Almost Smart Villains
And The Less Than Heroic Hero
Caution taken to the extreme our hero, Seiya, ran back to the divine realm when faced with a foe that seemed overwhelming. However he wasn’t running away but rather ensuring he had time to prepare. In any other story this would have been a genius move by the hero given they almost never bother (I’m recalling how many times Ichigo had to be forcibly dragged away from an unwinnable fight in the early days of Bleach). Despite that, the narrative is determined to rain on his parade delivering a villain who knows how to get what she wants.
Yep, she decides to hold the townspeople hostage unless Seiya returns. And for a first episode villain, that’s also a pretty smart move when compared with the anime that have come before. Again, it doesn’t really work out for her, or for the goddess, or the town in general by the end, but it is amazing how much more interesting this basic isekai premise can be when the characters actually employ their brains for a couple of seconds.
Likewise, while Seiya isn’t actually likeable by any stretch of the imagination, he works perfectly when paired with Ristarte. Seiya on his own would be duller than dry toast with the occasional moment of ‘whoa’ and Ristarte without Seiya around would just be impossibly irritating and overblown. The two balance each other out nicely and watching them in action is actually pretty amusing, though Ristarte could pass on the sniffing Seiya.
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I also like that Seiya is playing a long game here. He isn’t getting distracted by saving every single thing he lays his eyes on. He was summoned to save the world and he’s going to do that, even if his method isn’t the approved charge in and wave your sword around one pioneered by most shounen heroes. This gives him just enough novelty to stand out from a lot of other isekai’d heroes that we’ve seen over the years.
I will admit, the comedy is a little hit and miss and the exaggerated over-reactions seem to be the flavour of choice for this one contrasted with Seiya’s deadpan delivery as he more or less extorts money from the guy he just saved, but while I don’t find it laugh out loud hilarious for the most part I was amused this episode with only a few cringes. I’m curious as to what Seiya’s next steps will be.
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Karandi James
Let’s Talk about how Seiya over-prepares while Ristarte freaks out in Shinchou Yuusha.
Images from: Shinchou Yuusha: Kono Yusha ga Ore Tueee Kuse ni Shinchou Sugiru. Dir. M Sakoi. White Fox. 2019.
I’m waiting for everything he’s being cautious about to become true like the presses flower being a way for the demons to track him and the little girl being the main demon.
Also, I am loving the OP for his one. Myth & Roid do it again!
Evil pressed flowers could be funny.