Though I Am an Inept Villainess S1
- Title: Though I Am an Inept Villainess S1
- Genre: Villainess/Drama
- Company: Dogakobo
- Format: 11 Episodes
- Dates: 12 July 2026 – 21 Sept 2026
Synopsis:
All her life, Kou Reirin has been loved by most everyone in the palace and gained the favor of the crown prince, Ei Gyoumei. But her body is weak and frail. So when one of her court rivals, Shu Keigetsu, uses magic to swap bodies with Reirin out of jealousy, Reirin is overjoyed with Keigetsu’s hearty body. Keigetsu, on the other hand, finds herself having to deal with Reirin’s body’s fragility and sinks deeper into despair.
Highlights
- Reirin: A very likeable protagonist who is just a little too perfect.
- Side characters: Fleshed out really well. Believable.
- Art and animation: Generally solid with the exception of some CG.
- Court drama: The high point of the series that gets you invested.
- Soundtrack: Meshes with the fictional Imperial China setting nicely.
Review
When someone asks you in a job interview about your greatest weakness, you’re well-advised not to give self-serving answers like “Oh, I work too hard!” Unfortunately for Inept Villainess’s Kou Reirin, that would honestly be her answer. Upon receiving a healthy body through the body swap with court rival Shu Keigetsu, Reirin makes the most of it. She uses her newfound vigor to weed her new garden, harvest potatoes, cook, clean, make medicines, sew intricate robes, learn elaborate dance routines, fire arrows using a relic bow, and file my taxes (probably). All this, while maintaining a spunky, conscientious, and admittedly endearing personality that doesn’t get rattled by the goings-on of palace politics and only sees the best in others.
In short, she’s too flawless. So much so that it had me wondering if they couldn’t just give her something that triggers some anxieties or puts her in situations where her obliviousness gets her into trouble. I don’t necessarily need something on the scale of Rudeus Greyrat’s trauma in Mushoku Tensei, just something that makes Reirin more relatable.
But yes. I get that the appeal inherent in the villainess genre comes from watching the protagonist seize their life-changing circumstances to take charge of their own destiny while surprising or even shocking everyone around them. Reirin’s poise and ability to deal with her new situation are a lot of fun to watch as she wins hearts and minds in the way she goes about her day-to-day life.
When it comes to character growth though, Reirin’s rival, Shu Keigetsu, holds more promise. Her backstory is filled with tragedy heaped upon tragedy, and her self-worth has been shattered as a result. The only way for her to cope is to lash out and tear others down, which makes her deeply unsympathetic. But as she experiences life while masquerading as Reirin, there is a glimmer of change. It is faint, but it’s there. I hope her growth potential is explored more in the second season since her screentime is fairly limited for what should be a co-protagonist.
Beyond its leads, Inept Villainess is a tale of two halves. In the first, we witness Reirin’s gusto as she goes about life in the healthy Keigetsu body. The main highlight here is in the way she builds up her relationship with her court lady, Leelee, who, despite being a side character, earns much sympathy for her insecurities regarding her origins and her resentment over the way she’s treated in the palace. Also noteworthy is the way Reirin hones her political nous, which comes in handy during the second half.
The second, and more compelling, half comes in when the courtly intrigues rear their heads. At this stage, we get to know some of the other influential personalities within the palace grounds in greater depth. Their backstories make for excellent character study fodder, and their motivations and resulting actions feel believable. When it comes to the schemes, guessing the person orchestrating them isn’t too hard. Nevertheless, I still found myself invested in how it all would resolve, and it did so nicely.
The decision on whether to watch Inept Villainess depends on what you’re looking for. If you enjoy palace drama and courtly intrigue anchored by a superb cast of characters, The Apothecary Diaries has those aspects locked down. But you can’t go wrong with Inept Villainess if you’re looking for breezy escapism with a charming protagonist leading the charge.
Rating: 7
Reviewed by: zzeroparticle
