Review of The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4

Probably I'll mirror the other members, but I also wanted to post my review. Spoiler alert: this anime is sht. Again. I really don't understand how people watch it and say "its not as bad as the 2nd one...". Is that how it is? Why not compare it with the 1st one then? Also wrong. When reviewing something, pls talk about its quality as it is. Say if the visuals were ok, the audio, script, fight choreography, vfx etc. Because, spoilers, you CAN also like bad media. Aka "my guilty pleasure". And there's nothing wrong with that. I guess I should start... Visuals. Bad. Aside some "cute"character designs, some backdrops and some special glow and effects, everything else is meh. The animation is ok, at best. No cinematography. No decent fight choreography. And full with the same rushed and simplistic drawings for the "non-important" general scenes. Apart from a couple of specially selected beautiful frames. In other words, you can use some printscreens for a wallpaper and then forget about it.
Audio. Bad. The OP and ED have bad (if not terrible) songs and visuals. They used tracks for everything (and not even some decent ones), even for the scenes that are supposed to be emotional-heavy. Or maybe that was the intention, so that you won't pay attention to how bad the season is. The VAs did what they could I guess, I was not impressed.
Pacing. Stuff happens because it must. It all feels rushed because they needed to end it in a certain way. Luckily for them, the characters were also in a hurry and you'd think it was supposed to be like that, but nope.
World-building. Again, fast-forward everything in the beginning and thats it. If you aren't paying attention, you'll forget it anyway.
The magic system is a joke, again. Struggle, struggle, "the season is ending, its time to win this, do you want to activate some bullsh*t option?" "Yes". Done.
I'm sure it has a high production value but I can't see where the money went.

And now the reaaaly "good" parts. The script is sht. And yet, funny thing, it is better than the sauce. Like most of you, I was enthralled by the 1st season and I "had" to get the books, to know how it ends (don't worry, I won't spoil what comes next). My point is, I had the displeasure to see how the story got worse by the second. Same for the dialogue. Some examples, why not? "-I'm sorry blah blah. -Don't be, mr naofumi. I believe you can still protect us. -you're right". Thats the dialogue, now imagine the "normal" stuff. Full of expo. Or, "now that I thought about it, she said something about this earlier" at least one per page. And every new volume starts with "Oh?" Thats Sadeeena, blah blah. Next paragraph, "Fehhh". Thats Rishia blah blah. Next paragraph, "Hmmm?" Thats Filo cocking her head blah blah. So, sht openings, sht middle, no better endings. Having fun yet?
I hope no one will have the nerve to say they disrespected the source and thats why it is bad. With that out of the way, season 4. The story is sht. It is full of plot contrivances and plot holes. The author wanted the story in a certain direction and stuff happens just to push the narrative a certain way. Thats it. It should be about character development, I know, but there's none here (for the main cast)). They are put in different situations, "bad" stuff happens, they get over it (almost instantly) by self-activating bulls**t options. Oh no, and we were so scared for them... Not even Raphtalia, that it is struggling with her feelings. We know that because we are told, not showed. Ofc, it would be really difficult to show it when the drawings for her have the "sad face" or "angry face" options only.....
I know I should write more, but I don'y know about what, and I don't really wanna. I have a cold and remembering stuff that happened this season makes me feel even worse. If you're feeling generous, you might say it was a boring season; it was there just to have a next season. Flashy, shiny, pretty things on the screen (and not even all the time), no real thought in its story. You know they will "win" in the end, the characters (both the good and the evil ones) are pretty generic, the dialogue, the story and the overall logic reasoning of the people is sht (3rd episode?). I guess if you're here you'll watch it anyway, just to pass time, and then you'll check the reviews for the next season, and so on, still hoping it will get good at some point, right? :)))

It gets a rating of 4. Too much, I know, but some wallpapers are nice :) And for some shadow of a character development on a supporting cast. Not recommended, no rewatch value.
If you really really wanna know the story, read the books. One season covers 4 volumes I think, every book its about 250 pages (4-6 hours?).
Have a lovely evening.