Is The Rising Of The Shield Hero Good
Shield Hero: Good or Nah? My Hot Take.
Okay, let's talk Shield Hero. It's popular. It's got a bazillion seasons. But is it actually good? I'm about to dive headfirst into dangerous territory here.
I'm just going to say it. My opinion might be... unpopular.
The Premise: Cool or Cringe?
Four heroes get summoned. Standard isekai stuff, right? Wrong! Our boy, Naofumi, gets stuck with the legendary, but super lame, Shield. Sounds promising.
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The other heroes get swords, spears, bows. Naofumi? He gets a glorified frisbee. Talk about unfair.
Then things go south fast. Betrayal! False accusations! Everyone hates him! It is pretty dramatic.
Rage Shield: Anger Issues: The Anime.
This is where the show gets... intense. Naofumi's fueled by pure, unadulterated rage. He's basically Batman, but instead of gadgets, he's got crippling trust issues.
It's understandable, though. Who wouldn't be angry?
He buys a slave girl. Raphtalia, remember Raphtalia? That's where some people check out.
Raphtalia: Savior or Problematic?
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room: Raphtalia. She starts as a child, becomes an adult... it's weird. It's definitely something that makes some people uncomfortable and rightfully so.
Is she a well-developed character? Sure, to a degree. Is the power dynamic a little squicky? Absolutely.
This is the biggest sticking point for many. I get it.
The Power Fantasy Problem
Shield Hero is a power fantasy. Naofumi goes from zero to hero. He gets stronger, richer, and proves everyone wrong. Satisfying? Yes.
But it's also... kind of basic. It's wish fulfillment on steroids. No denying that.
The world-building is decent, but it's not exactly groundbreaking. It's another fantasy land with monsters and magic.
So, Is It Good? Here's My Verdict (Prepare to Be Shocked!)
Here's where I risk the wrath of the internet. Drumroll, please...
I... kind of enjoy it. I think it has good point, but bad execution in many ways.
Hear me out! Yes, it has flaws. HUGE flaws! It's problematic. It's tropey. It can be downright cringe-worthy at times. No one can argue against those points.
But... there's something compelling about Naofumi's struggle. His determination to survive, even when the world is against him.
Plus, the action scenes are pretty cool. And let's be honest, Raphtalia is adorable (despite the aforementioned issues).
Guilty Pleasure? Maybe.
Look, I'm not saying it's a masterpiece. It's not winning any awards for originality. It is entertaining.
Sometimes, you just want to watch someone overcome adversity. Even if it's in a slightly messed-up, isekai way. Some people find great depth in it.
So, is Rising of the Shield Hero good? Objectively? Probably not. Subjectively? Maybe, just maybe, a little bit. Don't @ me.
At the end of the day, anime is subjective. Enjoy what you enjoy.
Just, you know, be aware of the problematic elements. Okay?
Thanks for reading!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hide from the impending internet backlash.
