Since season one premiered to plenty of praise and great reviews, fans have been waiting for “Jobless Reincarnation” to return for almost two years. Now that parts one and two have finished airing, it’s safe to say that the second season of this fan-favorite isekai definitely did not disappoint. Season two of “Jobless Reincarnation” builds upon the foundation left by season one, expanding on the previous characters’ arcs while introducing new characters and lore that only make this fantasy world that much more compelling. Although, at times, the romance-focused storylines seemed to drag compared to season one, overall, “Jobless Reincarnation” Season Two expanded on Rudeus’ progress, making it a solid addition to the series.
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When season one of “Jobless Reincarnation” ended, Rudeus struggled to handle Eris’s loss while still growing and trying to figure out his next move regarding Zenith. Part one of the season illustrates Rudy’s effort to connect with a new party while fumbling romances and relationships until he eventually enrolls at Ranoa University of Magic. By part two, Rudy’s love life has drastically improved, but the teleportation disaster and Zenith’s whereabouts remain mysteries, leading him to go on a journey with his father’s adventuring party to Begaritt to find her.
One of the greatest strengths of the “Jobless Reincarnation” anime is its ability to formulate an incredibly captivating story. Everything from pacing to action to character development often feels well-timed and thoroughly explained. The drama and tones are balanced, so it’s rare that a scene or moment feels out of place. As far as fantasy series go, especially isekai, there is a lot that “Jobless Reincarnation” gets right. The author, Rifujin na Magonote, clearly knows how to craft a narrative and keep the audience’s attention. Even with the regular time skips, a rotating cast of characters, and numerous fantasy elements, the series never becomes too complicated to follow. However, while the overall plot is well written, the main issue with “Jobless Reincarnation” has more to do with the overall romance issues.
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While the fantasy, action, and overall plot of “Jobless Reincarnation” are executed fine, how the series approaches its relationships and sexual elements always seems to trip it up and hold it back from reaching its full potential. The majority of part one focuses’ on Rudeus’ sudden dilemma with erectile dysfunction. Like many storylines in the series, it’s played up as a joke to further his relationship with Sylphiette. It isn’t so vulgar as to take away from the series as a whole. Still, it begins to get old the longer they draw out Rudeus learning Sylphiette’s identity, and the combination makes them finally getting together feel like more of the solution to a nuisance than a satisfying conclusion.
In a series where the plot and lore are this strong, the constant focus on things like sex, relationships, and now what feels like polygamy often feels like it cheapens the series. When taken seriously, these moments can add to the character development, like Rudeus’ devastated reaction to Eris leaving after their night together. At other times, these moments and jokes steal from the narrative, so when a beloved character like Roxy comes back only to develop feelings for Rudeus right away, you wonder if it is genuine or just for the sake of adding more romance gags to an already saturated narrative.
Outside of the issues with romance, season two of “Jobless Reincarnation” still does a great job of expanding upon Rudeus’ growth as we watch him mature. While the audience has seen him grow as a mage, season two illustrated just how much he’s grown as an individual. He becomes a husband, a father, and the caretaker to his sisters, catapulting him into adulthood and influencing every decision he makes in ways we’ve never seen before. It’s a new, more mature approach that adds yet another layer to the series. It’s not just Rudeus, though, as season two highlights a number of different characters, including Elinalise, Norn, and several others. Yet somehow, the show never feels crowded, and the storylines flow nicely into one another.
Like the previous installments before if, the animation and art in “Jobless Reincarnation”continues to be consistent. When it comes to things like character design, designers Saitou Yoshiko and Shimada Sanae handled Rudeus’ ageing really well on screen. It illustrates the passage of time without making overly large adjustments that don’t make any sense or make him look too old. The overall animation direction, done by Isoko Shinobu, Sera Kouta, and Sun Honzi, is on par with the previous seasons, but is especially strong in episode 22’s major fight scenes.
All in all, season two of “Jobless Reincarnation” is a solid addition to the story viewers are already familiar with. Instead of doing too much or too little, it perfectly expands upon the world and characters we know while keeping the integrity we loved from season one. Although the series’ approach to romance can often be a source of contention amongst fans, no decisions are so bad that they ruin the entire season. Overall, “Jobless Reincarnation” season two is not only worth the watch, but it may even be better than the first one.
