So, for this show, I actually started watching it thanks to the recommendation of someone I did a Vtuber spotlight for. I always enjoy getting recommendations, so I was excited to dive into this one. Our story here stars Will, a human who was raised by three undead. Through their tutelage, Will learned the art of combat, magic, and the lore behind the deities of their world. Once he became an adult, circumstances caused him to venture out into the world to serve the principles of the goddess to whom he swore his oath.

I’m sure you’ve noticed my summary of the story is a bit more vague than usual. That’s because of its pacing. It really takes its time setting up all of the key details, and so revelations like the motivation behind the protagonist show up much later than most of the shows I reviewed. The first half of the season is all about Will growing up. It carefully shows the importance of the individual lessons each undead has for Will, as well as the secrets they keep from him.

Around episode six is where we get a plot shift as those secrets are revealed, and after making an oath with a goddess, Will sets out into the world for the first time. The story then becomes a tale of Will finding his own way of living up to the tenets of his oath, and it’s one full of struggle. The way that struggle is portrayed is masterfully done. Will has to learn how to handle people of varying faiths in the gods, as well as the challenges that cause their faith to waver. Some of those challenges include incredibly powerful monsters, while others are struggles of the heart. Regardless of what the challenge is, each one is carefully constructed so that when the emotional moments come into play, they hit really hard. I really enjoyed the careful time the season took to really hit home the importance of each individual detail. Normally, shows that move this slowly have a hard time maintaining my interest, but that’s not the case here, as it comes with a cast of very endearing characters.

The irony is that even though half of the season features mostly undead characters, they are quite lively. Will is a very interesting character, and it’s easy to get invested in his journey of growth, discovery, and struggle. The supporting case is equally entertaining as Will learns from the undead and then finds his own party of adventurers as he sets out into the world. They bounce off of each other so well that it makes the careful time the plot spends telling the story so enjoyable.

So, overall, The Faraway Paladin really made an interesting first impression. It comes with a very simple premise that has a lot of supporting details that are spread out over the course of the season. Making it a hard season to explain without giving away major moments several episodes in. That meticulous attention to detail is done in a way that continues to entertain because it comes with an endearing cast that makes each moment interesting. Normally, a pacing this slow is not done well, but here it’s brilliant and actually adds to the emotional moments when they happen. I’m absolutely watching season two and can’t wait to see where Will’s journey takes him.