I went into From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman with mild curiosity and a healthy dose of scepticism. The title alone is somewhat misleading; our protagonist is already a master swordsman before the story even begins. From the start, I wasn’t sure what kind of journey the series thought it was selling me.

The Premise (and the Problem)

The show follows Beryl Gardenant, a middle-aged swordsman running a quiet dojo in a backwater village. His life is upended when Allucia, a former student turned Commander of the Royal Order of Knights, tracks him down and drags him back to the capital. It’s your typical “humble man with a hidden past becomes renowned” story, except, once again, he’s already famous and absurdly skilled, so the English title’s “from” arc makes little sense. What follows is a parade of old students, now somewhat grown, highly accomplished, and mostly female, re-entering Beryl’s life. And here’s where things start to unravel.

Age Gaps and Harem Tropes

The age gaps in this series are uncomfortably persistent. Each episode seems to introduce another former student, now barely to young adult woman vying for Beryl’s attention while he remains totally oblivious. It’s frustrating because while the show occasionally acknowledges these inappropriate dynamics, it then immediately undermines that awareness by continuing to lean into harem-adjacent tropes.

There’s even a recurring bit where female characters reminisce about how he didn’t recognise them because, essentially, “they have boobs now.” Honestly — why?

To its credit, the relationship between Beryl and Mewi, a young female ward, is handled with a refreshingly appropriate guardian-protector dynamic. If only the rest of the series showed the same restraint.

The Clichés Keep Coming

If you’ve seen fantasy or isekai anime before, you’ll recognise the usual suspects:

  • The overpowered “humble” protagonist who insists he’s ordinary.
  • The harem-lite circle of women whose narratives exist primarily to orbit the male lead.
  • The “famous last words” challenger trope, “He can’t be that strong…” followed by instant defeat.
  • The contrived “it’s not a date” date, where one character treats it as romantic without a mutual conversation.

One particular low point was Allucia’s outfit: a white bodysuit with strategically cut-out areas designed solely to reveal the black underwear beneath. Who thought this was a good idea? It’s the kind of pandering fan service that just makes me sigh.

Any Silver Linings?

Surprisingly, yes. There’s a level of straightforward, uncomplicated enjoyment here that stops it from being completely unwatchable. A couple of characters, like Kinera Fine, seem like they might be age-appropriate and interesting additions to the cast, though the show doesn’t give them nearly enough focus.

The final plot twist, with Rose as a hidden antagonist, was a nice, if rushed, surprise. Unfortunately, her voice acting was grating, which somewhat undercut the impact.

Final Thoughts

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman is not the worst fantasy anime you’ll find this year, far from it. But it’s yet another example of a series bogged down by tired, male-gazey tropes and wasted potential. It occasionally flirts with being more thoughtful, particularly when Beryl acknowledges the inappropriate age gaps or displays genuine care for his students. However, those moments are often buried under layers of cliché and uninspired character dynamics.

If you like power fantasies with a sprinkle of nostalgia for 2000s-era anime tropes, this is tolerable. If you’re hoping for complex characters, balanced relationships, or a fresh take on the genre… this isn’t it.