Jobless Reincarnation Will Make Its Protagonist Even More Hated With The Most Controversial Storyline

A new season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation also means a new season of controversy and divisive material, and this upcoming one will possibly trump all previous installments in this aspect. As one of the most anticipated anime of spring 2024, this series has managed to gain a huge following despite having content that may be unappealing to the anime community.

Season 2 part 1 ended on a high note, with Rudeus and Sylphiette finally confessing their love for each other, but part 2 might undo this wholesome moment for many. Covering the Newlywed Arc of the source material, the two will finally tie the knot and get married.

However, Rudeus sets out shortly after and is reunited with his master, Roxy. It is then that they develop romantic feelings for each other despite Rudeus being a married man, and he takes Roxy as his second wife. The idea of polygamy isn’t new in anime, but it almost always stirs controversy and discourse, and Jobless Reincarnation will possibly feature an even greater intensity of controversy given its long history of contentious scenes.

Polyamory Has Long Been A Subject Of Contention

Western Fans Have Disliked The Practice In Anime

The biggest controversial case of polyamory/polygamy is Domestic Girlfriend, where the main character, Natsuo, becomes romantically involved with Hina and Rui, who he finds out are both sisters and, with his father marrying their mother, makes them step-siblings. Although there are many factors at play to make this anime even more controversial, such as the incestuous relationship, the age gap, the teacher-student relationship of Hina and Natsuo, and the heartbreaking conclusion that left Rui a single mother, Jobless Reincarnation also has many other reasons that could make this upcoming arc even more controversial.

Another popular example of polygamy is with Demon Slayer‘s Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, having three wives. Surprisingly, this did not stir much negative discourse and was largely ignored or well-received. This is probably due to Tengen treating all his wives equally and cherishing them, making him much more liked despite treading on ground that is usually disliked by Western audiences, but alas, the charismatic Hashira pulled it off.

However, not all series were as successful with polyamory. Sometimes, the concept of multiple love interests doesn’t even have to be confirmed by the creator, even a slight hint causes division among the fandom and receives a lot of attention, ignoring more important aspects of the series. Such is the case for Sword Art Online‘s Kirito, whose main romantic interest is Asuna, but also becomes closer with other female characters in the series, making fans question the two’s relationship. Code Geass is another example of this, as Lelouch has three possible lovers, but it was confirmed in one of the movies that CC was his love interest.

Mushoku Tensei Has A Long History Of Controversy

The Main Character Is Purposefully Full of Flaws

Jobless Reincarnation‘s main character, Rudeus Greyrat, is a very controversial character in the anime community, and his antics in past seasons have turned off many from watching the series. The idea of a 40-year-old man reincarnated as a child was already off-putting to many, but Rudeus’ questionable behavior made him even more hated. From spying on women and making unwanted and inappropriate advances, he was solidified as one of the most controversial main characters even in the notoriously controversial isekai genre.

Furthermore, his neutral opinion on slavery and human trafficking made people question his moral compass. He had the power to stop acts of slavery in front of him, but he was more concerned about his well-being than those of other weaker people. Fortunately, his views on the practice will slowly change over time as he continues to explore the world around him and realize just how cruel and unjust owning others is. However, not everyone will stick around to see Rudeus’ change, as they were rightfully disturbed by his nonchalant attitude at the beginning.

It’s true that Jobless Reincarnation‘s creator purposefully depicted Rudeus in a negative light, to make him stand out as a character and make his journey of growth more relatable. However, Rudeus marrying two women will most likely not be well received, and will only make him more hated. Sylphiette is one of the most popular characters in the show, and her kind and shy nature makes her a sweetheart who is loved by all. So it is understandable that fans will not want her to go through heartbreak if she sees that Rudeus has another woman in his life.

Mushoku Tensei Is One Of The Most Divisive Series In Recent Years

However, It Still Deserves A Watch For All The Things It Does Right

Although the popular isekai genre is littered with cartoonishly long titles and odd plots, Jobless Reincarnation stands out not only for being a pioneer in the genre but also for its plot lines that make people question what it is about. A good example is the story of season 2 part 1, where Rudeus sets out to a magic school to cure his erectile dysfunction. Although the context behind this makes sense, it is still a very strange story.

However, despite all the reasons that make Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation so divisive, it is still an incredibly amazing anime that is complex and multifaceted. It is one of the best anime in the fantasy genre, and its worldbuilding, magic system, and deep themes make it an interesting watch. The anime is far from over, and so is Rudeus’ personal journey, which will hopefully warrant an extra look into this unique character.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation season 2 part 2 is airing on Crunchyroll.

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