Everyone Hates the Harem Trope. Why Does Mushoku Tensei Get a Pass?

When Rudeus was six, he watched his parents' marriage nearly fall apart and decided one wife was plenty. Ten years later he had two, and the anime had already set up a third. Most harems are just there to sell, so why does Mushoku Tensei's somehow hold up? Here's what the anime moves past quickly, and what the novel adds about Sylphie, Roxy and Eris. Did Mushoku's harem work for you, or does it still not sit right? SPOILER GUIDE Everything before 9:08 covers the anime up to Season 3 Episode 14, plus how the web novel describes those same scenes. After that it's light novel spoilers, with a warning on screen: 9:08 Eris in the books (probably Season 3 Part 2) Mentioned at 5:28, my video on whether Rudeus ever changed:    • "Trash Stays Trash": Did Rudeus Ever Chang...   CHAPTERS 0:00 One wife is plenty 0:57 Why most harems don't work 1:53 Where "one wife" came from 3:02 Sylphie, the one he chose 4:01 Roxy, the one he got wrong 5:22 Who pays for it 6:40 The same house, a different lesson 7:23 Eris, the one who left 8:21 Why it holds up 9:08 Novel spoilers: Eris in the books SOURCES Footage and stills come from official clips, previews, trailers and the official website, used in short excerpts for commentary and analysis. The quotes on screen are my translations of the web novel. Scene clips: Crunchyroll; previews, PVs and clips: TOHO animation Character art and episode stills: mushokutensei.jp Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Light Novel) by Rifujin na Magonote, illustrated by Shirotaka, English edition by Seven Seas Entertainment Quotes checked against the author's free original web version on Shōsetsuka ni Narō: ncode.syosetu.com/n9669bk (chapters 91–165 and 194), and the author's reply posts from 2013 on his Narō activity page Comparison clips: Rent-a-Girlfriend and In Another World With My Smartphone 2 official trailers (Crunchyroll) Mushoku Tensei © Rifujin na Magonote / MF Books / Mushoku Tensei Committee / Mushoku Tensei II Committee / Mushoku Tensei III Committee. Rent-a-Girlfriend © Reiji Miyajima, Kodansha / "Rent-A-Girlfriend" Production Committee. In Another World With My Smartphone 2 © Patora Fuyuhara, Hobby Japan / In Another World With My Smartphone 2 Production Committee. This is an unofficial fan analysis, and all rights belong to their owners. #MushokuTensei #JoblessReincarnation #RudeusGreyrat