Hero Without a Class: Who Even Needs Skills?! – Episode 1

What’s it about? At age 10, every child receives a blessing from the Goddess and is assigned to a Class in which they can learn specific Skills. Despite being the son of an archmage and a renown swordswoman, Arel discovers he’s a rare case with no Class at all. However, he’s determined not to let a silly little thing like destiny get in the way of his training to be a master warrior.

Among all the isekai power fantasies about being the strongest, coolest, bestest boy in all the land because of some innate quality or stroke of dumb luck, there’s something refreshing about a protagonist who doesn’t have superpowers handed to him on a platter and has to spend the story earning them through hard work. In theory, this is the core of Hero Without a Class… but after this first episode, I’m not convinced it’s actually going to stick to it. Maybe it’ll unfold into a tale about meritocracy and overcoming destiny, but as of this premiere, it sure does look like a power fantasy about being the strongest, coolest, bestest boy, with the illusion of some extra steps.

See, Arel doesn’t have a Class and can’t learn Skills (everyone tick “fantasy series that uses RPG mechanics despite not being a stuck-in-a-video-game story” off your seasonal bingo cards). This supposedly puts him at a disadvantage over his blessed peers, but by the end of the episode he’s already found an exploit where this makes him better at fighting than designated swordsmen. Something about his ability not being confined within the limitations and rules of a given Skill, because he’s not acquiring it through that framework. Honestly, the magic-logistics of it are kind of fun—I always love when a series introduces strict rules and then plays with them to create loopholes and exceptions—but the delivery is quite condescending.

Arel is just not a very endearing protagonist: he’s not smug, exactly, but the deadpan delivery of his “I’m actually better than you at this thing you’re destined to be good at, lol” speech makes him come off as patronizing and careless. He’s still only 10 years old at this point, so maybe he’ll develop some more tact and sand the edges off his ego over time. But something about how he has the exact same facial expression in every shot of the credits—which show him all grown up—makes me think significant character develop isn’t on the table. Why would he change, when the narrative rewards him for being like this?

There’s also a gendered layer that makes all this even more annoying. The hot-headed young swordfighter that Arel spars with, then rescues, then beats in a rematch, is referred to as “he” by Arel and appears as an androgynous kid, but I have a not-so-sneaking suspicion that this opponent is going to grow up into the pretty swordswoman in the credits who sports the same striking red hair. I foresee a startled “you’re a girl? And you’re hot now?!” reunion for these characters after the promised time-skip.

Even if things don’t shake out that way, the rivalry between them still plays on tired tropes: a young woman is better at a thing than the male lead, and his growth is demonstrated by him kicking her ass at that thing and/or heroically saving her when she’s outmatched at that thing. Beat for beat, this is exactly what happens with Arel and our as-yet-nameless redhead. I could see it coming a mile away and it doesn’t give me much hope for what’s down the road for them, you know?

It’s hard to gauge how the show will treat its women overall when the cast, so far, consists of Arel’s mother; the aforementioned stubborn sword-girl who Arel mistakes for a sword-boy; and Arel’s sister, who claims to be the older child but is displaying a clinginess and reverence more typical to Anime Little Sisters. It’s not exactly inspiring a lot of confidence. That said, perhaps I should reserve judgement until we actually meet the multiple, colourful cute girls promised in the credits, who presumably end up forming Arel’s adventuring party.

I’m just not sure I’m invested enough to wait and see. What’s there to hook me here? Where are the stakes if Arel’s already able to outdo everyone as a grumpy little 10-year-old? Not having a Class seems to hardly matter, except that it lets his opponents be surprised by how cool he is. Maybe you’ll enjoy this one if you specifically love the bit where anime characters go “tsk… but… how is that possible? My power levels are so much higher than yours!” while glaring, wounded, up at a quietly cocky protagonist, who then explains his technique. It’s fun once in a while, for sure, but as the foundation of a whole show? Arel, champ, I wish you all the best on your adventures, but I’m not compelled to follow you there.