Review of The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?

Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai deshou! (2020) Well, this show had an immense amount of promise but it just failed and failed and failed. The show is not a unique Isekai apart from the fact that the 8th son basically is a sort of villain that is used to basically destroy his family through the power he has and his naivety to be used by the central government. The show has a harem in it but also moves onto polygamy with the extra fact that intercourse increases your mana or makes you able to use it if you couldn't before. Being a magician is basically theticket to an easy life in this world and so girls flock to the main character on that basis. A bit sad since otherwise they well wouldn't especially with his parties initial intent. Also, it is always a shame to see the supporting best friend character get no love interests but in the source material, he does at least down the line and I'd argue his head wife is amazing.

The art style of the show is pretty decent and is generally really nice to view. It has a lot of great qualities to it and doesn't fail in many places. The use of CGI isn't bad but is a bit clunky when used especially in the dungeon.

The sound comes with a pretty dramatic OP at least for the first 10 seconds then goes a bit more normal and the ED is somewhat standard. I was disappointed that magic and combat has barely any depth to it. Wilma has a great VA.

Characters develop a great deal but at the same time, you barely see any of the major milestones because they time skip so much. Also as said the main characters entire life is based upon the magic side of his prowess and without it I reckon it would be a pretty cruel show, to be honest. Especially when the girls Ena and Louise recognise the advantage of being wives and even willingly try to be mistresses in a split-second decision. Also, like said the using of the central government to basically destroy your family in the hopes you will aid in developing your land. That said Elise and Wilma are pretty great characters but then develop is so bad it makes it harder to be 100% sure.

So, as far as enjoyment goes it is not without its flaws and the toxic world they live in that shows much more rose coloured let's be honest. Also, a few episode issues come up due to time skips mostly.

Episode 3 ends and 4 starts out of nowhere with a magical flying ship that has modern gauges and equipment onboard.

Episode 6 you are then cheated out of a battle so you watch Elise instead which was nice but at the same time, it was made to be pretty pivotal.

Episode 7 you have an important tournament fight and it is skipped.

Episode 8 opens with a massive time skip and then a massive army to taken out by brand new trained adventurers but let's not forget the veterans that went in got annihilated in the first room.

The show continues on like this but in its finale, you see how everyone is basically against the MC's family and has been plotting and well what happens happens.
Also, considering Well is from an impoverished background that has little access to anything yet no one questions how he knows of all these amazing foods and styles and technologies and such ever, especially since they seem to be new or foreign to people of this kingdom.

I really wanted to like this show much more than I did. It just ruins itself with the time skips, it would have benefited more episodes but the story is so badly paced in this adaptation that it ruins the show.

4/10.