Over the past decade, the isekai genre has become one of the biggest and most popular among anime fans worldwide, with millions of viewers each year engaging with these fantastical stories. This genre, while a tad oversaturated according to a significant portion of the community, has given the world some of the most enjoyable shows in recent memory, full of magic, amazing battles, and memorable characters.
Yet, even among the best the genre has to offer, there are certain moments that left fans deeply unsatisfied. This can be due to a plethora of issues, such as an underwhelming reveal, an awkward mischaracterization of its heroes, or simply because the pacing or plot leaves much to be desired, resulting in fans wishing they had skipped these episodes entirely.
Konosuba’s First OVA Portrayed Kazuma in a Horrifying Light
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Image via Studio Deen -
Image via studio Deen. -
Kazuma, the protagonist of the widely beloved Konosuba anime, is an infamous figure among anime fans as he can often go from a relatable but kind hero to an unashamed pervert in the blink of an eye. Still, his antics remain harmless for most of the series, with a handful of heavily criticized exceptions. One of these shocking events was the OVA that accompanied the anime’s first season, titled God’s Blessing on This Wonderful Choker.
The aforementioned accessory forces the one who places it onto their neck to fulfill their biggest dream, with the threat of death if they don’t. Due to him not remembering what he desired most, Kazuma uses this opportunity to humiliate and harass his party members, forcing them to satisfy his perverted desires by telling them he will die if they don’t comply. The situations that Kazuma forces his party members into border on the inappropriate, making even hardcore fans feel uncomfortable.
Sword Art Online’s Calibur Quest Has One of the Worst Beginnings
Taking place right after the tense and terrifying finale of the Gun Gale Online Arc of the series, The Queen of the Lake is the episode that introduces fans to the Calibur mini-arc. While there is nothing inherently wrong with giving fans a moment to relax after the events of such a thrilling adventure, this first episode did little to entice fans, causing many to entirely skip this segment.
Unlike most other episodes, which featured at the very least a bit of action, the beginning of this filler was entirely exposition-driven. The titular Queen of the Lake, the NPC in charge of giving the heroes this quest, spent a large majority of the episode explaining the world and enemies ahead, instead of allowing the story to naturally reveal these aspects to the audience.
Rising of the Shield Hero Could Not Give Season 2 a Proper Ending
Despite being considered one of the best and most influential isekai of the last couple of years, The Rising of the Shield Hero has had some outstandingly low points that greatly disappointed fans. Season 2 as a whole is one of the most prominent, and the final episode of this era, titled Flowers Offered in Recollection, is the perfect example of the drop in quality between the first and second season.
This entry does nothing to progress the story or give fans a fulfilling ending to the Spirit Tortoise Arc. Instead, the episode focuses entirely on providing a recap of the adventures audiences had recently witnessed, adding a few unnecessary fan-service and comedic scenes in between. Overall, Episode 13 was the final nail in the coffin of what most consider the worst season in the entire series.
Mushoku Tensei’s Worst Episode Ruined a Fan-Favorite Character
The death of Paul Greyrat is one of the most tragic events in the entire Mushoku Tensei anime, affecting not only audiences on a deep level, but also the characters who had to live through this tragedy. Rudeus, who saw the man as his biological father despite having all memories of his previous life, became deeply depressed, forcing his friends, in particular Roxy, to cheer him up.
The original light novel describes the events of this arc in a much more detailed manner than the anime, depicting the various ways in which the woman attempts to help her student. Episode 23 of the anime’s second season skips these scenes entirely, jumping straight to the moment in which Roxy sleeps with Rudeus, making it seem like she took advantage of his grief. Most fans were already concerned about the show turning into a harem, and this episode just fanned the flames.
Charybdis is One of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’s Worst Enemies
Overwhelmingly popular for having one of the most overpowered isekai protagonists of all time, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is also beloved for its emotional scenes and intense battles. As such, when the first season teased the appearance of a seemingly world-ending threat in the form of the monster Charybdis, most fans expected to be impressed with Episode 19, titled after the beast itself.
Their expectations were crushed when the anime revealed an awful-looking CGI model of the monster that didn’t look threatening in the slightest. To make matters worse, the creature was defeated in mere moments, wasting all the hype built around its inevitable arrival. Most fans avoid this arc completely to avoid being disappointed all over again.
Guess the anime from the emojis.
Guess the anime from the emojis.
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Subaru Acted Way Too Out of Character in Re: Zero’s Worst Entry
Although best known for being one of the best and most relatable protagonists in isekai, Subaru has not always been the most noble or kind character in Re: Zero. The boy tries his best to remain a kind and positive influence in his new home, but even he has faltered a few times in the past. Return to the Capital, the 12th episode of the first season, is among the most controversial examples in the entire anime.
This episode sees the protagonist not only disregarding Emilia’s commands and concerns by making his way into an event he should not have attended, but also acting like he is the only one worth protecting her. Subaru acts extremely out of character during this entry, overwhelming Emilia with attention, acting rude to those who did nothing wrong, and being an overall annoying character whom fans could not stand.
Overlord’s Third Season Was Almost Ruined by Bad 3D Animation
One of the main reasons why fans enjoy the Overlord anime series so much lies in its unique world, which is not only filled with fascinating creatures but also a complex political climate that makes it feel alive. The fact that the battles are outstandingly well animated, perfectly transmitting the sense of helplessness felt by those who oppose Ainz, makes it that much more epic.
Lamentably, Season 3, Episode 11, Another Battle, did not manage to live up to the expectations of audiences. Besides having awful 3D animation, which made the Goblin army fighting the humans look almost comical, the battles feel stiff and unrealistic. Overall, most fans agree that this episode is not worth the time, as it could completely ruin the entire season.
Lutz’s Episode in Ascendance of a Bookworm is The Weakest One
Ascendance Of A Bookworm, an isekai that took the world by storm when it first released, has become one of the most beloved additions to the genre thanks to its bold redefinition of the tropes that often rule these stories. The series manages to enchant fans with a low-stakes, whimsical plot that makes it easy for audiences to become enamored with its characters.
While most of the episodes do an excellent job turning everyday issues into powerful lessons and intriguing mysteries, Episode 20 was sorely lacking what made other entries so special. The story is not well paced, certain characters act in ways fans would never have expected, and the conclusion makes the entire episode feel unnecessary, which is a major shame as it focused entirely on one of the anime’s most beloved characters: Lutz.
In Another World With My Smartphone’s First Episode Is a Regrettable Decision For Many
Isekai is a genre that makes it easy for authors to tell epic tales of magic and intrigue, as audiences are given the chance to explore a new world full of wonder alongside the protagonist. Yet, from time to time, there are shows that do not fully take advantage of this concept, making it hard for fans to want to keep engaging with the story, such as In Another World With My Smartphone.
This series has been heavily criticized in the past, and with good reason, as it is not only bland and uninspired; there are no genuine goals or threats for the heroes to overcome. As such, many fans who decided at one time to give this series the benefit of the doubt have come to greatly regret it. In their opinion, they wish they had never even pressed play on the first episode, as it would have saved them many hours of boredom and frustration.
