Haibara's Teenage New Game+ Episode 1 Review Critiques Male Power Fantasy
Anime Feminist published a review of the first episode of Haibara's Teenage New Game+, the new anime about a man who gets a second chance at high school. The reviewer, who previously covered the similar series Remake Our Life! for Anime News Network, found the premiere unappealing. The episode introduces Natsuki Haibara, a lonely college graduate who prays to return to his high school years. He gets his wish and works to improve his body and mindset before restarting his freshman year. The review criticizes Natsuki as a typical sexist male lead whose main goal is to win over his teen crush, rather than become a genuinely better person. The reviewer also objects to the depiction of the protagonist's pre-time-travel weight as a sign of failure, calling the trope tired. While the reviewer acknowledges the power fantasy may appeal to some viewers, they describe the episode as treading familiar ground for the male second-chance genre and not a standout. They do not recommend it unless the viewer already enjoys this type of narrative.