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If you can enjoy this anime, definitely feel free to do so. Heck, the art is decent, the waifus cute and the world more fleshed out than the large bulk of (generic) isekai anime... However, you should know this.

No matter how the anime wants to frame it. The MC is a rapist.

Someone in that situation can not consent at the best of times, but what was depicted in episode 4 was an act of sexual abuse from the perspective of the perpetrator and framed as if they did nothing wrong. Heck, they even use some of the classic "ahh they did XYZ so they ... agreed" when those things do not mean agreement in the slightest....

(Updated review after episode 4 to comply with MAL's Review Guidelines)

With only 4 episodes out at the time of writing, there is a chance that this show pulls something... ANYTHING out of its hat... I doubt it, though.

I'll go out and say it. This show is just mind-numbingly boring.
This isn't one of the "Ex-Arm"'s or "The Room"'s or any number of other actually atrocious shows of the world. Those at least had the decency to be so bad they were enjoyable.

We have generic LN Isekai protagonist no.1652 version. "Fat loaner" in generic world 537. Type "Demon lord threat" with passable art, sound and flat design. ... OK, so far so standard. We have had three of these at least each season for the last few years. But what sets this show apart from just being average and generic but potentially enjoyable is its characters and plot.

None of the cast shown so far have shown anything but being an unfunny, unimaginative rag which my pass as a caricature of a trope if you squint... a lot.... while hammered.

Now, all of this could still be excused and somehow be made passable by a vaguely interesting plot, but here the show commits its final sin. Now, you may be here because you hear of it being described as the "monke" isekai. This slightly intruding plot point could have gone places, but no its a single episode waifu of the week plot which is instantly resolved by turning her into generic waifu no.832 "red hair, house skills" and pushed to a side for a non sequitur of disconnected beats which are probably meant to be the "plot" for genric waifu no.833 "Tsun, bad luck"


The show has nothing, offers nothing, and can be nothing. Even writing this review is giving it more thought or energy than it really should get

DISCLAIMER: this review contains spoilers for the first 2 episodes and is for the whole season (MAL has wrongly broken it into 2 parts)
One of my favourite Video essayists once said, “Art is all about pushing your buttons”
And I tend to agree with him on that statement, but what does this have to do with Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri (GATE for short)?
Everything, and during this review I am going to tell you why.
GATE is a 24-part Web-Novel /Manga adaptation by A-1 pictures, a studio that has often been the centre of controversy and producer of some of the most polarising shows ... in recent anime History.
The plot follows a low-mid ranking Otaku soldier named Yōji Itami. The world he lives in is generally identical to our own, until one day a ominous gate opens in the middle of Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district and an Army from a medieval fantasy world invades, slaughtering anyone in their way.
The first episode opens with Itami having the day off, attending a local convention and being inevitably caught in the middle of this. Some quick thinking on his part manages to save a large amount of people from the Invaders and keeps them safe until the Japanese Self-Defence Forces arrive and inevitably slaughter the invaders.
Now if you are anything like me the concept of a modern Military, politics and society facing off against their Fantastical counterparts, sounds incredibly appealing and the first few episodes will probably thirsting for more. What this work has done to you in this case, is push your buttons; it has peeked your interest and made you react and be invested.
“Why is this important?” you ask, and rightfully so. It is important, because of how the Series develops.
These first episodes, with their gripping plot (interspersed with some comedy), simultaneously upbeat but grim opening, brilliant choice of sound; and the brilliantly looking art and good animation typical for A-1 Pictures, are very much the setup for the actual plot of the later episodes,
These follow the escapades of Itami, who has been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant for his actions in Ginza, as he Leads a small Recon unit making first contact with the locals after the first pushes through the Gate. On his journey he (as probably could be guessed by the opening and cover art) meets and inevitably is followed by a “diverse” cast of typical Fantasy females.
Now this may be where most people see warning signs come up, and one can most defiantly not blame them for this. HOWEVER, to GATE’s credit is seems to have kept it to a reasonable level so far.
This shift in tone and focus will inevitably scare some people off, but for those willing to brave it, GATE delivers a Vibrant wold, filled with strong personalities, intrigue and the occasional, “(modern) Humanity Fuck Yeah” Action feasts.

In summery
Gate is a “Modern VS fantasy” action/adventure with more plot and background than a story of this calibre has any right to, sufficiently interesting characters, Beautiful art, more than passable CGI and animation, good sound and (in second half) Very good music choices, all leading to a high level of enjoyment
Giving it a numerical breakdown of:
Story: 7
Art: 8
Sound: 7
Character: 6
Enjoymnet: 8
Leading to a weighted total of : 7,5

For further “reading” on the topic of “buttons”
I recommend Digibo’s Video Essay: Art Is All About Pressing Your Buttons!
https://youtu.be/SsQB9RhixhQ

The first step in understanding Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka (from now on referred to as DnD) is to understand what it is you are going to or currently are watching. Low brow mindless entertainment. It is not trying to be intelligent. You will not find highly interesting well developed characters. You will not find a massively innovative story line. Quite simply because these are not needed to accomplish its target.
DnD is meant to be mindless fun entertainment for a young to middle-aged audience with at-least a tentative knowledge of MMORPG’s and at this I think it Succeeds. Yes the ... Story is goofy, the characters partly feel like they have bean lifted straight out of Sword art Online and the entire show is caked in Fan service. But for some this is exactly what is needed to relax and wind down between more serious shows.


Verdict:

Comment: Decent-Good Low brow filler.
Pros: Well animated, Decent Voice acting (original), entertaining
Neutral: bland Characters, World is basically an MMORPG, Fan service
Bad: Predictable plot, Plot armour is a thing, plot conveniences galore