Any series like Mushoku Tensei but don't have such a unbearable MC? Anime that follows a characters life from beginning to end?

I like the story, the action, the romance etc but I just can't with Rudeus. After the end of season 2 I have no interest in seeing his story proceed and to be honest, I had to force myself through season 1 upon hearing it gets better with him and it did, but now he's just awful in a different way and it seems all characters will fold to justify his behavior or match how awful he is.

Doesn't have to be fantasy but I imagine this type of story is mainly prevalent in Isekai/fantasy's.

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DHLPDX2026-01-13 15:26

As far as swords and magic fantasy with a bit of romance, there's about a million and one options. Depending on what about it you liked, you may want to give unnamed memory a try.

sanzodown2026-01-13 15:27

# "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World"

In my opinion, it's underrated and deserves to be better known!
There's less action and more dialogue, though :)

tripleaamin2026-01-13 15:30

Bookworm would be good to try.

KnightOfDreaming2026-01-13 15:30

Lol.

Aggressive-Ad-89072026-01-13 15:32

That's the problem with Isekai, despite the main character mushoku is one of the few Isekais that care about their world and build it up, you're going to have a time finding a replacement

LowRace61842026-01-13 15:42

Shame, I was really enjoying season 2 but to me the ending kind of ruined it. It is a good series but idk season 2 ending really feels like the writer is going out of his way to make contrived justifications for Rudeus behaviour.

SouekiSennoSTM2026-01-13 19:04

It was always a harem series from the very beginning, right after three love interest girls are introduced one after the other in the first several episodes of the show.

LowRace61842026-01-13 19:27

Except it really wasn't in my opinion, only 1 typically got screentime at once and its more that each character was THE love interest for a set period of Rudy's life. Roxy (imo its a stretch to call her a love interest and not just a outlet for Rudy's perversion but whatever) early formative years, Sylphy later formative years, and Eris teenage years.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure its a Harem series from now on. In retrospect, its clear Sylphette is not a character and only exists to be the push over first bride on which the harem can be built but it was definitely not a Harem up until the end of S2.

SouekiSennoSTM2026-01-13 19:56

I think it just depends on how it's interpreted and how much one takes at face value the events originally presented.

In other words, what you're saying on the face of it makes sense - there was nothing in-show explicitly and overtly presenting it as necessarily inevitable that it was trending in that direction, but knowing the context that it's also an ecchi, also a power fantasy, also an isekai (and that the original light novel is considered one of the progenitors of the modern isekai wave) and how so many others in this same genre set of ecchi power fantasy isekai typically go, I just took it as a very likely direction the series would go in.

The precise timeline and sequence of events, the hows and whens and whys and all that, are what I couldn't foresee and didn't try to, but that's it.

LowRace61842026-01-13 20:41

I mean that's fair, I guess yeah it depends on exposure to the genres to identify the tropes. I personally have not watched many of these shows, the only Isekai I've actually watched is Log Horizon. I also do not really watch Harem series. I saw this series as more of a coming of age/traditional romance than a harem.

To me, it felt more like Rudy has done another horrible thing (cheating on Sylphette) and the series is once again trying to justify it (Sylphy is okay with it despite explicitly telling Rudy to not cheat, her own grandmother exposition dumping a bunch of justifications lol, Roxy straight up manipulating him in the first place etc etc) all this lessons his responsibility and gives him a out like always.

And as I mentioned, Season 1 was really pushing its luck with how much of Rudy's shit I can deal with. Only reason I sticked around was that Season 2 was mostly a upgrade in this department (besides the beast girls being captured in the college arc which was offensively stupid, and also set Rudy back like 100 steps in my mind) So if I have to keep dealing with sleazebag Rudy but this time he gets objectively rewarded for it i'm done.

thegib982026-01-13 15:32

Zero no Tsukaima is similar in a lot of ways, but the MCs are even MORE unbearable

username264372026-01-13 15:38

zero no tsukaima is the exact opposite of what op is looking for but thanks for the input.

TehAxelius2026-01-13 15:32

*Ascendance of a Bookworm* - anime starts when Myne is 5 and the upcoming season will be when she is 8, and the Light Novels continue for another 5 years.

If that's too short of a scale there's *Major*, a classic baseball sports anime that follows a baseball player from when he's playing elementary school softball to his career in the MLB and afterwards. Even has a sequel, *Major 2nd* which follows his kid.

Kiriyama-Rei2026-01-13 15:37

If you're looking for a series like Mushoku but much milder, less problematic, and without Rudeus, then TBATE is for you. It handles a similar approach in terms of telling the protagonist's entire life story from childhood, but you won't see much that will make you raise an eyebrow. Obviously, it doesn't have the same quality and animation as Mushoku, but I assume those who hate Rudeus are willing to pay that price c:

LowRace61842026-01-13 15:55

It's less about hate and more the constant avoidance of real consequences for his actions, the world bends to his will. I'll check out that series, I can just read the source I'm not partial to anime, LN or mangas.

Jermm21802026-01-13 20:54

The mahnwa is far better than the anime! TBATE is very good (though not as good as Mushoku Tensei), but I think it'll cater to different tastes. Most isekai stories I've read that start as a life story (including TBATE) tend to fall in the trap of turning into battle shounen. I only recommend picking up TBATE if that's something you're interested in

Torque-A2026-01-13 15:37

The Faraway Paladin

DaoEmperorFather2026-01-13 15:42

The beginning after the end is similar but maybe read the comic instead of the anime if you are looking for story

Illya-Impregnator2026-01-13 15:43

Funny my biggest problem is MC in MT is too vanilla and well behaved.

LowRace61842026-01-13 15:56

I mean based on your name not surprised, I bet you really related to the prince who was Roxy's former student. 2edgy4me

Iutoji2026-01-13 15:45

To Your Eternity would fit but its doesnt have your usual life cycle

SnooWoofers1862026-01-13 15:47

Ascendence of a Bookworm

Laskofil2026-01-13 16:28

It does not get better.

LowRace61842026-01-13 20:50

If you are referring to my comment about it getting better from season 1 to 2 with Rudy's behavior I would say it actually does get better however Season 1 Rudy set the bar so low that yes that is not saying anything, and Rudy is a complete dirtbag in Season 2 as well, but he's more normal anime dirtbag than straight up predator in season 1.

If you are saying season 3 onward Rudy is somehow worse I am absolutely amazed.

Laskofil2026-01-13 20:54

I also judge harsher because I read LN. He was a pedo and it did not get any better, at most it was spaced out more.

LowRace61842026-01-13 21:00

That's fair, I imagine the LN is much more explicit. It just seemed a lot worse in Season 1 compared to 2, but that's probably more because he had more opportunity in season 1. I don't think there was a single 3 episode run where he didn't try something weird with Eris. I assume Season 2 Rudeus would do the exact same thing so yeah, I guess he didn't get better. And if the LN continues with that path, good riddance.

Laskofil2026-01-13 21:05

I luckily don't remember exactly, but when Rudeus saved Aisha in the kingdom she peed herself and he implied that he's good boy now but he wanted to do something to her\* panties. She was 6 years old or so. There are probably better lore nerds out there.

LowRace61842026-01-13 21:15

wow ok, I always heard the "gets better" claims from source readers guess its just a self report.

Glad I decided to drop it.

Turbulent-Region33232026-01-13 16:31

Ascedance of a bookworm is the perfect fit but its a super super slow burn.

Used_Extension81692026-01-13 16:37

Vinland Saga

Imaishi2026-01-13 17:03

I recommend 12 kingdoms if you're down to watch an older show

Jermm21802026-01-13 20:45

To Your Eternity perhaps? It follows the life of an immortal shapeshifter throughout human history, just give the first episode a try and see if it interests you