Forum - View topicHell Mode (TV).
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Edjwald
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Season 01: Hell Mode (TV) Season 02: Hell Mode (TV) Source: Light Novel (ongoing @ 13 volumes, written by Hamuo, illustrated by Mo) Demographic: Shounen Animation Studio: Yokohama Animation Lab Genres: action, adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy Themes: aristocracy, chases, conspiracy, diplomacy, gore, isekai, knights, medieval, monsters, politics, reincarnation, royalty, sorcery, strategy, superpowers, swordplay, tragedy, video games Plot Summary: Thirty-five-year-old Kenichi Yamada has spent his life playing every single MMORPG he can get his hands on. Tired of new games that cater to casual players, he leaps at the chance to try out a never-ending game with an intimidating "Hell Mode" that raises the difficulty (and chances to level up) to impossible heights. But, as soon as he selects the "Summoner," Kenichi finds himself transported into the world of the game and reborn to a family of serfs as a baby named Allen. With nothing but his memories and wits to guide him, Allen sets off to conquer Hell Mode, unearth the secrets of the Summoner class, and free his newfound family from their fate. Air Date & Platform: Season 01: January 09, 2026 (Friday) Available on: HIDIVE Season 02: July 2026 Available on: Pending Episode Count / Runtime: Season 01: 12 episodes Season 02: Pending Total: 12 episodes [EDIT: Fancy opener stuff edited. -TK] Last edited by Edjwald on Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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smurky turkey
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1:
Another isekai for the pile yet I will stick with it because it is actually delivering on the promised gimmick (so far). Allen starts off weak and his summoner class is not overpowered thus it could be interesting to see how he uses it. There is also some charm to be found and the characters are a bit more fleshed out than in the standard isekai. It might sound like faint praise but it makes for an above average addition to the pile. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 3507 |
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I've aired my biases about this genre a lot lately, so I'll just say that of all the adult-stuck-in-a-young-kid's body anime, the only 2 I have ever liked were By the Grace of the Gods and Ascendance of a Bookworm S1. And that's because they both focused on having their MCs (A) Do more than just level up using stat screens and (B) had the MCs slowly and methodically building something out of this new life they had been granted.
This one looks like it has a lot of (B) and might have some of (A), which I guess is my way of saying that episode 1 seemed alright to me. |
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smurky turkey
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2:
I appreciate the show for not having Allen appear in the spotlight (not yet anyway). Hell Mode is supposed to be hard, especially so at the start and his abilities are still weak so a sudden rise to fame or becoming OP would ruin the whole premise. The father getting some shine was a nice moment and it seems that anyone with talent can rise to some degree of fame. |
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Edjwald
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Yah, I'm enjoying it. Even though some of the plot points are similar (appraisal ceremony, misdiagnosis, etc) the flavor is different. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the MC is going to help his likable family get out of abject poverty while developing his gift. It certainly helps that the MC is neither a d!#k nor an all but god (small g).
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Edjwald
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Deleted because I double submitted when the ad at the bottom of the screen slowed things up.
Last edited by Edjwald on Sat Jan 24, 2026 1:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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smurky turkey
Posts: 4990 |
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3:
The MC is indeed pretty sensible. Episode 3 had him shifting his focus from building up stats to helping out his family since times are pretty tough. I appreciate that the local lord was decent enough to visit with some supplies and an apology from the cause of the incident. With a sword hero in the village it does indeed not make sense to hide so much of your strength. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 3507 |
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When the MC wanted to go hunting and the father said, "No, it's too dangerous" I knew it was a major red flag. But I figured either the father was going to die or the MC was going to sneak out and get in trouble on his own (Well, I guess he kind of did with the magic bird at the end). I wasn't expecting the dad to get wounded.
I like the slow grind approach - it's like a tonic for all those OP isekai where the MC has instant omnipotence, just add water. And I like that the MC is forming some filial/social bonds that don't seem to have run too deep his first life around. |
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 25599 |
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I shoulda known you two jokers would be hanging out here.
Wasn't going to check this one out, but changed my mind this morning and glad I did. I too am not a fan of "starting out as a baby and going through childhood" approach but this one is actually handling it well. It's almost as if they made a list of all the things that make Jobless Reincarnation so effing irritating and said, "hey, let's not do any of those." Good call. I like that this world is actually populated by both adults and kids. The kids all have parents! Some of those parents are friends with each other! What a concept! So far, for me, this show is also avoiding a common trap of fantasy shows that use game screens, etc: it's not getting too caught up in that stuff. So far there seems to be a nice balance between MC servicing the game aspect but other stuff going on, too. A decent add, if I do say so myself. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 3507 |
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I've had the same thought that this show is like Jobless Reincarnation's good little brother at several points. I'd trade a main character I can stomach for slicker animation any day.
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 25599 |
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I totally agree with you, Edjwald... but imagine if you could combine both???
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smurky turkey
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4:
I like that progress is being made, it is fittingly a lot less spectacular compared to other similar series. No enormous power increases by leveling up or making bank by killing a few monsters, instead the family now has a solid supply of food and some salt so that they can handle winter. Their position is still horrible though with taxes and unrealistic demands making things tough. The book being able to store notes and drawings is pretty handy. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 3507 |
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I like that instead of focusing on killing the demon lord, the MC is trying to figure out how to get his family out of serfhood. I'm also a fan of the baby steps approach.
I thought this might be a guilty pleasure, but it's turning into one of the new anime that I actively look forward to. |
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smurky turkey
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5:
More incremental progress this week though I do feel like Allen has now reached the line of being relatively strong. If he stocks up on his E-class monsters then he has a reliable team to make use off and given the buffs they provide he will be equal to a decently strong warrior stats wise. The problem with the boar quota seems to be over for now, though you do have to wonder why they need so much meat. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 3507 |
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What struck me is that the MC is well on his way to becoming a Pokemon trainer now that he has specialized familiars who can sprinkle dust that put people to sleep, or heal wounds, or create defensive barriers.
As to the boar issue and the demand for meat - one thing I noticed in the opening sequence (pretty much by accident as I don't feel strongly about the theme song one way or the other and haven't been scouring it for clues like I do with anime where there's a burning question) is that it looks like the MC is going to become some kind of butler in a wealthy home. I imagine that's going to be a result of or in response to whatever is driving this meat demand. Either he's going to draw attention to himself from the people making the demand and get hired, or he's going to infiltrate them trying to put a stop to whatever is putting so much pressure on his village. There was also a character who hasn't been introduced yet who looks like she's going to join the developing party that seems to be in the works, and she seems like a noble. |
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