority series for me to watch each week, but I always get around to it eventually.

KimiZero (aka Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and The Inexperienced ME)

Rating So Far: B

Except for a week 4 spike, this has been one of the lower-rated series of the season on Anime News Network, and I don’t understand why. Granted, there’s nothing terribly different about it; much of the content so far has been very typical relationship-building scenes. Also, protagonist Ryuto still seems a bit too blushy around Runa despite them having dating for a couple of months as of episode 7. However, watching the way that their relationship is changing both of them in positive ways has been really sweet; Ryuto is ever so gradually learning to to be bolder and more confident, and Runa is learning that sex can be a goal in a relationship rather than a foundation of it. Sure, it’s never going to escape a gimmicky feel – we are still talking about a “hottest girl in school” type hanging out with a guy who would normally be Background Character A, after all – but they’re so good for each other that I can overlook that. Also, the twist about the girl Ryuto once got turned down by coming back into the picture in a big way is a lively one.

My Daughter Left The Nest and Return An S-Ranked Adventurer

Rating So Far: B-

Disappointingly, this one is saddled by some of the weakest artistry and technical merits of any series this season, but the sturdy affability of Belgrieve (“The Red Ogre”) helps anchor a series about a retired (but still very formidable) adventurer and his relationship with an adoptive daughter who’s become powerful and successful but is still a comically possessive Daddy’s Girl. More recent episodes have brought out elements of a bigger plotline and started to raise suggestions again that daughter Angeline might have a less-than-normal origin, which helps keep the series from being too narrow in its approach. Though the series does have some serious elements, it still makes for a serviceable lighter-side fantasy adventure.

Shangri-La Frontier

Rating So Far: B+

BOFURI proved that a series can be almost entirely based on watching pure game play-through and still be entertaining, but this series takes it to another level. Despite the events of the first several episodes mostly being nothing special on paper, they have been gloriously rendered here with some of the most eye-popping action animation and choreography this season (if not this year). This one is way more thrilling than it has any right to be (a killer metal-themed OP doesn’t hurt, either) and turns competitor A Playthrough of a Certain VRMMO Player’s Life into an afterthought. Highly recommended for any action fan.

Shy

Rating So Far: B

Shy initially looked liked it was going to be a halfway point between a traditional super-hero series and a traditional magical girl series, and it has more or less played out exactly like that. It has done a good job so far of showing protagonist Teru’s gradual growth into being a proper hero in her own way, and Teru’s journey – and the people who walk beside her and support her on the journey – is much more the major attraction for the show than the schemes of mysterious bad boy Stigma. The series looks pretty good, too. It’s one of the more low-key offerings of the season but worth checking out.

Spy x Family

Rating so Far (for this season): B

Honestly, the episodes this season – which typically consisted of two or more random vignettes prior to the cruise arc – haven’t had quite the level of comedy bite as the franchise’s preceding content. However, that has partly been offset by the deeper delve into Yor as the cruise arc has progressed. She’s now starting to think more about where she might be going forward rather than just where she stands right now. Originally this family was just a cover for her, but is it becoming more than that for her? Yuri doesn’t need her anymore, so it time to step away from the assassin gig make her current situation permanent? The comedy elements are still there, but this aspect is intriguing me way more right now.

Tearmoon Empire

Rating So Far: B

This one has been the surprise of the season for me. I didn’t think much of it after the first episode because of what I saw as an unwieldy balance of serious and comedic elements, but that has since smoothed out, turning this “jump back into an earlier self to prevent the bad future” caper into a neat, cute little comedy romp. The utter disconnect between Mia’s mostly-selfish motives to avoid her future execution and the wisdom with which she’s credited is the great running joke here (much like it is in The Eminence in Shadow), and unlike other series of its ilk, it never takes itself too seriously. Seeing Mia possibly getting involved in blossoming young romance is also a neat touch, and a scene with her dancing at a party is one of the highlight moments so far. Can’t overstate how adorable she is artistically, either. (Also unlike Eminence, where sex appeal is more the emphasis.) I’m hooked.

The Ancient Magus’ Bride 2

Rating So Far: A-

The switch to the school setting at the beginning of the first cour shifted the focus of the series some; the wonder and terror of magic was still part of it, but more an element than a focal point, with the emphasis now more on interactions with the expanded cast. The first few episodes of the second half continue that, as the comparatively mundane activities of the students under their magical lockdown provide a lot nice individual character moments and form the backdrop for Philomela’s deteriorating condition and growing menace of the missing book. This all comes to a gloriously dark head in episode 18’s reveal of the culprit, with episodes 18 and 19 forming some of the strongest animated content in the franchise to date. Everything which makes this series great is on display in these two episodes, and the careful build-up to that makes this season a triumph so far. This is a strong contender to at least make the Top 10 list for the year at this point. Its OP is also one of the best of the year in a conceptual sense.

The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy

Rating So Far: B-

Rather than a “transported into a younger self” structure (like three other series airing this season), this one jumps the protagonist forward to a reincarnation a millennium later, much like Winter 2023’s Reborn to Master the Blade or The Misfit of Demon King Academy. Much like Misfit, what has transpired in those centuries to create the current situation is an ongoing mystery, which is gradually becoming more important as the series progresses and it starts to look like the epic battles the Demon Lord fought have been deliberately forgotten or obscured. That and that protagonist Leo actually Liselia into a Vampire Queen minion rather than saving her life (because he didn’t know healing magic) adds a little more meat to what is otherwise a mostly-standard magic academy-type story, complete with a mostly-standard foe – although there are increasing signs that the Voids may be connected to what happened in the past, too. Production values have been mid-tier, so this one falls into the “appreciable but nothing special” category.

The Faraway Paladin: The Lord of Rust Mountain

Rating So Far: B

In general, I like what this series is doing. It’s taking a gradual, thorough approach to setting up the circumstances for its seasonal plotline, which is heavily borrowed from The Hobbit: a legendary dragon took over the dwarven kingdom of the Iron Mountains during the battles 200 years ago, and it’s now showing signs of starting to awaken. Thus Will, Menel, Reystov, and some new dwarf allies go deal with this really dangerous foe, both to restore the honor, pride, and homeland of the dwarven refugees who have come to Will’s Torch Town and to eliminate a future threat to Torch Town. I liked the way the culture and feelings of the dwarves factor into this, and the way the young lord of the dwarves learns from Will about courage and leadership, and a return back to Will’s home, and a meet with Gus, along the way to the dragon is a real treat. A full elf has also gotten involved in the most recent episode. The knock here is that the series may be too thorough and workmanlike in its approach.

The Kingdoms of Ruin

Rating So Far: C (if I’m in a charitable mood)

I could probably write a whole article about what’s wrong with this edgy, revenge-fueled tale. The supposition the series is based on is somewhat interesting: witches were originally intermediaries between humans and the gods, until humanity advanced enough that they not only didn’t need them anymore, but also actively saw them as a threat. Problem #1 is that the writing seems to be taking a perverse glee in showing that just about everyone is corrupted and evil, whether it’s the humans or the witches. Only a small number of individuals – like the witch Dorokka here – are capable of stepping outside of that, and she spends a couple of episodes dead for her trouble. Problem #2 is a wholly unlikable ass of a protagonist, one who’s so thoroughly consumed with revenge that he has no personality beyond that and makes some really odd decisions in pursuit of his bloodletting. And problem #3 is a really horribly timed and executed sense of humor, one which completely detracts from the series’ grim, edgy tone. And oh, yes, the always-veiled queen proves to be the real mastermind (in one of the least surprising reveals ever), and her reasons for all this chaos and carnage are pathetic.

In other words, this one’s a complete mess. I can’t recommend it.

The Rising of the Shield Hero

Rating So Far: B

After the letdown that was season 2, this season has been a distinct improvement. Some interesting new faces have joined, problems logically resulting from what Naofumi has been doing arise, and (oh, joy) two of the other three Cardinal Heroes have popped up again, both with issues as bad as Naofumi at his lowest. The big twist so far has been the appearance of hero-hunters from yet another different world (and a girl hero from another world as well), though what their ultimate goal is beyond wanting to attack heroes is unclear. There are too many better series this season to count this one as must-see, but if you stuck with the series through season two then this season is worth checking out.

The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent

Rating So Far: B-

The first season of this series mostly involved Sei growing into the role of the Saint. With the second season, Sei is already established as the Saint, so the focus shifts to a broader picture. There are still a few final miasma swamps to be quelled, but the mission she was summoned for is winding down. So what comes next? Helping out a foreign prince without revealing her true identity, getting some business ventures underway, and romancing more with Commander Hawke. Marriage could be on the horizon, too, and gee, there seems to be a perfectly suitable guy who’s already keen on her right at hand. . . Basically, this is the most languidly-paced of all the isekai series this season, to the point that it may be dull for those who don’t buy into the romance aspect. But it still looks better than average and makes for a nice, light diversion with more of a mature flavor than typical teen-centric isekai fare.