I just got around finishing all available episodes (the 12 episodes of the first season plus 3 continuation OVA episodes) of Drifters, the last must-see isekai I had been meaning to see (with the exception of Sword Art Online, I’ve now seen all major and essential isekai). The anime follows historical figures from different eras with backgrounds on politics or warfare who are whisked away from our world, a couple of them merely moments before their recorded deaths in history, and sent to a high fantasy world.
During their transition between worlds, they arrive one by one at a seemingly endless corridor where they briefly encounter their presumed summoner Murasaki, a bespectacled man who sits behind a desk, smoking cigarettes and reading a newspaper. Apparently, he wants them to save this new world – a mission that he didn’t really communicate clearly to any of them before sending them through a door that would take them to it, but that they more or less find out upon arriving there. Referred to as “Drifters”, these unlikely heroes have to fight against the villainous “Ends”, a group of historical figures who experienced horrible deaths in our world and became spiteful of mankind as a result, leading them to pursue its annihilation in this new world.
An interesting feature of the Drifters vs. Ends conflict is that it seems like the good guys are at a great disadvantage. While Ends have gained supernatural abilities upon arriving in this world, Drifters simply have their natural capabilities and original weapons to rely on (although, for narrative purposes, these are enough for them to be superior to the natives of this medieval high fantasy world). Furthermore, the Ends already have an amazing, formidable, well-equipped, and well-organized monster army that consists of orcs, goblins, kobolds, dragons, giants, centaurs, and others. On the other hand, the Drifters have just started their army of elves and dwarfs (it’s implied that it’s going to soon include humans, once they fully take over the human Orte Empire, and dogfolk and catfolk), and is crude and minuscule in comparison. More importantly, the Ends are already banded together and benefits from strong leadership under the Black King, while the Drifters are still scattered all over the place and aren’t quite united yet under one banner. This gives the Drifters the appeal of underdogs, and the various ways they need to work their way up until they can eventually stand toe-to-toe with the Ends is going to be exciting to witness (if ever there will be a season 2).
On paper, the premise of Drifters is supremely compelling. The idea of bringing together various notable personalities from different points in history has that “Avengers” or “All-Star Team” gravitas. However, although the show adequately conveys the innate charm of such a premise, it doesn’t truly make use of the concept in its best and fullest expression. It’s because half of its roster is made up of Japanese historical figures. So far, there are 11 Drifters around, and among them, only five are non-Japanese. And since the six Japanese Drifters aren’t really universally recognizable, the impact of an “All-Star Team of historical figures” is not effectively felt by a non-Japanese viewer like me.
Thankfully, the protagonists – especially the main trio of Shimazu Toyohisa, Oda Nobunaga, and Nasu no Yoichi – are quite interesting on their own. They carry the story. Although they unfortunately don’t have that “Avengers” vibes going for them, they do have swagger and magnetic personalities. It’s especially so fun to see how their personal fighting styles, tactics, know-how, and outlooks – which are radical and unconventional in this new world – provide them an edge in this new world.
An aspect that I found problematic, though, is that it seems to romanticize Adolf Hitler a bit and blaspheme Jesus Christ. Hitler, in the story, was a Drifter who arrived in this world several decades prior the main storyline; he was already long dead by the time the main storyline rolls around. While he isn’t really glorified, it’s as if he was described as “he’s not all that bad.” Meanwhile, it’s implied that the Black King is supposed to be Jesus. Now, his real identity has not been revealed yet in the story, but barring a plot twist, the hints are pointing to Jesus as the Black King. Of course, one must recognize that this is simply a work of fiction, but this is nonetheless something that warrants caution.
Other than that, I like Drifters. Dark, action-packed, well-paced, and immersive, it’s quite a riveting watch.
Although it arguably hasn’t delivered the optimal possible use of its “historical figures teaming up in a high fantasy world” premise, the fact remains that it is its premise. Thus, until another property pulls off something better, Drifters is the go-to isekai to check out to experience such intriguing premise.
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