That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2: Digression - Hinata Sakaguchi

転生したらスライムだった件閑話: ヒナタ・サカグチ (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken: Kanwa - Hinata Sakaguchi)

6.8(36,427)

MAL Score

Ranked #5886

Popularity #2909

Action
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
Isekai
Military
Reincarnation

Episodes: 1
Duration: 23 min
Aired: Jan 5, 2021
Status: Finished Airing

Synopsis

*That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2: Digression - Hinata Sakaguchi* revisits the key events of *Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken*’s first season, condensing the major developments and character moments that shaped Rimuru’s journey.

Alongside the recap, it includes additional material designed to bridge the story into the second season, with a particular focus on Hinata Sakaguchi as the narrative shifts toward what comes next.

Otaku Consensus

Digression - Hinata Sakaguchi is received less as a standalone attraction than as a useful editorial bridge: its best material is the Hinata-facing perspective, the tightened pacing around Rimuru and Shizu's importance, and the way it positions Clayman and the Jura-Tempest Federation for Season 2. Critics who praise Season 2's stronger character work and upgraded 8bit presentation see this special as a tidy runway into that improvement, while the main criticism is unavoidable: much of the episode is still recap, which caps its dramatic value for viewers who recently finished Season 1.

Why You Should Watch

Watch Digression - Hinata Sakaguchi if you want the strategic side of Slime without committing to a full rewatch. It is built for viewers who care about how information travels between factions: Hinata reading about the Jura-Tempest Federation turns Rimuru's nation-building into a political problem, not just a fantasy success story. The episode also rewards fans invested in Shizu's narrative weight, since reviews singled out the Rimuru-Shizu focus as a major emotional anchor. If Ascendance of a Bookworm scratches your itch for institutions and social systems inside isekai, and Re:ZERO keeps you alert to consequences, this special sits in that connective space. Skip it if you only want new battles; prioritize it if you want Season 2's looming conflict to land with cleaner context.

Key Characters

H
Hinata Sakaguchi(VA: Manami Numakura)
Hinata stands out because the special reframes her as an intelligence-driven counterweight to Rimuru, studying Tempest before the larger conflict fully takes shape.
R
Rimuru Tempest(VA: Miho Okasaki)
Rimuru remains compelling here less as a power fantasy lead than as the center of a nation whose reputation is now spreading beyond his control.

What Makes It Stand Out

1
This is a single-episode 8bit production that functions as episode 24.9, a structural bridge between the first season and the second rather than a conventional OVA side story.
2
The episode's new-material hook is Hinata Sakaguchi's perspective on the Jura-Tempest Federation, turning the recap format into a dossier-like setup for Season 2's political and military tension.
3
Reviews specifically noted that Hinata and Clayman receive the main focus among the fresh material, making the special more useful for tracking antagonistic forces than for revisiting Rimuru's victories.
4
Commentary on episode 24.9 highlighted its pacing and its emphasis on Rimuru and Shizu's relationship, giving the recap an emotional spine instead of treating Season 1 as a simple checklist.
5
Its MAL reception reflects its in-between nature: a 6.82 score from 36,346 votes, rank #5885, and popularity #2907 indicate broad franchise visibility but more modest enthusiasm than a full narrative arc.

Fun Facts & Trivia

Fun fact 1: The special aired on January 5, 2021, immediately before That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 began, which explains its unusually functional placement in the franchise timeline.
Fun fact 2: Its Japanese title, Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken: Kanwa - Hinata Sakaguchi, labels it as a kanwa, a term commonly used for an interlude or digression episode rather than a numbered main installment.
Fun fact 3: TakaCode Reviews praised Season 2 as a follow-up that expanded what worked in Season 1 while fixing many earlier issues; this special was part of the transition into that better-received stretch.
Fun fact 4: An English dub review pointed to the episode as the place where Hinata learns more about Rimuru and his nation, stressing its role in foreshadowing a major conflict despite its brief runtime.
Fun fact 5: The credited main cast is unusually narrow for a Slime entry: Manami Numakura as Hinata Sakaguchi and Miho Okasaki as Rimuru Tempest are the only main characters listed in the provided data.