Warning: SPOILERS for episode #1 of I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History
The protagonist of a new isekai anime calledI’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in Historyis surprisingly going against what most main characters in her situation do by fully embracing her status as the female villain she’s reborn as. Normally, a villainess isekai’s female lead who gets transported into a romance novel orotomevideo game attempts to fight her role as the antagonist. However, this anime sees its villainessAlicia wanting to go down in history as an even better villainessthan the character she reincarnates as in an unnamed otome game.
Interestingly, this doesn’t mean that Alicia is doing evil deeds. The first installment only has Alicia better herself in ways that can be compared to some of the more pure-hearted female leads from most isekai series. Of course, this could change in future episodes of this new isekai, but right now, Alicia feels more like a heroine than a villainess, despite her desire to go down in history as the best of the latter.
New Villainess Uses “Pure” Tropes To Become Evil
Adapted from the light novel series by writer Izumi Okido and illustrator Jyun Hayase
One of the more surprising correlations toI’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in HistoryisDoctor Elise, whose titular protagonist can easily be considered as one of the most positive reincarnations in an isekai. Although not a villainess isekai,Doctor Elise’s unique use of reverse isekaihas Elise reincarnate back as herself after being reborn as another woman in the modern-day world. How Elise lived as herself the first time is akin to a villainess' initial life, and the ways Elise later tries to reinvent herself upon returning to her original body are the same as how a reborn protagonist would usually attempt to change their status as an evil character.
Part of how Elise tries to reinvent herself includes the diplomatic and worldly advice she gives the king. Her insights are so profound that the king desperately tries to prevent her from becoming a doctor so that she can better serve his kingdom. This is exactly what happens in the first episode ofI’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History.Of course, Alicia’s goal was to provide insights that would be the exact opposite of what the heroine of her new world would give. But unbeknownst to Alicia, it’s very clear that she has actually impressed the king as opposed to coming across as a villainess.
New Villainess Is The Exact Opposite of HIDIVE’s Best Equivalent
Produced by Maho Film and licensed by Crunchyroll
I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in Historyclearly deviates from other anime in the same genre, but the series that it diverges from the most is villainess anime available on HIDIVE that embraces the norm more drastically than any other -Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior. The villainess Pride is so terrified of becoming evil like the original character that she desperately tries to do good even though she believes she’ll eventually succumb to her destiny. Unlike most villainesses, Pride is so devoted to rejecting her inherent evil nature that she doesn’t care it will likely lead to her character’s inescapable death.
Interestingly, Alicia doesn’t seem bothered that her actions could kill her. Truth be told, Alicia hasn’t revealed as of episode 1 if the original Alicia died in theotomegame. It’s possible that Alicia won’t die, and so she has nothing to worry about. However,I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in Historywould be even more effective if Alicia is destined to die, and yet she still embraces villainy in this exciting newisekai.
