Review of Banished From The Hero's Party, I Decided To Live A Quiet Life In The Countryside

Shin no Nakama is ground zero for the new subgenre of isekai shows in which a member of the Hero™’s party gets kicked out for one reason or other and has to start a new life on their own. Shield Hero is arguably the principal precursor of the genre proper, but Shin no Nakama is the first official title on the list. Nowadays I am often left to wonder why I decided to watch any given show, because from the moment I write down a title on my to-watch list, until the moment I actually get around to watching it, years pass – routinely. As such,I often forget what was behind the original impulse. Fortunately, I have a good idea how Shin no Nakama found its way on my list. The show was pretty popular in 2021, when it was airing, and plenty of people seemed to be very taken with Ruti, the Hero™ character, spamming my FB timeline with all manner of screenshots and memes of her. I vaguely remember thinking her design was cool, and so I decided to one day give it a shot.

Watching this felt like rewatching Chillin’ in my 30s. If anything, Shin no Nakama felt like the beta version of Chillin’ – much of the same, just less polish and skill. As such, I really don’t have much to say I haven’t already, so I encourage you to read that essay for a more detailed analysis, for effectively everything I’ve said about that one applies here.

The only real difference is that Shin no Nakama feels a lot more amateurish, as though the team behind it weren’t quite ready to put out a show for TV broadcast. A lot of the facial expressions looked rather janky and did not fit the voice acting, especially in the series’ more dramatic moments. Still, it’s a generally nice-enough looking show.

Chillin’ also felt a lot more down-to-earth and believably wholesome. Not than Shin no Nakama isn’t also mighty wholesome – it is. It just feels less competently put together. A lot of the verisimilitude or lack thereof comes from the design of the protagonist. Dariel literally looked like a regular dude in his 30s. Gideon, or Red, as he calls himself since his exile, by comparison sports a much more LightNovelGuy™-type look to him, sharper textures, sleek eyes, spiky hair, the works.

Shin no Nakama also attempts to create a bit more dramatic tension by way of a plot device that is supposed to pose a philosophical question to the audience. What is more important? To do what you choose of your own free will? Or to do that which you are destined for? I didn’t personally find that whole shpiel terribly interesting, but your mileage will vary.

Lastly, while the romance was a welcome and important element of Chillin’, it was not the main element. Here, the OTP is put front and center much earlier and takes up a lot more oxygen. In some ways, this show doesn’t go as far with its romance. Yet again, in other ways – awesome ways – it goes so much further.

What can I say? The Japanese government really wants weebs to leave their basements and have sex. Nippon needs babies!