Review of Banished From The Hero's Party, I Decided To Live A Quiet Life In The Countryside
Plot: First half - Mostly slice of life & romance, with small splashes of adventure that create mini story arcs, as well as introduce us to the characters & world order. The pace can feel a bit slow (especially towards the middle of the series) if you're expecting more action & plot. Second half - A larger arc with the main story. Most of the adventure, plot progression & character development happens here, but still contains moments centered on slice of life & romance. The genre-switching between scenes can be a bit abrupt & so may feel like a disruption to the main adventure or romance (dependingon which you're expecting from this anime). The pace also significantly speeds up, & some leaps in world logic & character motivations are made towards the end. This may make the plot feel rushed & confusing.
Characters:
Character development for the main characters (Red & Rit) is mostly shown through their backstories, which only occupy a short segment of total viewing time. Hence, they may feel a bit flat/lackluster as characters to some.
Arguably though, the main focus of this anime is on the blossoming romance between Red & Rit - how they first meet, reconcile their differing lifestyles/worldviews & build a life together. It's a straightforward romance made up of everyday moments, with no melodrama or mind games.
Interestingly, it's the supporting characters who undergo the most character development, especially Ruti whose motivations, relationships, dilemmas & growth we get to see in the second half of the series. The majority of the plot & drama centers around this.
Themes:
Stays true to its premise of living a quiet life away from the Hero's party. This anime may appear simple at first glance. However, a deeper look will reveal that it explores themes like fate vs free will, responsibilities/expectations others place upon us vs our own desires, talent vs diligence in achieving mastery, following our calling vs appreciating everyday pleasures to find fulfilment in life.
Art:
Adequate to portray the everyday life of Red, Rit & the townsfolk. Good enough where it counts, e.g. a few of the battle sequences, how Ruti's character development is conveyed through her facial expressions. A bit heavy on the fan service in some episodes.
Sound:
Nothing spectacular. A pretty chill OP & ED. Voice-acting was good enough to make the romance, conflict & battle scenes convincing.
Overall:
• A blend of everyday romance & simple adventures in a fantasy world. Could leave you feeling dissatisfied if you're looking for the emotional kind of romantic drama or a story-rich adventure with a complicated plot/mind-blowing twists.
• More focused on the character relationships than character development.
• Unique in its take on the usual overpowered hero trope, which it then uses to explore deeper themes. This is what pushed up my enjoyment & rating of the anime.