Despite its absurdly cliché name,Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powerscontinues to defy expectations by giving surprising twists to many well-known tropes. This time, however, rather than this isekaianimesubverting a trope from its own genre, the series has set its eyes on a ubiquitous, almost mandatory type of episode that essentially serves as a rite of passage for most anime – the hot springs episode.
Similar to the well-known and usually uneventful “beach episodes” in most anime, the blatantly obvious role of “A Steamy Hot Spring Trip, Part 1” is how the 11th episode transforms the usually peaceful and romantic hot springs visit intothe series' first all-out battle between Flio’s family and the demon army. In fact, the fighting is what creates the epic cliffhanger that will lead into the season finale.
The three other functionalities ofChillin’ in Another World’s hot springs episode are tocapture the deepening relationships between various characters. Interestingly, all three of them are romantic in nature,but none of them follow the usual formula completely.
Chillin’ in Another World’s Hot Springs Episode Is More Than Fan Service
Surprsingly, the series uses the tired trope to enhance the narrative
The most unconventional scenes are moments that take place in other areas of the hot springs establishment outside the eponymous heated waters. A critical scene between the former Dark One, his demonic assistant Uliminas, and the human Balirossa takes place in a food bar. It’s an important moment because Balirossa, who has been the former Dark One’s harshest critic and ironically his love interest to her horror, begins to more conspicuously reciprocate his feelings for the first time. She even helps establish a love triangle in the same scene by uncovering Uliminas' desire for the former Dark One.
Alone, the queer representation would be noteworthy, but the basis of their dynamic even hints at exploring a more serious aspect of same-sex partnerships in terms of children, except with its own supernatural twist.
One of the more random but still critically important scenes that upsets the usual formula of these types of episodes takes place outside (and in) an erotic museum on the hot springs' premises. What starts out as a problematic situation soon evolves into the beginning of an odd albeit promising relationship between two incredibly powerful female characters. Alone, the queer representation would be noteworthy, but the basis of their dynamic even hints at exploring a more serious aspect of same-sex partnerships in terms of children, except with its own supernatural twist.
Chillin’ in Another World’sclosest representation of the stereotypical hot springs episode is a scene with the human hero Flio and his demonic wife Rys. The moment takes place in one of the actual hot springs, and although there are some lighthearted and amusing situations that hearken to conventional tropes, the real importance of the moment lies in what particular body of water they choose to bathe in. It’s one that increases the bather’s fertility, which is one of the last things that most people who go to hot springs are looking for.
In fact, this development is the latest progressive step in their already very advanced type of relationship for a couple like them so early on in a series. Before, Flio not onlywent against most isekai heroes in the genreby choosing to stay with Rys in this new world, but soon afterward refused tofall victim to what plagues the industryby staying true to his convictions rather than reverting to the status quo like in most anime. This latest example of how surprisingly innovativeChillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powersis just more pronounced since it continues defying expectations in the usually very conventional hot springs episode.
