The Rising of the Shield Hero: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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The Rising of the Shield Hero — Season 1

Critics Reviews

Jeremy Looney Common Sense Media The Rising of the Shield Hero flips the traditional isekai narrative on its head by turning the heroic fantasy into a nightmare. Rated: 3/5 Oct 11, 2023 Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse With the exception of the mid part and a few episodes close to the end, "The Rising of the Shield Hero" emerges as an excellent title that manages to differ from the plethora of similar anime, due to its overall context. Rated: 7/10 Sep 24, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 9, 2019 The Shield Hero While reading a book on weaponry, college student Iwatani Naofumi is transported into another world where he must take up the mantle of the fabled Shield Hero. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 16, 2019 The Slave Girl Unable to use a sword, Naofumi searches for a partner, but he can only afford a sickly demi-human slave, whom he tries to train in a harsh manner. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 23, 2019 Wave of Catastrophe Naofumi and Raphtalia become good partners but must prepare themselves to fight an incoming wave. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 30, 2019 Lullaby at Dawn Upon learning Naofumi employs a slave, Motoyasu angrily challenges him to a duel and the king ups the stakes when he threatens to take Raphtalia away from Naofumi if he loses. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 6, 2019 Filo While seeking to reapply Raphtalia's slave crest, Naofumi purchases a monster egg that soon hatches to reveal Filo, the newest part of his team. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 13, 2019 A New Comrade Filo shows her ability to take human form, but requires special clothes; Naofumi and his party search for a gemstone needed to make her clothes, helping an imperiled trader along the way. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 20, 2019 The Savior of the Heavenly Fowl Naofumi's party goes to help a village under assault from an overgrowth of monstrous plants. Details Episode 8 Aired Feb 27, 2019 Curse Shield Naofumi and his friends bring medicine to a disease-ridden village and learn that the plague came from a rotting dragon corpse that must be disposed of. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 6, 2019 Melty A girl named Melty asks to join Naofumi's party. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 13, 2019 In the Midst of Turmoil As Naofumi prepares for the next wave, he agrees to hire some young soldiers to help. Details Episode 11 Aired Mar 20, 2019 Catastrophe Returns Naofumi and his contingent of soldiers defend a remote village from an attack that doesn't let up. Details Episode 12 Aired Mar 27, 2019 The Raven Invader A mysterious and powerful woman enters the battle of the wave and clashes with the heroes. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 3, 2019 The Devil of the Shield The knights paint Naofumi as a kidnapper when he tries to defend Melty, bringing Naofumi into conflict with the other three heroes once again as they try to "rescue" Melty from his protection. Details Episode 14 Aired Apr 10, 2019 Everlasting Memory Myne lights the forest on fire, driving Naofumi's party into a mountain village where they must attempt to escape the surrounding knights. Details Episode 15 Aired Apr 17, 2019 Raphtalia Naofumi attempts to talk an enraged Raphtalia out of killing Idol. Details Episode 16 Aired Apr 24, 2019 Filolial Queen Naofumi's party works to rescue the children while Naofumi tries to protect Filo from Tyrant. Details Episode 17 Aired May 1, 2019 A Promise Made Fitoria takes Melty hostage; Fitoria tells Naofumi that she'll kill all Four Cardinal Heroes. Details Episode 18 Aired May 8, 2019 A Conspiracy Linked Hoping to plead his case with the other heroes at the checkpoint, Naofumi comes face to face with an aggressive Motoyasu, who has no interest in what he has to say. Details Episode 19 Aired May 15, 2019 The Four Cardinal Heroes The gang faces the seemingly unstoppable force of the Pope's powerful new weapon. Details Episode 20 Aired May 22, 2019 Battle of Good and Evil As the besieged gang defend themselves inside the Pope's Great Cathedral, Naofumi must switch to a highly dangerous shield to remain in the fight. Details Episode 21 Aired May 29, 2019 Naofumi's Triumphant Return Mirelia reveals to Naofumi why the four heroes were summoned and what makes the Shield Hero so despised, giving him hope that he can finally clear his name. Details Episode 22 Aired Jun 5, 2019 Four Heroes Council Naofumi gives his companions long-needed upgrades and learns something interesting during a banquet with the other heroes. Details Episode 23 Aired Jun 12, 2019 Cal Mira Archipelago Naofumi develops a kinship with L'arc on the way to Cal Mira as his world starts to brighten. Details Episode 24 Aired Jun 19, 2019 Guardians of Another World Melromarc dispatches a fleet to face the threat at sea; Naofumi must pick up the slack as the other three heroes remain ineffective. Details Episode 25 Aired Jun 26, 2019 The Rising of the Shield Hero Glass' true identity is revealed and Naofumi clashes with her while confronting his own motivations. Details