Average Is Relative – Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! 3 Episode Test

“Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!” or “Watashi, Nōryoku wa Heikinchi de tte Itta yo ne!” is my surprise favorite of the season, which is saying something given the plethora of amazing content we have this season. Even more surprising is the fact that it’s an isekai that is somehow both stereotypical and unique in its design. Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! (please give me an abbreviated name for this show) follows a girl named Adele von Ascham (who goes by the alias Mile), a twelve year old girl who is originally a reincarnated girl from our world who was a prodigy in Japan and had one request when she was reincarnated into this new world. She wished to be brought into this new world with average abilities, and so the god who reincarnated her obliged. In some strange isekai monkey’s paw, she was given the average power and strength of the range of all creatures and not just humans, from the lowest insect to the most powerful ancient dragon. This leaves poor Mile with approximately 6,800x the strength of the average human and us with a great set up for a hilarious isekai.

We see Mile as she begins to try starting an average life as an average student at the average government sponsored Eckland Academy for adventurers. Prior to classes beginning she wanders the town and becomes friends with the innkeeper’s daughter, she also encounters another 3 adventurers; powerful mage “Crimson” Reina, noble knight Mavis von Austien, and merchant/Chief Financial Officer Pauline. After rescuing a number of young girls from the clutches of a lecherous noble and her evil adventurers, we have Mile find herself sharing a room with the other three at the Hunter’s Prep School and begin the story proper.

While the first episode was interesting, it didn’t have me hooked by any means. It wasn’t until episodes 2 and especially 3 where I was absolutely sold on this gem. While trying to maintain a low profile, Mile’s amazing skills shines through and entrances every one of her roommates. Mile as it turns out is a huge weeb and goes about sharing the otaku mentality amongst her teammates. In a number of references, my favorite of which being Dragon Ball Z, Mile teaches her team how to be better at what they do and eventually Squad C becomes the premier unit in the academy.

This leads to episode 3 where 6 months later, Mile has effectively turned her team into a bunch of Chuunibyou with them even practicing the poses and attitude that entails. We have the principal invite Squad C into a mock battle, with the school’s future being on the line due to the intervention of a noble. Said noble is revealed to be Arledy, the noble woman from episode 1 who eventually changes the stakes to being only Mile who becomes her slave instead of the school being shut down. During this mini-tournament arc where Mile and company must combat the B-ranked adventurers from episode 1 in one on one combat we see the results of Mile’s training. Turns out, when you are taught by someone with half the power of the most powerful being on the planet, you become rather powerful in turn. Mavis goes up and uses Kaio-ken times 1.3 to defeat her opponent with far too much ease. Reina counterspells the enemy mage after he used deadly magic and proceeded to forfeit when Reina begins to cast the same spell on him. Pauline, offended by her opponent’s disparaging statements about her team begins to walk towards her opponent enduring attacks and healing herself, all the while moving forward menacingly, like some relentless moe death machine. Mile’s final opponent just nopes out in the greatest fashion that had me pausing the video to just laugh. The battle ends with Mile dealing with Arledy directly and the noblewoman confessing to her crimes and Mile and crew deciding to stick together as Crimson Vow, declaring their intent in a rather dramatic pose.

If you feel like that ending or the description of the girls at the end there was very much like Megumin from Konosuba mixed with Power Rangers, it’s because that’s the definition of Chuuni. The show has surpassed my expectations and passed my 3 episode test, opposed to certain other shows *COUGH*Assassins Pride*COUGH* and I can’t wait to continue watching. A lot of the humor and entertaining factor is the great pacing and delivery and I don’t want to spoil it. The intro and outro are great and catchy tunes although not the most addictive thing I’ve heard this year (Fire Force and Vinland Saga) or even this season (Bokuben). The animation and art appeals to me greatly, especially all of Mile’s background/low detail faces which are almost on par with Background Nezuko (and those of you who know me, know I love Background Nezuko). I’ll be continuing with this show and am happy to see even in the deluge of isekai shows we have, this is something that feels refreshing and entertaining, even if it isn’t the most original. Let me know what you thought about the show or even if you are just burned out from isekai oversaturation. (Hint, if you aren’t then check out our BAYOGsekai Podcast where we play D&D IN ANOTHER WORLD)