So I checked out Rising of the Shield Hero, which I was reluctant to do but I liked Re: Zero and Overlord, and I need something for my isekai weeb trash fix.
Ep1: Many questions asked, and then not answered despite an enhanced 40+ minute runtime.
Ep2: Even more questions (implicitly) asked and not answered.
Ep3: Many very convenient coincidences taken for granted. Are you kidding me?
Ep4: ... are you kidding me?
Ep5: ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?
This isn't ordinary weeb trash... this is advanced weeb trash.
I mean, it's a level above Slime isekai or that recent demon lord isekai that I've forgotten the name of (with the protagonist named Diablo) and way better than smart phone isekai. I don't think it meets Overlord, but in terms of quality it definitely meets Re: Zero even though I think that was better adapted in some ways. A lot of questions intentionally won't be answered until the end of the arc, which I think is going to line up with the end of the anime, but they are going fast and it's hard for me to be able to say they're explaining things properly since I already read it well past the point the anime would reach. There are a few things that are still total bullshit even when explained, including Firo, but will at least be explained next episode. But the broader plot coincidences that I think you're talking about will definitely be explained, and there are two big reasons for them. The only things. I specifically noticed that the anime handled badly were the thing where he didn't taste food or notice that Raphtalia got older, which wasn't that important and I thought deserved to be downplayed to the degree it was, and how his shield changes forms and increases its power, which is kind of important but considering how the market has changed since this was first written, they probably figured it would b emote acceptable and palatable to just leave it be, and it obviously doesn't transfer into anime format that well. It's not like they're going to get to the arc where it becomes relevant, and even if they get a second season (in which case they probably would) they can explain it more then.
But yeah, even though it's a classic that got a lot of people into both isekai and (in the west) isekai in general, it can only be called a solid work, not a revolutionary masterpiece.
To be clearer in my complaint, I'm upset that the show had a REALLY SUPER EXCELLENT premise... and then threw it away in favor of a premise centered around waifu-bait and an unnaturally forced persecution complex. The so-called "controversies" aren't even spicy enough to trigger my taste buds they're so bland.
The "SUPER EXCELLENT PREMISE" I'm referring to is the fact that all the heroes are from alternate timeline Japans... and then doesn't do anything with that idea. Atleast it hasn't yet, but I'm betting that it won't ever do anything with it and it'll stay as a pointless background detail. Like, just imagine, you could have had all the heroes be radically different from eachother, because they're all born from a totally different background:
We could have one where Japan and the Axis powers won WW2, and then Japan immediately started WW3 with Nazi Germany and then they won that, so now Japan is the Supreme Ruler over all the world, so that hero has a totally unchecked superiority complex and believes that Japanese people (and ONLY Japanese people) are the world's master race and this diverse fantasy world of European-esque people and demihumans are ripe for Japanese subjugation, and he only needs to figure out how to connect this world to his world so the motherland can reap all the benefits of this bountiful and virgin territory and he can get all the credit.
We could have another one come from a Japan where society and the world has collapsed and destroyed itself, and his world is a Mad Max/Fist of the North Star-esque dying planet dystopia. Because everyone teleported in, they still all had whatever they were personally carrying at the time... and this one just so happened to be armed to the teeth with firearms and a lifetime of brutal combat experience. For convenience's sake, he's not forbidden by his legendary weapon from using them since they belong to him. He's overwhelmed at this mirthful fantasy land, and he secretly decides that he will FIND A WAY to topple it over, declare himself Emperor, and rule over it as a dictator and never have to go hungry or wanting again.
And another one could... you know, you get it, I'm disappointed that the author bothered to include a cool detail like that, and then just not do anything with it. All the Japans were functionally identical to the one that that protagonist came from, excepting only in COINCIDENTALLY having MMO's that are bizarrely identical to the fantasy world they got transported to, preparing them beforehand for this adventure far in advance. God what a waste.