So in yet another random scrolling of Crunchyroll I came across another show that I decided to watch on a whim. Isekai Cheat Magician stars a pair of students Taichi and Rin who were summoned to a new world. In due time they find out that they both possess overwhelming power, especially Taichi, and they decide to use that power to protect the people of this new and unknown world. Little do they know there’s someone behind the scenes controlling everything and keeping a careful eye on Taichi.

As far as the story goes I would best describe it as ok. Isekai’s in general have a pretty standard way of storytelling and this show doesn’t do anything to circumvent the norm. The main characters find out about their power very quickly and in a very predictable fashion and the story progresses in a way that if you’re familiar with this genre you can pinpoint roughly when certain elements of the story will take place like big reveals and power ups. For example when measuring Taichi’s power they use a crystal ball and it was very obvious beforehand it was going to break soon after he touches it. Sure enough that’s exactly what happened. Then you have moments where the villain brings out an enemy that is clearly designed to counter Taichi’s powers and soon after he gets the exact power up he needs.

With that being said while it’s formulaic that’s not entirely a bad thing. Even though the story isn’t something new it’s at least told really well. The characters are all very interesting and I really enjoy seeing how their relationships with each other develop as the season progresses. Taichi and Rin have incredible chemistry and balance each other well. Taichi is very unfocused and straightforward while Rin uses her power to come up with new and amazing ideas and it’s fun to watch how they both tackle various challenges.

There’s also a fun mystery to the story as we do have the mysterious antagonist behind the scenes. One who can seemingly influence armies and even dragons and it’s unclear what her motivations are. We don’t really get to explore details regarding this mystery but it is fun to see just how much influence this character has as we wait to find out more.

The combat scenes are also fairly enjoyable. Watching Rin apply science to create a new array of spells is enjoyable and Taichi’s explosive energy makes for some fun moments. Like many isekais combat though doesn’t last long since you have characters so over powered that most fights end almost as soon as they begin. However, that adds to some of the fun of the show as it really emphasizes Taichi’s desire to control his power when he’s up against people much weaker than him but then equally learn how to harness it when dealing with stronger opponents.

Overall this show has a very traditional approach to isekais to the point of being fairly predictable. However, it at least does every element of the show with decent quality. The characters, the story and the fighting are all told rather well and the mystery behind the show is intriguing. I would say the show fits perfectly between amazing and horrible. It doesn’t compare to shows that found their unique footing in the isekai genre, but it also at least does everything well and tells a good story. I liked it and would tune in for any future seasons but there are a number of other shows I would prioritize on top of it.