Saikyou no Ousama Nidome no Jinsei wa Nani o Suru [Season 1 Episode 1]

“The Beginning After the End” Season 1 Episode 1: A Promising Start or a Disappointing Slide Show?

Introduction

“The Beginning After the End” (Japanese: Saikyou no Ousama, Nidome no Jinsei wa Nani wo Suru?) is one of the most anticipated anime adaptations of 2025, based on the popular web novel by TurtleMe. The story follows King Grey, a man who, despite his unmatched strength and wealth, lived a lonely and purposeless life. After his death, he is reincarnated into a magical world as Arthur Leywin, a newborn with memories of his past life. The first episode sets the stage for his journey to correct the mistakes of his past and find true happiness.

But does the anime live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the reactions from fans and see if this is a must-watch or a hard pass.

The Premise: A Second Chance at Life

The episode opens with a glimpse of Grey’s past—his power, his loneliness, and his eventual demise. It’s a classic isekai setup, but with a twist: instead of focusing on power fantasies right away, the story takes its time to explore Arthur’s new life as a child.

Fans of the source material appreciated this approach. One Reddit user noted:

“I like that we get to see more of Arthur’s past life instead of jumping straight into the funny isekai fantasy world. The storytelling direction is solid.”

However, some viewers found the pacing slow. A MyAnimeList commenter complained:

“The first 10 minutes felt like a slideshow. Too much panning over still frames. It’s 2025—why does this look like a 2007 anime?”

Animation and Art: Hit or Miss?

The animation quality is where opinions split the most. While the opening song (OP) received universal praise—“That OP was FIREEEE!”—the actual episode didn’t impress everyone.

Some fans defended the visuals:

“It’s not the best, but it’s watchable. I’ll stick around for the story.”

Others were less forgiving:

“Studio A-Cat should be banned from adapting manhwas. This is a disaster. The character designs are mid, and the animation is bottom-tier.”

A recurring criticism was the overuse of panning shots, making the episode feel static. One frustrated viewer even joked:

“I counted at least eight scenes where the screen just slid left, right, up, and down. Are we watching an anime or a PowerPoint presentation?”

Comparisons to Mushoku Tensei

Given the premise—reincarnation, magic, and a protagonist starting over—comparisons to Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation were inevitable. Some fans argued that TBATE has the potential to surpass it:

“The source material is better than Mushoku Tensei. The anime just needs to step up its game.”

But most agreed that the adaptation fell short:

“Mushoku Tensei did it better. The animation, the world-building, the emotional weight—this doesn’t come close.”

One interesting take came from a fan who appreciated the lack of Mushoku Tensei’s controversial elements:

“At least there’s no creepy perversion here. Arthur’s just a kid trying to figure out his new life.”

The Heart of the Episode: Family Bonds

Despite the mixed reactions to the animation, one aspect stood out—Arthur’s relationship with his new family. The warmth between him and his parents resonated with viewers.

A MyAnimeList user shared:

“I loved seeing Arthur’s mom. She’s a total baddie, and their interactions were heartwarming.”

Another fan, new to the series, said:

“I’ve been craving an anime where the MC has a loving family from the start. This hit the spot.”

This emotional core might be the show’s saving grace, especially if future episodes build on it.

Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?

If you’re a fan of the web novel or manhwa, you might be disappointed by the adaptation’s flaws. But if you’re new to the story, the first episode offers enough intrigue to keep you hooked—assuming you can overlook the animation issues.

As one optimistic viewer put it:

“It’s only the first episode. Let’s give it a few more before writing it off.”

On the other hand, if you’re looking for top-tier animation and a flawless start, this might not be for you.

Rating: 6.5/10 (Decent, but could be better).

Will The Beginning After the End rise to greatness, or will it fade into the sea of generic isekai? Only time—and better animation—will tell.

What did you think of Episode 1? Let’s discuss in the comments!