Fans of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime were eager for season three! It adapted three more books from the Light Novel series but it seems the pacing of the series didn't hit the mark. While the season is chock-full of engaging scenes and stories, the slower pace impacted this season.
Season Three Highlights
Season three covers the Saint-Monster Confrontation Arc, with a major showdown between Rimuru and Hinata Sakaguchi. Then the story moves into an arc focused on the big Tempest opening festival. The festival brings all sorts of familiar characters together with others who are meeting for the first time! This part gives everyone an opportunity to share their stories!
Pacing Problems
The Saint-Monster Confrontation Arc had way more build-up than the actual conflict. The anticipation was there but ended up being a bit underwhelming. Much of it was based on the assumptions of both sides. What was obvious to viewers was that there was little interest to get into battle and a whole lot of talk was done to keep them from it!
There were a ton of meetings where these different factions went back and forth about the various situations! A lot of this speculation turned out to be based on inaccurate conclusions.
- The actual conflict is led by a few in the Western Holy Church.
- These individuals were jealous of Hinata.
- The battle ended quickly and was shorter than expected.
The battle’s ending was good but it just took too long to get there! The planning by the Seven Days Clergy is obvious from the beginning. It wasn't much of a mystery and felt like more of a deliberate plot orchestrated by some highly suspicious people that Hinata didn't even trust.
The Festival Arc
The second half of season three shows Rimuru's big festival! This section is less about violence and more about celebrating the progress of Tempest. While this part had its share of meetings (all taking place in the same conference room) the actual events of the festival were awesome. These slower-paced, talking-heavy moments could be enhanced, though, visually. They just seemed repetitive in their style.
The festival showed how much Rimuru has done for Tempest!
- Rimuru’s dedication and effort toward nation building are central to the show.
- The festival highlights Rimuru's incredible achievements.
- He even has plans to make nearby countries Falmenace and Blumund economic hubs that are attached to Tempest.
- Familiar characters show up, like Ramiris.
- Some unique interactions appear like Hinata with Shizu’s students.
Overall Impressions
Season three has less action than the previous seasons. This might be a bummer for action fans. Rimuru is a Demon Lord now! It makes sense that few people would challenge him directly in battle! The series has always focused on building Tempest and that is central to the show, and it doesn’t lose that theme at any point. This season's pacing and the repetitive use of the conference room really impact the viewing experience. The episodes work better as a binge!
The season is good overall but has some issues! The meeting scenes all happening in one setting impacted it significantly! It also made the Pacing Issues more obvious during the weekly release schedule!
Whether or not season three lives up to its potential depends on what you expect from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. The world-building and political maneuvering are what fans of the show love! This was successful, and certainly does leave some powerful lingering impacts on the show.
