Trapped in a Dating Sim was a fresh new isekai anime series of the Spring 2022 anime season, and at first glance, it might look like a routine game-world isekai with a self-insert male lead, Leon Bartfort. This is not entirely wrong, but then again, Trapped in a Dating Sim has more than a few plot twists and exciting action scenes to keep viewers engaged with each episode.
Trapped in a Dating Sim has a fairly open-ended plot where Leon Bartfort can make it all up as he goes, and he is in for more than a few shocking twists during his journey in this otome game world. Powerful enemies, crafty schemers and even hidden superpowers all defined Leon's adventure in Dating Sim, and the five most impactful plot twists stand out as the show's best.
When Leon Realized That Marie Is An Isekai Hero Too
Usually, an isekai anime will star just one character who found themselves summoned to or reborn in another world, ranging from Rimuru Tempest the slime to Ainz Ooal Gown to Sato Kazuma. However, this time, the isekai story features two heroes, and they are at odds. Leon soon deduced that the petite himedere Marie is his real-life sister reborn as an otome game character, and Marie is determined to take her isekai brother down no matter what. Marie is threatening not just because she won Prince Julius over to her side but also because she has the same meta-knowledge as Leon and can reshape the entire game according to her plans. In that sense, she can fight Leon on even ground when no one else can.
When Leon Sided With Angelica Against Prince Julius
Several episodes in, the isekai hero Marie made her move and convinced Prince Julius to abandon his kind-hearted fiancée, Angelica Redgrave, for her. Angelica was devastated that her prominent fiancé had dumped her for a schemer like Marie, but there was little she could do, and everyone was watching. That was when Leon intervened and challenged Prince Julius' entire team on Angelica's behalf, all so he could help the innocent Angelica and foil whatever plans Marie had in mind. Soon enough, Leon piloted his giant Armor robot in the combat arena and thrashed Julius' entire team, prompting Julius and the others to renounce their lofty status to stay with Marie. This also inspired Angelica to become Leon's first true friend.
When Stephanie Offrey Became Olivia's Worst Enemy
The original otome heroine Olivia suffered greatly when the arrogant Stephanie Offrey, the daughter of a powerful count, attacked her. Stephanie bitterly resented Olivia's and Leon's sudden rise to power, and she even claimed that Leon and Angelica viewed their friend Olivia as a pet and didn't take her seriously. That was just a cruel lie, but Olivia still believed it, and Stephanie's words threatened to shatter Trapped in a Dating Sim's central trio of friends -- a problem that wouldn't be resolved until the last minute. Stephanie also ordered a small fleet of sky pirates to attack Leon and destroy him, but fortunately, Leon vanquished the pirates while also protecting Olivia and his other friends.
When Leon Realized He Was Holding Olivia Back
Stephanie was wrong to say that Leon viewed Olivia as a pet, but there was another problem between the two friends: Olivia was not getting a chance to learn and grow on her own. In the original game, Olivia fought her own battles, literally and otherwise, gaining confidence and strength in the process. Now Olivia has Angelica and especially Leon to protect her by fighting those battles in her stead, which prompted Olivia to feel like a burden. This soon formed a rift between her and Leon, with Olivia convinced that Leon saw her as an inferior, and Leon's words didn't get through to her at first. However, Leon then realized that Olivia was correct -- he had become too much of a protagonist for Olivia's own good. Perhaps it's time for Leon to fade back into the background as the mob character he once was.
When Olivia Awakened Her True Potential In Battle
During the series' climax, the Principality of Fanoss attacked Leon's school's ship with its battle fleet, and Princess Hertrude, who commanded the Fanoss fleet, showed no mercy. She sent hundreds of flying monsters after the ship, and not even Leon's united classmates could hold them off for long. That was when Olivia used powerful Saint magic to protect the entire ship, hinting at her future destiny as a magical girl. Olivia didn't yet have the three artifacts to become the Saint, but even so, this was an encouraging first step for Olivia, and it bought enough time for Leon and Angelica to finish the job and defeat Hertrude's fleet. Now Olivia is becoming the hero she was always meant to be.