One Mistake Could Sink Crunchyroll’s 2026 Dark Fantasy—The Same One That Hurt Mushoku Tensei
Critically praised but hobbled by controversial adult themes, Mushoku Tensei is a cautionary tale — and with dark fantasy Sentenced to Be a Hero looming with similar world-building, it needs to dodge those pitfalls and give fans a protagonist they can actually root for.
Dark fantasy might be due for a real comeback. The one I keep hearing about is Sentenced to Be a Hero, which is lining up a Winter 2026 launch and wearing that next-big-thing label already. It looks promising. But there is one very obvious way it could trip over itself: do not give us another Rudeus Greyrat situation.
The Rudeus problem (and why it matters here)
Mushoku Tensei is a critical darling for a reason: dense world-building, a clean magic system, and a cast that genuinely pops. It also carries a ton of baggage because its lead, Rudeus, is... complicated. The show pushes adult themes to their limit, and while that can work as character study on paper, it absolutely dinged the series with the broader audience. The discourse never stopped circling Rudeus' behavior, including how he treats Roxy and others, and the constant accusations that the show panders to creepy impulses made it an easy target for trolling. All of that undercut its popularity, no matter how good the craft is.
Why bring that up now? Because Sentenced to Be a Hero gives off similar 'big, thought-out fantasy world' energy, and it would be a shame to saddle it with a lead who makes people check out. The bare minimum here: give us a protagonist we can at least root for, or at least understand without grimacing.
What Sentenced to Be a Hero is actually promising
The show is currently slated for January 3, 2026. Early teasers and trailers look strong, and the premise points to a revenge-driven dark fantasy that is not an isekai but still plays out in a fully separate world with its own rules and politics. That combo is rarer than you think right now. Recent hits people lump into dark fantasy — Demon Slayer, Hell's Paradise — build off real-world history and cultures. A straight otherworld dark fantasy that is not an isekai is a different flavor, and I am here for it.
Also, timing-wise, it could be a nice counterbalance to the gentler fantasy wave we just had with Frieren and Atelier. If the adaptation delivers what the manga/light novel sets up, it could be the sharp, mean, satisfying kind of fantasy the lineup has been missing.
Please, not another one-note womanizer
To spell it out: a lot of fantasy and isekai leads have leaned into the one-dimensional womanizer archetype, and it has drained a ton of goodwill out of the genre. Sentenced to Be a Hero does not need that. It needs a lead with edges who does not alienate half the audience on sight. Learn from Rudeus. Do not copy Rudeus.
Need-to-know
- Sentenced to Be a Hero: currently set to premiere January 3, 2026; pitched as a non-isekai dark fantasy with a revenge core and a fully separate-world setting.
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation basics: premiered January 11, 2021; studio is Studio Bind; IMDb rating sits at 8.2/10; streaming on Crunchyroll.
- Context that follows both series around: Mushoku Tensei won big on craft (world-building, magic system, likable supporting cast) but took a popularity hit over Rudeus' behavior — especially toward Roxy and others — which fueled ongoing backlash and fandom trolling. That is exactly the trap Sentenced to Be a Hero should avoid.
Bottom line: I am cautiously optimistic. If Sentenced to Be a Hero sticks the landing the source material hints at and keeps its lead on the right side of the line, Winter 2026 might actually give dark fantasy the jolt it has been missing. And if you want to revisit the argument starter in the meantime, Mushoku Tensei is on Crunchyroll.