Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life, Isekai

Sub-Tags: OP, Strong Lead, Personal Growth, Villain

Slowe’ll Do Anything for Love!

Now that the series Reincarnated as the Piggy Duke has finished, it’s time for my first-ever series review. Looking back at the highs and lows and discussing whether it’s worth picking up!

To Change the Future (Volumes 1-5)

Fans of action, romance and second chances should pay particular attention to this series. Setting itself within an anime, Slowe’s goals for the first five volumes of the series are simple – change the tragic events that’ll unfold in the anime, and confess his feelings to Charlotte.

Seeing the error of his ways, Slowe is determined to shed his black-hearted image. In an attempt to earn both redemption and respect from all of those he’s disappointed, he’ll use knowledge of future events to birth himself anew. Striving for a different future requires more than just information; it also calls for strength of character, which Slowe has in spades.

In the early days of the series, determination, courage, and strength all make up the backbone of Slowe’s character. Whether it’s fighting off deadly assassins, dragons or immortal Liches, there’s nothing Slowe wouldn’t do to stop the tragic war from unfolding and earn the affection of his childhood sweetheart, Charlotte. It’s refreshing to see a character from a light novel fantasy series so determined and willing to grab what they want for a change. 

Joining Slowe on his journey are several engaging side characters, all needing to overcome significant problems. The obvious first candidate is Charlotte, Slowe’s beau and secret princess of Huzark. Watching her kingdom being destroyed by monsters has shaped her central trauma. If she’s to remain a Denning retainer, she’ll have to face her fears and become a lot stronger to continue being by Slowe’s side throughout his ever-growing dangerous adventures. 

Alicia and Shuya, the main characters from the original anime, also join in on the hijinks. Alicia’s history is highly intertwined with Slowe, given that she’s his former fiancée. At the start of the series, her feelings about Slowe are still conflicted, and she’s struggling to find a place to go next to move on.

Meanwhile, Shuya is the original protagonist of the anime. Portrayed as the typical heroic type, his actions in the anime help save many lives and stop the war with Dustour. These events, through Slowe’s eyes, however, see a protagonist struggling to come to grips with his power. Moreover, Shuya’s hero complex is causing problems – putting his safety at risk and giving him tunnel vision on what’s really important. 

Looking at the series, the blueprints of the anime not only help integrate the characters but help the story too. Having plot events coalesce into Shuya’s spirit awakening means that the story is tight and moves at a well-thought-out pace.

The Successor (Volumes 6-10)

Unfortunately, the blueprints of the anime no longer apply to the second half of the series. Without the events of the anime, the series’ latter half runs into its biggest problem, a lack of consistent direction. Moreover, this issue is compounded in the sixth and seventh volumes by the strange direction taken with Slowe’s character.

With his anime knowledge in absentia and antagonists becoming ever-stronger, Slowe loses all confidence. In the face of the spirit of darkness and her strongest fighter, Slowe is but a shadow of his former self. He struggles with what choices to make in the presence of immeasurable strength and precarious diplomacy. Yet, it’s Slowe’s confidence and determination in his decision-making that is one of the main draws of the series. Thankfully, this is only a temporary change, and things get back on track by the end of the seventh volume. 

In truth, the latter half of the series isn’t all bad. This arc sees Slowe finally achieve one of his main goals, confessing to Charlotte. This is, hands down, the best moment of the series. It is done perfectly within the series’ style – both poignant and timely.

Furthermore, the final volumes develop and finish major character arcs. Slowe and Charlotte get the best treatment. Slowe finally deals with the issues surrounding his father. Whilst they’ll never be close, the closure he gets through his father’s acceptance of his decision and his love for Charlotte is enough for him to move on.

Through the latter arc, Alicia also learns to move on. Her complex feelings for Slowe were always going to make it difficult to move on, however, the dissolution of her engagement to Slowe in such a ceremonial fashion has gone some way into dealing with her feelings.

Charlotte’s character arc concludes by the end of the series as well. As mentioned earlier in the review, Charlotte’s trauma has shaped her adolescence. From being completely afraid of monsters to becoming an active participant in a battle for the soul of the nation. Charlotte has more than earned her place by Slowe’s side in more than just a romantic way.

Unfinished Business

Regardless of the latter half’s lack of direction and eventual cancellation, the series remains a fun ride and manages to get closure on the main point of the series, confessing to Charlotte. The main characters are all well-developed and, by the end of the series, have all managed to work on their issues, becoming more complex characters as a result. Readers will not be disappointed having read the series and seeing the result. 

There are, however, several minor issues that crop up due to the series’ cancellation. Firstly, several of the character arcs come over as unfinished. Shuya is a particular victim. After the events of volume five and the encasing of the fire spirit, there’s very little attention paid to his character afterwards. Only the eighth volume gives him anything to do, and it barely goes far enough to showcase the beginnings of his life of heroism.

To a lesser extent, Slowe and Charlotte’s romantic endeavours are also hampered by a lack of time and writing space. Personally, I would’ve preferred a little more time spent with the two as a couple doing couple-like things. Reading about the two’s first date or development of affections would’ve been a nice welcome break from the action-heavy volumes.