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Reincarnated as a Sword had me hooked on its interesting premise even before the first episode came out. The story about a guy who is transported to another world to become a sword stuck in a rock in the middle of nowhere sounded intriguing to me, and I was curious to see what the writers would come up with. I was truly annoyed with the first episode, so much so that I even considered dropping the show, because the premise didn’t seem to be handled well in the opening episode. SPOILER: What I mean by that is that the sword immediately started levitating and slashing all the enemies in the vicinity, becoming an increasingly powerful object. What's wrong with that? First of all, it gives you the idea that such a flying sword doesn't really need anyone, so the whole encounter with the female protagonist feels almost pointless. It’s like creating a plot for the sake of a plot. If the first episode had made it clear to the viewer that a sword stuck in a rock is useless on its own unless someone pulls it out and starts using it, I would have immediately liked it better. It would have made more sense, and Fran wouldn't have seemed almost redundant at first. END OF SPOILER. However, Reincarnated as a Sword is also a series that, despite the bad first impression (and the pile of clichés that followed), gradually started to win me over, until it actually became a nice enjoyable show that doesn’t make you think too hard, but you’re happy just watching the main character set off on her adventures and seeing how the story develops. What’s the show’s secret? Most importantly, Fran is a sweet and curious girl who enjoys adventures and loves fighting, and her enthusiasm will make you start enjoying the story, too. You will want to discover new places and find out how the heroes will deal with the next dangerous situation. Above all, you will simply root for Fran and her sword. Sure, the writers have chosen a very simple origin, which makes the viewer feel a lot of pity and sympathy for Fran at the beginning. It's a bit cheap, but it does work and helps you to quickly relate to the heroine. But it's not just Fran who's very likable here. The sword is actually well-portrayed, too. He becomes a kind and wise mentor and partner, almost a father figure to the protagonist, and their mutual chemistry is just really sweet. I was glad that there was almost zero fanservice, which wouldn't really fit here. What I also liked were the decent dungeons and the simple yet functional world. The series got me interested in the end, despite the fact that apart from the main couple there was only one interesting character for me, which was Amanda (unfortunately, I didn’t think much of the rest of the cast). I did have fun in the end. I'll be glad if there is another season in the future (the ending feels that way) and I'll definitely watch it, so I’m willing to give the series a 4*, even if it's the weakest 4* I can possibly imagine. 6.5/10 (2022.12.14)