Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan to – 11

「ファ美肉おじさんと決戦兵器」 (Fabiniku Ojisan to Kessen Heiki)
“A Guy Who Reincarnated as a Fantasy Knockout and a Weapon for the Final Battle”

Episode 11 of Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan to throws a wrench in the Head Maid’s plan of subterfuge when she winds up resorting to using the town’s conveniently accessible secret weapon. But when Tachibana ends up taking the wheel through his own sheer power, he starts to realize that maybe he could be far more powerful without relying on his old friend.

A SLOW CRAWL TO THE FINISH LINE

As much as I’ve enjoyed my journey with this show, I have to admit this last arc is a little underwhelming. Aside from the last few minutes, it feels like so much time has been spent building up the climactic fight between Jinguji and the Head Maid that the story underutilizes Tachibana.

I can see it being intentional based on Tachibana’s own personal resentment about being more convenient as a tool to use than a person who is cool by their own merits. But I can’t help but feel like the plot would be moving at a more reasonable pace if they trimmed a lot of the fat from Jinguji’s perspective.

The cool thing about sections like Schwartz’s introduction or the Squid God arc is that it felt like the pacing was quick enough to not drag out so much of the episodes. With this arc, however, it feels like any time Schwartz or Shen are farting around, it slows the pacing down to a grinding halt to tell a joke about how Schwartz cracks under the pressure of playing hero.

It could have been neat if they leaned more into Jinguji’s mentorship of Schwartz. Where it could have something neat to say about how an average teen would genuinely react from having to bear the burden of being as powerful as Kirito or other isekai heroes. But for all the subversion the show does, it doesn’t seem to be interested in trying to deconstruct isekais to that degree.

I’M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY

The meatiest part of the episode, however, was regulated to the last few minutes where Tachibana is turned against Jinguji after being gradually worn down by jealous thoughts. Even though Tachibana’s memories are a part of the Head Maid’s plot to corrupt Tachibana to go against Jinguji, it feels like a long time coming for Tachibana to force Jinguji’s hand on actually confronting how he’s been treating him this whole time.

When Tachibana was able to possess the giant robot, he loves the power he finally has because it’s the first time that he’s really felt like he had any kind of strength or personal autonomy. Jinguji has thought nothing of any of the things Tachibana could be jealous of him for, from his popularity to women to the respect he’s gotten in the real world and the fantasy one.

It doesn’t help that Jinguji is actively involved in preventing Tachibana from having anything that Jinguji has had the privilege of receiving by shunning away from the women in Tachibana’s life and stealing his spotlight. It also followed its way into the fantasy world with Tachibana being saddled with enough useless combat skills to rely on Jinguji’s privileged overpowered status and remain reliant on his friend’s success.

Tachibana living vicariously through Jinguji’s achievements as his own attempts are stifled should be a much bigger thing. But Jinguji hasn’t spent a second having to think inwardly about Tachibana having any feelings and motivations. He just sees Tachibana as a pest who relies on him when it’s Jinguji who is forcing his way into Tachibana’s life enough so that the only thing Tachibana can really do is rely on Jinguji to get ahead. It would take Tachibana threatening to cut ties altogether to force Jinguji to even get him to carve out his own destiny. This arc was difficult to be engaged with, especially because the trouble Tachibana got into with Ygraine will only be more of a reason for Jinguji to distrust Tachibana’s decisions and coddle him into making none of his own decisions anymore.

SUFFERING FROM SUCCESS

However, it’d be a reasonable devil’s advocate argument for Jinguji’s perspective for the next episode to delve into the fact that he sees a lot of his privileges as curses. Jinguji hates his popularity with women since it only solidifies his misogyny to be a magnet for women who he’s disinterested in.

Likewise, the phrase “cool” feels like a backhanded jab coming from Jinguji. But in his eyes, he likely sees his half-hearted “you’re cool,” to Tachibana as the same kind of treatment he feels he gets at work when he gets praised. Even though Tachibana wants to be praised and showered with attention from women, these are things Jinguji outwardly dislikes and makes it his personal mission to not have Tachibana deal with the same things he despises.

While this sounds selfish (and it is), I can see why Jinguji would remain cynical about Tachibana’s desires when he doesn’t see much good from his point of view. Being adored by women is merely being adored for the same shallow reasons that Tachibana’s been receiving since he transformed into a charming girl. Jinguji being praised at work would mean nothing if it’s all a performative and hollow gesture to honor Jinguji for merely doing what he has to do to make it through the workday. Whether Jinguji reflects on any of this, however, and this isn’t just me engaging with the show too earnestly will hopefully be answered in the next episode.