this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2023
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There are currently three types of isekai:
Writing crutch to explain why the MC is special.
Tangential isekai. These are the time skip, reincarnated, or other 'from this world but not' types
Writing crutch to explain a world with 'game-like' qualities.
Nearly all Isekai currently out do not need to be isekai, it's just being overused to quickly explain why/how the world and MC are so different from baseline reality. Usually the real point is to connect the character to a more understandable and relatable base.
I've been reading way too many light novels lately, and many of them are labeled isekai, but it's completely inconsequential outside of a very minor plot point.
I'm not a huge reader, ADHD ensures that. Also the now "traditional"(?) Anime/Manga art style leaves little to be desired for me. (It feels like the Times New Roman for cartoons) so I generally avoid most mangas. But I've enjoyed the fuck out of Junji Ito's stories despite the disturbing imagery. But Tomi's recurring character is great.
With how common the isekai the seems to go I feel like it's become the "rouge-like" of literature though. It cropped up out of nowhere and now I've got middle aged men at my job referencing the word. Wild stuff
There's also the overuse plot of "Main character has this skill, which is not valued in his world or the main character is actually bad at it, but, somehow, in the isekai world, the main character is now good at that skill" Unless is a comedy, it's boring and predictable.