Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga: Suuguu Chouso Torikae Den

Someone needs to tell this anime that Keigetsu is a protagonist too. Let’s forget the word "Villainess" in the title for a moment. Let’s pretend that word was never there. Is this anime a good body-swap story? Not really. Premises like this are usually meant to be an exercise in empathy—where two people learn about their counterpart's life, both the good and the bad. The problem is, this anime takes a bit of a liberty: it keeps Keigetsu held captive for the majority of the series, while handing everything to Reirin on a silver platter. Basically, they maintained the same lifestyles they had before the swap. This raises the question: why did they switch places in the first place? Reirin continues to enjoy the same perks, while Keigetsu endures the same abuse. The script treats us like idiots, assuming we won't notice all the convenient plot devices planted in favor of its golden child. Reirin never suffers the same hardships Keigetsu did, despite inhabiting the same body. She is supposed to be someone with a history of attempted murder against one of the court's most important ladies. Yet, she manages to win everyone's trust simply because she smiles more sweetly now. They try to sell the idea that Reirin excels at many things because she has always trained in various arts. What makes it implausible, however, is her ability to master things—like one of the court's most complex dances—overnight. There has to be a limit to what a protagonist can achieve or pull off by sheer magic. She learns archery in a matter of hours. And as if that weren't enough, she effortlessly wins over the very people who used to hate her. Meanwhile, Keigetsu spends 10 out of the 11 episodes confined to the same room. She doesn't get the same opportunities or relationships; she doesn't even get the same amount of screen time or dialogue. All the supporting characters seem like they ate glue as kids. They are all abysmal, except for Leelee. Leelee is the only decent character; she ends up absorbing all the pain, resentment, and hatred that *should* have been directed at Reirin in the first place. Leelee is a victim of the script—a convenient device used to inflict suffering without actually hurting Reirin. Consequently, you—the viewer—end up growing fond of her. You care about her arc, her growth, and her resolution, even if she ultimately becomes a watered-down version of her former self. You still care about her, though. As for the rest, they are absolute trash. The prince is blinder than a soccer referee in a major rivalry match. Tousetsu is instantly unlikable the moment you see him breathe. Regarding the Empress and Shu Gabi: while their relationship had the potential to save the anime, there simply isn't enough time to develop or conclude their storylines satisfactorily. The closer you get to the finale, the more convenient the plot becomes. Things conveniently fall into place so that the idiotic prince realizes the body swap has occurred without him having to use a single brain cell. The final villain carries no weight whatsoever. In fact, the entire conflict—and its resolution—is completely predictable. The anime’s final dialogue exists solely to proclaim how perfect Reirin is and how everyone loves her simply for being herself. The gap between Reirin and Keigetsu is massive—so massive that the script actually strips Keigetsu of her own achievements just to hand them over to Reirin. The greatest injustice Keigetsu faces doesn't come from the world she inhabits; it comes from her creator. *Inept Villainess* is the kind of mindless popcorn anime you put on in the background on a Sunday while doing something more important—like watching a freshly painted wall dry.

Hidden behind some of the bigger names airing this season, "Though I Am an Inept Villainess" comes out of Summer 2026 as one of its biggest gems and an anime I am going to recommend to everyone. If you liked The Apothecary Diaries, there is a very high chance you are going to enjoy this one as well. The inner chaos of the maiden court in an imperial China inspired setting, mixed with drama, intrigue and a touch of romance, makes this incredibly addictive to watch. Not only is the plot well crafted, but the characters are such a fun bunch, each with their own flaws and personalities. Doga Kobo also absolutely cooked with the visuals. The character designs, the details in their eyes and clothing, the background art and even some of the most insignificant little details are crafted with so much love. It gives the entire anime such a charming and endearing feeling. The opening and ending fit the vibe perfectly too, and I was on the edge of my seat every week waiting anxiously for the next episode. They managed to drop some absolutely diabolical cliffhangers. That effect might get lost a little while binging it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, I suppose. Now onto the body swap aspect. On the surface it serves as an interesting hook, but I think it works because the anime actually does something with it instead of treating it as a cheap gimmick. Watching these characters suddenly having to live through completely different circumstances gives the story another layer and makes the court drama much more interesting. I also specifically want to praise the voice acting performances. Both lead actresses essentially have to portray different versions of their characters depending on who is currently inhabiting the body, and they sell it incredibly well. That cannot be an easy thing to pull off and deserves even more praise than I am already giving this incredibly underrated gem. With a sequel already coming at the beginning of 2027, I am incredibly excited to see where the story goes next. But even without the confirmed sequel, I think this season could have worked surprisingly well as its own semi complete story. It gives us enough of a conclusion to feel satisfying while still leaving the door wide open for everything that comes next. Obviously we already know there is more coming, but I still consider that a huge plus. There's something about this kind of imperial court setting that just scratches an itch not many fantasy stories quite can. If I had to criticize something, Kou Reirin might actually be a little too perfect for me. I usually find characters with noticeable flaws, emotional greyness and a bit more messiness much more interesting. Reirin is incredibly lovable, but there were times where I could predict exactly how she would respond to a situation because the story establishes her as such an overwhelmingly good and capable person. Some of the other characters can fall into predictable patterns as well, and I would have liked a little more worldbuilding outside of the palace. The court itself feels alive and detailed, but the world surrounding it feels comparatively flat and underutilized. Even then, I am absolutely nitpicking because I was entertained from beginning to end. Those weaknesses are probably what kept it from having that additional X factor needed to score even higher for me, but they did very little to hurt the overall experience. Though I Am an Inept Villainess is charming, beautiful and dangerously addictive to watch. It became one of my biggest surprises of the entire season and an anime I absolutely recommend checking out. If you only watch a handful of anime from Summer 2026, make this one of them.

BODY SWAP IN IMPERIAL CHINA GONE WRONG! The villainess instantly regretted getting the frail and weak body she wanted. The grass is always greener on the other side. What I Liked: - Vivid and colorful visuals. - The costumes are strikingly beautiful to look at. - Leelee is my favorite character. She has so much depth, and she acts realistically for someone who is a victim. She's cold at first because of how she was treated by her previous master, but later on, she warms up to our main character. - I liked the opening song. - I love how mature the Empress acts. "I thought the fire of hatred inside you was scarlet-colored. If it provided enough warmth for you to live on, I thought it would be fine. But the flames of your hatred must be pale blue, cold and almost colorless." - "The bow can protect someone even from far away," as opposed to using a bow to hurt someone from a distance. - I never expected Consort Shu Gabi to have such a significant role in the plot. What I Disliked: - The Prince is very useless in the series. He has no significant contribution to the story. The dragon's qi in the final episode is just pure nonsense. - Kou Reirin has no flaws; she's perfect. She never gets angry and will never retaliate, no matter how much you throw at her. She also always keeps her bubbly personality, which can sometimes feel cloying. A character with no weaknesses doesn't feel human and is very predictable to watch. - People always address the MC as a "villainess," which puts me off because no one would actually call a person "villainess" when addressing them. (You are a villainess! Yes, I am an inept villainess! 😂) Despite the flaws I've mentioned, I still feel entertained watching it.

Though I Am An Inept Villainesse has a strong foundation. A *really* strong foundation. Its premise is novel, its writing is pretty good, the characters are interesting, and its plot developments are clever, at least at first. But as it comes to a close it's hard to not to feel like it ended much weaker than it began. I think the fundamental flaw is that it didn't have enough faith in its premise. The first few arcs fully lean into the body swap story, challenging the characters and finding unexpected solutions by exploring different aspects of its inciting incident. It's engaging, its entertaining, very nice go watch it. Around the midpoint, however, the body swap itself stops being be focus of the show, and plot progression is instead done half through exploring different characters and their backstories, which is fine, but increasingly also through the revealing and use of new magic powers, which is less fine. Having the inciting swap be magic is ok, but if your historical chinese regency drama has gotten to the point where its spending most of its time hashing out shonen-style magic system power type matchups something has gone deeply wrong. The crown prince being angry and hurt should be enough of a problem on its own. A properly written story would understand (and communicate to the audience) that this is a threat to both the other characters and the kingdom more generally. The MC and her friends are already in danger. He doesn't need to start shooting lightning. I'm not joking there. He actually starts literally shooting lightning. What am I even watching. But, the start is still very strong, and at least some of that strength is still there if you can look past all the "This bow is imbued with water chi and normally would need that to be properly wielded, but water chi is also weak to my inherent earth chi, so I can use it to dispel the spider-type curse magic being used on the empress! Or perhaps we could use the maiden's centipede-type curse magic, since spider-type venom casting is specifically weak to-" urgh -__- dog if I wanted to be watching Jujutsu Kaisen I'd be watching Jujustu Kaisen. BUT lets not get sidetracked. The original strengths are still there, and the note it ultimately chooses to end on is one of character interactions and depth rather than a bunch of magic bullshit. So, while the middle does lag a bit, it still earns a pretty positive mixed rating. EDIT: in retrospect, it is also a little weird that a show whose major theme is that people have more depth than you expect and the villainess has complex and relatable motivations... is totally fine portraying a different character as a straightforward fat gossipy whore bitch psycho. So it's less that "people are complex and we need to come to a common understanding of our humanity," and more that "we just had the wrong person and the REAL villainess is over there and everything would be fine if we just killed her at the outset"

Before anything else, this is not The Apothecary Diaries. The two share a similar setting and visual style, but that is largely where the resemblance ends. This is a show built around familiar villainess clichés, with curses, different social hierarchies and a very different protagonist. A visual treat of a show, those who love colourful, vibrant and perhaps artistic shows, this may be for you. The art itself, for lack of a better word, is pretty. The costumes use a rich variety of traditional and modern textiles, and the stunning colours are used not just to please the eye, but to establish a character's status, rank, profession, clan and more, that attention to detail carries through to the character designs, from the clothing to the eyes, hair and facial expressions, all of which give each character a distinct personality. The outfits feel well suited to their wearers, and Gabi Shu’s overall design is a particular favourite of mine. Irksomely, the show insists on reintroducing the characters at every available opportunity, clearly operating under the assumption that the audience has the memory span of a goldfish. Lovely colour-coded nametags often appear on the screen; it is a creative way to introduce a character and their role without having to fully flesh them out. While this is perhaps a smart move for an 11-episode show, it does make one feel a bit like they are being bottle-fed by the production. Reirin, the heroine, is kind and dutiful, loved by all for her charm and fortitude. She swaps bodies with our other lead, Keigetsu, an envious, cruel and supposedly misunderstood villainess. Reirin’s character suffers from a lack of flaws. If she were in a job interview, her answer to the question regarding her greatest weakness would undoubtedly be that she is too hardworking or too giving. Even though she was too frail to do many things in her original body, she studied hard and forced her way through the pain; now, she is proficient at a large range of things, from cooking, dancing, farming to cleaning and sewing. Despite this Mary Sue-esque taint and the unrealistically stereotypical kindness and forgiveness that she exudes, I still find myself enjoying the character. Her positive attitude and her ability to pull positives from a bad situation create a pleasant viewing experience. Furthermore, her forgiving nature and her approach to solving problems provide the main character with a bit more substance. Her most favourable quality is that her kindness takes nothing away from the fact that she holds a fiery passion for those she cares for; she can act in an almost cold fashion in her pursuits. Keigetsu, on the other hand, while still interesting, seems by obvious design to possess many qualities opposite to the protagonist, which makes her a less rewarding character to watch. Added to her depressing backstory, it is difficult to root for her suffering, yet just as hard to root for her happiness, as she is shown to be an abusive woman in her own right. She is, of course, a good example of the cycle of abuse that we find in real life. The story itself is good, with an interesting premise and a touch of intrigue. It is no A Song of Ice and Fire, but it still has more than one layer. The characters' actions are gratifying and the drama of the show pulled me in. I found that I enjoyed every episode; it felt as though no time was truly wasted. Perhaps if a different lead were in her place, the show would not be as entertaining, but she bolsters the story with her cultivated actions. Overall, it is a show with vibrant visuals and fantastic fashion, accompanied by a decent story. However, the main shining light is the protagonist, who will make or break this show for you. Honestly, I recommend this anime for the art and fashion alone, but it is the main character who will determine whether you love or hate it.

Story I am always on the lookout for a villainess series where the MC is actually a villain (even if she is pushed into being one). Sadly, this is not that show. However, I was surprised in a good way because the series itself is still pretty damn good, even if the narrative is a bit shallow at times. The main reason I didn't rate this anime higher is because our MC is absolutely flawless. She is so perfectly virtuous and capable that she feels inhuman. Writing a main character with zero flaws, struggles, or moral gray areas is just a lazy writing choice, and it makes her inherently boring to watch. Visuals The animation, the attention to detail, and the overall visual style are operating on a very high level. While it isn't completely flawless, it honestly might be the best-looking anime I have watched this entire season. The studio clearly put a lot of effort into making this world pop. Conclusion Is it worth watching? If you are specifically looking for a true, ruthless villainess protagonist, you should skip this one because you won't find that here. Otherwise, I can actually recommend giving this anime a watch. It is a visually stunning and entertaining show, even though giving the story and characters a little more depth would have been very welcome.

As my recommendation shows, I have really mixed feelings about this one. Let me start by saying, that I had a lot of fun wtching this. I like "villainess" type series and shows that have an imperial court setting. Also this series is creative and refreshing with its premise and uses it well. The main character is great, though a bit too perfect. She is fun though and I like that the show wants us to understand that no matter the situation/body you're thrown into, what matters is your personality and sincerity! Lastly, it's well produced with good animation, direction and sound-design. After finishing the series, I have to admit though, that there are some issues story wise. The perfect MC without flaws is one thing, since she does not grow in any way and has no development as a result. Contrary Shu Keigetsu has some great character development that balances that out somewhat. The main issue for me is the main antagonists motivation that causes the whole drama. Without spoiling it, it is unrealistic that they develop such resentment towards a close friend just from being instigated by a third party. Like have they never even considered, that the stuff one person told them, could just be lies? Also they should have been aware, that said person is doing this on a regular basis... So yeah the story makes no sense to me in that regard. It could have been done so much better by going into more detail about the instigators motives, plans and how they sow the seeds of discontent with fake evidence and so on. That way it would have been believeable why the main antagonists starts acting so extremely. Hence my final verdict: Fun, interesting show with a unique, well executed twist, but also lacking in character and story writing.

8.5/10 Though I Am an Inept Villainess proves to be an entertaining political drama about the victory of an underdog. It manages to shake up the classic formula with a “touched by magic” element, where our hero Kou Reirin learns to make the most of her difficult reality while fighting against the shady underbelly of the maiden court. What makes it truly enjoyable is the large cast of characters she ultimately makes a positive change on, in addition to a fun setting. What makes it somewhat lose credibility with the viewer is Kou Reiren herself, however—she’s pretty, perfect, and seems to have little character flaws. Ultimately Villainess lacks strong character transformation in its hero to make it more compelling. Yet while pure kindness is often hard to understand, fairy tales like these encourage how the world should be. Reiren is such an endearing role model that you’ll easily forgive her. The positive change arc for antagonist Shu Keigetsu is excellent as a result. Through grit, mercy, and unyielding determination, Though I am Inept Villainess successfully dismantles the establishment and proves a hidden worth to society—being yourself is the only weapon you need. +Rich supporting cast and positive character transformation for antagonist +Intriguing political setup; fun mysteries keep viewer engaged -Main heroine is too perfect and loses credibility with viewer; lacks powerful character transformation

Though every element of this anime stems from other genres; The Chinese Imperial Court story (like Apothecary Diaries), Body-Switching dynamics(like Your Name.), and VIllainess premise (like Hamefura), it emerges as a refreshingly impressive anime. While many anime have similar points with this series, none blends them like this. It proved that ordinary elements could become a novel great anime when branded effectively. Characters The strength of the main duo drives the momentum of the entire series. In particular, Reirin’s unwavering straightforwardness and positive mindset serves as the core of the show. She never gets discouraged, never gives up, and never places blame on others. She even expresses gratitude toward Keigetsu, who has managed this switch. Her vibrant positivity and brightness alone make the series worth watching. Other characters are also adorable, because the story refrains from depicting purely evil villains. Keigetsu is the “Villainess”, but she is not just like that. As the narrative goes on, her character reveals deeper emotional nuance and vulnerability. Every character has their own philosophies and humanity. The Crown Prince is especially the one who undergoes remarkable character development from where he began. Story The story centers on Shu Keigetsu and Ko Reirin . Their voice actors, Natsumi Kawaida and Manaka Iwami deliver exceptional performances. They have to act as two distinct personalities, but they succeeded in making effective differentiation in the characters. A key source of tension is when and by whom the secret of the switching will be discovered. Also, it is interesting for them to become accustomed to their roles as each other. That is fairly funny, but at the same time, we see them come to understand each other step by step. Keigetsu, in particular, undergoes remarkable character growth and development throughout the series. Animations/Directions Doga Kobo once again proves why they are a top-tier studio. The character animation is fluid, and the rich color palette enhances every scene visually. Since Reirin and Keigetsu swap bodies, the animators had to subtly project their true inner personalities onto each others’ bodies.The director Mitsue Yamazaki, who was also the director of Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle and Nozakikun, makes this anime not only enjoyable comedy but also impressive drama. The most impressive and emotional episodes are the final two episodes. The dramatic climax is directed brilliantly, elevated by breathtaking animation. In particular, Reirin and Keigetsu scenes in episode 10, Reirin and the Crown emperor scenes in episode 11 are beautifully and emotionally animated. Summary Though it may not seem particularly fresh at first glance, the extraordinary main duo, seamless genre-brending, and stunning animations make this series one of a kind.

I'll say this is an underrated gem of the season. At first, I thought Though I am an Inept Villainess was gonna be a generic Villainess anime. But boy was I wrong! The series is very intriguing and entertaining! Studio Dogo Kogo cooked with the animation. The artstyle is stunning! The story is intriguing. Set in a maiden Court in Imperial China, following 2 characters. Kou Reirin, who's a frail and gentle maiden, and Shu Keigetsu, who's a healthy, but jealous maiden, who swap bodies at the start of the season. The body swapping part is is really cool! It makes the court drama more entertaining when the 2 maidens portray each other, living different lives despite, not being easy. And there's more to the story The characters overall are great. Fun to watch! They're not bland, and they have flaws. Overall the season was great! As a guy who hasn't watched Apothecary Diaries, I heard it has similarities to it. So I'll recommend it to anyone who watched the series. And of course to anyone who likes Villainess stories. Also looking forward to season 2 which isn't far away! 🙌

Inept Villainess is a refreshing anime for the "good villainess" genre. After swapping bodies, the "Butterfly maiden" Reirin ends up in the body of the "sewer rat maiden" Shu Keigetsu. But there's a huge twist: Reirin's body is terribly ill, so the swap ends up being a blessing for her, now that she's occupying a healthy body. The comedy is priceless; the drama is well developed and aligned to the historical scene of the plot; and the character development is top tier. Animation and production are not left behind, and we end up with great scenes (even with dances). This anime is overall great, very enjoying to watch.

The series gets compared to Apothecary Diaries because it's about maidens in a Chinese court. This series' main protagonist is probably the least similar character in this show to Maomao, so I don't know if the comparison works so well. In fact, I think the antagonist might be more like Maomao than anyone else, which is terrifying. Regardless, this is a series that takes place in historical China, specifically Southern China. If you are looking for a ton of worldbuilding, this probably isn't the best series for you. However, if you are looking for a ton of character development this series has it. This is a very emotionally-rich series, many different dynamics are explored between characters. The heart of this series is good, and for some it might be too sweet. It's mostly a situational comedy, but it also has excellent drama and political intrigue elements to it as well. Light on the romance, at least in this season. I didn't mind that one bit, mostly because the would-be potential love interest doesn't really do a whole lot to gain our sympathy as the viewer. If you want a mostly light-hearted series with some drama along the way, this one has it.

Dare I say it inept villainess is a top 3 villainess show all time for me? Man this was such a good watch. The story progresses in a somewhat predictable manner, but it’s so well executed with such great character development from the two leads and a couple supporting characters that it doesn’t detract from the overall experience. I think we can all tell from a mile away how a jealousy fueled body swap story will turn out, but the way they flesh out Reirin and Keigetsu in this story made every single week must watch television for me. It’s really cool that this aired right before Apothecary Diaries’ next season as well because they have a ton in common in terms of totally not medieval Chinese settings, the MCs’ interaction with nobility, MC experimenting with poisons and curses, emperor having a thing for the MC, palace conspiracies, etc., etc., it’s definitely its own thing, but I have a feeling people who liked Apothecary Diaries and Maomao will really find themselves at home with Reirin and Inept Villainess. Without a doubt top 3 shows of the season for me. I actually really appreciate how self contained and limited the scope of this story was. This first arc essentially establishes the group dynamic that’ll be the foundation of the story going forward. Before you can appreciate the relationship Keigetsu and Reirin have, you need to understand how they got there. Both are such lovable characters, even after everything Keigetsu did I just couldn’t bring myself to hate her because I could sense she was a good person deep down and I enjoyed the gradual reveal of her backstory and the establishment of a friendship with Reirin. Speaking of Reirin, this girl needs to be next to the word optimism in the dictionary because imagine someone stealing your whole body and existence and you just keep a positive attitude and are happy to have a new healthier body, lol? Her relationship with Leelee is another big thing for me the show does very well, very reminiscent of Apothecary Diaries style relationships. They personify the show’s message about not judging another person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. Everyone has a reason for being the way they are and sometimes people just need a little kindness. I was not a fan of the romance they tried to incorporate in the show between Reirin and the emperor. That probably gets better down the line, but it just felt forced and awkward for me here. The prince does seem to be a decent dude, so maybe down the line I’ll appreciate him more. For me, I actually liked Reirin’s relationship with Leelee and Keigetsu the most here. This would actually make such a good yuri story, but ofc it’s not going that way. Even the knight captain was a better romance choice than the emperor for me. There’s solid production values as you’d expect from Doga Kobo, but where the show really shines is with its voice acting. Iwami Manaka, Kawaida Natsumi and Hishikawa Hana were all amazing here and brought so much emotional energy and depth to the major scenes which helped take them to the next level. Particularly the climax in episode 10 which was just insane. Inept villainess is more of a Chinese court mystery fantasy story than a villainess show, but whatever genre you want to put it in, it’s damn good. Lots of great character development, haters to best friend relationship and a really cool setting. It feels a bit claustrophobic at times because it’s so laser focused on establishing the characters for subsequent story arcs, but if this is how good it is right now, I cannot wait to see what it’s like in a season 2 when this world gets expanded and we see more of the ins and outs! I’m going to miss my girls so much, but I’m excited for the future. Inept Villainess gets 9 out of 10.

Oh, Though I Am an Inept Villainess. How could you have done it? What could have been a simple romance villainess story turned out to be something far more interesting than I anticipated. Multiple questions came to mind while I was watching it. What would happen if you replaced an abhorrent criminal's personality with that of a graceful maiden who has atoned for her past? How would someone react to suddenly inhabiting another person's body? More importantly, how would they feel knowing that the body they now possess belongs to someone regarded as a criminal, or even a curse? Thanks to its excellent handling of the body-swap gimmick and an entertaining protagonist at the center of its historical drama, we get to meet Kou Reirin in Shu Keigetsu's body. Shu Keigetsu and Kou Reirin form the core foundation of what makes the narrative so intriguing. It would have been simple to turn the story into an episodic formula where Reirin merely triumphs over the consequences of Keigetsu's misdeeds. Instead, the body-swap gimmick turns the entire premise on its head, becoming part of Keigetsu's supposed master plan to bring Reirin down from grace. Think about it. Reirin is perceived as the perfect consort because of her many talents, intelligence, and serene attitude. Keigetsu, on the other hand, serves as her emotional foil: impulsive, agitated, and shaped by the difficult circumstances of her upbringing. This contrast becomes the catalyst for everything that follows after Keigetsu attempts to push Reirin to her death. Because of Reirin's reputation and status, even the smallest act of disrespect toward her can potentially be interpreted as treason or an attempt on her life. So what happens when Keigetsu actually attempts to murder her, only for the two of them to switch bodies in the process? Hence, the punishment begins. Reirin inhabiting Keigetsu's body is one of the most entertaining aspects of the anime. Some might argue that it is because of Reirin's personality, while others might attribute it to the absurdity of seeing her inhabit a body opposite to her own. Personally, I think it is both. Despite having numerous people attempt to kill her, including her own maidens and even the crown prince himself, Reirin remains remarkably unbothered by the circumstances surrounding her. The reason, of course, is surprisingly simple: she has finally obtained her ultimate wish. Thanks to the miracle (forbidden magic) brought about through Keigetsu, Reirin now possesses a healthy, robust body. She is perhaps the only person who sees her new body as a gift when everyone else considers it a curse. After everything Reirin has endured, you might expect these repeated encounters with death to completely shatter her worldview. Instead, her unwavering resilience becomes one of the reasons she is so entertaining to watch. Screw realism; sometimes there is something incredibly satisfying about watching an elegant, resilient girl inhabit a supposedly cursed body while being far too positive to die. Although I have plenty of praise for Reirin, Keigetsu and the supporting cast deserve their share of credit as well, particularly Gyoumei. Keigetsu also receives similar attention to Reirin's predicament, only instead she is bound to the body's frailty and susceptibility to fall ill at any moment. While she exhibits some hatred towards Reirin's endless reception of affection, it doesn't take much to figure out that she resents her environment for rarely allowing any affection towards her. When she finally inherited her body that comes with her appearance and reputation, which she envied, she is surprisingly inept at receiving affection, much like our other protagonist. Your idea of romance might also be different from what Though I Am an Inept Villainess has in mind. Romance certainly exists within the story, but it is not fundamentally the primary engine driving its momentum. Instead, it functions as another component of the larger conflict. The narrative is much more interested in the drama surrounding Reirin and Keigetsu, with romance serving as one of the factors that complicates their circumstances. Take Gyoumei, the crown prince, for example. Villainess stories often portray the prince as the ultimate douchebag, but Though I Am an Inept Villainess provides a reasonable context for why Gyoumei behaves the way he does. He despises Keigetsu without knowing that Reirin is now occupying her body. He is absolutely blinded by love for Reirin that we, as the audience, find ironic. This creates an interesting form of dramatic irony because we understand something that Gyoumei does not. His decision to throw Reirin into her execution is a particularly extreme example, but powerful. From his perspective, he is punishing the woman he believes has committed terrible acts. From the audience's perspective, however, we know that the person suffering the consequences is actually Reirin. It is therefore easy to understand how Gyoumei's hatred toward Keigetsu could become complicated by his feelings toward Reirin. He is effectively punishing the person he loves without realizing that she is the one standing in front of him. I also read the manga before finishing the anime, and I wanted to see how it fares against the anime counterpart. After all, this gave me a useful point of comparison between the two adaptations. After a few moments of consideration, I can confidently say that I prefer how the anime handles the material. The manga occasionally struggles with exposition and establishing the narrative foundation, often presenting large amounts of information in the form of dense dialogue or narration. There were moments where I felt as though I was being asked to read a wall of text in the middle of a chapter when what I really wanted was to experience the drama unfolding. The anime handles this considerably better. Obviously, voice acting and pacing give it advantages that the manga does not possess, but the adaptation also makes better use of its medium. Its audiovisual medium allows information to be communicated through a variety of aspects: its character expressions, timing, music, dialogue delivery, and visual direction, rather than relying predominantly on blocks of exposition. As a result, the anime manages to maintain a better balance between exposition, emotional tension, and mystery. It gives the audience enough information to understand what is happening without completely sacrificing the dramatic momentum of the scene. I do feel a bit critical of the choice of content it has to show, because I was expecting a show to fully engage in romance and villainess tendencies beforehand. However, that disappointment is somewhat offset by how entertaining the actual story turns out to be with its drama and mystery. Though I Am an Inept Villainess may not be the romance fantasy I expected, perhaps that is exactly why I enjoyed it. Rather than relying solely on the familiar villainess-romance formula, it uses its body-swap premise to create a surprisingly engaging mystery and character drama. At the end of the day, I came for a romance villainess story and stayed for Kou Reirin living her second life inside Shu Keigetsu's body. Thank you for reading.

The general perception about this show seems to be that it's somewhat of a diet Apothecary Diaries. That perception is valid, but that isn't to say that this show doesn't have merit on its own. In a sense, this is Apothecary Diaries if Maomao was split into two people and the court drama itself was more traditional. Overall, the show was fun -- the characters are likable and the setting and visuals are wonderful. On the quality of the writing, the setup established in this season has some real merit, but I think the supernatural setting is causing the conflict to lose its intensity. The good: The visuals are stunning, the design of each character is lovely, and the music is absolute fire. The pacing is solid and the characters are distinctive. Body swapping isn't a new trope, and while it isn't especially compelling here, I think there is serious potential in the setup that was established in this season. The ability to body swap at will between two conflicting personalities and bodies in different social standings, but within the same situation, is interesting and makes for a setup that could be really fun. For example, if over time, they learn to mimic each other perfectly it could make for some really interesting plot developments. That being said, I don't know if the show will meaningfully explore that yet. The bad: Part of what makes Apothecary Diaries so compelling is that it's a court drama grounded in reality. It hinges upon its mysteries and conflict having real solutions that require Maomao's ingenuity to solve them. This show doesn't have that -- while a supernatural setting isn't in of itself a flaw, it does cause the conflict to lose a bit of its punch when the protagonists are the real focus of the show. On a different note, the conflict itself in the show is pretty whatever. Forgettable and hand-wavy at times with the main antagonist being wholly uninteresting.

For me, this is definitely the unexpected gem of the season. However, I don't understand the comparisons to The Apothecary Diaries; aside from the fact that the series is set in a court inspired by ancient China, it doesn't have much in common with it. And you know what? That’s a good thing! Personally, I love The Apothecary Diaries, but I don't think we need a substitute for it. I’m glad this series turned out to be something completely different—it has its own unique identity, interesting execution, and original characters. Reirin is an incredibly warm person; she’s easy to like, and you naturally want to root for her. She isn't the only interesting character, though; the series offers a whole host of them, each standing out in their own way with their own backstories and goals. The animation is gorgeous, featuring vibrant colors, and the music ties everything together beautifully. It’s worth watching the opening, it’s one of the best tracks not just of the summer season, but of the entire year of 2026. The voice cast is also excellent. I’m eagerly awaiting Part 2, along with the new plot twists and characters!

I love Reirin so much I'm legally forced to make a review for this anime like 6 years after my last one. Yes, I'm starting this review by just throwing a gigantic shill at the protagonist, her personality, so kind, caring, earnest, and more than anything full of sheer willpower has absolutely melted my heart week after week and I love how absolutely not forced or fake it feels, she is simply that wonderful of a person and deserves all the love, care and support in the world. When I started this anime I wasn't expecting a new character in my top 10 favorites, but more and more after each episode I knew I was following the story of a very special person I have come to absolutely adore. This anime is 100% worth watching for her alone, seriously, don't let yourself miss on the joy of seeing Reirin being Reirin. The setting of this story involves body swapping, a very rare plot theme that I struggle to think other examples of, and it was executed in a very nice way. I love how for borderline every other person, having all she had stolen and being in the place of someone people despise without being able to explain it has happened due to the effects of the spell used to swap the bodies would be a catastrophic nightmare that would break them... but for Reirin is genuinely something that she is treasuring every second of. Her crippling physical frailty was genuinely the one and only thing holding her back, and despite that she was constantly learning and pushing her limits in a crazy admirable way to continue doing all she could the best she could... and now that she is in a healthy body, silly things to us like smelling oil and not making her feel horribly faint have become magical moments she is enjoying every second of. Seeing her rejoicing at things meant to be punishments to the person her new body belongs to is both hilarious and incredibly endearing, and the same can be said about the way people react to this brutal swing in personality, her preciousness is simply impossible to resist! Leaving dear, precious, lovely and outstanding Reirin aside for a second, I also really enjoyed the side characters as well! Leelee in special is simply awesome. As Keigetsu's court lady she had to deal a lot with her nasty personality, and alongside other struggles I will leave for you to see she had it very rough, the interactions with Reirin in Keigetsu's body (took me long to mention her again lmao) are worth watching this anime by themselves. Keigetsu herself is also obviously a super important character, and I came to absolutely adore her interactions with Reirin as we understand more and more her own story, the main cast is seriously fascinating and I need 10 more seasons of them interacting. Now judging the work quality a bit, the story delivered in the body swap setting and the effects of it on the characters, and I'm extremely satisfied with what it wanted to tell. I'm so happy to say that at the time of the review we already have a sequel announced, but even if it hadn't happened you can watch this season as a self contained story and you would leave very satisfied with a proper conclusion to it. The visuals are also very solid. This anime looks very pretty and if a scene requires nice animation it lives up to the need with super lovely visuals. It's not a sakuga festival mind blower on this regard at all, but it doesn't need to either and Doga Kobo did a great job, one would need to be a true hater to actually complain about this. I cannot recommend this anime enough, the protagonist alone makes this anime at least a must try because you're doing yourself a disservice by skipping the chance to meet her, but everything else also delivered too! First episode already surpassed all my expectations, and every one after that only did but widen the gap I had from watching the trailer and thinking I was about to start a perfectly fine but ultimately forgettable show I would struggle to remember what happened 1 year later. This show is anything but that, positively. Do yourself a favor and check if both Reirin and the anime have a precious spot in your heart too. I LOVE REIRIN

I enjoyed this show quite a bit. The main character is likeable, and the situation they are put in is quite interesting. The pacing is great, and the characters too. The main character has a very positive attitude, and although a goody two shoes character might get old if done wrong, this one stays interesting. Despite it taking a more historical tone in the setting, it also features some magical elements. Honestly, these elements felt like a bit of a cheat storytelling wise, since they can just make up anything for the plot. It didn'tt bother me too much. The only thing that sort of took it down a little was the ending, and the motivations of the characters. The plot end up revolving around motivations of some character, but the reasons given seem a bit too flimsy for me, and easily reconcilable. As usual, there was a few convenient plot points along the way. Anyway, I'm not gonna spoil anything. It's very entertaining for those who enjoy villainess or historical setting anime like this. I recommend it, and am looking forward to season 2. Just to note, season 1 is a complete story, so no need to wait for season 2.

i didn't have particularly high expectations going into this anime, but i still ended up feeling somewhat disappointed. the premise had a lot of potential, especially because the body swap creates an opportunity to explore two completely different lives and the ways one's circumstances can shape their experiences. however, the more interested i became in keigetsu as a character, the more i felt like the story was avoiding giving her the attention she deserved. instead, we spend most of our time following reirin navigating life in a body that comes with its own struggles, but somehow doesn't seem to limit her nearly as much as it did keigetsu. reirin is genuinely kind-hearted, and i can appreciate that her optimism and good intentions are central to her character. however, i found myself missing the opportunity to understand the original keigetsu beyond the role she initially plays in the story. i wanted to know more about her perspective, her experiences, and what it actually meant to live her life before the body swap. the more the story focuses on reirin's ability to adapt and make the best of her circumstances, the more i feel like keigetsu's side of the story gets pushed aside. it's a shame, because the contrast between these two characters is arguably one of the most interesting aspects of the premise. i was also disappointed by how little realism the story brings to the differences between their lives. the position these women occupy in the imperial court comes with expectations, responsibilities, and a whole system of servants who help maintain their daily routines. there's a reason people in such positions would rely on others to handle time-consuming, exhausting, or complicated tasks. yet, the series rarely seems interested in exploring how these practical difficulties affect the characters differently. reirin's new circumstances should come with challenges that are not simply solved by her having a more positive attitude or a stronger body. instead, it often feels as though the difficulties that shaped keigetsu's life become much less significant once reirin takes her place. this makes the body swap feel less convincing as an exploration of two different lives and more like an opportunity for reirin to demonstrate how wonderful she is. ultimately, i think that's what makes the story frustrating for me. reirin is an admirable protagonist, but being a good person isn't enough to make every aspect of a story compelling. i wanted a more balanced exploration of both characters, especially when the premise itself sets up such an interesting contrast between them. i don't necessarily need the series to be completely realistic, but i wish it took its own setting and the implications of the body swap more seriously. there are interesting ideas here, and i can see why people might enjoy reirin's personality and the more optimistic tone of the story, but i came away feeling that the anime didn't make the most of its own premise.

Though I Am an Inept Villainess is a charming, if ultimately overly simplistic take on the villainess subgenre. The narrative structure and general vibe of the character writing feels almost fairy tale-like, and while this does make for a vibrant and upbeat tone and compelling ensemble, a good deal of it feels a bit flat or lacking in depth, with the more outright antagonistic characters being too comically evil or mean-spirited in certain instances. The way that Reirin navigates being trapped inside the villainess’s body is generally very intriguing and did keep me interested in seeing how she would continue winning people over to her side, but the fact that this experience doesn’t really change her outlook or perspective on anything dulls a good chunk of my interest. It is certainly a well-produced series on most fronts. Solid character designs are bolstered by rich color choices and the general competency and lack of jank you expect from a studio like Doga Kobo, and the timing of the comedic outbursts had me chuckling along more than I expected. I do wish that it had maybe reached for it a little harder though, as, despite its obvious polish, it also lacks anything particularly eye-grabbing. Overall, this is an exceptionally competent series, which is more than I can say about a lot of anime, but it’s also one that I’m probably going to forget about fairly quickly due to a distinct lack of substance both narratively and visually. The fact that I spent a good portion of my watch time thinking about how the actual villainess’s storyline was far more interesting certainly didn’t help, but I don't think I wasted my time either so I can still give it a decent recommendation.