I am seven episodes into Mushoku Tensei and I am starting to feel it’s developing into a compelling narrative. 

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I was a bit turned off initially by the horny tropes in Mushoku Tensei. Don’t get me wrong I do like my horny but it can be distasteful at times. I was concerned about being set up for an ecchi story without any real narrative behind it. There were moments in the first few episodes that seemed compelling in the story, but there wasn’t enough for me to be fully convinced. As time went on I grew more confident we might get something special worth watching. 

As evidence that Mushoku Tensei is more than just ecchi fantasy there are a few moments in the show that speak to its power to invoke emotion or convey the seriousness of its narrative content. The first moment that I was convinced we might actually get some decent narrative is when Paul, Rudeus’s father, has been caught cheating on his wife, Zenith. 

It’s a bit of a wake up call that while we are in an isekai setting that not everything is fun and games. It’s an upsetting scene for the characters involved. To cast out the maid would mean her death and the death of her new born child.  While Zenith is angry with the situation and what has happened she is not the type who is cruel enough to watch someone else die. Rudeus does tip the scale by placing the entire blame on the father. By pinning the blame completely on Paul, Rudeus manages to salvage an otherwise undesirable outcome. 

The situation is a wake up call. This is an isekai where the character is a literal child of this world, despite retaining his memories of his former life. There are family ties involved, and real interpersonal drama and conflict. Meaning that Rudeus can’t gallivant around like other isekai protagonists doing whatever he pleases. 

What other scenes or episodes convinced me we have a real narrative? 

I was a big fan of the 5th episode where Eris and Rudeus are captured. Initially it was all Rudeus’s idea to set the stage and put Eris in a situation where she had no control. The experience was meant to serve as a wake up call for her character that refused to do anything other than what she pleased. 

What was interesting about the situation is that it turned from a theater act into an actual dangerous situation that almost resulted in Rudeus’s death. Without the help of Ghislaine, the situation might have actually resulted in death. While I am uncertain what that would have meant for Rudeus, since he has already been isekai-ed, it would have put an end to the current story the audience had been exploring. 

Another moment that I really enjoyed viewing was when Eris and Rudeus managed to pull off the dance for her tenth birthday party. It was something that we were involved with from the inception of the event until it manifested into the actual event. It was satisfying to watch the struggle and to understand what each of the characters was going through. Eris of course was struggling, as she isn’t following the traditional ladies path of learning etiquette and manners. 

Eris is being trained in the sword, magic, and in academics. So it was nice to see how that while she excelled in one area, she also had struggles in others. It made the story feel more real. It made the accomplishment feel more satisfying to watch. 

Contrasting this tenth birthday party to a story that would have been content with glossing over the details is what makes Mushoku Tensei stand out narratively. Please don’t be distracted by the horny (I know we all want to be). 

Do you agree? What are your thoughts? I want to know!

Is there anything you would like me to cover? Do you want to know my thoughts on anything? Have something I should know? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, comment below!

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation – Is Rudeus a Pedophile?

Is Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Worth Watching?