The Executioner and Her Way of Life completely flipped the usual isekai formula and because of that, it was review bombed.
The first episode starts like every other isekai, with an overpowered male protagonist getting summoned to another world.
But just a few minutes later, he’s killed off by the real main character, Menou, a priestess whose job is to eliminate “Lost Ones” from Japan whose powers could destroy the world.
The story then follows Menou and her next target, Akari, a cheerful girl with mysterious time powers. As their journey continues, the series explores themes of morality, fate, and a slow-burn yuri (girls’ love) relationship between the two leads.
This unexpected twist didn’t sit well with some viewers who wanted a typical male power fantasy.
Before the second episode even aired, review sites like MyAnimeList and Crunchyroll were flooded with 1-star ratings and comments like “Killed the MC in episode 1, 0/10” or “Yuri trash.”
Many accounts had no prior activity, suggesting targeted review bombing against the show’s direction and queer undertones.
Despite that backlash, The Executioner and Her Way of Life has since somewhat recovered in ratings and built a loyal fanbase.
Not as far as I know, but the LNs are decent. As of the 8th book it's still kind of being yuri bait though, although Menou kind of reads as aroace with how she fundamentally does not seem to understand the concept of attraction in general.
Although, uh, I've said this before but it's kind of reaching the point of being a meta shitpost on yuri bait, (major spoilers up through book eight)
the way Menou and Akari basically become soul-roommates, the way Hakua (the person Menou is a clone of) betrayed and murdered (or worse) all of her friends and committed genocide across multiple continents to set in motion a thousand year plan to be reunited with Akari and safely return home with her, and the way that as of the 8th book Menou and Akari are the same person because Time is occupying Akari's inevitably-dying body and Menou is annihilating her own soul to preserve Akari, all while they all turn to the camera and declare Akari or Menou their very dear friend who is important to them without going a step further towards anything romantic or sexual.Looking I see the 9th book is translated now, so I'll have to read that. No timeline for when the last two (which released simultaneously) will be, though.
I will say though, that while the worldbuilding and narrative isn't fantastic it is decent enough, and the way it manages to slowly reveal what the fuck actually happened to set this all up (some of which I spoiled in the spoiler up there - like I said, major spoilers) is fantastic.
Word. I'll skip the spoilers and give them a read then. My brain could probably use some slop that isn't just a flashing screen.