The Beginning After the End [Season 1 Episodes 1-2]

The Beginning After the End: A Promising Start That Stumbles Out the Gate

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’ve seen Mushoku Tensei, you’ll feel right at home with The Beginning After the End (TBATE). But is that a good thing? For the first two episodes of this Studio A-Cat adaptation, it’s a mixed bag—one that’s got potential but trips over its own ambition.

First, let’s talk about the setup. Grey, the “strongest king in history,” dies alone and bitter, only to be reborn as Arthur Leywin, a baby in a world of magic. Unlike his past life of power and isolation, Arthur’s new life is warm: loving parents, a cozy home, and the chance to redo everything. Sounds familiar? Fans on MyAnimeList are already calling it “Mushoku Tensei without the creepiness,” and they’re not wrong. Arthur’s past self is a ruthless ruler, not a NEET, but the core idea—reincarnation as a kid with adult smarts—hits the same beats.

Episode 1 dives into Arthur’s early days: he’s a toddler who can talk, read, and even sass his dad (Reynolds, a goofy adventurer) about “butt itches” and pooping. The humor here is light and silly, which works—Arthur’s deadpan reactions to baby life are the episode’s best bits. But then there’s the worldbuilding: Arthur just knows the language and magic basics, no explanation given. As one fan put it, “The author couldn’t even be bothered to make him learn to speak?” It’s a lazy shortcut that takes you out of the story.

Then there’s Episode 2, where things get messy. Arthur’s family is attacked by bandits, and he’s thrown off a cliff into a dark forest. The action is… okay? But the bandits are laughably dumb. Why send 80 guys to rob one carriage? Why do they charge head-on into magic users? As another viewer ranted, “That only makes sense if the boss wanted to thin the herd.” And don’t get me started on the CGI monster—Studio A-Cat’s signature bad CG strikes again, making the beast look like a low-budget video game boss.

The biggest issue, though, is the pacing. The first episode spends 10 minutes on Grey’s backstory (which is just him being sad and powerful) before jumping to Arthur’s baby years. Then Episode 2 rushes through the bandit attack, the cliff fall, and the monster encounter like it’s checking boxes. Fans are already complaining about skipped scenes: “They cut how Arthur survived the fall!” one wrote. It feels like the show is in a hurry to get to the “cool stuff” without letting us care about the characters.

But it’s not all bad. The family dynamic is sweet—Arthur’s mom, Alice, is a total badass (she teleports behind Reynolds when he’s being stupid), and their love for Arthur feels real. The humor lands when it’s not forced, and the idea of a former tyrant trying to be good is compelling. Plus, the ending of Episode 2 leaves you hanging: will Arthur survive the forest? Will he ever see his parents again? It’s a classic cliffhanger that makes you want to keep watching.

The animation is a sore spot, though. Studio A-Cat’s CG is jarring—think RWBY but less polished. The fight scenes are choppy, and the monster looks like it’s from a different show. Fans are already worried: “A-Cat is known for random CG bits,” one commented. It’s a shame because the art style (when it’s 2D) is actually pretty—Arthur’s big eyes and the vibrant magic effects pop.

Another problem? The show’s lack of originality. Every twist feels borrowed: the reincarnated kid with adult skills, the loving family, the sudden danger. As one fan said, “It’s like they took MT and dumbed it down.” Even the harem hints (Jasmine, a young adventurer, being nice to 4-year-old Arthur) feel forced. We get it—Arthur’s special—but do we need to see grown men duel a toddler?

But here’s the thing: TBATE has heart. Arthur’s desire to be better than his past self is relatable, and the family moments are genuine. The first two episodes are a rough start, but there’s potential. The web novel and manhwa are beloved for their worldbuilding and character growth, so maybe the show will find its footing later.

So, should you watch it? If you love reincarnation isekais and can overlook messy pacing and bad CG, yes. But don’t go in expecting something groundbreaking. As one fan summed it up: “It’s not bad, but it’s not great. I’ll give it three episodes.”

The Beginning After the End is like a new video game with a buggy tutorial—it’s got a great story to tell, but it needs to fix its glitches first. Let’s hope it levels up soon.

Final Verdict: 6/10—promising, but needs work. Stick around for the characters, skip if you hate CG or unoriginal plots.