New Saga [Season 1]

New Saga Season 1: A Time-Traveling Rollercoaster That’s Equal Parts Cringe and Charm

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’ve seen A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special or Re:Zero, you already know the drill with New Saga. The anime, which dropped in July 2025 from Studio Clutch, follows Kyle, a magic knight who beats the Demon Lord—only to die and wake up four years in the past. Now he’s got a chance to redo everything without losing his buds. Sounds like a solid New Game+ plot, right? But does it live up? Fans on MyAnimeList are split, and honestly, I get it.

First off, the pilot is… rough. The Demon Lord is a faceless, silent nobody (seriously, no lines?), and the final battle feels like a last-minute rush. One viewer called it “dumb,” and yeah—Kyle’s big win against the bad guy lacks punch because we never learn who the bad guy even is. The animation? Let’s just say it’s not Demon Slayer-level. A fan griped, “Animation is bad,” and I can’t argue—some fight scenes look like they were storyboarded on a napkin.

But here’s the twist: Episode 2 turns things around. Suddenly, it’s not all doom and gloom anymore. The show leans into comedy, and it works. Kyle’s overactive imagination (he fights his own thoughts and gets hit—who does that?) and the supporting cast’s bickering make it feel like a group of friends messing up a D&D campaign. One user even said, “This is now far better than the first episode. It’s transitioning to comedy.” Finally, something to latch onto!

The “New Game+” vibe is both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, Kyle’s future knowledge lets him skip boring labyrinths and grab OP gear (like the sword spirit Sildonia, who’s low-key annoyed by his shortcuts). On the other, it kills tension. As a fan pointed out, “Why should I care about someone who already beat the boss?” We know he survives—so where’s the stakes?

Then there’s the drama. Kyle’s past mistakes haunt him—like letting his red-headed friend die. Now he’s crushing on an elf girl, which feels awkward (one viewer joked, “So he moved on to elf girl after the red head died? That’s awkward”). But the show’s best moments come from these messy, human bits. When Kyle tries to save Milena from a hydra in Episode 3, you can feel his desperation—he’s not just a OP hero; he’s a guy scared to lose again.

The side characters are hit-or-miss. The water magician is cool, but others feel flat. One fan begged for “good supporting characters,” and I agree—Kyle can’t carry the show alone. The villains are even more confusing. The blond noble guy is so over-the-top evil (he tried to make a female demon hook up with him—yikes) that it’s hard to take him seriously. And don’t get me started on the horse logic—why didn’t the bad guy just ride past Kyle instead of stopping to fight?

By the end of Season 1, the story feels disjointed. A viewer gave it a 5.5/10, saying, “This story felt very disjointed… they didn’t flesh out the actual story.” The finale wraps up too quickly, leaving more questions than answers. Where did the Demon Lord go? Why is Kyle’s mom so young? And don’t even get me started on the time-travel plot holes (can two relics exist at once? No one knows).

But here’s the thing: New Saga is fun if you don’t take it too seriously. It’s like a fast-food burger—junk food, but satisfying in the moment. The comedy lands, the action gets better, and Kyle’s journey from a guilt-ridden hero to a guy just trying to do better is relatable.

Who is this show for? If you’re 20 or under and love time-travel tropes, silly humor, and characters who feel like your chaotic friends, give it a shot. Skip Episode 1 if the slow start bugs you—Episode 2 is where the party starts. Just don’t expect a masterpiece. As one fan put it: “I’ll tentatively stick with this, but I’ll need some good supporting characters.”

In short, New Saga Season 1 is a mixed bag. It’s not perfect, but it’s got heart. And hey, in a world of generic isekais, sometimes a little cringe and a lot of charm is exactly what you need.

Final Verdict: 6/10—worth a watch if you’re into time-travel comedies, but don’t set your expectations too high.