Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!

I never expected to decide about the rating for this Konosuba spin-off only after the last episode. This was supposed to be a clear 5*, but unfortunately, it wasn't... To start with some praise, the Konosuba series has never looked so good; the animation quality is comparable to the Konosuba movie. Drive did a decent job. However, Konosuba has never been about animation. The slightly half-baked and goofy style that Studio Deen gave to the series fit well with its comedic tone. This brings me to the main problem with this Megumin spin-off – I didn't find it very funny. Initially, I was riding the wave of enthusiasm, feeling like I was back in my favorite world, following my beloved heroine with all her joys and troubles, but the show quickly lost momentum. Hardly anyone caught my attention, all of Megumin's classmates seemed the same, and if you asked me to tell you more about any of them, I would struggle to do so. The only truly interesting characters were Yun`yun and little Komekko. Everyone else was just filler, even Chomusuke. It was kind of bland. I only smiled once or twice per episode, which is not enough for a comedy, and the plot wasn't very surprising or original. The only positive thing about the first six episodes is that I learned some new lore that will probably be reflected in future seasons of the original series. A friend told me that the timing of this spin-off is perfect in connection with what the next Konosuba season should be about, and everything will make more sense next year. I guess I just have to believe him... About halfway through the season, I hit rock bottom regarding energy. I was disappointed that everything at that moment seemed mediocre (except for the animation), and Megumin and Yun`yun couldn't save it for me. After the crimson demon village, my impression slowly improved; my beloved Axis Cult appeared, and I was looking forward to reminiscing about the best parts of the second season. It didn't happen; this part was somewhat funnier, but in terms of inventiveness and craziness, it still lagged far behind the original, and even the twisted priest Zesta and "big sister" Cecily couldn't give it a new dimension. Ultimately, everything had to be saved by the arrival in Axel, which was mostly about nostalgia. In the last three episodes, I had the most fun anticipating when and where Kazuma, Aqua, and Darkness would appear, just like playing "Where's Waldo?" And in the final moments, when everything connected to the original Konosuba and I saw Megumin's first meeting with the others (minus Darkness), I was smiling from ear to ear. For a moment, the series was at the expected 5* level. Perhaps it was ultimately that final moment that tipped the balance in my rating, and I decided to give it a fourth star, albeit weak (6.5/10). After all, it wasn't a completely pointless spin-off. Megumin was still Megumin, and I still like her a lot. The series also made me excited for the new Konosuba seasons and even made me want to rewatch the first and second seasons before that; I doubt that I will ever rewatch this spin-off, though... (06/21/2023) (less) (more)