Arthur enriches the isekai fantasy landscape by making decisions that aren’t always what the audience wants or wishes for.
In the newest anime adaptation of an isekai story, The Beginning After The End, we are graced with the character of King Grey, aka Arthur. While there have been many adaptations of the isekai idea, Arthur stands out as a particularly compelling protagonist who resonates with fans in a way that many of these stories’ protagonists fail. But why is that the case?
Arthur’s character strikes a delicate balance between having enough depth not to be boring while also not being too far gone that the viewers cannot project themselves into his decision-making. This dynamic is supported by the narrative leaning on the consequences of his past life instead of completely forgetting it, and how we, as the audience, also get access to the special information Arthur does to solve problems in The Beginning After The End.
Arthur’s Push and Pull
One of the keys to Arthur’s success as a protagonist is that he acts how the audience sees themselves acting, but doesn’t always make decisions the way they would like. This makes Arthur a protagonist who doesn’t feel enslaved to the wish-fulfillment part of Isekai.
