“I’m not a bad slime.”

– Rimuru Tempest

Fantasy / Shounen / Isekai

Summary:

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei Shitara Suraimu Datta Ken) follows Rimuru Tempest, a slime who recently reincarnated into a delightful shape-shifting protagonist. While his previous life as a 37-year-old, run of the mill corporate worker named Satoru Mikami was a bit drab, Rimuru’s new life includes many fantastic adventures which are anything but ordinary. From being named by a great storm dragon named Veldora, to saving (and, at times, “eating”) various other monsters, Rimuru embarks on new goals with a colorful cast of comrades.

Review: / 5

Characterization: 4/5
While not always the roundest of characters, they are somehow still lovable and charismatic. Still intriguing and beg me to follow their story through its many twists and turns.

Plot: 4/5
The story itself is fast paced and easy to follow with no filler and a slime as its superstar.

Realism & Authenticity:4/5
Definitely fits snuggly in the Isekai genre and for me, takes the cake for the works I’ve seen. Personally, I enjoyed it a lot more than Konosuba, though I struggle to identify why, exactly. Realism wise, the series could improve quite a bit with how it discusses classes/races and character abilities. 

Sound & Animation: 4/5
This series by no means blows me out of the water, but it’s animation and sound design are decent.

Alright, I’ll say it: I’m not a big fan of Isekai works. There’s nothing wrong with being transported to different, magical worlds– I think that’s any fantasy-lover’s greatest dream– but most of the time I find the series lackluster and a tad boring. They are bulging with fanservice to the point I feel like I need to take several cold showers to purify my spirit.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime isn’t much different, except it is. Yes, is uses Shion as little more than a bouncey-house beauty, but it also makes fun of the trope. My greatest compliment to the show is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously— It abuses slap stick humor it a way that percolates a lighthearted, easy to watch work. It laughs at itself, in every conceivable way.

A lot of the complaints I see about this show are about Rimuru being overpowered. And ain’t that the truth. The slime is seeping with gifts and abilities given to him by his Great Sage or whatever from the moment he dies. Where’s the training? Where’s the realism.

And here, my friends, is where I beg us to consider parody. There exist people in this world who have done nothing to obtain their wealth and power. There are people who don’t go through train arcs, and their abilities fall into their lap from birth. The bitter truth is that some people get all the luck without having to put their noses on the grindstone. But when we apply this to a lowly slime—one of the lowest classed monsters in any fantasy universe— it becomes intensely satirical. The lowest class getting the best abilities and attributes? It’s just not fair!

Nope: it’s socialism, my dudes.

So let’s let go of the fact he’s overpowered, at least for now.

I would say the biggest issue with Rimuru is his lack of true faults, and therefore (despite his round physique) he’s a little bit of a flat character for my tastes. But ultimately, there’s still something intensely charasmatic about him. There’s still something loveable and real. I’m not sure how to explain it, as I’ve been mulling it over for the past couple of days and still have yet to reach an answer. He is, in a word, entertaining, as is the show.

This all being said, the show has moments of true emotional resonance. Shizu’s story and ultimately, her death, serve as powerful moments of tension, of a returning to the world’s balance: the other head of the unfairness we spoke about earlier.

Interestingly, it is only after uniting with Shizu, understanding her story and taking on her burdens (and her plague of unfairness) that Rimuru is truly able to regain his human form. He even is able to taste things again! Perhaps, then, we should consider Shizu and Rimuru as not separate entities, but two sides of the same coin.

The biggest issue I had with the series was with the unification of monsters and the naming of them. If Rimuru gets all/most of his power from Veldora’s name, shouldn’t that power diminish with the amount of monsters who also inherit names? Just a though.

But perhaps even more upsetting is this city and how easily the different races and classes get along with one another. The pleasantries of it all. The writer’s briefly address this with Benimaru, and whether he can forgive the Orcs for massacring his clan, but I found the answer to be rather flimsy, unmemorable and ultimately unsatisfying. Greater tensions for the races would have led to a more interesting and astute observation of a society that persists despite it’s struggles, but I digress.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the show quite a bit and am looking forward to season two this year!

What about you guys? Let me know in the comments below!

Watch on (and stay safe/healthy!), Annieme-niac!

Annie