Regressed Reincarnation

[IrregularPerson]

So, it's already a staple where characters are reincarnated into another world, a type of isekai because the term just means another world. The cliche is overused and is sometimes used poorly.
But I particularly see a lot of people speaking out in the comments of chapters where specifically: the character is reincarnated but rather than getting to the "plot" and summarizing their experience in another world so far, they go through one of my favorite tags "age progression. OR the plot progresses in their childhood-
I agree that sometimes they are long-winded and sometimes in the case of the overall story, it wouldn't have mattered if it happened when the character was _years younger. Their is also the fact that some series suffer from there longer publication, usually consistency issues.
But I see that people rag on that their "reincarnation" is unnecessary. In a writer's perspective, and most often the character's perspective- readers take it for granted that in the setting certain key words (ex) smart phone, walkman or slang. I doubt most author's are doing intentionally, in fact writing analysis is more for reading enthusiasts to explain why there favorite titles are amazing. But usually it's a "cheap explanation" to ground it with a targeted audience.
But I digress, what is the problem with a character behaving there age and not using "big mature words". It could be the fault that the author chooses to give the character traumatic backstory in their previous life, or that the translation leaves out keys that would hint that _ is variant reincarnation. Logically speaking, babies are smart because they're trying to grasp as much information as possible. Learnt behavior is different from instinctual behavior, and from here lemme just drop that 3-years is the typically age where babies start having cognitive memories or signs of cognitive behavior.
Child genius, sure.
Fiction, sure.
But stop popping up like cabbages and take it for granted. Unless it poses as a difficultly when they are younger, I see no need for it to be seen as the "standard". Either shower the aberrant in praise or ignore them.

 

[bigtiddyoneesan]

...What?

It would help if you state your main point in a sentence or two at the end. This is pretty rambly.

EDIT: Or just rewrite the whole thing in a non-rambly way.

 

[Greenfrost]

Are you saying you have a problem with the authors making a 1-3 year old have the cognitive functions of an adult, despite being biologically impossible? Because, if that's the case, it's already incredibly unscientific for souls to exist. You could look at them like fairy tales, and allow some absurdity to exist.

 

[aloysiusks]

yeah i dont get it either.

 

[sbzkag]

TLDR: I agree with OP. It's a fantasy isekai to begin with; trying to be scientific about it doesn't make much sense considering it wasn't a brain transplant.


CAUTION: Word Vomit Ahead
It all depends on what the arc is trying to achieve, imo. Like @Greenfrost stated, the story begins with the absurd so as to make the rest seem even more plausible. That's why reincarnation/summoning magic is often treated as some forbidden, high-level feat with great repercussions often to the caster. This gives the story more leeway with what it'd want to depict later on.

Although I don't really like the idea of newborns being capable of immensely complex thought processes right from the get-go, I only really have a problem with it if the manga tries hard to defend that idea by trying to be scientific about it. Otherwise, I presume that (1)they're implying that the consciousness is not maintained by the brain but by an essence of some form and thereby not restricted by biology, and that (2)they're aiming for theatrics.

Others seem to try work around this by allowing some time to pass before they "remember". Still, even in those scenarios, the assumption would still be that consciousness and memory as the essence of a person is separate from the physiological brain. This, by and large, isn't really worth fussing over since it being an isekai, we've already presumed the existence of higher powers which is why I would agree with OP (if I understood it correctly, you like the age progression the characters go through) that the baby arc isn't really the problem.

If the main critique is simply that the MC does not display the intellect we're expected to have at a certain age, that's only true if they were still in the original world. Otherwise, it would be as if the MC had only scratched middle school education and he's already talking with renowned experts on the field. This gap, however, isn't so much as a difference in mental capabilities but a lack of foundational education which means they ought to understand that they need to act a certain way to not attract unwanted attention.

Plus, it's not as if it's an uncommon trope for older people to act childish. Heck, that happens all the time even in the real world. Why should it come as a surprise that the MC would act like one once in a while? Besides, you'd be able to tell right away what the arc/chapter is for anyway. Usually, I've found that the younger age is meant to introduce these 3 keypoints:
1. Power dynamics
2. Theatrics
3. Identity

Power dynamics is usually just a show of force. It's to highlight the advantages (or lack thereof) the MC has in this new life and introduces the first few key figures to the story. Theatrics sets the tone and pace of the manga while introducing in-jokes or inside knowledge that makes the characters more enjoyable, whether it be the cutesy baby stuff or the razor-sharp edge of existential dread that comes with having to relive the torments of life all over again.

The last of them, Identity, is--well, to put it simply--hinting at the ticks of the characters and how they affect the established power dynamic, i.e.

power dynamic = character relationships and heirarchy
theatrics = the pops and the bops or the doom and gloom
identity = characterization/raison d'etre

If none of these things happen in the arc--something I've never seen yet--then the arc would've been completely useless. It doesn't have to be all 3, though that would be great, but even with just theatrics, this would be fine as that's probably the audience they were gunning for anyway. "Who Made Me a Princess" is one such example who focused on theatrics. I say this because we already know the other 2 just from the backstory the MC gave us, but it works all the same because we get to see immediate the stark contrast between how she was before to how she is now. Same goes for "Lady Baby" or "Mushoko Tensei".

I think prime examples of manga/mahwa that incorporates all 3 would be "The Beginning After the End" and "Re:Monster".

Really, the child phase they go through would really only ever be a problem if they keep shifting tones haphazardly.

I think I've already spilled my guts enough so I'm outtie.