I get that this show is by no means a world-class storytelling experience, but the pacing has been wildly inconsistent so far. I have a high tolerance for trashy isekai, but this show has oscillated between what feels like filler episodes where nothing of note really happens (basically everything that has happened since he confronted the queen with the one exception of finding Liza) and skipping hugely impactful stuff (connecting to the internet of his old world happens off-screen? his traveling to the capital and confronting the queen flew by and the fallout was just narrated?).

This episode was weird as well. When the ED started playing I was surprised because the episode felt short, but then I noticed it was hardly halfway through the runtime. The whole second half the episode was comprised of what feels like omake chapters that have little to no story relevance. It just feels like they could have paced things better so that episodes reach a more logical and satisfying stopping point rather than fill so much time with omake content.

I dropped the manga for a similar reason. I felt it had a lot of potential and some good art, but the story just wasn't engaging enough to keep me going much further than when he sets out on his own. I agree that the elf (Meneldor) is probably the best character outside of his adoptive undead parents.

I hadn't heard of this one previously, but reading the synopsis and looking at this visual it gives me vibes of Slime 300. If so, sign me up. I am a sucker for the slow, SOL comedies set in fantasy settings.

Really looking forward to this one. Just caught up with the manga and it is one of the best I have read in a while. Hope they keep the pacing nice and slow to keep the contemplative mood that the beginning of the series has.

I was also on board for hating the guy, but my best guess is in line with yours in that he is probably affiliated in some way with the Usuba family (Miyo's mother's family). They spent some extra time in this episode to reiterate the importance and secretiveness of the family, likely foreshadowing his character. This, in addition with his standing in front of a cherry tree that looks suspiciously like Miyo's mother's tree seals it for me.

I have been enoying Helck, but it has been a slow burn so far story-wise. I have high hopes since they are doing 24 episodes that as the story builds, we will get some payoff later. Also, I have heard great things from source readers, so I am hoping that all the establishing and character building we are doing now will really benefit the show as it goes.

I have never had a problem before (Pixel 6a), You are probably getting the popup because you need to install it via downloading and installing the apk file (known as sideloading). Usually, by default, phones won't let you do this as it can be a vector for malware. You need to manually enable it. Your version of Android might have it in a different place than mine, but to enable sideloading on my phone, I had to go to Settings -> Apps -> Special App Acess -> Install Unnown Apps and make sure that Chrome is enabled on that list (files might be needed as well).

This show continues to deliver in an absurd kind of way. It has turned out to be a bit of a comfy dungeon SOL show with combat more or less serving to show off some creative liberties of the MCs abilities.

Also, I usually skip OP/EDs, but I really like the ED for this show. As it has settled into a groove, the ED fits the show pretty well.

My favorite bit was the blowdart, never even indicated that it didn't go to plan.

For an episode that had almost none of the titular Maou or Yuusha, I loved the humor that Zenia provided. Also, it seems as though the minister planned some kind of false flag attack to use as an excuse to escalate tensions. Interesting to see a bit more of the political side of things in the past episode or two.

Do we have any insight into the female member of the hero's party? We have been introduced to Max, Leo, and Fred, but I don't think we have seen any of the fourth member in the current time. Perhaps something tragic happened? Could it be related to the ghost/spirit thing that lives in his closet?

Loved the special ED for this episode!

I wasn't going to watch it either, but kept seeing great things in discussions and on lists like this so I checked it out. I have been very surprised with how much I have liked it and the animation is great. It's not the typical genre I am into, but I hope it leads to more great josei adaptations going forward as it feels underrepresented within anime.