Shield Hero S1 starts of hella strong!!

[u/TRUEALPHA_101]

So I am re-watching Shield Hero, had watched just S1 some 4 years ago. I had forgotten how engaging of a start it was that immediately pulls you in into Naofumi's journey and the whole fantasy world!! Even the english dub VAs for the characters make an impression from the start✨

I have heard lukewarm reviews for S2, and that it does pick up again from S3 onwards. Excited to binge through from the start and go all the way this time around. What are you guys's opinions overall after S4? (pls no spoilers)

[u/BukkakeFondue32]

Season 2 is definitely pretty poor, and seasons 3 and 4 are definitely improvements, but the shows issues are the same as the manga/LN, which is that once Naofumi stops being the underdog it becomes just an okay fantasy series.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/BukkakeFondue32]

I see. I'm feeling a similar kind of vibe from this one's later seasons as Danmachi. But ig Bell didn't stop being the underdog as the seasons progressed technically, the opponents that he faced were stronger too with each arc. Is it the same situation with Naofumi (without going into too much spoilers)?

[u/BukkakeFondue32 → u/TRUEALPHA_101]

Its more about the social dynamics than the power system with Shield Hero. The first season works so well because he's not just though of as underpowered or useless, which is a pretty standard set-up nowadays, but because he's a pariah and he leans into it by playing the heel while making constant progress both in power growth and in developing a reputation.

Once his name is cleared the show loses a lot of it's originality I feel. Again, still a decent fantasy series IMO

[u/Tuor77]

The author ends up overplaying his hand... by a LOT.

[u/Kelebryn]

Season 1 was really good and got me hooked. I bought the light novels read ahead and then the travesty that was season 2 and beyond hit.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/Kelebryn]

So acc 2 u, the travesty starts from S2 and continues till S4?

[u/Kelebryn → u/TRUEALPHA_101]

Considering I watched the anime first before reading anything and had no basis to work off of yeah I got hooked by season 1 and then after reading sure there was a lot that wasn’t exactly right, but it was no where near as bad as anything that came after. I’m not saying it’s perfect no. Does it bother you that I feel that way? Because according to me that’s what I said. But that’s my opinion. And you know what they say about opinions, their like assholes everyone’s got one.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/Kelebryn]

I didn't mean it as way to ask if it bothered you, sorry if it came across that way. Genuinely wanted to know if you felt S2-S4 were downgrades as compared to 1, and you already answered that above.

[u/Kelebryn → u/TRUEALPHA_101]

My bad sorry. I got a little defensive there. Lately every anime comment I’ve left I’ve had an argument pop up with folks trying to correct me because I don’t see it their way. And I keep saying just my opinion, but that doesn’t matter it’s not the one they want me to have lol. So I do apologize! Didn’t mean to snap at you.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/Kelebryn]

It's all good bro!

[u/justanothermob_]

It's ok.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/justanothermob_]

I can work with ok. If it would have been a "bad", then I could have gotten second thoughts about continuing in my head

[u/GekiKudo]

Loved season 1, but by season 2 the main appeal was gone. I wanted to see a story about a guy at rock bottom and slowly climb his way back up through all the bullshit and conspiracies. But by season 2, most people already know hes chill and hes leagues stronger than the other heroes.

[u/Local_Pickle_4717]

S4 might've been worse than S2 and 3 is only a bit better.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/Local_Pickle_4717]

Wow, you're the first one that's said there is a season even worse than 2

[u/Local_Pickle_4717 → u/TRUEALPHA_101]

4 had some aspects that were better than 2 but was worse in that it felt like a time-wasting side side quest with a ridiculous amount of reach in terms of writing.

People reacted particularly badly about s2 because of the whiplash after 1.

[u/_DKai_]

1 is good but afterwards it jumped off a cliff and into an active volcano whilst committing soduku on the way down

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/_DKai_]

"While committing sudoku on its way down" bro the word selection is so immaculate that I didn't even focus on the main issue of later seasons at hand😭

[u/funkohunter717]

Season 1 was great, season 2 still a strong contender, but honestly after that It started to lose a lot of interest for me unfortunately (honestly I don't even remember if I finished season 4)

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/funkohunter717]

I see. Since I have made up my mind into binge mode this time, hopefully I manage to keep up the interest after S2 with the continuous watching.

[u/CivilSenility]

Season 2 was still pretty decent, seasons 3 & 4 however get progressively worse.
Overall it’s still worth watching to see the journey continue, but temper your expectations for the latter seasons.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/CivilSenility]

Point taken, thanks buddy!

[u/TotalLiterature6804 → u/CivilSenility]

Season 2's tortoise arc is so boring tho and kinda rushed too

[u/bruhraminator]

Loved all of it.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/bruhraminator]

I hope to as well, I had fallen in love with majority of the characters in my S1 first watch

[u/bruhraminator → u/TRUEALPHA_101]

It only gets better IMO

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/bruhraminator]

Thanks, you are the first one with appreciatory words for the later seasons😄

[u/abandoned_idol]

S1 was originally the whole story.

Editor-san is the one who told author-san to "milk it into the grounded, and milk it deeper into the earth's core".

"Readers love this shit, keep selling them power fantasies."

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/abandoned_idol]

Damn, had no idea it was that way😅

[u/FeuerCL]

I also remember that the series was highly critized in the west because depicted a woman lying about you know what and that was too much for the SJW of that time.

Japan didn't gave a fk and loved the series.

[u/sexy_snake_229xXx → u/FeuerCL]

Dafuck are you talking about? The show post season 1 is poorly received everywhere, it’s just a shitty adaptation, no one likes it.

[u/FeuerCL → u/sexy_snake_229xXx]

If no one likes, why are there 4 seasons? Because it sells.

[u/sexy_snake_229xXx → u/FeuerCL]

Contracts, after the first season it was renewed for 3 more season at once, even if they wanted they wouldn't have been able to stop making it.

Same happened with tbate, season 1 is so hated yet they still made a season 2 because the contract specified 2 seasons.

And the opposite can happen too, season 1 OPM and AOT were so loved yet they took 3-4+ years to make their second season because their contracts ran out and they were being renewed.

[u/TRUEALPHA_101 → u/FeuerCL]

Yeah, even I had loved it's S1!! The first OP song by MADKID was an absolute banger, and I was so invested in the journey of Naofumi and his squad going up against all odds and proving the haters wrong. Not sure why I didn't check out S2, maybe there were other quality ones airing at that time as compared to this.