Online Shield Hero discourse amuses me greatly.

Interestingly enough, the thing about The Rising of the Shield Hero is that it’s not exactly unpopular to criticize it. The show is atrociously paced, swapping character development for time lapses way too often. Aside from a couple of obvious money shots, the animation is lazy and the 3D models look out of place. And, even with the concept of a protagonist owning a slave being “darker” than most isekai it follows most of the tropes of the genre to a tee. Criticism and difference of opinion around this show are not hard to find.

That is, of course, until you bring up the content of the show itself. Many are willing to let Shield Hero languish in mediocrity up until the instant someone suggests that maybe it’s kind of fucked that the show tries to pass a relationship between a master and his child slave as healthy. Suddenly, Shield Hero is a masterpiece that must be defended at all costs against the assault from the enemy SJW. Isn’t that interesting.

Adolf Hilter’s Mein Kampf is a rambling, repetitive mess of a document that barely made it through a single copy-editor before being published. That being said, complaining about how poorly written Mein Kampf is without being open to criticizing the toxic, evil ideas espoused in the text would at best show some extremely backwards priorities and at worse reveal some troubling beliefs held by the critic.

And before you blow up at me, no, I’m not saying that The Rising of the Shield Hero is “just as bad” as the foundational text behind one of the most evil regimes to ever grace the face of the planet.

Instead, I’m arguing that the silent implication that valid anime criticism is “apolitical” criticism (as if such a thing can even exist), is nonsensical and arbitrary. It’s an especially garbage implication given that anime fans have no problem, say, criticizing anime dub makers for writing progressive politics into shows.

Criticism of the Left from the Right is somehow deemed “apolitical” and “necessary” to keep “politics” out of anime, but criticism of the Right from the Left is “forcing a political agenda down my poor, soft, red, begging throat”.

Wonder how that works.

I’ll stop playing dumb. I know exactly how that works: it’s a disingenuous argument meant to silence disagreement. It creates an atmosphere that buries much needed criticism of popular anime, even when said anime are hurting the community at large.

In episode 4 of The Rising of the Shield Hero, the Spear Hero, Motoyasu Kitamura, frees Raphtalia from Naofumi’s bondage. While Naofumi argues that because Raphtalia has been “helpful” to him, and that slavery is “legal in this crazy place”, he’s doing nothing wrong; Motoyasu believes that as heroes from a world where slavery is morally wrong, Naofumi shouldn’t own other people under any circumstances. Naofumi says that Motoyasu is “free to his ‘opinion’”.

After being freed, Raphtalia is furious at Motoyasu. She argues that Naofumi never abused Raphtalia, and only forced her, by way of torture, to do things against her will when she was too scared to do so which is, you know the definition of abuse. She argues that Naofumi bought her when she was sick and starving, on the verge of death. She argues that Naofumi bought her food when she wanted, and cured her illness. She argues that, if Motoyasu was anywhere near as kind and moral as Naofumi is, he would have already bought his own slaves to take care of too.

In an 1857 text entitled Cannibals All! or, Slaves without Masters, author George Fitzhugh argues in favor of the chattel slavery that existed in the American South at the time. In it, Fitzhugh labels the “free labor” resulting from the North and Europe’s transition to capitalism as the “White Slave Trade”.

George Motherfuckin’ Fitzhugh, y’all (public domain)

He writes “[The White Slave Trade] is far more cruel than the Black Slave Trade because it extracts more of its slaves, and neither protects or governs them” (25). While capitalists will garnish their worker’s wages, “the [slave] master allows the slave to retain a larger share of the results of his own labor” (25).

He continues, arguing that “the negro slave is free … in mind as well as body; for the master provides food, raiment, house, fuel, and everything else necessary to the physical well-being of self and family” (26). According to Fitzhugh, capitalists are “slave owners without the obligations of a master”; these obligations make the “negro slaves of the South the happiest and … freest people in the world” (29).

“No wonder men should prefer white slavery to capital, to negro slavery,” he argues, “since it is more profitable, and is free from all the cares and labors of black-slave-holding” (26).

Raphtalia’s arguments read exactly like 18th-century anti-abolitionist rhetoric. The idea that actual chattel slavery is a moral good because “the slaves get fed” and “they’re happy that way” is not some clever writing twist on behalf of Shield Hero’s staff, but a really old and well-trodden historical argument. Not that capitalism isn’t bad, or doesn’t exploit workers. It’s just that capitalism being bad doesn’t justify slavery. Not even close. Come on, Fitzhugh.

The fact that, in episode 5, Raphtalia “chooses” to become a slave doesn’t help things. It echos the same anti-abolitionist rhetoric that black Americans who “knew what was good for them” would choose slavery over freedom every time. They, like Raphtalia, lived in a world that would eat them alive. Anti-abolitionists, like Shield Hero, see slavery as slave masters “generously” “sacrificing” their “time and money” to “protect” their slaves. Yikes.

Enslaving yourself as a “symbol of trust” my ass. Surely a relationship where both people are free, autonomous beings who trust each other to act on their own is a far better symbol of trust than this vomit-inducing ouroboros of pain. And if she feels compelled to do it to satiate Naofumi’s misogyny-driven trust issues, that’s just a sign of a shitty relationship. Let me say this again. Naofumi could have fed, clothed, and been kind to Raphtalia WITHOUT OWNING HER AS A SLAVE. None of the things Raphtalia supposedly praises Naofumi for are in any way shape or form contingent on supporting institution of slavery.

Let it be known that having “trauma” and “trust issues” is in fact not a valid reason to deny a woman’s personal autonomy and call that a “relationship”. Please and thank you.

The buying and selling of human beings such that they exist in a state with no legal rights or autonomy is wrong. Period. There are no ifs, ands, or buts here. The fact that the show would set up Motoyasu as the mouthpiece for what should be a universal truth, just to knock him down with a page ripped from one of the leading texts on the defense of slavery is more than wrong, it’s backwards and upsetting. Slavery is wrong, in all scenarios, and the fact that this show tries to create a false situation in which slavery is somehow justified is beyond disgusting.

I’m not exactly sure how I’m expected not to get “offended” when this anime is being blatantly offensive. And I’m not exactly sure how I’m supposed to say nothing when I see the community giving credibility to these outdated, bigoted arguments in the service of “owning the SJWs”.

Shield Hero’s 4th episode is so rabid in its defense of slavery that the team for the English dub actually went and changed some key lines of dialogue to make Raphtalia and Naofumi’s relationship easier to swallow in the West.

(Screenshot from anime used under Fair Use)

They change Raphtalia openly advocating for slavery as a moral good to make it seem like she’s criticizing Motoyasu’s choice to trust the woman who wrongly accused Naofumi of rape. This makes no sense because she still challenges Motoyasu’s morality as compared to Naofumi’s, citing Naofumi feeding her and giving her medicine as proof of his moral character, like we talked about earlier.

Also calling a slave “someone loyal”. Nice try on the euphemism, I guess.

(Screenshot from anime used under Fair Use)

The dub makes Raphtalia acknowledge that, as a slave, she’s being used as a tool for Naofumi’s personal gain. Her conclusion is that this “doesn’t matter” for… some reason, but they tried, I guess?

(Screenshot from anime used under Fair Use)

Perhaps “brainwashing” isn’t the right word, but Motoyasu is absolutely right that the power dynamics at play here make it impossible for Raphtalia to consent to the conditions she’s in. It’s like saying pedophilia is okay because the child says she wants it: the child wouldn’t be in the position to make an informed decision as to what’s going on.

Let’s say this again. If the only reason Raphtalia consents is because her very survival depends on it, that’s not real consent.

The dub also has the Bow Hero, Itsuki Kawasumi, outright state that Naofumi and Raphtalia’s relationship isn’t like a master/slave relationship.

Which is an especially weird choice given that the dub also opts to translate Raphtalia’s “Naofumi-sama” as “Master Naofumi”, forever codifying the master/slave relationship they try to deny exists into every single scene Raphtalia opens her mouth.

Like I said, they tried. They didn’t have a lot to work with, after all.

(Panels from manga used under Fair Use)

Little known fact: as awful as this show is, the source material is infinitely worse. Please don’t give it your time.

Also, just because the writers say Raphtalia was never abused, doesn’t make it true. You ever just incel so hard you justify slavery? already covers why Naofumi’s treatment of Raphtalia is abuse. Section (2/3) goes into detail about the cycle of abuse and how Shield Hero tends to pretend that abusers “get nicer” if the victim is perfectly compliant and infinitely patient. It hurts to watch.

Like I said, read it on your own time.

“You only hurt yourself by refusing.”

So says Naofumi of Raphtalia in the show’s second episode. This kind of stuff is generally the kind of thing abuse fuckwads say. But I guess if you’re an anime protagonist that works too.

“Promise me you won’t ever die. Don’t leave me alone, master, please.” (Screenshot from anime used under Fair Use)

Raphtalia is a child, not a soldier. She needs therapy, not the “opportunity” to “prove” her “worth” in the salt mines in exchange for having her basic needs met masquerading as kindness. She needs to learn how to be her own person after years of being owned by other people, not the “privilege” of being “chosen” as Naofumi’s sword.

People have value outside of their strict utilitarian use you know?

Shield Hero makes Raphtalia a child for a reason. It’s constantly reminding you that Raphtalia isn’t quite grown up. From her being a virgin to… believing that kissing causes babies, to the way she speaks and acts. The show desperately wants to endow Raphtalia with all the coveted traits of a child.

Yet, Shield Hero needs her to be an adult to “consent” to being in slavery (such a thing does not exist, see, again, You ever just incel so hard you justify slavery?) and needs her to be an adult when the audience inevitably sexualizes her.

She’s, perhaps, a child in an adult’s body?

(Panel from manga used under Fair Use)

Thanks Shield Hero manga, very cool!

In a text published in 1850 entitled Universal Law of Slavery, George motherfuckin’ Fitzhugh wrote that “the Negro is but a grown up child, and must be governed as a child, not a lunatic or criminal. The master occupies toward him the place of parent or guardian.”

Hey, do we have a clip of Naofumi maybe referring to his slave as his daughter?

Just, y’know, by any chance.

(Clip from anime used under Fair Use, rights go to YouTube channel linked)

I’m sorry. At this point I just love being right all the time.

Raphtalia is a demi-human, meaning, among other things, her body ages with her “in-game” level, not the amount of time she’s been alive. “Conveniently” for Naofumi (and the audience), Raphtalia’s level pushes past lv40 while her body doesn’t look an exp point over lv21.

In the first month after Naofumi recruits her for his party, she gains the body of a young adult, but her life experience remains unchanged from the frail child that used to wet her bed and cry about it.

Raphtalia is but a grown up child, and Naofumi governs her as a child.

(Rights go to YouTube channel linked)

These are the precise reasons that make Raphtalia so popular and beloved. Her willingness to enslave herself makes her loyal. Her child’s mind makes her cute and innocent. Her lack of a personal identity beyond serving her master makes her trustworthy and caring.

In episode 10, Naofumi realizes he has the option to perform a class upgrade on Raphtalia and his other slave Filo (why? why more than one?). Raphtalia says she’ll upgrade her class to whatever Naofumi picks out, but Naofumi disagrees. He says once the four heroes defeat the last of the waves, Naofumi will be going back home, and Raphtalia will need the skills to survive on her own.

The idea of Naofumi leaving her gives Raphtalia major anxiety.

(Screenshot from anime used under Fair Use)

Because of course it does. She’s not in the position to conceptualize her existence in the absence of Naofumi.

The very last scene of the season, in episode 25, Naofumi cashes in a reward he’s owed by the queen, and rightful ruler of Melromarc, for saving the country. He decides he wants own the district Raphtalia grew up in and was enslaved in.

I would have thought that, if the show was as interested in Raphtalia’s well-being as the fans claim, and if the show was as against slavery as it pretends to be, Naofumi would take this time to ask the queen end the practice.

But no. He just owns more people, just as a landlord this time.

Naofumi goes on and on about how he needs a new base of operations and how all of Raphtalia’s childhood friends are here and how she and Filo and this other girl, Melty (somehow not also his slave yet) will live on. As lord of this land, Naofumi promises to turn a place that was once a pillaging ground for slave owners to… a place where he’s the only one that owns slaves I guess but it’s good now.

I want to just embed what Raphtalia says to Naofumi in this scene. I’m using the dubbed version because it’s important to both understand the words coming out of the character’s mouth and the untempered distress in her voice.

She begs and sobs and clings, literally and figuratively, to Naofumi. We’re treated to a brief flashback where we’re reminded Raphtalia is fundamentally still that same kid from episode 2 who was so scared of being alone the thought of being owned and treated like property by another person felt to her like an improvement.

(Screenshot from anime used under Fair Use)

There is a stark difference between missing a loved one, especially one you may have to part with forever, and emotionally depending on someone to create a sense of meaning. From the first episode, Naofumi conditions Raphtalia to associate her servitude with her sense of self because it makes her an effective child soldier to turn a profit.

At the end of episode 4, Naofumi admits as such, and Raphtalia agrees. The show argues, however, that the ‘benefits’ of Naofumi’s selfishness trickle-down to Raphtalia. We’re supposed to feel good that she’s been exploited, manipulated, and abused because in the end, we’re told that it’s this exploitation, manipulation, and abuse that generated good for Naofumi, the world, and Raphtalia herself.

In the real world, good isn’t a side-effect of abuse. And this need to live through the validation of another person is unhealthy and unsustainable.

But in the wonderful world of waifuspapce this is just evidence that Raphtalia loves Naofumi so much she doesn’t want to see him go :(

Raphtalia loves Naofumi in a way that women in healthy relationships should never love you. Raphtalia loves Naofumi because Raphtalia understands she belongs to him. Raphtalia loves Naofumi because she needs to love him to secure her physical safety, emotional stability, basic needs, and sense of self. Raphtalia loves Naofumi because she is literally too young to process the nature of her relationship.

Raphtalia loves Naofumi in a way Naofumi can control entirely. Raphtalia is loved because she represents a common but toxic relationship fantasy among fans. Raphtalia shouldn’t be normal.

Raphtalia is made to love her victimhood, and we’re made to love her for it.