College student and aspiring bureaucrat Souma Kazuya is alone after the death of his last relative, his grandfather. Some of said grandfather’s advice to Souma was to start a family so he wouldn’t be alone. Change of scene: a fantasy world imperiled by monsters. The kingdom of Elfrieden resorts to a centuries-old hero summoning ritual, which snags Souma. Elfrieden isn’t fighting the monsters directly, but the empire leading humankind’s war effort is demanding aid, either in the form of money (which Elfrieden doesn’t have) or the use of Elfrieden’s unique hero summoning power. Rather than be turned over to the empire as tribute, Souma proposes reforms that could make Elfrieden stronger and more financially stable. And then, to the shock of Souma and pretty much literally everyone else (with one exception), the king suddenly abdicates, declaring Souma his successor and betrothing his daughter Liscia to the new king. The latter part of the episode focuses on various people in and outside the kingdom, most notably Liscia herself, reacting to this abrupt turn of events.

This adaptation of a light novel series seems likely to entertain – even more than the light novel, in fact. Besides being an interesting twist on the prototypical isekai formula, this episode was funnier than the open section of the LN (cf. the screenshots above and below this paragraph). I think the anime is also likely to dodge one of my biggest complaints with the source material: painfully awkward writing when the story is trying to keep something secret from the reader that the characters already know. With no first-person narrator, it’s vastly easier for the anime to keep secrets without being obnoxious about it. In conclusion: as a light novel reader, I enjoyed this episode and look forward to what’s the come. I think this adaptation has serious potential to surpass the source material.

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom is airing on Funimation. Read our thoughts on all the new summer anime series, in addition to comments from our other writers, on our Summer 2021 Anime First Impression master post.
- First Impression: Shangri-La Frontier - 10.01.2023
- First Impression: Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence - 07.12.2023
- First Impression: The Great Cleric - 07.06.2023
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That bit where he flipped up his collar I imagine was a throw back to Yu-Gi-Oh, and I burst out laughing when it happened. I really enjoyed the episode too, even though the king got on my nerves with how cowardly and wishy-washy he seemed, although he did redeem himself some later in the episode. Plus the concept is refreshing for an isekai where the protagonist isn’t just immediately going in sword swinging.
I have a brand new anime or manga featuring a fifty or 55 year old yakuza member named Adam lee he lives in a small apartment in Tokyo Japan he meets a alien named Sophia she has pale light white beige skin short light blue hair purple eyes she is statuesque athletic muscular beautiful sexy she has gigantic breasts long slender legs and a big ass she has shark like teeth and antenna she wears a revealing Japanese schoolgirl uniform it bares her midriff it is backless and sleeveless it exposes the undersides of her breasts it has a dangerously short skirt she is living in the wrecked ruins of her spaceship in the forest which has mountains rocks lakes rivers caves springs and other natural sites along with plenty of plant and animal life. she does not wear any undergarments or footwear going commando and going barefooted at all times.