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. Roxyโฆis 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.
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.
— Andrew (OtakuSpirit) (@OtakuSpirited) June 9, 2024
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!
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.
— Andrew (OtakuSpirit) (@OtakuSpirited) June 3, 2024
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.
I would have liked Mushoku Tensei giving more Rudeus & Elinalise's journey but here is the labyrinth Ayumu Uwano's sense of inner reflects on his storyboard using stalactite/stalagmite in the framing you get an idea of the relief of the tortuous narrow labyrinth. Also depth pic.twitter.com/zLRB6iCcyX
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.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 19 Review
Rudeus has made up his mind: heโs going to the Begaritt Continent to help rescue his Mother. Itโs 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 heโs not going alone. The bad news? Itโs an eight-month trek to his destination and back. Factoring in the time heโll be in the Labyrinth, heโll be gone for two years. In other words, he wonโt be there when his kid is born; a hard pill to swallow. But, Nanahoshi has a solution that might work.
I havenโt been able to bring myself to read the volume the animeโs adapting yet, but I still know the major details of whatโs 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 sheโs unable to persuade him otherwise, theyโll 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 itโs 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. Thereโs no easy way to say this, but Rudeus shouldnโt have left with just him and Elinalise. I understand the need to keep the circles a secret, but he couldโve 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 orโฆthat.
Suddenly, Iโm 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 donโt 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 thatโs 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 havenโt 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 Iโm 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. Itโs 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!
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 andโฆwell, see for yourself.
Mushoku Tensei S2 part 2 ep 6 โ
yeah that was peak ๐๐ป
so much happened in this episode man and some scenes had me tearing up icl, excited for what's to come. pic.twitter.com/lyVcIagyVs
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.
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’sโฆnot 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 novelsโฆtake this time to prepare. This is going to beโฆemotional.
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 wasnโt 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 wasnโt prepared for the feels. This might be one of the best episodes in the entire series, and as youโll see for yourself, thereโs a good reason why.
Rudy is scary when He’s Mad. No, really!
Just to show you how angry Rudeus was in the classroom interrogation scene
In the light novels he was actually tempted to MURDER AN INNOCENT GIRL, just because she was about to speak up about Norn
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 heโs 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 โaskingโย herย class and teacher, the horrible realty sets in for him.ย Norn was never bullied by anyone; itโs worse.ย They wouldnโt stop comparing her to her brother.ย
If it were as simple as someone threatening her, Rudeus could handle things with little effort. But once he hears that heโs the reason Norn has shut down, Rudeus doesnโt 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 doesnโt know what to do. You can practically feel the frustration pouring out of him as he tries to get her to doโฆsomething. Anything.
And this is where the story does the best thing it could hope to do: it gives us Nornโs perspective.
Norn Has a Lot of Complicated Feelings about Her Older Brother
#mushokutensei Big bro Rudeus raced to be by his sisters side, eager to save her from being a shut-in. it was insightful seeing the events from Norms perspective, Im glad she cleared up misunderstandings of her brother, Too wholesome.#็ก่ท่ปข็pic.twitter.com/hRYPguDLwP
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 didnโt matter if Paul told her afterwards that he started things. When youโre 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 didnโt 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 brotherโs 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 wasnโt 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 didnโt care about her. Then people wouldnโt stop comparing her to them. She wants to reach out to him, but, like Rudeus, she doesnโt know what to do.
I donโt remember who made the first move in the novels. But, even so, Iโm glad that it was Rudeus that did so. Even though he doesnโt 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 itโs like to shut yourself off from the world. And he never wants his family to go through the same experience.
I donโt really know how to transcribe the thoughts and feelings in my head as I saw the siblingโs reconciliation. Some things are just tooโฆcomplex to form into words. But, seeing Rudy sit down and hold his sister as she cried her eyes outโฆI could feel myself starting to cry.ย
— Andrew (OtakuSpirit) (@OtakuSpirited) May 5, 2024
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 canโt help but be amazed at. He even admits that if he had been half as strong as her in his first life, maybe things wouldnโt have turned out the way they did.
I will never understand why people donโt like the time Mushoku Tensei spends at Ranoa University. Itโs not as exciting as Rudyโs trip around the world, but the drama and emotional moments are incredible.ย Andย itโs 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 oneโฆbe careful what you wish for, everyone.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2, Ep 16 Review
Itโs been said that one of the hardest jobs in the world is being a parent. Even if theyโre good at it, a parent can still make mistakes and do things that will make their kids hate them, sometimes forever. And even though theyโre 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, theyโve 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: whereโs 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 Ruijerdโs advice into account if Eris ever comes back.
That doesnโt change things for Rudeus, though. Intentional or not, Eris broke Rudyโs heart and put him into a depression that lasted years. If Eris comes back, and we know she will, sheโs going to have to do a lot of apologizing. The kind that a single night canโt 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 isnโt 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.
after the marriage stuff it look like these next few eps will focus on the family dynamic. Ive seen ppl say its been boring but they could spend the entire szn on some chill & wholesome shit like this & I'd be all for it. Def more entertaining than Part 1 of szn 2 #mushokutenseipic.twitter.com/8FRrDcabYj
First, we have Aisha. On the surface, Aisha seems to have no issues. Sheโs 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!
Itโs when it comes to Norn that her issues come to light. While Rudeus was going on his odyssey, Norn and Aisha stayed at Zenithโs mothers house. And they didnโt 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 itโs great that the anime didnโt skip out on Aishaโs 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. Itโs Norn that is Rudeus biggest concern.
Norn Still Doesn’t Like Rudeus
Letโs cut to the chase: Norn doesnโt like her big brother. Given how the first time she met her brother, he was beating the daylights out of their Dad, you canโt blame her for having a negative impression. It didnโt matter if Paul told her that heโs the one who started it. Many kids donโt get the nuance to it at that age. And seeing him to a girl she doesnโt know (she doesnโt really remember Sylphie) doesnโt 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.
One month later, Nornโs 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 doesnโt 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 shouldโve 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 itโs heavily implied that one of those girls was Norn.
They should count themselves lucky that Rudeus isnโt 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. Itโs 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, itโs 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. Itโs going to beโฆemotional.
ใEnding Themeใ Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 15 Review
You know what I love about Mushoku Tensei? How itโs 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 Nanahoshiโs 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 Heโsย 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 theyโreย going to find Zenith, soย theyโreย sending his sisters to live withย him. Life is going well forย him.ย But whileย heโsย 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. Sheโs poured everything into learning how magic circles work to get home. Sheโs worked so hard trying to get it to work, only to keep coming up short. Andโฆshe snaps from this.
What i can say is Mushoku Tensei delivered it again with Nanahoshi ๐ story. Ik there's so much skip from LN but it's already good. Imagine if they adapted everything from LN.pic.twitter.com/5gwJUTMUPs
— ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ โ (@jackcibo) April 22, 2024
Like I said, this show doesnโt pull its punches on serious issues, and it does a great job of portraying Nanahoshiโs 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 Nanahoshiโs person.
The look on Rudeusโ face says it all. He knows what Nanahoshi might do with that dagger if left alone. Itโs 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
I really love the depiction of depression in the Mushoku Tensei anime, as someone who's been there before I really feel represented lol. pic.twitter.com/HOqLgOswji
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 donโt entirely understand what sheโs trying to do beyond getting home, sometimes one doesnโt 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 shouldnโtย shut themselves away from everyone, especially whenย theyโreย in pain like Nanahoshi.ย Itโsย only thanks to Rudeus going through similar experiences that he realized how bad things had gotten. If heย hadnโtย intervened, Nanahoshi might have killed herself.ย
One Crisis Averted…Another One Shows Up
Real talk, though: Nanahoshiโs breakdown can hit very close to home for some people watching this. Maybe theyโve gone through something similar, like what they do wonโt amount to anything or keep failing at something. Or maybe they know someone whoโs been through something like that. Theyโre not alone, nor should they think that they are. There are people who care about them and will help them, if theyโre 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 sheโs not alone there anymore. Crisis averted, Rudeus! And just in time for another one to pop up.
Special ED performed by Nanahoshi (Shion Wakayama)
Remember the letter from Paul about Rudyโs sisters coming to live with him? The episode ends with them finally arriving, and while Aisha is overjoyed to see himโฆNorn still doesnโt like him. So, heโs 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!
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!
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.
ใEnding Themeใ Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2
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. Heโs reunited with his best friend/love, Sylphie, and thanks to her, heโs 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, thereโs 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.
Now Rudy has his confidence as a man back, it shows. All his friends at Ranoa University notice it. Heโs 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 doesnโt 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.
Thereโs one problem, though: now that Rudeus has asked Sylphie to marry him, heโs realized he has no clue what to do next. Heโs not lacking money, but heโs been homeless since he was ten. Thus, the first thing he does is find a home. Though, given its size in the anime, itโs less a house, and more like a small mansion!
Who You Gonna Call?
No, seriously. Itโs bigger than the home he grew up in. Big enough for at least a dozen or more people to live comfortably in. Itโs the perfect place to spend the rest of his life with Sylphie. Thereโs one problem, though: itโs 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 doesnโt 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, itโs not a monster. Itโs a magically-powered doll capable of moving on its own. In other words, itโs the magical equivalent of an automaton, robot, droid, etc.
Itโs never explained in any version of Mushoku Tensei who made the doll, so the anime didnโt skimp on that. In the end, it doesnโt 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 canโt really help with anything else, Zanoba begs Rudy to let him handle the research himself. Itโs 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.
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 itโs not too big for the two of them. When the time comes, itโs going to be home to a large family and pets. And despite Sylphie worrying that sheโs being selfish by continuing to protect Ariel, Rudy reassures her that sheโs 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 canโt complain. Not every Isekai is all about the action. Itโs the slower moments that people tend to remember, and itโs 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 itโs 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. Thatโs just a nitpick, though.
Next episode, weโre going to have a wedding reception!
The Year 2023 was undoubtedly an absolute banger of a year for anime. From seeing how Satoru Gojo became an overpowered rizz God to the most upbeat zombie apocalypse to the end of the Rumbling, it has been a glorious year in anime. With 2024 now, it is the perfect time to reflect on the best to grace our screens. I’m RJ Writing Ink for D&A Anime Blog, and in no particular order, here are my picks for the best anime of the year.
Full disclosure: most of this list will cover anime I’ve seen this year. Thus, this is more of an opinion post than a formal review and breakdown. Most of my choices were anime that set the Internet ablaze with hype, so I think I’m good.
Attack on Titan: the Final Chapter
This should’ve been shown in theaters, plain and simple. Two years after the end of the manga, the anime Attack on Titan ended in two earth-shattering, apocalyptic specials that set the world on fire. As the long-awaited Rumbling flattened the world, fans saw the true horror of what Eren Yeager had unleashed in visceral detail. Everything from the music to the animation was on point courtesy of studio Mappa, delivering some of the best moments anime has seen in this decade. At the end of the day, the real triumph was how the finale improved the ending.
The ending to the manga garnered a fair amount of criticism over the past two years, and it seems the people making the anime took it to heart. As a result, the series finale saw several additional scenes that better explained things that seemed vague in the manga. IE, they better explained Eren’s rationale, how he hated himself for what he did, and how Armin reacted to it. That and it confirmed that, yes, Paradis did get centuries of peace before its eventual destruction. That’s as close to a happy ending as we’re gonna get, and I’ll take it.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Once again, Demon Slayer reminds us why it’s one of the greatest Shonen anime of the next generation with the Swordsmith Village arc. Having damaged his sword in the battle at the Pleasure District, Tanjiro and Nezuko head to the Demon Slayer’s secret Swordsmith Village to get him a new one. However, things go awry when two of the Twelve Kizuki infiltrate the village to destroy it. A desperate battle follows as Tanjiro and the other Demon Slayers fight to protect the makers of the only weapons capable of stopping the Demons.
As always, Demon Slayer remains a visual feast for the eyes. The anime has achieved international renown for the stunning beauty put into its animation, but something should also be said for the emotional depth of the characters. From the depravity of the Demons, as they embody the worst of mankind, to Tanjiro’s refusal to ever give up, there’s a reason why Demon Slayer is so popular. The best moment, though, comes in the final episode when Nezuko steps out into the light of the sun and is fine. Such a simple sight, once thought impossible, is enough to bring tears to people’s eyes.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
The story of Rudeus Greyrat, the man given a second chance at life via reincarnation, continues in Mushoku Tensei. Unfortunately, the anime picks up with Rudeus at rock bottom, having been seemingly spurned by his love, Eris. Rudy struggles to deal with the trauma of Eris’ abrupt departure as he journeys North to attend the magic school of his dreams. In doing so, he encounters faces both familiar and new as he tries to make the most of his second life, including a certain friend he hasn’t seen in years.
Say what you want about Isekai being a dime a dozen these days, but Mushoku Tensei is one of the good ones. That’s because, unlike many others, it goes out of its way to portray the protagonist as a flawed person whose first life still affects their worldview. While Rudy is still far from a necessarily good person, you can’t help but root for him as he tries to improve. And after the ill-planned stunt Eris pulled, you can’t help but want him to be happy. And the season still needs to be finished, with the second half coming in 2024. Here’s to seeing Rudy’s life continue improving until it isn’t.
No spoilers.
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
Ever since he was eight months old, all Rentaro Aijล has wanted was a girlfriend to love. Unfortunately, by the time he reached high school, he’d been rejected 100 times. That’s when he visits a local temple, and its Love God tells him something incredible: he won’t just meet his soulmate in high school. He’ll meet all 100 of his soulmates. The catch is that if he rejects one of them, the resulting misfortune will eventually kill them. Refusing to let this happen or make anyone sad, Rentaro decides to date all of them.
No, you read that right. This man is going to date 100 girls before he leaves high school.
Harem anime don’t always get a positive reputation, but 100 Girlfriends should be a big exception:
The protagonist is aware of every girl falling for him and goes out of his way to make them all happy.
Almost every girlfriend serves as a deconstruction of their character archetype. Behavior that would be one note in another series becomes more nuanced here and serves as actual issues they may have to solve.
The show embraces the pros of the genre and takes them to new comedic heights.
I can’t remember the last time a harem anime made me laugh so hard, so much so that I wrote a whole, separate review of this!
Scott Pilgrim Takes off
Thirteen years since Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the world was glad to hear that the famous graphic novel was getting an anime adaptation. Animated by Science Saru and debuting on Netflix, the show saw most of the film’s cast reprising in what looked like a full adaptation of the graphic novel series. However, the end of the first episode changed everything. Instead of winning against the first of Ramona’s evil exes, Scott disappears and is presumed dead by almost everyone. Thus, the story shifts to following Ramona as she attempts to uncover who took Scott while everyone tries to move on from their lives.
Since fans expected a proper adaptation of the popular graphic novel series, some were unhappy that Netflix blindsided everyone. The majority of viewers, though, had nothing but praise. The anime keeps the spirit of the novels and film alive, and it’s clear that everyone was on their a-game working on this. Additionally, the changed timeline allows Scott Pilgrim to deconstruct itself without as much drama. The show gives Ramona more depth and shows that, despite her cool demeanor, she’s made just as many mistakes as Scott did. So, she gets that character development, and so does Scott when he returns.
Jujutsu Kaisen
After years of waiting for the next chapter, fans of Jujutsu Kaisen got their wish with the show’s second season debuting on Crunchyroll. The first five episodes of the season serve as a prequel to the series, chronicling the events that turned a teenage Gojo into the man who would serve as Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi’s mentor and establish how he isthatguy. He was so powerful that the follow-up Shibuya Arc saw him sealed away by the Cursed Spirits, the Jujutsu Sorceror’s fight. And from there, everything that could go wrong did go wrong, as everyone present in Shibuya either died or was thrust into hell.
Let’s come out and say it: the Shibuya Arc is one of the darkest arcs in Shonen history. Between the protagonist’s primary mentor being sealed away and Sukuna using Yuji’s body to destroy Shibuya and kill thousands. By the time the dust settles, the initial villains of the story, who aren’t Sukuna or Geto, are dead, and most of the supporting cast is either dead or heavily injured. Did we mention how Sukuna leveled the district? Not including Jujutsu Kaisen on this list would be a disservice to it. It gave fans everything they wanted and then some!
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
Have you ever had a job so bad that a zombie apocalypse seems like heaven in comparison? That’s precisely what Akira Tendou felt in his borderline sweatshop corporate job. So when an actual zombie apocalypse occurs, Akira’s first thoughts? He never has to work again! With a growing group of friends by his side, Akira decides to live his life to the fullest before he potentially becomes a zombie.
The idea of someone being happier in a zombie apocalypse sounds so absurd on paper, but Zom 100 does it so well it might as well be the anti-High School of the Dead. Besides being a rebuke of how oppressive corporate society is, the series also serves as a reminder of what it means to live life for oneself genuinely. Akira’s joy at his freedom in such bizarre circumstances is infectious and enough to inspire people in the universe without focusing more on what makes them happy. That, and it’s just plain funny.
Baki Hanma
The Baki franchise has always been crazy, but this year, it reached absurd levels of ridiculousness. The first half of the season sees the world’s best fighters trying to fight Pickle, a 190 million-year-old caveman thawed out from ice that are dinosaurs for lunch. The second half of the season saw Baki prepare for his final confrontation with his father, Yujiro, the strongest creature in the world. The results: bones are bones, missing limbs, and punches flying at the speed of sound.
Baki is the kind of series that has to be seen to be believed. The idea of a caveman waking up in the modern day isn’t new, but a caveman that fought dinosaurs and made victims out of everyone he fought? It sounds so dumb, yet so awesome. Additionally, the fight between Baki and Yujiro isn’t just incredible but emotional. Watch this if you haven’t already!
One Piece
If there’s one anime that came out of this year more popular than ever, it’s the legendary One Piece. The long-running Wano Country Arc, which saw Straw-Hat Luffy and his crew and allies fight their most brutal fight to date against the inhumanly strong Kaido and his Beast Pirates, come to its climactic conclusion. Pushing himself beyond all his limits to defeat Kaido and save Wano Country, Luffy unlocked a new form so ridiculous that it can only be described as a weaponized form of Toon Force.
Say what you want about One Piece, but the world eats well when it cooks. Clips uploaded by Crunchyroll took the top trending spot on YouTube multiple times throughout the year. The live-action Netflix series broke the mold by not being bad. And Luffy got his own balloon at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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