I don't know if these can be considered reviews? They're mostly just scattered thoughts. Take it for what you will I guess. Spoilers for the first season of The Rising Of The Shield Hero.
It was either one or two years ago (nearly exactly) that I picked up the first volume of The Rising Of The Shield Hero manga from an anime convention. I had heard it was one of the good isekai so I thought it was worth giving a try. I wasn't particularly impressed though I didn't get too much to go on as the first volume only covers the first two episodes. When I heard it was getting an adaptation, I was definitely excited. I have a much easier time getting invested in animation rather than manga.
I feel weird hyping something up and recommending something to friends only for it to turn out mediocre. To stand out in the isekai genre you really have to do something unique and The Rising Of The Shield Hero had a bit or that. A spark of it. It just really wasn't enough.
The interest of this show comes entirely from the conflict between the Shield Hero, the other heroes, and Melromarc. That struggle is the driving force of the anime. The highlight obviously being episode four. Unfortunately, half of the time isn't really spent on it. I genuinely hate shows that waste my time with filler. I'm the kind of person that enjoys a plot that keeps on moving, where every episode is progressing the story along. We don't always get that in The Rising Of The Shield Hero.
When we do finally get to the good parts, the heroes all bickering or Melromarc trying to further frame Naofumi, they're generally entertaining. The unfortunate exception being the final boss to what I believe is called the revenge arc. This fight is so poorly directed and disjointed I am confused as to how this even made it to television. They almost literally stand around for two whole episodes before the Shield Hero just kills the pope guy. I get that translating from manga to anime can be difficult but this is honestly ridiculous.
The resolution of the arc ends up just not feeling all that satisfying which is a shame. Now that the driving force of the anime is gone, I have a feeling that if a season two is ever made, it would be catastrophic. The waves simply are not interesting and neither is the world. I feel like i'm being disappointing more and more by shows that I expect to be good. I've always been a bit jaded but man this really sucks.
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