Mushoku Tensei Review: Can You Hate the MC and Still Love the Anime?
I always thought if I don’t like the main character of a show, I won’t like the show. And if I hate the protagonist? Then it’s a definite skip. But Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation really challenged that belief.
First Impressions: This Isn’t Your Average Isekai
I watched Mushoku Tensei back when it first aired and binged the whole thing. At the time, I was trying to fill the void left by That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. So naturally, I figured, “Hey, another high-rated isekai. This’ll be fun.” Spoiler: the two couldn’t be more different.
From the first few episodes, I knew I didn’t like Rudeus. Yes, they gave him a backstory—bullied, traumatized, a shut-in. And yeah, anime has its fair share of pervy characters. But Rudeus? Something about him still felt off. And yet, despite that, I went on to read the entire light novel series after finishing Season 1. So what is it about this show?
What Makes Mushoku Tensei So Addictive?
To be honest, I still haven’t fully figured it out. But the people yelling about how good the worldbuilding is? They’re absolutely right. The story is tight, the pacing is sharp, and the character arcs are complex.
Rudeus grows up. His struggle to survive, protect his loved ones, and deal with his past is genuinely admirable. You can hate his actions, sure, but you can’t deny that the man tries. He does everything he can to protect his friends and family. And I think that’s why the show works because the character development is real, even if it’s uncomfortable.
Season 2 Nails the Emotional Payoff
One of my favorite arcs happens in Season 2 when Rudeus has to deal with Norn becoming a shut-in. He’s not perfect, and he fumbles through it, but he feels like a real sibling to Norn, something he never got to be in his past life. These little moments redeem him, bit by bit. They don’t erase the past, but they add depth.
The show doesn’t shy away from trauma. It explores healing, failure, and the messy, slow road to becoming better. That’s honestly peak storytelling in my book.
The Problem: His Personal Life Is a Mess
This is where it all starts falling apart again. Rudeus is a god-tier pervert. He cheats on his wife and yes, he was depressed, I get it but the story treats it like a minor thing. Sylphy even says she expected it because his libido is off the charts. Polygamy is normal in that world, sure, but even with all that context, it still feels gross. I can’t explain it. It just rubs me the wrong way.
And that’s not even the worst of it. Some of the “after stories”? Straight-up sweet home Alabama levels of weird. I don’t want to spoil it, but you’ll know when you hit it.
Power Scaling and Worldbuilding? Absolutely Top-Tier
One thing this show nails is power scaling. Rudeus and Eris are strong, but they’re not overpowered. They lose. They bleed. And even the so-called legendary characters in this universe aren’t invincible. That keeps things grounded and makes battles actually matter.
The magic system, the political structure, the way nations and guilds are built, it’s all incredibly consistent. If you love tight lore and a sense of real stakes, the novels are worth diving into. You’ll get way more insight than the anime can offer alone.
The Anime Stays Loyal to the Light Novels
Credit where it’s due — Studio Bind didn’t sanitize the adaptation. They stuck close to the source material. Could they have made it more digestible for a broader audience? Sure. But would that have taken away what makes Mushoku Tensei so unique? Probably.
The series dives into dark stuff. It doesn’t always handle it well, but it doesn’t back away either. The episode about Paul that aired right after Father’s Day? Yeah. That was a punch to the gut. Diabolical, honestly.
Final Thoughts: It's Messy, Problematic, and Still Brilliant
Look, Rudeus is problematic. No way around it. But Mushoku Tensei as a story? It’s honestly one of the most ambitious isekai out there. The worldbuilding is peak. The character arcs are satisfying. And the magic system actually makes sense.
Even if you don’t like Rudeus, I still kind of don’t, you might find yourself rooting for him. Not because he deserves it, but because he tries. Despite his flaws. Despite his past. He works his ass off to protect the people he loves. And I respect that.
I just wish I didn’t have to sit through so much creepy and uncomfortable nonsense to get there. With the confirmation that Mushoku Tensei season 3 is coming in 2026, all I can say is one of the best arcs in the story is about to be animated, so stay tuned.
What Did You Think of Mushoku Tensei?
Did you love it? Hate it? Drop it halfway through? Let me know in the comments.
For more anime takes, click here. And yes, you can stream Mushoku Tensei right now on Crunchyroll.
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