Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation

New Members Join the Greyrat Family as ‘Mushoku Tensei’ Ends S2

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 24 Review

It’s almost hard to believe, but by the time this goes up, it will have been a year since Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation returned for its second season. Yet here we are, at the end of the road for now. Rudeus, Roxy, and his father’s friends have made it back to Sharia with Zenith in tow, but their toughest fight is still to come. Rudeus not only has to explain to his wife and sisters how their father’s dead and his mother basically has a disability. More importantly, how Rudy intends to marry Roxy and have her move in with them.

…The awkward levels are off the charts.

Love Sylphie’s New Hairdo

Much like in the first season, the episode eschews an OP to get right into the story, highlighting just how important this moment is. Once he’s within sight of his house, Rudeus starts panicking and runs inside, remembering the Man-God’s words about him regretting leaving. Oddly, Rudeus doesn’t consider losing his Dad to be what he’d regret. I’m unsure if this point covers it, but in the light novels, the Man-God tells Rudy that had he stayed behind, Paul wouldn’t have died while Zenith would still be saved. The entity is merely messing with Rudy, though. Also, while Paul might not have died, Roxy might have been lost.

Thankfully, though, nothing’s wrong with Rudy’s family, Sylphie’s now sporting longer hair. I will miss the short-haired Sylphie, but longer hair makes her look cuter.

The Painful Part

Then comes the tearjerker moment where they tell everyone about Paul’s fate. I already read the light novels, but I still felt my heart breaking for Norn, who took the news the hardest out of anyone. Out of everyone in the family, Norn had been with Paul the longest, and thus was the one closest to him. As she starts bawling her eyes out, I can only imagine how much she must regret not staying with him. At the same time, I like how the story subtly shows off her desire to become stronger by asking for her father’s sword and for Rudy to train her. She’s probably thinking that if she had been stronger, Paul wouldn’t have sent her away. I don’t know if that’s the case, but if that’s what helps her grieve her loss, then good.

As a quick sidebar, it was equally heartbreaking to see Zenith cling to Paul’s armor like she did. She’s likely going to have lucid moments like this for the rest of her life, and while it might be painful, Rudy and his family have no intention of abandoning her. They will be a family and live together, even if its not the way Rudeus envisioned.

Speaking of which, time for the awkward part.

Norn, You Protest Too Much

So, after everyone else leaves, Rudeus tells everyone the news: he cheated on Sylphie with Roxy and wants to take her in as his second wife. And like before, Norn is the one with the strongest reaction. Or overreaction, and it’s pretty faithful to the light novels. It’s also going to be the scene that will make many people hate Norn for a while.

Seeing Norn tear into her brother for how selfish he’s being and how unfaithful he was to Sylphie was hard to watch, even if she did break up some good points. Rudy broke his promise to be faithful to Sylphie, and Roxy understands that, even if desperate times called for desperate measures, she slept with Rudy because part of her was selfish. However, at the same time, Norn is also being inconsiderate. She lets it slip how Millis (the god of the Millis religion) wouldn’t forgive Rudy for doing this. Good intentions or not, she’s projecting her beliefs onto the situation without thinking about the context or how others feel. Thank heavens that Sylphie stops her before Roxy leaves.

Sylphie Truly is the Goddess of Love

I knew this moment had been coming for a long time, but this marks the first time that Sylphie and Roxy have ever met, and it was worth the wait. And not only is Sylphie not mad at Rudy or Roxy, but she says she’s cool with it! And the anime doesn’t skimp on some of the reasons why she is, too!

Firstly, Sylphie knows that her husband is super horny. She openly admits that she expected Rudy to bring another girl back home. At the same time, she also recognizes that he’s loyal, so if he brought home any other woman, it would be because they’re special to him. It’s a paradox, but that’s just how Rudeus is, and she’s fine with it.

Sylphie’s tolerance for it also stems from her memories of Rudy’s family in Buena Village. She remembers how Paul married Zenith and Lilia and kept them both happy. It may not have been his intention, but Paul’s actions influenced Sylphie to be open-minded about polygamy. If Paul can do that with Zenith and Lillia, so can Rudy.

Secondly, Sylphie already knows all about Roxy. From the day she met Rudeus, he’s gone on and on about how much he respects Roxy. And that did make Sylphie a little jealous at times. But seeing her in person and how much she loved Rudy greatly humanized her in Sylphie’s eyes. She was just as capable of making mistakes as the rest, and seeing how upset Norn’s yelling made Roxy caused Sylphie’s empathy to go into overdrive. Plus, Sylphie has Roxy to thank for meeting Rudy. If she hadn’t taught Rudy, Rudy never would’ve left home and met Sylphie. And if that never happened, Sylphie wouldn’t have survived the Mana Incident! Sylphie and Rudy are both alive, thanks to Roxy’s teachings!

Lastly, as Sylphie points out, Rudy isn’t a follower of Millis, so Norn doesn’t have the right to judge him by her own religious beliefs. Also, what she says is very insensitive towards Aisha and her situation. So Norn backs down.

And with this, Sylphie truly cements herself as Rudeus’ Goddess of Love. She already became that when she healed his impotence with her kindness, but her empathy towards Roxy kept their family from falling apart. Best girl for Mushoku Tensei!

And with that, Roxy joins the Greyrat family. Oh, and that part from the light novels about Elinalise telling Rudy he got her pregnant? That was a big, fat lie Lise told him.

I Don’t Have a Problem With the Two Wives Thing

So, I’m well aware of how controversial it is for Rudy to take more than one wife, even among the fans. Some object on moral grounds. Others object because they only want their girl to be with Rudy. My opinion, though: I don’t mind it.

Maybe it’s because I’ve seen a lot of harem anime over the years, but I doubt that’s the case since most of them have me preferring one waifu over everyone else. The reason why I don’t object to Rudy having more than one wife is simpler. Rudy loves them both equally and will do everything he can to make them happy. So long as he does that and does sleep with some random women he meets at a bar, then I think any god wouldn’t hold it against him or consider him unfaithful. Although that’s just how I see things.

Also, let’s face it: when Eris returns, and we know she will, she will join him as wife #3 once they work things out. So, we should start preparing ourselves.

Rudy Joins the Anime Dad Club

There’s one last part to the season: the birth of Sylphie and Rudeus’ child. And it was one of the sweetest moments in the entire series. It does cut out most of the birth itself, but thankfully, we do end up seeing the birth of their child, a beautiful baby girl. And you know that people will tear up at this alongside Rudy.

Of all the moments a person can experience in their lives, one of the most surreal might be holding your child for the first time. That goes double for Rudeus. Never, in either of his lives, did he ever think he would become a father, but here he is! He’s joined the club of anime protagonists that get to say they’re parents! He’s father to a little girl named Lucie Greryat.

Rudeus Continues to Grow and Be a Better Person

The final shots of the season are of Rudeus celebrating at Paul’s gravesite in Sharia. He pours drinks for both of them and starts pouring his heart out about how sorry he is for not being a better son. He never truly considered himself Paul and Zenith’s son until now, and it’s something he’ll always regret. That being said, he’s being too hard on himself. If you got reincarnated into another world and still had all your old memories, wouldn’t you have a hard time considering your new birth parents your parents?

Regardless, though, Rudy isn’t going to let this stop him. As we get a few scenes showing what everyone else has been up to (including Eris), Rudeus reaffirms his resolve to keep living his new life to the fullest. And with that, the second season of Mushoku Tensei ends…or is it?

This entire season, one character has been missing the entire time. Someone very important to Rudeus, whether he likes it or not. Someone that we just got a quick look at in the final moments of the episode: Eris. While Rudeus has been off trying to live his life, Eris has been having her adventures. A few key parts of them get covered in some interludes at the end of a few light novels, and there’s even a spin-off manga focused on her training. Oddly, the anime will adapt at least part of them into another OVA. Which will help to tide us over until Season Three.

And yes, Mushoku Tensei is going to get a third season. And I won’t spoil anything! All you need to know is that there will be plenty of slice-of-life, but once it gets going, things will start hitting the fan.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to indulge in all the fanfics and extra material.

I Give “Succession” a 5/5

This Might Be the Worst Day of Rudeus’ Life

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Mushoku Tensei S2 Ep 22 Review

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…You know, there’s an interesting thing about spoilers some people dont get. Even knowing what happens beforehand only sometimes makes things easier to read or watch. The Red Wedding is still horrific. Watching Ace die at Marineford is still traumatic. And what happens in this episode of Mushoku Tensei is still horrifying. I held back on watching this episode until I finished it in the light novel, and I procrastinated on that despite knowing how it would end. It was just too traumatic to want to sit through. Even so, I knew that this was the climax of Turning Point 3 for Rudeus, so I steeled myself for what happened. Rudeus and Paul pull out all the stops to rescue Zenith, but even with their strength, they cannot win without great sacrifice.

The Ultimate Boss Fight

After locating the true circle leading to the teleportation labyrinth’s final floor, the group comes face-to-face with their ultimate goal: Zenith. She’s inside magic crystals, frozen in suspended animation, and it is not made clear if she’s alive or dead.

That’s the good news. The bad news? That hydra that appears in the opening is guarding it. And when Paul pulls a Leeroy Jenkins and charges right in, the party learns two bad things. Firstly, since its a hydra, it can regenerate. Secondlyโ€ฆits scales are immune to magic.

They have to knock Paul out and run before they get killed. As someone who’s played games with many tough bosses, I know this is the right move. Rushing into a boss fight without knowing everything can kill you. And Rudeusโ€™ group doesn’t have the luxury of returning from death.

Rudy Has Never Considered his Parents…His Parents.

Even though they made the right call, Paul can’t help but snap at Rudeus for remaining calm. He points out how cold he’s being when his mother, the woman who gave birth to him, is in danger. Which brings up an uncomfortable subject. Paul and Zenith might be his biological parents, and Rudeus cares about them, butโ€ฆheโ€™s never seen them as his parents.

It’s not entirely Rudeusโ€™ fault. He had lived a whole other life before being reincarnated, and from the way he talks about them, he wasnโ€™t that close to his original parents. He regrets it, but at the same time, he’s never done anything to correct it. He mentally calls Paul and Zenith by their first names rather than โ€œDadโ€ and โ€œMom,โ€ highlighting the emotional walls he’s put between them. And not helping matters is the fact that Rudeus hasn’t seen Zenith in ten years. Its not like he’s as close to her as he is to Paul. And its going to be something he will regret before the day is out.

I Wish That Rudy had Brought More People With Him

At any rate, what Rudeus, Roxy, and the Fangs of the Black Wolf is the equivalent to the final boss of an MMORPG Dungeon. They’re all strong, but they’re at a disadvantage. Paul and (to a lesser extent) Elinalise are the only ones that can damage it. And those magic-proof scales mean Rudy, Roxy, and Talhand can’t even scratch. Even so, they do have a plan. Cut off the heads, cauterize the wounds with magic at point-blank range, rinse and repeat until they win. They do float around the idea of heading back to town and recruiting more adventurers, but Paul will have it later. His wife is finally in arm’s reach, and he’s so eager to rescue her that he won’t wait any longer.

If I seem misgivings about this, it’s because I do. I’ve had them since Rudy decided to join the rescue mission with only Elinalise. If he had asked any friends he made at Ranoa U for help, they probably would’ve gone with him. If Badigadi were still hanging around, that would’ve been even better since the guy’s immortal! Most of all, though, what I knew was coming next made me wish now more than ever that Eris hadn’t left. They could have prevented what comes next if she had stuck around.

The Fight that Fans Waited for.

The following fight is nothing short of the best in the entire season. I know there has been a limited amount of fighting in season two, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s amazing. I’d even call it one of the best anime moments for 2024! The fluid animation, the music, the setting. Moments like this make Mushoku Tensei a cut above most isekai! Everyone was magnificent, and seeing Paul and Rudy fight alongside each other was a privilege.

This only makes the outcome even more difficult to consider. Rudy losing his arm would be bad enough, but Paul…

Paul…

I had known this moment for a long time. But, again, I needed more time to watch. Nor does the Drama CD detailing Paul’s final thoughts.

And the fact that this episode came out on Father’s Day 2024? Whoever distributes the anime in Japan intentionally did that to make it an even bigger tearjerker than it already is.

This Doesn’t Feel Like a Win

The rest of the episode is nothing but one massive tearjerker. Telling everyone back in town about Paul’s death. Rudy looking at the bloody stump where his arm once was. And the biggest kick in the pants? When Zenith finally awakens, she doesn’t remember anything. She can’t even speak!

I don’t know who feels worse: Rudy for knowing that his getting distracted led Paul to sacrifice himself, or the Black Wolves for not being fast enough. Lilia, knowing that the man she loves is dead and her best friend may never recover. This might be the worst day of Rudy’s life.

F in the Chat for Paul

The thing is, I don’t think that Paul regretted the choice he made. Despite all his flaws and self-deprecation, Paul was a good Dad. He made some mistakes, but so does everyone. And despite telling Rudy to save his mom even if it killed him, he still gave his life to save Rudy. Anyone who deserves to be called a parent would sacrifice themselves if it meant their child got to live. And if I ever have kids, I hope to God I can be that good.

And, since no one else is going to say it, I want to: think about how everyone that knew Rudeus would react if they learned he died? His friends at Ranoa University would be wracked with grief. Once she found out, Eris would likely never forgive herself for leaving Rudeus to train without saying goodbye. She might even take her own life out of guilt! And worst of all, imagine how utterly broken Sylphie would be? Her husband, her first friend, the man she loved, would be dead. Their child would grow up never knowing their father! That’s messed up!!!

This might be the worst day of Rudeus’ life. Almost dying at the hands of Orsted was traumatic. Having Eris leave him? Mentally scarring. But this? This is the sort of thing that would break a lot of people. All that he can do now is pick up the pieces. Next episode, we have the season finale. Then, we’ve got a long wait for the inevitable third season.

Please pay tribute to Paul Greyrat. He may not have been a perfect dad or a perfect human being, but he did well in the end.

I Give “Parents” a 5/5

Good Heavens, Roxy Has Got it Bad!

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 21 Review

By decree of High Priest Rudeus, all Roxy stans are asked to report to their local Temple of Roxy to pay homage to her Roxyness. Their blue-haired goddess of wisdom/waifu has returned to bless the world with her teachings.

That’s just my way of saying that after more than ten years, Rudeus has reunited with his beloved Master Roxy. Having saved her from certain death in the labyrinth at the end of the last one, this episode of Mushoku Tensei focuses primarily on the reunion between Master and Student. And I know that I was pretty critical about last week’s episode and how it ended. However, seeing what happens this week, I’m glad they waited. Its all kinds of heartwarming.

I should probably mention this now: the group has a new problem. Roxyโ€ฆis in love.

How I Met My Future Husbando

The episode starts with a brief look back at how Roxy has survived in the labyrinth by herself for so long. And while I’m glad that the anime did dive into it, I still think the light novels did a better job conveying how bad things were for her. However, that gets overshadowed by it jumping immediately to the reunion between master and student. And this moment is not just significant because it’s the first time Rudy has seen Roxy since childhood. He doesn’t know it, but he did something greater than he can imagine.

I didn’t mention it in my recap of Roxy’s journey throughout season one, but there’s a moment when she tells Elinalise what she’s looking for in a guy.

And guess who just checked all those boxes without even realizing it? The whole thing’s made even funnier because she doesn’t realize at first that her knight in shining armor was the boy she taught. That and Rudy puked from shock. I couldn’t stop laughing at that. Or the idea that Rudy somehow sensed her presence and charged through the walls like the Hulk to get to her.

The rest of the episode does show the party, Roxy now included, as they continue their efforts to reach the bottom of the labyrinth. However, beyond the smug grin Paul gets when Rudeus praises him (dads like to look cool in front of their kids), the main focus is on Roxy and Rudeus. It should be pretty obvious that Roxy has fallen head over heels for Rudeus. The side glances she gives him. Her acting more awkward than usual. The silent fist pumps when she asks him to go on a date in another labyrinth when this is over. Everyone can see that Roxy has got it bad for her former student.

The sad irony: Rudeus is oblivious to this.

I’ve noticed this has been a problem with every relationship Rudy has had with a girl up until now. Events from his first life left him with such low self-esteem, he’s unable to tell when someone’s actually into him. Thats part of why things went so bad when Eris left despite (in her eyes) making it clear she loves him. Now that I think about it, every girl he’s tried to date has had to make the first move! He thinks so badly about himself that he can’t understand when the women are into him!

Thankfully, Paul manages to give Rudeus some pretty good advice.

While the setting for the moment changes from the way they use the bathroom, I still liked Paul’s speech to Rudeus about his two swords. It’s pretty obvious to viewers that it’s a clever metaphor for his two wives. He may have only planned to marry Zenith, but that doesn’t change the fact that Lilia is just as important to him and needs them both by his side to be the best he can be.

Or, in simpler terms, Paul knows Roxy’s into his son, and he’s giving Rudy his blessing.

This might be one of my favorite episodes of the entire season, and for good reason. Roxy has been largely absent from the series until now, but that may no longer be true. However, if this feels like the calm before the storm, that’s because it is. The red, ominous-looking teleportation circle that the party finds within the sixth level of the labyrinth has all the hallmarks of a point-of-no-return. And since the anime opening already spoiled things, yes. They’re going to have to fight a Hydra. So, prepare for that!

I Give “Magic Circles of the Sixth Stratum” a 4.5/5

Father and Son Reunited! Paul and Rudy Journey into the Labyrinth!

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 20 Review

When the second season of Mushoku Tensei started, there were several moments from the Light Novel I looked forward to seeing. I wanted to see the moment when Rudy truly reunites with Sylphie. That tearful moment between Rudeus and Norn. I even wanted to see the time when Rudy went nuts on Linia and Pursena. I know it wasn’t right, but seeing him get so mad about his figurine was funny! But near the top of the list of moments I wanted to see was the start of the Labyrinth Arc. When Rudeus, his dad, Roxy, and everyone else team up to rescue his mother. So, after months of waiting (and finally reading Volume 12), how did the anime measure up to my expectations?

Meh, I think the light novel did a few things better. Mainly because it managed to leave a few things out.

Paul is Even in Worse Shape than the Anime Lets On

Having made it to the city of Rapan, it doesn’t take long for Rudy and Elinalise to find Paul’s party; they run into Geese at the local Adventurer’s Guild, and he brings them to Paul. And this is where some of my issues with the episode begin to unfold. To be fair, though, part of it has to do with some of the advantages of literature over animation.

Geese told the two going in that Paul was in a pretty rough state, but the anime doesn’t emphasize just how bad it is for him like the light novels do. Rudeus’ perspective describes how, despite lacking the stubble and scent of booze, Paul looks ready to drop dead from exhaustion. He’s so out of it that it isn’t until Rudeus mentions he’s going to be a father soon that he realizes he wasn’t dreaming. It’s that bad!

And for some reason, they push back Rudy revealing he got married to Sylphie to a later scene. It doesn’t make sense to me.

At the very least, the anime remains faithful to most of the scenes that come next. That awkward reunion between Paul and Elinalise is there, as well as him calling Cliff weird for wanting to marry her (LOL.) They skip over some details about the teleporter labyrinth, but the important part is how Roxy is missing. I did like how the dialogue faded out in the anime as Rudeus processed that piece of information, though. It just shows how horrifying hearing that was for him.

My favorite part of the episode is the scene in the inn afterward. Paul, Rudeus, and Lilia share the same room, and what follows is pretty heartwarming.

Like a Family Again

This episode marked the first time in almost ten years that Rudeus has managed to spend time with his father and Lilia as an actual family. They had managed to meet during Rudeus’ grand odyssey three years ago, but circumstances meant they couldn’t afford to enjoy their time together. This time, though, they all feel free to use their time together to the fullest, especially Paul.

You can tell throughout the episode that, despite their dire circumstances, Paul’s elated to see his grown-up son again. He’s happy that his son reunited with and married Sylphy, and they’re about to have their first child. He’s eager to show off in front of his son in the labyrinth. And as crude as it is, he enjoys being able to have some “locker room talk” with Rudeus now that he’s no longer a virgin.

It may seem like Paul’s overdoing it a bit, but keep in mind their circumstances. Had the Mana Disaster not occurred, Rudy would’ve eventually returned to Buena Village (assuming he didn’t get engaged to Eris.) Had that happened, the two would’ve had plenty of time to bond in that case. Thus, it makes sense that Paul wanted to make up for lost time, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The descent into the labyrinth itself was about what I expected, besides leaving out some funny moments, like Paul learning Elinalise is Sylphie’s grandmother. At least until we see Roxy again.

Rudy’s Roxy Sense Tingles

Much like the scene with Paul, the anime could’ve better with Roxy’s reintroduction. The light novel does a much better job of emphasizing the fact that Roxy has spent a month trapped alone inside the labyrinth. Her appearance is unkempt, she’s got bags under her eyes, and she’s slowly dying from mana depletion and poisoning. The anime doesn’t show it, but she’s had to spend the last month or so eating monsters to survive, and that’s slowly sapped her strength due to having to detoxify them. By the time we see her again, she’s on her last legs. Her last thoughts being of her life up until that point, and how, if she got out of this mess alive, she wanted to become a teacher. She’s just begging for someone to come save her.

And then, as if the universe answered her prayers, Rudeus appears. And the episode ends.

I was not happy with the ending of the episode. I dont know if the anime intends to show what happens next in full, but let’s say this ends up becoming one of the funniest moments in the entire series. If you’ve read the light novel or my recap on Roxy’s life after she left Buena Village. I hope they adapt what comes next in full. I will be disappointed otherwise.

This was an okay start to the Labyrinth arc. I wish the anime had spent more time adapting everything, but you can only win some of them. I hope it gets better from here on out.

I Give “Into the Labyrinth” a 3/5

Is Rudy Making a Mistake Leaving Like This?

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 19 Review

Rudeus has made up his mind: heโ€™s going to the Begaritt Continent to help rescue his Mother. Itโ€™s going to be a long and hard trip (and I know how it ends), but this soemthing he has to do. The good news is that heโ€™s not going alone. The bad news? Itโ€™s an eight-month trek to his destination and back. Factoring in the time heโ€™ll be in the Labyrinth, heโ€™ll be gone for two years. In other words, he wonโ€™t be there when his kid is born; a hard pill to swallow. But, Nanahoshi has a solution that might work.

I havenโ€™t been able to bring myself to read the volume the animeโ€™s adapting yet, but I still know the major details of whatโ€™s about to happen. As a result, I can say a few things with confidence: Rudeus is making a mistake rushing into this.

Maybe He Should’ve Asked More People to Go With Him

After making his decision, the first two people Rudeus tells about his decision are Elinalise and Nanahoshi. The former tries to talk him out of going, but since sheโ€™s unable to persuade him otherwise, theyโ€™ll travel together. And thanks to Cliff upgrading the suppressor device, Elinalise can go longer stretches before her curse hits her! Which is good, because that would make things super awkward.

Nanahoshi, meanwhile, gives Rudy something that could help them get there and back faster. Orsted showed her these teleportation circles around the world that they used to fast-travel. Since Rudy helped save her life, she shows him one that will take them within a month or so from their destination of Rapan. And itโ€™s not far from Sharia.

After that, the episode segues into Rudy and Elinalise saying goodbye to everyone, with Cliff even asking Lise to marry him when she returns. Good on you, Cliff! You do have rizz after all!

As heartfelt as this moment was, I have to criticize the story at this point. Thereโ€™s no easy way to say this, but Rudeus shouldnโ€™t have left with just him and Elinalise. I understand the need to keep the circles a secret, but he couldโ€™ve asked any one of his super-strong friends to go with him as backup. Zanoba has super-strength; Luke is a pretty good swordsman; the Beast Girls have excellent hearing and smell. Badigadi is an immortal Demon God! Any one of them could be a big help in the rescue! Then again, they might not.

A Super Abridged Desert Journey

As for the journey across the Begaritt Continent, the anime leaves out much of the journey from the light novels. The one thing that they do end up focusing on is also the most unsettling. The pair get attacked by a succubus, a monster whose pheromones will drive men berserk with lust. And the only ways to cure it is by detoxification magic orโ€ฆthat.

Suddenly, Iโ€™m glad Eris isn’t around. I can only imagine the kind of beatdown she would have given Rudeus had that happened.

Joking aside, the anime leaves out some finer, world-building details about the Begaritt Continent. They donโ€™t intend to stay for long, but since Mushoku Tensei is the kind of story that likes to build the world, it seems to be somewhat of a letdown. But thatโ€™s just my opinion.

In any case, the anime must not want to waste time on that, highlighting how urgent this mission is for Rudeus. By the time the ED roles, the two have already made it to their destination of Rapan. And this is where it leaves things off.

Rudeus Biggest Battle Yet is Just Beginning

Full disclosure: we are now at the end of volume 11 of Mushoku Tensei. The entire labyrinth arc will be the sole focus of volume 12 and the remainder of the season. And while I havenโ€™t finished reading it myself, I can still attest to how big things are going to get. We need to prepare for action, drama, and probably a lot of pain and hardship. We have one week from the time Iโ€™m writing this, and for all I know, it could already be out by the time this goes out. Be prepared!

Quick plug, though: there’s a new Mushoku Tensei light novel out, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: Recollections. Itโ€™s an anthology collecting a bunch of different short stories of events that take place during the first ten volumes of the series. Or, in other words, the start of the series up to not long after Rudy and Sylphie tie the knot. See how Rudeus secured his “Holy Relic” of Roxy. Or some of the misadventures Dead End got up to on their great odyssey. It’s the kind of slice of life stories that I think really flesh out a good story, in my opinion! You can find it in book form or buy it as an Ebook!

I Give “Desert Journey” a 3/5

Parenting is Hard, By Rudeus Greyrat

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2, Ep 16 Review

Itโ€™s been said that one of the hardest jobs in the world is being a parent. Even if theyโ€™re  good at it, a parent can still make mistakes and do things that will make their kids hate them, sometimes forever. And even though theyโ€™re his sisters, not his kids, the fact that Rudeus was tasked by their dad to look after them makes him and Sylphie their guardians. And, as Rudeus realizes, theyโ€™ve both come with some emotional baggage. 

Rudy and Ruijerd Reunited!

The episode starts off on a rather positive note , with Rudeus more than happy to have reunited with his old friend, Ruijerd. The feeling is mutual as the two spend time talking and reminiscing about their travels well into the night. However, things get awkward when Ruijerd addresses the elephant in the room: whereโ€™s Eris? And Rudy simply explains how she ran out on him.

To his credit as a person and a fictional character, and as someone who looked after them for three years, Ruijerd demonstrates how well he knows Rudy and Eris. Even without him going into all the details, Ruijerd deduces that Eris’ departure is a mutual misunderstanding. He knows that Rudy can overthink things, while Eris isn’t good at using her words. Combine the two things, and a disaster was going to happen. Nonetheless, Rudy does take Ruijerdโ€™s advice into account if Eris ever comes back.

That doesnโ€™t change things for Rudeus, though. Intentional or not, Eris broke Rudyโ€™s heart and put him into a depression that lasted years. If Eris comes back, and we know she will, sheโ€™s going to have to do a lot of apologizing. The kind that a single night canโ€™t fix. 

Rudeus is a Parent Now

After Ruijerd leaves the next morning, Rudy and Sylphie begin their lives as guardians for Norn and Aisha. And as smart as he is, Rudeus isnโ€™t prepared to be a parent. 

As Rudeus quickly learns, being a parent to her sisters is hard, especially when said sisters come with emotional baggage. 

Aisha Doesn’t Need to Prove Herself to Anyone

First, we have Aisha. On the surface, Aisha seems to have no issues. Sheโ€™s self-sufficient, extroverted, and rivals her brother in brains. When Rudy tries to enroll her in Ranoa U., she proceeds to get perfect marks. The girl not only proved school was a waste of time, but she got her GED! 

Itโ€™s when it comes to Norn that her issues come to light. While Rudeus was going on his odyssey, Norn and Aisha stayed at Zenithโ€™s mothers house. And they didnโ€™t take kindly to having a bastard child outshine Norn. That only led Aisha to work even harder to become better than Norn, which only made things worse. Rinse, repeat, family drama ensues.

She doesnt get as much focus this episode as Norn does, but itโ€™s great that the anime didnโ€™t skip out on Aishaโ€™s own problems or how Rudeus tries to address them. He knows how easy it could for her to let her talents go to waste, and that he needs to discourage any notion of her being inferior because of who she is. 

Aisha is the easy one, though. Itโ€™s Norn that is Rudeus biggest concern. 

Norn Still Doesn’t Like Rudeus

Letโ€™s cut to the chase: Norn doesnโ€™t like her big brother. Given how the first time she met her brother, he was beating the daylights out of their Dad, you canโ€™t blame her for having a negative impression. It didnโ€™t matter if Paul told her that heโ€™s the one who started it. Many kids donโ€™t get the nuance to it at that age. And seeing him to a girl she doesnโ€™t know (she doesnโ€™t really remember Sylphie) doesnโ€™t help matters. Coupled with how her sister keeps outshining her, and the first chance Norn gets, she wants to live in the dorms at Ranoa U. She wants her space from her brother and sister. And Rudy gives it to her, thinking respecting her space will help her open up.

It doesnโ€™t.

One month later, Nornโ€™s still distant from Rudeus. Then, Lilna and Pursena make things worse. They steal the panties from every first-year girl at Ranoa U and give them to Rudeus as an offering! And while the anime doesnโ€™t explain further, their troll logic is this:

  • Boss keeps panties as holy relic and prays to them.
  • Boss worships panties
  • Bring boss panties=happy boss!

I know they meant well, and that Rudy shouldโ€™ve explained that he worships the person those panties belonged to, not the panties themselves, but those two idiots went too far. And, it may not say it out loud, but itโ€™s heavily implied that one of those girls was Norn. 

They should count themselves lucky that Rudeus isnโ€™t a violent person and cleared things up with Ariel. Otherwise, they might have had to deal with another inquisition. 

For these reasons, and for ones that will come to light next episode, this episode ends with Norn shutting herself off in her room. Itโ€™s too much for her! 

Parenting 101 is a Hard Class to Pass

Being a parent is never easy, something that Rudeus has had to come to terms with this episode. If he wants to have any chance of repairing the bond with his sister, then he needs to get through to her. Now. That being said, itโ€™s these slower moments that really make Mushoku Tensei a cut above most Isekai. This series takes the time to flesh out its characters, to great success. Now, get ready for the next episode. Itโ€™s going to beโ€ฆemotional.

I Give “Norn and Aisha” a 4.5/5

Rudeus+Sylphie Forever!!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2, Ep 12 Review

It has been a long and winding road for poor Rudeus to get where he is now. His first girlfriend left him without explaining things first and made him impotent. He had no luck finding a cure for his problem at Ranoa University, which only made things worse. However, all that changed when he realized two things: one, that “Fitz” was a girl, and that she was his childhood friend, Sylphiette. These two have been through hell and back, but it was worth it. As the first half of season two to Mushoku Tensei comes to a close, Rudeus finally sees an end to his suffering. In other words, he gets his rizz back.

Rudeus Still Can’t Get it Going!

The good news is that now that knows that Fitz is Sylphie and that she loves him, Rudeus doesn’t hesitate; he tells him he loves her back. Which isn’t a lie. On the one hand, he does feel a little guilty that he tried to “mold” her into his ideal woman when they were kids. On the other hand, though, he has fallen in love with her over the last year. So, they finally kiss, and it looks like they’re about to take that next step.ย 

Then, the bad news comes.ย 

DANG IT, ERIS!!!!

Rudeus’ thoughts aren’t shown directly in the anime, but in the manga and light novels, it’s at this point that he starts thinking how he can’t screw things up again. Then, his thoughts drift back to Eris, and, like a curse, he can’t go through with it. He’s so worried he’ll mess things up that he can’t get it up. 

To his credit, though, Rudy learns from his disaster with Sara and is upfront with Sylphie. While it’s not shown in the anime due to time constraints, he tells herย everythingย that happened with Eris. And toย her credit, Sylphie understands and is sympathetic to him. She knows how much he must have suffered in silence, and wants to do everything in her power to help her.

Ariel, on the other hand, isn’t as understanding at first, not getting why this is a problem. While it does make her seem a little less likable, she does realize how rude she was being to her best friend and quickly apologizes.ย 

The biggest surprise, though, is that it’s not Ariel who comes up with a solution, but the guy in their group that’s had little involvement thus far: Luke. He not only defends his cousin’s problem, but he’s the one who comes up with their ultimate plan for Sylphie to get her man.ย 

If anyone asked whether or not the Bro Code transcends the Multiverse, then this moment supports that idea.

Breaking Out the Nuclear Missile

Luke’s plan is the romantic equivalent of a nuclear missile: an aphrodisiac. Eagle-eyed fans might remember it as being the same one that Rudy bought for himself when he was tutoring Eris in Roa. Since Fittoa’s destruction, though, it’s become incredibly rare and valuable. He did plan on selling it for funds, but he decides Sylphie needs it more than they do.ย 

Luke hasn’t been that involved in the plot of the series thus far. However, it’s his moments in this episode that show why he’s so trusted by Ariel and Sylphie. Fingers crossed, he and Rudeus don’t ever come to blows over anything.

At any rate, Sylphie wastes no time securing her man for good. She makes a beeline for Rudeus’ bedroom with some food, drinks, and her pocket nuke. Like earlier, the episode has to cut down on the moment due to time constraints, but it makes up for it in the end. Once they both take the love potion, it’s not long before they feel this…release. Something turns on in their minds, and they can’t keep their hands off each other. Then Sylphy takes a note from Ariel’s book and seals the deal with a smooth line: “Take me as you wish.”

Viewers who hoped to see at least the start of what happens next but didn’t shouldn’t feel too bad. The light novels and the manga both left their night up to people’s imaginations.

RUDEUS GOT HIS W RIZZ BACK!!

An interesting change to the story unfolds once Rudeus wakes up. In the original source, he finds Sylphy sleeping next to him. However, in the anime, he wakes up and finds himself alone. It’s a fake-out meant to make viewers worry if history repeated itself to increase the tension, and while it works, it seems a little cruel. In its defense, though, it only makes Sylphie coming back after going to thank Ariel and Luke, only for Rudy to embrace her, feel all the more heartwarming. The man is cured at last, thanks to his Goddess of Love!

The biggest shocker comes in the episode’s final moments, though. People who read the manga and light novels know this was coming, but it was a surprise that the anime chose to include it at the tail end. Rudy goes to meet Ariel at last, and he shows how he’s truly gotten his rizz back. He straight up asks Ariel to let himย MARRY SYLPHIE!!!!ย 

On the one hand, it’s sad to know that this is the last time we’ll see Rudeus until the second half of the season in Spring, 2024. On the other hand, though, HE WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KILL! RUDY’S GETTING MARRIED!!! 

This first cour was a mixed bag in some aspects, lacking much of the action of the first season. However, it’s moments like this that made the journey worth it in the end. Rudy’s not only overcome the pain of Eris leaving, he’s getting married! W RIZZ, RUDY!!!

Also, spoiler alert: Sylphie’s going on the list of best waifu’s for 2023.ย 

I Give “Convey to You” a 5/5

Sylphie Steps Up and Gets Her Man!

Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei S2 Ep 11 Review

Rudeus Greyrat might be considered intelligent by everyone he meets, and they’re right. Even barring the fact that he has all his memories of his past life to work with, he’s a brainiac. However, when it comes to love, he’s got the IQ of Naruto Uzumaki. It took him years to realize Hinata loved him, and it didn’t help how shy she was about her feelings. However, Sylphie doesn’t have the luxury of waiting that long for Rudeus to wise up and figure out who she is. Thus, it falls to her, Ariel, and Luke to come up with a plan to get him to realize the truth. Sylphie steps up to get her man!

Sylphie, Ariel, and Luke Decide to Go for the Jugular

Ever since the library incident, things have been tense between Rudy and “Fitz.” Despite knowing that “Fitz” is a girl and the key to curing his ED, his respect for “him” is too great. Combined with his low self-esteem and self-deprecation, he refuses to act on his feelings. He even denies knowing anything about “Fitz” to Luke when he confronts him about it.

However, this is the last thing that Ariel, Luke, and Sylphie want.ย 

While the series makes it no secret that Sylphie has loved Rudy since they were kids, the depths of her feelings become obvious in this episode. When asked about her intentions, Sylphie can’t help but describe her fantasy of sleeping with Rudeus and having kids, knowing how great his sex drive is. It makes up for the lack of focus on her inner concerns regarding all the women in Rudy’s life by being hilarious. And the look on Ariel’s face says it all: “Sylphie, you got it bad!”

Ariel’s own interest in this matter is two-fold. While she doesn’t hide the fact that she wishes to recruit Rudeus to her faction, she also wants her best friend to be happy. For all her political savviness, Ariel truly is a kind person. So, the three devise a plan to help Sylphie confess that is, frankly, insane.

Sylphie Plans to Do What?!?

The plan remains the same across every version of Mushoku Tensei. Sylphie asks Rudeus with a fake plan to get a flower in the nearby woods, then a sudden storm forces them to take shelter in a cave. There, Sylphie hopes to recreate the moment when Rudeus found out that she was a girl, hoping that it will jog his memories of her. 

Much of the episode’s humor stems from the series of misunderstandings that have plagued them since coming to Ranoa, though. Sylphie and her cohorts are operating under the impression that Rudy’s forgotten about her. Thus, they’re resorting to recreating one of the most embarassing moments in both their lives. The humor stems from the fact that viewers know that, in truth, Rudeus never forgot about Sylphie. Next to finding his Mom, finding Sylphie has been his biggest priority for years. The only reason he didn’t recognize her is due to her now-white hair and the fact that she never told him. Had she done that, it would’ve saved them both a lot of time.

Making the situation even funnier is that Rudeus’s dependability leads him to get in his own way. First by almost clearing up the rain, then by refusing to look at “Fitz” as she undresses. Plenty of viewers will no doubt be ready to pull their hair out at how dense he’s being.

It’s all worth it in the end, though.

In the manga, this scene is interspersed with Rudeus memories of Sylphie as he proceeds to undress her, a sign that he’s finally catching on to her true identity. While the anime doesn’t do the same, it makes up for it with the lack of music, highlighting the importance of what’s going on. When he finally figures out who she is, though, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been a long and difficult road to get to this moment, but seeing Sylphie break in tears of joy as she confesses her love in Rudy’s arms makes everything worthwhile.

Not the Best Time to End the Episode

Then, the episode ends on a cliffhanger. We don’t see or hear Rudy’s response to this confession. It’s meant to give people something to look forward to in the mid-season finale, but it unintentionally undercuts the importance of what happened. The light novels and manga ended this moment by having Rudeus return her feelings and the two proceeding to have their first kiss. Not including that here makes the moment feel anti-climactic in nature.

Regardless, it’s genuinely satisfying to see Sylphie finally step up to get the man she loves. While some may take issue with how she could’ve saved a lot of time by telling him from the getgo, it’s important to keep in mind two things. First, she was under the impression that Rudeus had forgotten about her after all that time. Secondly, had she done so right away, then Rudeus might not have fallen in love with her the way he did.

When they were kids and Rudy found out Sylphie was a girl, he wanted to stay with her and mold her into his dream girl, which is all sorts of messed up. By getting to know her as “Fitz” for over a year, Rudeus genuinely fell in love with her. 

For now, anime-only fans will have to wait another week to see how things turn out. For those who’ve read the manga and light novel, though, they can be content with knowing that whatever pitfalls this episode had will get overshadowed by what’s to come next week. Good on you, Sylphie. You did it!

I Give “I Want to Tell You” a 4.8/5

Rudy & Sylphie Need to Date Already

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 10 Review

When the year comes to an end and the time comes for anime fans to list their top waifu’s, Sylphiette stands a good chance of being one of them. Not only is she mighty, but she is beautiful and kind, but rivals Rudeus in magical power. However, therein lies her biggest hang-up: she’s hopelessly in love with Rudeus, but too scared to reveal her secret identity as “Silent Fitz.” In contrast, Rudeus is starting to realize that he’s falling for “Fitz”, but that only confuses him about his sexuality. These long-lost best friends need to wise up and take the chance soon, though, or they may never get another chance.

Rudy is Living the High School Life he Never Had…With One Exception

Rudeus has been attending Ranoa University close to a year now, and his life couldn’t be better. While some consider this part of the story slow and uninteresting, fans should remember this is something Rudy never got in his first life. The traumatic bullying her endured led him to drop out of high school and become a shut-in until his death. In his new life, though, he’s getting to experience everything he never could. He’s got friends, he’s respected (and feared), and doing well in school. In other words, he’s got almost everything denied to him in his first life.ย 

The one thing holding him back, though, is his impotency. He’s researched it as much as possible, but he can’t find a cure for it. He mentions he can’t even pleasure himself at this point. However, the anime doesn’t do as good a job conveying how serious this is as it could have. In the light novels and manga, there’s a scene at this time where Rudeus accidently tells his classmates about his ED. The sympathetic looks they give him hammer home how painful this is for him. What the episode does do right, though, is show how distant he’s growing from “Fitz” lately.

And neither teenager likes this.

Sylphie Cannot Spit it Out

Mushoku Tenseiย makes it no secret that Sylphiette’s been in love with Rudeus for a long time now. The light novels take it a step further by showing how she’s loved him practically since the day they met. However, despite her joy at reuniting with him after so long, her own insecurities prevent her from telling him who she is, despite getting Ariel’s blessing. Now, that’s causing much internal grief.

Whereas the anime stumbles a little with Rudy’s ED, it does a good job of subtly showing Sylphie’s growing jealousy of the people Rudeus spends time with. She could handle the conventionally attractive Lilna and Pursena calling him boss since she understood the context. However, it’s seeing him spend time with Nanahoshi for reasons she can’t understand (and Rudeus will likely never explain) that sets her off.ย 

Again, the light novels go into more detail about Sylphie’s thoughts, showing her imagining Rudeus marrying and starting a family with Nanahoshi. To her, this is her greatest fear. Yet she’s doing a Hinata and refusing to take that next step.ย 

The worst part of it is that Rudeus is starting to figure out “Fitz’s” true identity.

Just Make Out Already, You Two!

Despite its shortcomings, the episode makes it clear that Rudeus has fallen for “Fitz.” He initially struggles with this due to the implications regarding his sexuality (not that there’s anything wrong with that,) but a cliche “love interest falls on top of you” scenario makes him finally realize that “Fitz” is a girl.

More importantly, though, is how his body reacts: for a brief moment, his impotency’s gone.ย 

At this point, anime-only shippers must feel frustrated over the lack of progress. However, like with many things inย Mushoku Tensei, this romance works best as a slow burn. Rest assured, the day of reckoning is coming, and it’s coming soon. Like, maybe even next week. The payoff, though, will be more than worth the wait.

Trust me, guys. I’ve read the light novels. It will be worth it.

I Give “These Feelings” a 4.5/5

Who is Silent Sevenstars? The Answer Freaks Rudeus Out

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 9 Review

One of the biggest mysteries in theย Mushoku Tenseiย is the cause of the Mass Teleportation Incident. It destroyed Fittoa, led to the death and stranding of countless people, and affected the lives of everyone Rudeus knows. One of the big reasons why Rudy went to Ranoa University was the hope of learning the truth about it. In this week’s episode, he finally manages to gain a big clue when he meets a certain someone known as Silent Sevenstars. However, the person he meets isn’t just someone he didn’t expected, but someone who freaks him out.

Rudy Gets PTSD Flashbacksย 

It’s been months since Rudeus started attending Ranoa University, and both of his goals have hit a wall. He’s no closer to curing his impotency, nor has he managed to learn more about the Mass Teleportation Incident. At ‘Fitz’s’ suggestion, he decides to consult with their mysterious classmate, Silent Sevenstars. They’re someone who have created countless things that he recognizes right away as things from his world, making him suspicious about their true identity. However, not even he was expecting to learn who this person was. Silent Sevenstars is the young woman who was with…Orsted.

Seeing this living reminder of one of the worst moments in his new life, Rudeus understandably has a panic attack. Whereas some series would use it for comedic purposes,ย Mushoku Tenseiย plays it solely for drama. His near-death experience at the hands of Orsted deeply traumatized him, so much so that he passes out from shock. Thankfully, Sylphie continues to be the angel he needs in his life by watching over him until he comes to. It’s then that Rudeus learns some vital information about the incident that changed his life.

Nanahoshi Shizuka Got Isekai’d the Old-Fashioned Way

The surprises keep coming, as Silent Sevenstars reveals their true identity. Her real name is Nanahoshi Shizuka, and she’s a Japanese girl. The same girl whom Rudeus saved from Truck-Kun as the last act of his first life, though he keeps that knowledge to himself. What’s more important, though, is that, unlike Rudy, Nanahoshi got isekai’d the old-fashioned way: by summoning.ย 

Here is where Rudy gets his first big clue about the Incident. While Nanahoshi doesn’t know who summoned her or why, both of them piece together that the Teleportation Incident was a side-effect. A backlash resulting from teleporting someone from another world. In other words, it wasn’t Rudeus’ fault.

Nanahoshi also explains that Orsted found her and took her in as his companion a la Doctor Who, teaching her everything about this world and giving her the means to protect herself. Unlike Rudy, she can’t use magic, which makes it hard to defend herself. She also limits using her knowledge to her advantage because, truthfully, she doesn’t want anything to do with this world.ย 

Nanahoshi is an excellent contrast and foil to Rudeus in the story ofย Mushoku Tensei. Both got Isekai’d, but by different means. Both are considered knowledgable, but Nanahoshi only uses it for her own benefit. Most importantly, though, Rudeus wants to stay in this world, whereas Nanahoshi wants to go home. Despite their differences, though, they both agree to work together to learn more the Incident and find a way to get her home.

Spoiler alert: don’t expect them to learn the full truth about the incident. That’s something whose purpose they’ll never truly grasp.

Sylphie Just Wants Rudy to Love Her

The other major plot point of this episode revolves around Sylphie and her growing frustration over Rudy seemingly not remembering her. Granted, she never told him her true name out of fear that he really didn’t remember her, but it continued to hurt her. Seeing him spending time with Pursena at the episode’s start only adds fuel to the fire, but it’s the events of this episode that almost fan it into an inferno.ย 

Seeing Rudy and Nanahoshi speak in a language she doesn’t understand (nice touch), Sylphie starts to grow upset and jealous. When Nanahoshi poorly explains how the Teleportation Incident might have been her fault, though, sheย snaps. She lashes out at Nanahoshi while venting how the Incident took everything from her and Rudeus. She acts like it’s more because of how much Rudeus suffered for it, but her attitude gives it away. Deep down, she’s resentful of being separated from Rudeus by his parents and then the Teleportation Incident. She’s spent eight years apart from her best friend and great love, and the sight of the person she thinks repsonsible sends her into a murderous rage. If Rudy hadn’t explained things, Sylphie might have killed Nanahoshi in cold blood.

As the episode ends, there’s this moment where Sylphie’s struggling to keep up with him while walking. From a narrative standpoint, this is symbolic of how Sylphie feels this growing distance between her and Rudy. It’s something she desperately wants to avoid, but she’s too scared to tell him the truth. If she wants to be happy, though, then she needs to tell him soon, or she might lose him forever. Hopefully, the first half of the season will end with them figuring things out.

All in all, this episode serves as further proof whyย Mushoku Tenseiย works best as a slow burn. There was no action, but the drama kept people riveted until the very end. It’s why the anime remains so popular this year.ย 

I Give “The White Mask” a 4.5/5