First Impressions / Kenja no Mago

「合宿に行こう！」 (Gasshuku ni ikou!)
“Let’s Go to Camp!”

Two steps forward and one step back: not a phrase you’d associate with good things, but KnM arguably has mastered the positive side of that aspect pretty damn well. For every plot tidbit dropped on our plate the show swiftly brings up two slice of moments and pretty much forgets just what it was doing before. Some may find the approach problematic (story progression where be you?), but KnM just keeps on proving why it doesn’t matter here. Seriously, with characters and relationships this entertaining who even needs those demonoids?

While I’ve harped on it plenty already, KnM’s slice of life is really what keeps this series going strong. For all the isekai “troubles” occupying the land, the show has a remarkable understanding of how to mold these otherwise critical components into some surprisingly useful aspects. Take our demon battles this week, normally you’d expect Shin to simply obliterate the opposition, but instead we got everyone doing the duty and succeeding—and most without the Gary Stu being present in the first place. It’s a very nice touch on KnM’s part that it’s open and willing to have its secondary cast grow like this, where powers and abilities aren’t restricted to the plot armour class, but able to be disseminated and used in ways which promote fun and interesting character development. Prince August for example has quietly turned into a true equal of Shin, lacking in innate strength but making up for it with mental capacity and shrewd wit lacking in the Gary Stu. The kid could have easily just turned Shin’s 2D subordinate, but thanks to a little creative writing has become a proper character in of himself. Makes me really curious seeing how Sicily turns out in the not too distant future.

Building from this as well is KnM’s other intriguing aspect in overall magic usage. It’s not often after all that otherwise minor characters quickly show significant power spikes when in the isekai MC shadow, and do so with the promise of even more to come. KnM has really done itself a favour with making Shin’s magic little more than a particular mindset, something which can be picked up by anyone and quickly turned into noticeable results. It’s a situation ensuring the secondary cast won’t fade away into the good night anytime soon, but one which also ironically breeds some important story developments. Our prince for example may have the right intentions on trying to keep Shin’s methods under wraps, however it’s one guaranteed to fail. As Merlin shows these powers can be picked up with minimal instruction, and there’s nothing to say someone else cannot independently arrive at the same paradigm now practiced by our good guys. It’s simply a matter of time before the knowledge becomes commonplace, and when it does the question will turn to skill over raw power. No idea how that situation will turn out mind you, but I imagine it’ll be slightly harder than the fights up until now.

After all, we still have those multiplying demonoids to worry about, and I’d wager Schtrom and the like know more about Shin’s magic than he cares to realize.

12 Comments

  3. I agree — fun slice of life with a side order of monster bashing.

    I am very thankful for the appropriate use of censorship
    of possible images I would not be able to un-see 🙂 …
    Yup.

    mac65
    Reply

  4. I dunno if it’s the obvious Megumin aspects(intentional or not), but Lyn is already my favorite. Not best-girl for Shin, but just favorite character. Every scene with her is a winner. Alice is a close second. Can you tell I like girls with big personalities?

    And I know one of the points of KnM is that Shin has no common sense, but I wish they’d cut back on the hamstringing just a tiny bit. Sure August is a prince and he needs to think politically, but he’s starting to get annoying with telling Shin what he can and can’t do. It’d be fine if he was just suggesting stuff, but he’s gone past acting like the voice of reason and basically is Shin’s boss now, and Shin’s the typical beta-isekai MC so he just goes with it. Made the line about finally having a friend who is an equal fall kinda flat.

    Aex
    Reply

    1. I suspect August’s overbearing attitude will be balanced out over time once Shin gets some street smarts, but yeah it’s pretty noticeable just how controlling he’s trying to be right now. Probably just need a good enemy showing up to help alleviate the issue by giving Shin some MC time haha.

      Pancakes
      Reply

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