This Season’s Hyped Anime are Mediocre

A glance at the list of anime airing this summer would heighten any anime fan's expectations. Packed with both promising new titles and sequels of beloved shows, this season should have been one of the best we've had in the last year or so. 

But so far, with the season approaching its final stretch, it has been lacklustre. 

Here are some of the season's most hyped anime that have so far turned out to be mediocre. 

Classroom of the Elite 

When the first season aired in 2017, the concept of a school of elite students isolated from the outside world and a protagonist packing a plethora of secrets was interesting enough.

However, the second season, instead of picking up pace and delving deeper into the psyche of the characters, continues in the same monotonous rhythm. Arc after arc, the show explores the same mind games and deeper-than-thou philosophy, and the narration somehow feels simultaneously rushed and sluggish.

The Devil Is a Part-Timer!

After waiting for nine years, one cannot help but be disappointed at the second season of The Devil Is a Part-timer! The charm of the first season, with all its comedic glory, appears to be irretrievably lost in this subpar sequel. 

The animation managed to deteriorate from the first season and the characters are bland caricatures trying to perform the routines of their predecessors. Even the story fails to sustain interest despite the introduction of a convenient plot device.

Call of the Night

A lonely, disillusioned teenage boy roams the streets at night because he is unable to sleep, only to be picked up by a strange girl named Nazuna who turns out to be a blood-sucking vampire. Who wouldn't want to watch this, right? 

The animation and character designs are applaudable, as is the sound design. However, the show is problematic in many ways. 

Fan service aside, the whole dynamic between the main characters is questionable given that one is a 14-year-old, and the other is much older. The sexualisation and manipulation on part of Nazuna don't help either.

Rent-a-Girlfriend 

After watching the second season of this monstrosity, I can only question my judgement of liking the first season. 

At the time, the idea of a protagonist, who was a mockery of everything that a typical harem hero stood for, felt appealing. The satirising of harem tropes and using them to further advance the plot even made the show enjoyable.

However, the second season not only falls short of carrying forward that potential, it actually massacres it by falling victim to the same cliches it satirised in the first season. With nothing new to add to the plot so far, it's a basic case of rinse and repeat. 

Parallel World Pharmacy

Following the reincarnation of a pharmaceutical researcher into a medieval world, this anime had an intriguing enough premise to get me hooked. However, it didn't take me long to realise that it was wrong to expect much from an isekai, and the pharmaceutical aspect is the anime's only saving grace. 

The protagonist is overpowered and manages to overcome all obstacles placed before him with little difficulty. The characters lack dimension and depth, and the storyline is basically non-existent. 

It does, however, have the advantage of probably being the least problematic isekai airing this season.

Zaima is a fake poet. Send her your sympathies at zaima2004adrita@gmail.com.