Review of The Rising of the Shield Hero

I enjoyed this anime at first because it took a different approach to other isekai and didn't make the protaganist overpower right away. In addition the art was above average and there were several musical pieces that were simply beautiful. But the longer I watched the more disillusioned I got, everyone apart from Naofumi (and to a lesser extent Raphtalia) have such basic and one note characters that by around episode 11 it becomes very dull. Every situation simplifies to Naofumi was right (if a bit spiteful) and the others were either boneheaded or out to get him, with villagers growing to love him, theothers heroes realizing they were wrong and some nobles getting angry. It feels very much as though entire world revolves around Naofumi alone and that's just...disappointing. Having read the WN before this several years back this was not a huge surprise to me but nonetheless watching it animated this series lacked depth much like other isekai I have seen (although it definitely does better than 90% of isekai out there.)

As a short aside, seeing the character of Raphtalia again I can't help be disappointed in her. Her instistence to be treated as an adult by Naofumi when she acts like a child whenever anything approaching a conversation or an interaction about their relationship(e.g. pouting when Filo hugs Naofumi, or when Melty calls him by his first name) comes up, and her wanting of a relationship (I assume as equals) when she constantly makes herself subservient to him is jarring to me in a way that wasn't to me when I first read the Web Novel.