Posted by  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「人学ばざれば智なし、智なき者は愚人なり」 (Hito Manabazareba Tomo Nashi, Tomo Nakisha wa Gujin Nari)
“A Man without Learning Is Unwise; A Man without Wisdom Is a Fool”
Well damn, that wasn’t an expected development – and no not because of the material in question (we’ll get to that), but rather for how Kazuya took a back seat to the scheming this time. To be fair it’s not like he’s done much overtly of late besides picking up chicks and dishing out knowledge, but when the main man disappears for a bit things become a little uncanny. Is it Aisha screentime withdrawals? Yeah, probably Aisha screentime withdrawals.
In terms of this week’s exploration of slavery I’m one of two minds on it. Although Genjitsu does a fairly decent job of highlighting how slavery in the early industrial age was brought down (or if you’re feeling adventurous, how post-Black Death feudalism wore out its welcome), it’s somewhat irksome how sanitized the whole spiel wound up being. Slavery at its core is an abhorrent and inefficient institution; there were certainly considerate and well-meaning slave owners, but they are very much a minority who themselves still bear responsibility for upholding its legality. This week’s premise doesn’t really touch on that aspect, instead choosing to stick with the ubiquitous fantasy treatment of slavery which, at least for me, is disappointing considering Genjitsu’s whole shtick of politics and political systems. Kazuya after all should know full well the system he’s proposing is effectively indentured servitude, and is something that once established won’t be easily broken thanks to its increased returns. Sure, he may run over noblemen and businessmen later on, but for the moment it’s looking at one of humanity’s most problematic concepts through a serene looking glass.
On the other side of things at least what Genjitsu has brought up has further filled in the details of what’s coming soon. The rapid expansion of Elfrieden’s knowledge base for example will quickly result in major economic growth, particularly once tapped into and applied all those wonderful energy reserves the country happens to be sitting on. You can expect the competition to pick up once the curtain is finally pulled back, and for the influencing to commence with impassioned vigour once the smarter of Kazuya’s contemporaries realize the sheer potential Elfrieden holds. Mind you I don’t anticipate a lot of this coming up before this season is through, but at minimum we should see some machinations (particularly on the part of one theocratic state) and Kazuya counter-scheming to help round out the proceedings.
No idea what exactly is in store before this season is through, but methinks Genjitsu has a surprise or two left in store.
“It did lead in my world to civil war…
Having the historical hindsight is a true boon to Kazuya.
USA of 1860s had the luxury of being on relative edge of XIX century realpolitik. It could survive a civil war and even grow stronger out of it, but it was a close call more than once as British empire and France came close to intervening on South side and South itself despite economic disadvantages managed to have few times almost win a decisive battle that could have forced North to grudgingly accept secession.
Newly minted United Kingdom of Efrieden and Amidonia is still fragile and surronded by powerful neighbours. Amidonia was weakest possible challenger, one-dimensional foe focused on brute military power, and not even that good at that aspect.
I think Kazuya is yet to have his toughest challenges ahead of him.
And by the way neighbouring countries might react badly to him poaching talented people…
For those who fancy themselves a bit of alternative history based not on pure fantasy like time travelling with modern guns to the poast, but very plausible outcomes, I give you “Rainbow of Blood” , a trilogy of books by Peter Tsouras dealing with what amounts to world war when US Civil War gets global with UK, French and Russian intervention.
Without a doubt Kazuya’s real test lies ahead. He’s been lucky to date per say in dealing with internal matters (Amidonia counts), but when he’s forced to make a choice between two equal competitors is where the fun begins. Personally hoping we get to see a bit of that before this season ends.
Yo t3ngobla esperanza de que genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki tenga una 2 y 3 temporada
> This week’s premise doesn’t really touch on that
> aspect, instead choosing to stick with the
> ubiquitous fantasy treatment of slavery
I think it’s fine Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki kept the slavery topic ubiquitous. Unless you lack empathy (psychopaths lack it) any audience need no in-depth visualization of how bad slavery is.
Ultimately what I want from Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki that I never saw in Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken, is how the MCs dealt with the wealth gap when compensating those that provide a service to their nation and their lord. Because I know certain jobs or services are NOT valued equally therefore work done will be compensated unequally. In which case there will be rich people and poor people.
There is another conflict of interests brewing soon, between private enterprise and government, rivalry for the “best and the brightest”, or at the very basic level , those who can read, write and do basic math.
At which point will governemnt sucking in all those educated people hamper nascent capitalist – at this point, mostly merchants – class? With possible indutrial revolution on the horizon, there will be growing marketplace need for those with such skills…
M-My mouth is drooling.
For me it’s not so much showing how bad slavery is as much as exploring both its economic and social implications. Everything Kazuya espoused this week makes it seem like a simple process of educating slaves and eventually freeing them when reality is anything but. This is a series based on the political nitty gritty after all, it doesn’t have to restrict such material.