could you perchance explain what was going on that they missed because i have no intention of sitting and watching overlord but am curious why so many people like it over all other isekai
There are a few reasons I like Overlord over other Isekais and why it feels like Irony is missing some of it.
1. One of the big problem in Isekais and many anime in general is the fact that the protags asspull powers whenever the need to. They go up against a strong enemy and then the power of friendship or whatever gives them the strength to get through. This makes them feel marysue-ish because there's no limit to their power and no limit to what they can do, they can just pull new powers and skills whenever they need it and it leads to stupid levels of escalation. Overlord begins with its characters being overwhelmingly strong but that strength stays consistent. The main character can fight just about anything with little effort but when he does face threats his power level doesn't rise out of nowhere and he wins through the use of exploiting known things as opposed to bullshit. At least thats how it feels.
2. Most Isekais focus on the overpowered protag fighting some evil force and beating them. Part of the reason they seem like fanfiction is they focus entirely on this protag and how great he is. Meanwhile Overlord actually spends a lot of its time focused on other characters. You barely see Ainz during the entire second season, instead the story focuses on those around him and those effected by him. Despite him being ostensibly the main character they frame the series more like a group story where he is the connecting element rather that the protagonist. And Ainz' story isn't some generic fight the evil guy thing, none of the sides in the story are depicted as just mindlessly evil (Besides maybe Clem and her necrobuddy). There's a lot of moral gray area including with Ainz. Everyone has their own motivations and desires and despite Ainz overwhelming strength there are relatively few fights with him in it.
3. There's a lot of subtle characterization on display, particularly with Ainz. For instance Irony talked about a campfire scene. I just rewatched it to make sure my memory of it was good and I have to say, I think he really is biased in this respect. I'll list the actual events as they take place
Ainz- in armor to hide his inhuman appearance- wonders what he should do with the food given to him
A member of the other party flirts with Ainz' attendant
Ainz makes up an excuse to not eat
Ainz asks the party about itself and its history
The party explains its backstory, how it got its name, some lore about the world, etc.
The party shows off their black knives, the symbol of their namesake and their unity as a group
Ainz, watching the party interact, feels loneliness for his own lost friends and the times they shared.
The fact that one of the members of the team is a girl disguised as a boy is foreshadowed
Ainz comments on how having a shared goal can unite a team and the party asks if he was on a team before.
He reminisces, revealing that he was saved when he was first starting out and thats how he ended up with his former guildmates
He says they were his best friends and he will never forget them.
One of the party members says Ainz will find people like that again. This has a double implication since he is actively looking for other people transported to this world as well as feeling the loss of his friends.
Ainz says that will never happen and walks away from the group to "eat".
The party speculates that Ainz must have lost is companions in battle.
The one who told him he would find new friends feels bad and the others advise them that whats said is said, he only needs to try and mend the damage.
Foreshadowing about why the hidden girl is in the adventuring group
The alchemist brings up how strong Ainz is, because this is Ainz first time working for the adventure's guild and thus is on the lowest rank. Others express their surprise that he is that strong as well.
The alchemist presses for further details about Ainz because he has ulterior motives in hiring him. He wants to know about the Red potion Ainz gave another adventurer, since those potions are rare in this world.
The party doesn't offer up much, but to say Ainz isn't very handsome. One says he's surprised Ainz has such an attractive companion with him considering his looks, and then another replies that women flock to the strong.
The alchemist then reveals his crush on a village girl and his fear that she'll be attracted to Ainz.
The party unites to encourage him and wish him well.
The scene is roughly 7 and a half minutes long and contains about 10-15 seconds of talking about Ainz in a way that is reasonable considering the world and the events that have happened. Whats more we get a feeling for Ainz true motivations and desires, his regrets, and aspects of his character. And this is not done by saying them bluntly but inferred by how he acts.
4. There's a lot of political intrigue, season long master plans, secret motivations, and character deaths. The story as a whole feels more complex and thought out than your standard Isekai, with the motivations and actions of several factions and characters dynamically coming into conflict with each other for their own reasons.
And now its midnight and I feel like I'm losing coherency so I'm gonna stop.
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Topic: I like anime, do you like anime? (Read 3131753 times)