What Do You Dislike About Isekai-Reincarnation Stories?

Hoshino

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Leo what do you think about isekai?

Isekai, a sub-genre of anime and manga where a character is transported to a parallel universe or fantasy world, has gained significant popularity in recent years. However, it has also received criticism for some recurring themes and tropes.

Firstly, some critics argue that isekai stories often lack originality. Many follow a similar pattern: a protagonist dies in the real world and is reincarnated in a fantasy world, often with special powers. This formulaic approach can make the stories predictable and uninteresting for some viewers.

Secondly, isekai often features overpowered protagonists. This can lead to a lack of tension or stakes in the story, as the viewer knows the protagonist can easily overcome any challenges. It can also make character development difficult, as the protagonist rarely faces significant challenges or setbacks.

Lastly, isekai has been criticized for its treatment of female characters. Many isekai stories feature a harem of female characters surrounding the male protagonist, which some critics argue objectifies and marginalizes women. Additionally, female characters in isekai are often portrayed in a stereotypical or sexist manner.

In conclusion, while isekai can offer entertaining and imaginative stories, it's not without its flaws. Critics argue that the genre needs to diversify its themes and character portrayals to avoid becoming stale and problematic.”
I see.
 

Anonjohn20

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I reported them so maybe this was the reason. I also don't understand why someone would just say something like that for no reason at all.
I mean, he probably thought your story was boring. While I enjoyed LotR, I thought The Hobbit was boring. People can have opinions.
 

LateFridgey

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You know, it doesn't help anyone to be mean, especially you. Just know I wont be checking your story anywhere soon just for the fact that you decided this was gonna be the first message you post on this forum.
Alt?
 

Justhetip...

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I believe we've had this convo before, but if the transported person's knowledge and experience are useless for the plot, then it shouldn't be Isekai.

Good isekai: Parallel World Pharmacy

Bad isekai: The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

Awful isekai: Redo of Healer

Both stories at the top had the same overall premise: fantasy dude wants to heal people; the bottom one is just a revenge porn parody of the two on top. Only one of those three stories takes advantage of the tropes within the genre.
Redo of healer was regression right? It wasn't Isekai.
 

Elmir_Arch-Ham_of_Omega

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"Hi I'm here to adventure. Please let me join the guild."
"What's your level?"
"Level one, I'm just new."
"Cool, your first test is to defeat this seasoned war veteran."
"WTF!?"
 

Lysander_Works

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I think biggest would be how easily MC gets over losing their connection to their previous life, or just brushes over it, as if it would not be traumatic in some way. It can work this way if previous life was bad, but I've never seen one done this way correctly before.
 

Clo

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I think biggest would be how easily MC gets over losing their connection to their previous life, or just brushes over it, as if it would not be traumatic in some way. It can work this way if previous life was bad, but I've never seen one done this way correctly before.
No Longer Allowed in Another World is a pretty interesting take about that.

1) Middle-aged MC
2) Suicidal author, but kept failing his attempts
3) Truck-kun to the rescue
4) Not interested in being the MC
5) Still obsess to reconnect with the woman from his previous world he was trying to commit double-suicide with.

I enjoyed the heck out of how this show subverted a few tropes.

It still plays to a bunch of other ones in very straightforward way. Like he's incredibly OP (even though he's level 1). Mostly done humourously / for absurd reasons (like he keeps eating pills to try to kill himself, so if a vampire drinks his blood, it dies)

BUT.. From time to time, the character will really shine by showing some pretty darn good insight of the people around him, and goes from "This is just a hero with 0 stats and 1000 luck" to "Oh, wait, he's actually very smart and observant, what?".

If it only happened once, you could guess that it was luck, but since he does it repeatedly when the timing is right, it hints that he's far smarter than the story makes him look the rest of the time.

Anyway, rant over. Funny Isekai. Does some stuff correctly. Dark humour, so might not be for everyone.
 

Lysander_Works

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No Longer Allowed in Another World is a pretty interesting take about that.

1) Middle-aged MC
2) Suicidal author, but kept failing his attempts
3) Truck-kun to the rescue
4) Not interested in being the MC
5) Still obsess to reconnect with the woman from his previous world he was trying to commit double-suicide with.

I enjoyed the heck out of how this show subverted a few tropes.

It still plays to a bunch of other ones in very straightforward way. Like he's incredibly OP (even though he's level 1). Mostly done humourously / for absurd reasons (like he keeps eating pills to try to kill himself, so if a vampire drinks his blood, it dies)

BUT.. From time to time, the character will really shine by showing some pretty darn good insight of the people around him, and goes from "This is just a hero with 0 stats and 1000 luck" to "Oh, wait, he's actually very smart and observant, what?".

If it only happened once, you could guess that it was luck, but since he does it repeatedly when the timing is right, it hints that he's far smarter than the story makes him look the rest of the time.

Anyway, rant over. Funny Isekai. Does some stuff correctly. Dark humour, so might not be for everyone.

I remember that show. I tried to watch it last week (I skimmed bits of it to see if it was up my ally). Didn't exactly make me want to watch EP2 though. I don't mind dark comedy or anything, but for anime I am usually looking for something really deep right out of the gate, dark and depressing or bright and humorous.
 
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Hans.Trondheim

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I love isekai, especially exploring the world and its cultures. And I also love harem genre, coz, why not? This is fiction.

But what irks me in isekai-reincarnation stories is:

1) Adventurer's Guild
2) Usual party setup and dungeon diving
3) Usual conspiracy stuff that is full of mystery and yet always predictable
4) Game-like system
5) One-dimensional characters
 

LesserCodex

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I think biggest would be how easily MC gets over losing their connection to their previous life, or just brushes over it, as if it would not be traumatic in some way. It can work this way if previous life was bad, but I've never seen one done this way correctly before.
I agree with this when it's often a regular MC.

Harem: Tropes that follow isekai that I hate are Harems. I hate them only when there is no character behind the harem and there are too many harem members. I mean, come on. If the harem is done right, then I don't mind. I even posted a thread about how many is too many and wish fulfilment. Three seems to be the average.

Overpowered Mc: It's not a bad thing, but it is when it brings no substance or weight to the story. Your character is op, so why is he struggling? I prefer realistic growth any day instead of an instant one-shot guy who suddenly gets the girl saying nothing.

Medieval Fantasy: While I dont hate it as I'm doing it myself (though my story isn't isekai) it's a basic template that can be made well outside of that I'd like to see some fresh things, like isekai to a stone world, or a futuristic world.
 

ConansWitchBaby

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Harems because they aren't done right. They should be collected and placed in one location allowed to bitch and backstab each other until the MC comes around to fuck em.
 

RepresentingDesire

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I honestly think most isekais do little with the isekai premise, if you already go to another world it should be at least more different than (insert time period) with lazily inserted fantasy elements, honestly I wouldn't have a problem with it if most of these stories didn't have the same fantasy concepts.
 

ShrimpShady

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Literally everything. There's nothing I like about modern isekai shlock. Zero no Tsukaima forever.
 

AmbreaTaddy

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Medieval Fantasy: While I dont hate it as I'm doing it myself (though my story isn't isekai) it's a basic template that can be made well outside of that I'd like to see some fresh things, like isekai to a stone world, or a futuristic world.

I honestly think most isekais do little with the isekai premise, if you already go to another world it should be at least more different than (insert time period) with lazily inserted fantasy elements, honestly I wouldn't have a problem with it if most of these stories didn't have the same fantasy concepts.

I agree with you. You know what I want ? An isekai were the guy wakes up in space with litteraly nothing around him. An isekai were the guy was at woodstock in 1969 and suddenly enters a distopian future, stoned out of his mind, and tries to teach the value of love and dr*gs. A drag queen isekaied into a dwarven village and teaching them what 'being fabulous' means.

Like come on, be creative, there is so much to do with the isekai trope !
 
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