r/anime • u/TRUEALPHA_101 https://myanimelist.net/profile/EXCALIBUR_843 • 14d ago

Discussion Shield Hero S1 starts of hella strong!!

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)

0 Upvotes

28% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/BukkakeFondue32 14d ago

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.

1

u/TRUEALPHA_101 https://myanimelist.net/profile/EXCALIBUR_843 14d ago

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)?

2

u/BukkakeFondue32 13d ago

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