Mushoku Tensei

This Might Be the Worst Day of Rudeus’ Life

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

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

‘Turning Point 3’ is the Biggest Change In Rudy’s Life Yet

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 18 Review

If you’ve been paying attention to Mushoku Tensei, you should remember what a Turning Point is. A Turning Point is a moment in the story where things in Rudeus’ life get upended. It’s the series way of reminding us how fast a person’s life can change without warning. The first time it happened, the Mana Displacement Incident sent Rudeus and Eris to the Demon Continent. It took them close to three years to make it back home. The second time it happened, Rudeus ran into Orsted and almost died at his hands. That Turning Point was so traumatizing that it led Eris to run off for a training arc, breaking Rudy’s heart. 

The bottom line is that a turning point is always trouble for Rudeus, and the fact that they happen right when Rudy has things worked out in his life only makes it worse. And this next Turning Point will be the biggest one yet! 

Rudy Gets the Biggest Surprise Ever.

The first third of the episode focuses on how great life is for Rudeus and his loved ones. Rudeus is well-respected at school, has plenty of friends, his own house, and is married to his best friend, Sylphie. And to top it all off, he’s patched things up with Norn, with the two now acting like siblings. 

As the episode shows, the rest of his friends and family are doing well. Nanahoshi, Cliff, and Zanoba are all making great strides towards their goals. Zanoba found a way to make his own figurines, Nanahoshi’s experiments to get home are going well, and Cliff even made a rudimentary girdle to help suppress Elinalise’s curse. Life is pretty much perfect for Rudy. And that his life gets upended when he finds Sylphie waiting for him at home andโ€ฆwell, see for yourself.

I knew this moment was coming, but it’s one thing to read about it in a manga or light novel and see it animated. Rudeus is going to be a father. He’s only 16-17, but he’s going to be a father!

I know that Rudeus has plenty of critics in the anime community, and he does have plenty of faults. However, watching this moment, I couldn’t help but get a little teary-eyed. Rudeus let any chance at a happy life go to waste in his first life, and now, he’s married and expecting his first child. And it’s the image of the life that he’ll have when Paul finds his Mom that hammers home how happy he is. Life couldn’t be better for Rudeus!

Then, reality brings him crashing to the ground. With one short letter from his Geese, the real Turning Point begins. 

The Real Turning Point Begins

Oh, and the Man-God appears to him again. 

Having been told by the Man-God that he’d regret going to find his mom in the Begaritt Continent, Rudy is understandably mad at him. However, the Man-God does make some good points. Firstly, going to Ranoa reunited him with Sylphie. He got married, made plenty of friends, and created a home for his family. In addition, the Man-God tells him that if he stays in Ranoa, Linia and Pursena will try and pursue him romantically. He’sโ€ฆnot exactly thrilled about that. 

What makes this Turning Point harder than the first two is the fact that Rudy has a choice. If he goes to help his Dad, there’s no guarantee he can make a difference. Not to mention leaving his wife and family for months. If he doesn’t, then things could go wrong for Paul. 

This is what makes this Turning Point so important. Rudeus is learning a bitter truth: sometimes in life, we have to make decisions and not know if they’re the right ones. But not making any decision can be as bad as making the wrong one. And even though I know what will come next, I still can’t tell if Rudeus makes the right choice. It’s maddening!

Ultimately, Rudeus makes his decision: he’s going to ignore the Man-God’s advice and go save his Mom.

All the anime-only people who haven’t liked the school setting, congrats. Mushoku Tensei will bring back all the action we got from Rudeus’ globe-trotting adventure. As for anyone who has read the light novelsโ€ฆtake this time to prepare. This is going to beโ€ฆemotional. 

I Give “Turning Point 3” a 4.5/5

I Almost Cried Watching this Episode of Mushoku Tensei

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 17 Review

Remember what I said at the end of my last review for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation? I wasnโ€™t joking-this episode left me on the verge of tears. Even though I knew from reading the light novels and manga that Norn would shut herself in her room, and why, I still wasnโ€™t prepared for the feels. This might be one of the best episodes in the entire series, and as youโ€™ll see for yourself, thereโ€™s a good reason why.

Rudy is scary when He’s Mad. No, really!

After hearing how Norn has shut herself in her dorm room, saying Rudy is mad is an understatement. The look of pure wrath on his face is enough to scare the teachers as he marches for her classroom. Linia and Pursena are afraid of him.ย The anger heโ€™s feelingย here is leagues above what the Beast Duo experienced when he found out they smashed his Roxy figurine. And while that incident was played with humorous intent in mind, the show takes this moment dead serious. Having shut himself off from everyone in his first life, the idea that something happened to make Norn do the same is enough to drive him berserk.

I will be blunt: as much as I love seeing Rudeus better himself, in this moment, I was afraid of him. If he ever went off the deep end, Few people in the world could be capable of stopping him. 

The anger does not last long, though. After โ€œaskingโ€ย herย class and teacher, the horrible realty sets in for him.ย Norn was never bullied by anyone; itโ€™s worse.ย They wouldnโ€™t stop comparing her to her brother.ย 

Rudy Doesn’t Know How to Help Norn

If it were as simple as someone threatening her, Rudeus could handle things with little effort. But once he hears that heโ€™s the reason Norn has shut down, Rudeus doesnโ€™t know what to do. In his first life, his older brother tried to get through to him, but he was too stubborn to listen. Now, circumstances have put him in his brothers position, and beyond going to her room to visit her, he doesnโ€™t know what to do. You can practically feel the frustration pouring out of him as he tries to get her to doโ€ฆsomething. Anything.

And this is where the story does the best thing it could hope to do: it gives us Nornโ€™s perspective.

Norn Has a Lot of Complicated Feelings about Her Older Brother

For so long, Norn has had no idea what to think of Rudeus. When she first met him, she saw him hitting their father, not understanding why. It didnโ€™t matter if Paul told her afterwards that he started things. When youโ€™re a little kid and you see someone hurting your parents, you tend to think of them as a bad person. No amount of explaining from the adults can change that. 

Then, when Norn came to live with him, she saw him drunk and carrying a woman she didnโ€™t remember, looking so happy. Meanwhile, their dad was running himself ragged trying to find their Mom. That only made her opinion of him even worse. 

Then, when she asked to live in the dorms, Norn expected Rudeus to get angry at her. But when he agreed, she thought he saw her as in his way. 

And then came her start at Ranoa U, when everyone learned she was Rudeusโ€™ sister. No one, be they students or teachers, saw her as Norn Greyrat. All they saw when they looked at her was the sister of the strongest person at school. Everywhere she went, all she could hear was her brotherโ€™s name, and it started to make her physically ill.

This Episode Almost Left Me in Tears

Sweet mercy, Norn deserves all the hugs in the world.

I knew going into this that Norn had a serious inferiority complex, but even after reading the light novels and manga, I still wasnโ€™t prepared for the tearjerker we got. Norn has no clue what to think of her brother. At first, she was afraid of him, and then she thought he didnโ€™t care about her. Then people wouldnโ€™t stop comparing her to them. She wants to reach out to him, but, like Rudeus, she doesnโ€™t know what to do.

I donโ€™t remember who made the first move in the novels. But, even so, Iโ€™m glad that it was Rudeus that did so. Even though he doesnโ€™t know what to do or how to help his sister, he still tries to reach out to her. He may never tell anyone why, but he knows what itโ€™s like to shut yourself off from the world. And he never wants his family to go through the same experience. 

I donโ€™t really know how to transcribe the thoughts and feelings in my head as I saw the siblingโ€™s reconciliation. Some things are just tooโ€ฆcomplex to form into words. But, seeing Rudy sit down and hold his sister as she cried her eyes outโ€ฆI could feel myself starting to cry.ย 

This is Only the Beginning…

After that day, Rudeus and Norn are finally able to be brother and sister. Norn managed to work her feelings out all on her own, something that her brother canโ€™t help but be amazed at. He even admits that if he had been half as strong as her in his first life, maybe things wouldnโ€™t have turned out the way they did. 

I will never understand why people donโ€™t like the time Mushoku Tensei spends at Ranoa University. Itโ€™s not as exciting as Rudyโ€™s trip around the world, but the drama and emotional moments are incredible.ย Andย itโ€™s moments like this thatย are some of the best in the entire series.ย In fact,ย I think this might be the best episode of the season to date.ย 

And for those who want to see more of the action we got in season oneโ€ฆbe careful what you wish for, everyone.

I Give “My Older Brother’s Feelings” a 5/5

Parenting is Hard, By Rudeus Greyrat

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

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

Nanahoshi Needs Help. NOW!

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

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 15 Review

You know what I love about Mushoku Tensei? How itโ€™s never afraid to shy away from serious topics. Conflict between parents and children, depression, lingering trauma, and the importance of bonds to keep us going in bleak times. Rudeus has experienced all these before, and he will again, so he knows how serious it can be when someone they know is going through the same thing. When Nanahoshiโ€™s attempts to go home hit another roadblock and pushed her to the breaking point, Rudeus knew he had to step in and do something. No one should go through life alone, after all.

Nanahoshi Almost Loses it

Life is going well for Rudeus right now.ย Heโ€™sย got aย giant house, plenty of friends at school, isย married to his best friend, and plenty of money to spend.ย To top it off, he gets a letter from Paul sayingย theyโ€™reย going to find Zenith, soย theyโ€™reย sending his sisters to live withย him. Life is going well forย him.ย But whileย heโ€™sย happy as a clam, Nanahoshi is falling further and further into despair.

Nanahoshi has been working for years now to find a way to return home to Japan, wanting nothing to do with this other world. Sheโ€™s poured everything into learning how magic circles work to get home. Sheโ€™s worked so hard trying to get it to work, only to keep coming up short. Andโ€ฆshe snaps from this.

Like I said, this show doesnโ€™t pull its punches on serious issues, and it does a great job of portraying Nanahoshiโ€™s breakdown in a realistic manner. Her destroying part of her lab was disturbing enough. Seeing her pass out from exhaustion is concerning, as is her disheveled state after waking up. What makes things straight-up nightmare fuel is when Sylphie finds a dagger on Nanahoshiโ€™s person. 

The look on Rudeusโ€™ face says it all. He knows what Nanahoshi might do with that dagger if left alone. Itโ€™s a haunting reminder of how bad things got for him after Eris left and Sara dumped him. 

Intervention time. Now!

No One Has to Do Everything Alone

Knowing how suicidal Nanahoshi is right now, Rudeus has her stay at his place while he works with his friends to figure out a solution to this roadblock. And while they donโ€™t entirely understand what sheโ€™s trying to do beyond getting home, sometimes one doesnโ€™t need to fully understand the finer details to come up with good ideas. Taking inspiration from their research on the doll they found, Cliff and Zanoba manage to come up with a few ideas on what to do. After that, they show them to Nanahoshi, and it seems to do the trick. She gets that fire back in her eyes. Not long afterwards, her second attempt manages to pull something over from Earth! 

As exciting as this small victory is, what matters more is the message the story is trying to convey: trying to do things alone, no matter how good you are, can eventuallyย end in failure. In addition, oneย shouldnโ€™tย shut themselves away from everyone, especially whenย theyโ€™reย in pain like Nanahoshi.ย Itโ€™sย only thanks to Rudeus going through similar experiences that he realized how bad things had gotten. If heย hadnโ€™tย intervened, Nanahoshi might have killed herself.ย 

One Crisis Averted…Another One Shows Up

Real talk, though: Nanahoshiโ€™s breakdown can hit very close to home for some people watching this. Maybe theyโ€™ve gone through something similar, like what they do wonโ€™t amount to anything or keep failing at something. Or maybe they know someone whoโ€™s been through something like that. Theyโ€™re not alone, nor should they think that they are. There are people who care about them and will help them, if theyโ€™re brave enough to reach out. 

Ultimately, it looks like the lesson sticks with Nanahoshi. She still may hate the world she got pulled into, but at least she knows that sheโ€™s not alone there anymore. Crisis averted, Rudeus! And just in time for another one to pop up.

Remember the letter from Paul about Rudyโ€™s sisters coming to live with him? The episode ends with them finally arriving, and while Aisha is overjoyed to see himโ€ฆNorn still doesnโ€™t like him. So, heโ€™s going to have to deal with that soon. The one silver lining is that the person who escorted them there is an old friend: Ruijerd!

As great as it is to see Ruijerd again, it will also make things awkward when he notices Eris is absent. This will happen sooner or later, though. Good luck ripping that bandaid off, Rudy!

I Give “Afar” a 4/5

There’s a Party Here in Ranoa!

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

Mushoku Tensei S2 Ep 14 Review

There’s a party here in Ranoa, there’s excitement in the air! People pouring in from near and far, ’cause Sylphie and Rudy, they’re gonna have a wedding! Well, they’re skipping the wedding and just going straight to the reception. However, that’s beside the point. After reuniting with each other at Ranoa University (and healing him of his depression), Rudy and Sylphie are getting married. Sadly, like the source material, it’s never shown if they had a ceremony or filled out some forms. That doesn’t detract from the fact that Rudy is happy for the first time in years. In addition, this episode also reveals that Sylphie still has blood relatives left in the world. 

Before anything, though, lets discuss the new OP forย Mushoku Tensei. I have some mixed feelings regarding it. On the one hand, the song is good, as is the animation. On the other hand, though, I dont know how to feel about how action-oriented it is, as well as all the spoilers.ย Mushoku Tenseiย didn’t even bother with an OP in its first season, using that time to focus on the story. When we did get an OP in season two, it was slower & more emotional. This feels like the anime is trying to emulate a contemporary like Sword Art Online. It feels a little jarring when you look at it like that. But what do you guys think?

Sylphie Still Has Family Left

Given its title, the majority of the episode revolves around Rudy and Sylphie’s wedding reception. Everyone they know and care about is there ready to celebrate and bless their marriage. However, the two most notable interactions are with Nanahoshi and Elinalise. Nanahoshi covers for Rudy about his past life, but it’s the moment when Elinalise tries to bless the couple that things take a turn. When Elinalise breaks down crying, Sylphie tells everyone what she’s already suspected: Elinalise is her grandmother.

For the record, I knew about this already from reading the light novel and manga. The anime had also dropped a hint when Elinalise recognized the pendant that Sylphie made for Rudy, so the clues were there. In addition, given how long Elves live as well as her curse and lifestyle choices, Elinalise having kids makes sense. Conversely, because of that same life, she’s never gotten the chance to enjoy having a family. It can be hard to imagine. 

I’ve seen and heard of a lot of people who have had to cut ties with their family because of their choices and things out of their control. Heck, with the rise of some content creator sites, I’ve seen people who have either had to resort to doing things they might consider embarrassing years from now, especially if they have kids. However, few things are more powerful than the bond between family, and Sylphie doesn’t reject Elinalise regardless of her choices and curse. 

As for Cliff, knowing his girlfriend has grandkids or had to sleep with a lot of men doesn’t change his feelings for her at all. If anything, he loves her even more for being so kind despite everything. Respect, Cliff!

Rudy Promises to Keep Sylphie Happy

The one thing that did surprise me about this episode, though, was how it moved a key moment from the story to the reception: Luke and Rudeus’ duel. In the source, that duel happens shortly after Rudy declares his intentions to marry Sylphie. The outcome remains the same, as is Luke and Ariel’s motivations behind it. For a moment, it felt like they weren’t going to do it at all. But the show surprised me. 

This was a quiet episode, no doubt about it. But that’s the beauty of Mushoku Tensei. It’s the kind of isekai that doesn’t rely on non-stop action, comedy or drama. Its not afraid to stop and look at the slow moments that make life worth living in the end. Also, Rudy is happily married now, and after all the hard work he’s put into being a better person, he’s earned this. 

I Give “The Wedding Reception” a 4/5

Our Boy Rudeus is Getting Married!

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

Mushoku Tensei S2 Ep 13 Review

After going on hiatus for the fall and winter seasons, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is back with the second half of its sophomore season. And the above song can accurately describe the current emotional state of Rudeus Greyrat. Heโ€™s reunited with his best friend/love, Sylphie, and thanks to her, heโ€™s cured of the last two years of depression and impotence! Not wanting to lose her like he thinks he lost Eris, he straight-up asks her to marry him. Regardless of his faults, thereโ€™s little denying that Rudy has earned this chance to be happy.

One problem, though. He has no idea how marriage works in his new world and no home to live in. What he does have is friends who have his back.

Rudy Got his Game Back

Now Rudy has his confidence as a man back, it shows. All his friends at Ranoa University notice it. Heโ€™s smiling more, carries himself with greater confidence, and even gives Lilna and Pursena that trademark, lecherous grin of his, though nothing comes of it. His heart belongs to Sylphie. And while he still doesnโ€™t explain what he was suffering from in the anime, it makes up a little for this. The comments from people like Cliff and the Beast Girl duo imply that they put two and two together. 

Thereโ€™s one problem, though: now that Rudeus has asked Sylphie to marry him, heโ€™s realized he has no clue what to do next. Heโ€™s not lacking money, but heโ€™s been homeless since he was ten. Thus, the first thing he does is find a home. Though, given its size in the anime, itโ€™s less a house, and more like a small mansion!

Who You Gonna Call?

No, seriously. Itโ€™s bigger than the home he grew up in. Big enough for at least a dozen or more people to live comfortably in. Itโ€™s the perfect place to spend the rest of his life with Sylphie. Thereโ€™s one problem, though: itโ€™s haunted by something that kills anyone who sets foot after sunset.

The majority of the episode centers around the trio of Rudy, Cliff, and Zanoba trying to clear the house a la Ghostbusters. Sadly, while it does its best to build up tension due to their unseen foe, it doesnโ€™t stick due to who the group is. One is a guy who can cast spells without incantations, another is an elite healer in his own right and the final member has super strength and can tank anything thrown at him. Zanoba pretty much manages to handle the monster all on his own. However, the big surprise is saved for when they catch it. As Rudeus and Zanoba discover for themselves, itโ€™s not a monster. Itโ€™s a magically-powered doll capable of moving on its own. In other words, itโ€™s the magical equivalent of an automaton, robot, droid, etc.

Itโ€™s never explained in any version of Mushoku Tensei who made the doll, so the anime didnโ€™t skimp on that. In the end, it doesnโ€™t matter. After finding it, Zanoba and Rudy realize if they can reverse-engineer it, they can make their own line of doll bots to do anything (including robot maids.) And since he canโ€™t really help with anything else, Zanoba begs Rudy to let him handle the research himself. Itโ€™s touching to see how dedicated the man is to dolls as an art, even if others find it weird. It makes you want to root for him.

The New Greyrat Household

As for Rudy, he gets a small mansion for himself and Sylphie. And, having read the light novels and manga ahead of time, I can say that itโ€™s not too big for the two of them. When the time comes, itโ€™s going to be home to a large family and pets. And despite Sylphie worrying that sheโ€™s being selfish by continuing to protect Ariel, Rudy reassures her that sheโ€™s anything but. If she wanted it, Rudy would give her the moon and the stars for what she did for him.ย 

This was another slow episode, but I canโ€™t complain. Not every Isekai is all about the action. Itโ€™s the slower moments that people tend to remember, and itโ€™s in this area that Mushoku Tensei has always excelled. It goes out of its way to build its cast in a believable manner, hence why itโ€™s one of the best Isekai out there. The sole complaint I would have is that, unlike in the source material, their new home is set up in a more remote area outside Ranoa. Thatโ€™s just a nitpick, though. 

Next episode, weโ€™re going to have a wedding reception!

I Give “My New Home” a 4/5