You know, watching that 'reincarnated as a villainess' show got me thinking about this whole overpowered reincarnation thing. The protagonists often start with meta-knowledge, right? They know the plot, the secrets, the weaknesses. But the development isn't just about them flexing that power. It's usually about that knowledge becoming irrelevant, or even a burden. They try to avoid doom flags or game over scenarios, and in doing so, they change the world and themselves. Their 'OP' status shifts from being a cheat code to a responsibility, sometimes even a curse. They have to learn to live in a world they only knew as a story, and their relationships with side characters become real instead of programmed. That emotional weight is what actually develops them, more than any new magic skill.
Although, let's be honest, sometimes the fun is just watching them absolutely stomp everything with their future knowledge. But the ones that stick with me are where the character outgrows their initial game plan and has to make real choices in a world that's stopped following the script.