Beginning After the End: First Impressions of a Reborn King

After a mysterious death, King Grey awakens to a second chance at life—this time as Arthur Leywin, a baby born into the magical continent of Dicathen. But don’t be fooled by the swaddling cloth and tiny limbs. Arthur’s got the wisdom (and sarcasm) of a battle-hardened ruler trapped in a very breakable baby body.

And honestly? That contrast is half the charm.

There’s something undeniably funny about watching a grown man's inner monologue deal with the absurd realities of infancy. The image of a powerful monarch unable to control his own neck muscles is comedic gold. The humor is subtle, more “hehe” than laugh-out-loud, but it lands. It's the classic isekai juxtaposition: big brain in small body, but it’s executed with enough sincerity and timing to feel fresh rather than tired.

Beyond the giggles, Beginning After the End lays early groundwork for what could become a deeply emotional story. Arthur, though stoic and logical, is being reshaped by the warmth of a family—a concept clearly foreign to him in his previous life. The show hints at a heavy backstory, peppering in bits of lore and regret without info-dumping. It builds curiosity while giving us time to get attached.

As for the world itself? Dicathen is shaping up to be a solid fantasy playground. Yes, some of the exposition feels a little shoehorned in—there are a few "let me tell you how magic works" moments—but it's all in service of establishing a clear rulebook for Arthur (and us). Since he's starting from scratch too, learning through his eyes feels natural.

Magic systems and class structures are introduced with just enough intrigue to keep us hooked, without overwhelming us with fantasy jargon. It’s easy to follow, but still ripe with potential for growth and complexity down the line.

So far, Beginning After the End delivers a good balance of humor, heart, and worldbuilding. Whether it rises above the sea of generic isekai stories or blends into the crowd remains to be seen—but the start is promising. If the emotional depth continues to build and the story leans into the weight of Arthur’s past, it might just stick the landing.

For now, we’ll keep watching. And chuckling. Because a grown man stuck in a baby body will never not be funny.