Working is hard, and it’s terrible but damn if it isn’t funny seeing supernatural creatures go through the trial and tribulations of being a worker in the service industry. That sounds hyper-specific, but hear me out. There is nothing more comically frightening than seeing a literal demon lord get his arse handed to him while working at bootleg McDonald’s. This is exactly why the humor in Hataraku Maou Sama works so well.

If you enjoy clever humor, likable characters, and seeing Gods of another world struggle working in a fast food joint, The Devil Is A Part-Timer, or Hataraku Maou-Sama!, is worth watching. Out of all the Reverse-Isekai shows I’ve seen being released to stand out in an oversaturation of Isekai anime, The Devil Is A Part-Timer is easily the most enjoyable one. Because, listen, there is too much of a good thing. Thankfully, this show isn’t here to make a statement, it’s just plain old-fashioned fun.

And that’s all I need. I’m so tired of Isekai anime in general, but the wave of Reverse-Isekai that pretend they are too good for this sort of thing is even more irritating to me. Like, it’s fine to be a shallow but fun show. You don’t have to video essay a thesis on the meritocracy of being Isekai’d to the normal world. Thankfully, this is where The Devil Is A Part-Timer genuinely does well. It sells itself as exactly what it is, stereotypes and all.

But, while it may be a good show, is it the right one for you? From Studio White Fox, the same animation house that brought us hits like Steins;Gate and Akame Ga Kill!, I had quite a lot of expectations. As someone who doesn’t like Isekai much, I was also pretty skeptical. Let’s see if The Devil Is A Part-Timer hits the mark for an entertaining watch!

The Premise: Satan’s Tenth Circle Of Hell Is Working Minimum Wage.

Let’s see, where to start. Welcome to Ente Isla, a magical realm made up of four continents. You have the literal embodiment of Satan who was waging war to conquer this place with his demon generals, Alciel, Lucifer, Malacoda, and Adramelech, by his side. However, he and Alciel had to retreat when the pushback from the ‘Chosen One’, aka Emilia Justina, proved too much.

And that’s how Satan ends up in modern-day Japan, a land with 0 magic and 100 despair. Satan transforms into a human and assumes the alias of Sadao Maou and starts working at what is the most blatant parody of a McDonald’s I’ve ever seen. Yes, WcDonald’s included. But it turns out, that he and Alciel weren’t the only ones who came through to Earth. Emilia followed them and is now a Japanese girl named Emi Yusa.

But Sadao doesn’t let that get to him! Whether it’s being a line cook, doing house chores, or just trying to make rent on time, Maou is determined to succeed at it all.

Hataraku Maou Sama Breakdown: Realistic And Hilarious For What It Is.

Listen, I’m not going to paint a flowery picture of how it subverts Isekai tropes and presents a staunch philosophical statement. The Devil Is A Part-Timer is just an enjoyable little show, and that’s all it needs to be.

The experience of watching a very powerful character be reduced to a minimum wage worker just to make ends meet is so realistic but cosmically funny at the same time. It doesn’t hold its punches and almost finds the wonder in the mundane of the daily grind.  

The comedy itself is satirical and sarcastic in the most satisfying way. It has well-placed comedy and works so well with the introduced characters. I think my only complaint is how the light novel goes, because it recently ended and took some turns that I didn’t enjoy. The anime hasn’t reached that point, so I have hope that it might pull its ending off.

The Verdict: Great Weekend Watch!

Listen, the second season is right around the corner, so you might as well get started on this now. The Devil Is A Part-Timer is a quirky anime with tons of laughs combined with nuance. And if that’s your thing? Get on it!

Let us know what you think about The Devil is a Part-Timer in the comments below: