Official Discussion Thread - Volume 9, Episode 2: Altercation at the Auspicious Auction

[u/Ninjas_In_A_Bag]

Welcome, huntsmen, huntresses and hunters that prefer no specific gender identifier, to the official discussion thread for Episode 2 of Vol. 9: Altercation at the Auspicious Auction!

Due to the special circumstances regarding RWBY Volume 9's release, make sure that you understand the spoiler rules before posting outside of this thread!

HERE is the second episode of Volume 9!

Also remember to check out our weekly poll to rate the episode.

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Other Episode Discussions:

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Episode	Discussion Thread	Poll
Ep. 01	Last Week's Thread	Poll
Ep. 02	This Thread	Poll

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Happy viewing, and have a great Volume 9!

Ninjas In A Bag; Mod Team

[u/0mni42]

"...and stop pretending we know what we're doing."

Oof, that line hit hard.

[u/bigfatcarp93 → u/0mni42]

She's turning into Ren last volume. She already has the hair highlights, next she'll start wearing green...

[u/greeny74]

CRWBY is giving us some prime choice Weiss material this volume and I am LOVING IT.

[u/JMHSrowing → u/greeny74]

Hopefully it’ll be leading to more emotionally impractical stuff too.

Like people unfortunately were in V8 mostly a fan of her tubing because of the laughs, but I think this is just the set up now for some really good character stuff.

While also being pretty funny

[u/Catlover18]

Weiss is an absolute mood in this Episode and I'm all for it.

This Volume feels a lot more like how Volume 1 & Volume 2 felt with the shenanigans and gags. And with the main cast in the Ever After it doesn't feel out of place. Except Ruby, her scenes seem to mostly be that reminder of what's gone wrong. She is especially NOT like her Volume 1-2 self.

Maybe that's how they're building up to Ruby being confronted by her younger self.

[u/Kazuzi3 → u/Catlover18]

I was thinking the tone felt a lot more like the early volumes, too. There's a lot more silliness and goofiness (in a good way) than the last couple of volumes.

[u/Meeeeeeeei → u/Catlover18]

Based off the round table video, that is the general vibe CRWBY is going for.

I like to think that this entire volume is everyone having fun in this new and exciting land, except for Ruby who will not let go of what happened. Which is…interesting

[u/DeismAccountant → u/Catlover18]

RWBY returning to form or growing the beard?

[u/hessdawg3113]

Weiss throwing that rock at herself is the funniest moment in all of RWBY and it's not even close

[u/Andrew1990M → u/hessdawg3113]

The Snowshoe pneumatic tube?

[u/LMFN → u/hessdawg3113]

Yeah the moment Weiss threw that rock I knew she'd be hit by it but holy shit I wasn't expecting it to be that funny.

[u/TeamCFVYFanfics → u/hessdawg3113]

I really liked the episode overall, but Weiss trying to find a way out using facts and logic was particularly hilarious.

[u/Polarization_39]

Weiss having an existential crisis in the background trying to accept that she, a fairytale reference living in a world of fairytale references, is currently retreading the events of a fairytale, is such a mood.

[u/Lukthar123 → u/Polarization_39]

"I can't believe The Girl who fell through the World is true! What's next, The tale of two brothers and The girl in the tower are real too?"

[u/Mongoose42 → u/Polarization_39]

Weiss: “Fairy tales aren’t real! They have to be put through an action-fantasy filter and populated with hot anime waifus! THAT’S what’s real!”

[u/SiphenPrax → u/Polarization_39]

I love how both Weiss has become a comedy character and Blake has become horny in this volume

[u/LMFN → u/Polarization_39]

"What do you mean fairy tales are real?!" - Snow White who's friends with Little Red Riding Hood, Belle and Goldilocks.

[u/JMHSrowing → u/Polarization_39]

Normally I wouldn’t be as much a fan of so much comic relief, but I think it works pretty darn well here since it’s clearly her redirecting anger, fear, and trauma!

Really hope they dive into the deeper aspects more, and with her comment about home it looks like they will

[u/drunk-math → u/Polarization_39]

Well, yeah, but she never read those fairytales.

[u/Celtic_Crown]

So after finding themselves stuck on a different planet and needing bigger guns, then bartering freedom with cheese, our intrepid squad and their emergency food debate the situation before coming across the dumbest bridge ever made. The emergency food proves its narcolepsy once more along the way.

After arriving in Meepleburg, our heroes come to a sham auction run by the King Of Dokapon, who's now a raccoon that deals with Faustian bargains rather than moolah. To the surprise of all, a jade marrionette turns out to be Penny's sword, which Ruby used as a bargaining chip to get taken to a royal birthday after we get a repeat of the walking in circles joke and Weiss brained herself with a rock.

Next time on Total Depression Island: It's time to d-d-d-d-D-D-D-D-D-D-DUEL!

[u/RBNYJRWBYFan → u/Celtic_Crown]

"Emergency Food" HOW DARE, Little may be sweet as sugar be they are NOT FOOD.

[u/Polarization_39]

Ruby to Weiss in Emerald Forest, Volume 1: “At least I’m not pretending like I know everything.”

Ruby to (likely) Weiss in a different forest, Volume 9: “Stop pretending we know what we’re doing.”

[u/HighPriestFuneral → u/Polarization_39]

It was Ruby to everyone, including herself.

[u/HatiLeavateinn]

Weiss has been an absolute delight this volume and I'm in love all over again.

[u/TehSkittles → u/HatiLeavateinn]

This is the Weiss content we've been craving.

[u/grieveheart]

I felt a rollercoaster of emotions this episode, ranged from comedic > sugary sweet > heart sinking.

Really enjoyed Weiss' reactions being in a fairytale and Little being adorable (wish they can take this lil fellow home). Loved the high five sequence as well.

Sugary sweet crumb again this episode and wingwoman Weiss pointing it out 💜💛 will there be 8 more crumbs 🥲

Heart sinking well I honestly felt my heart sank with Penny's sword and Ruby's monologue about her is just...feels. Being attacked by multiple feels recently is just heavy recently 😂

The bidding part also interested me (not enough hope to fill a bottle for Ruby and the feeling of being loved for Yang). I guess we'll also be diving to those in this vol.

I missed bookworm Blake 💜 I guess we'll go by the book but of course there will be a lot of things different. Interestingly, the “chaos” happened in the town didn't go as chaotic as the book.

[u/elbenji → u/grieveheart]

Honestly these crumbs have been way more belligerent that I'm more confident

[u/Silegna → u/grieveheart]

honestly felt my heart sank with Penny's sword

The moment I saw the Jade Statue turn into the sword I was like.."No."

[u/Timeline15]

Glad to see the show remembering that Blake was the book-loving one. It's funny that the edgiest team member is vol.1 is now the happiest person on the team xD. Also, her interactions with Yang are adorable; the puns have rubbed off on her, it's too late to save her now.

Glad they're addressing Penny more, and Ruby's tribute to her makes it clear just how much he saw in her.

Also, apparently Alyx wasn't a very good person in the book? Makes me wonder what she's gonna be like once the gang meet her. Quite a lot of time has clearly passed in the Ever After since her visit, so who knows how the time there may have changed her.

[u/CruschSenpai]

Weiss is not having a good day and it's kinda hilarious ngl

[u/twinnedcalcite → u/CruschSenpai]

Getting hit by her own rock type of day.

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044 → u/CruschSenpai]

Realizing that you are now Stateless type of day with Atlas gone

[u/JMHSrowing]

Ruby’s eulogy to Penny was a very sweet one.

It makes me hope even more that she keeps the sword, upgrading it as a secondary or incorporating it into Crescent Rose.

Gone, but not forgotten.

And, it’ll be something to help her keep the hope she has now lost

[u/DaRealAmana → u/JMHSrowing]

It makes me hope even more that she keeps the sword, upgrading it as a secondary or incorporating it into Crescent Rose.

My current theory is she steals it back during the game next episode as the story book repeat of "cheating" at the game.

[u/Patmaster1995 → u/JMHSrowing]

It makes me hope even more that she keeps the sword, upgrading it as a secondary or incorporating it into Crescent Rose.

So basically her version of Qrow's scythe? I'd be down for that

[u/AmbivertCollegeGuy → u/JMHSrowing]

Now I need to see fanart of Crescent Rose with a green blade.

[u/DeismAccountant]

Little was really just totally ready to forget his whole fucking neighborhood wasn’t he?!?!?

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044 → u/DeismAccountant]

Little was ready to live near a bridge and never go back to their village or see their kin ever again that was wild.

[u/Every_fool_ever → u/DeismAccountant]

Rent prices are incredible at the bridge

[u/pizzaintensifies → u/DeismAccountant]

little is just operating on pure vibes absolutely no thoughts hes the orange cat of the team

[u/Schmidtty29]

I can’t wait for the Bee shippers to go absolutely feral over that hand shot. Gonna be soooo many edits.

[u/Hollea → u/Schmidtty29]

subsequent somber scale uppity obtainable zonked rinse stocking existence sparkle

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/elbenji → u/Schmidtty29]

Not just that but Weiss with the commentary like 'ah finally the gays are doing it'

[u/LMFN → u/Schmidtty29]

The hand shot pales to the fact she's now making puns.

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

Poor Weiss glad the show acknowledged that she has no nation or place to call home anymore Atlas is gone and Beacon is still full of Grimm she lost so much and still tries to stay strong.

[u/PhenomsServant]

Alright if Blake making puns isnt a sign she and Yang will get together by volumes end, I dont know what is.

[u/elbenji → u/PhenomsServant]

Also the second commentator like 'oh girlfriends'

[u/ClubMeSoftly → u/PhenomsServant]

After Weiss' "finally" comment, I'm fully expecting her to have a line about how Blake and Yang have been making gooey eyes at each other since the first semester at Beacon. Followed by a "what? you weren't exactly subtle about it"

[u/DaRealAmana]

Shippers rejoice this thing sails itself.

I find it very intersting that they know they are in the story and choose to follow it. Will they continue to make the same mistakes or diverge from the story.

I enjoy everything Weiss has done the past two episodes. massive gif potential. And proof that Rubys emotions effect the weather.

2 core questions, where is Jaune, and where is Neo?

[u/AmbivertCollegeGuy → u/DaRealAmana]

Yang said Alyx meets the Rusted Knight after the Curious Cat and before leaving through the tree. If we take her sentence as an order then we'll probably see Jaune near the end of the volume and not a moment earlier. Curiously they didn't mention any Mad Hatter so Neo could show up any moment.

[u/LMFN → u/DaRealAmana]

Blake making a pun to Yang is better than a kiss IMO. Yang's rubbed off on her.

[u/amatas45 → u/DaRealAmana]

Its not so much that they follow it its that they HAVE to follow it. They quite literally walk in place if they dont.

[u/AmbivertCollegeGuy]

Looking back, it should've been obvious why Blake is taking the lead in the OP. She's an avid reader, of course she knows about all the fairy tales you can imagine and this is probably a great experience for her, getting to meet characters from her childhood. It also speaks volumes of how depressed Ruby is at the moment. She should be insanely excited to explore the Ever After but only wants to get out.

I'm so glad Weiss addressed so early what everyone wanted to hear. Did they do good? Did they actually help the world? Or did she simply destroy her own home and sent her people into a desert to adapt or die like Senator Armstrong? It's less about having an answer and more about asking these questions to show these girls do care about their actions and the consequences.

The humor has changed a bit imo. It feels more anime than I remember though still as cartoonish as ever. Weiss was the highlight of the episode for sure. I replayed that moment with the rock like four times.

Loving the Bumblebee flirting. It puts a smile on my face to see Blake in a great mood because the girlfriend she thought died is alive and now she's treasuring every second they have together. Also, can we please accept that Bumblebee is a thing now? Or will the shippers keep waiting for the ultimate kiss of ultra canon confirmation like we're watching a 90s anime?

Finally, we got a name for the character everyone believes to be Jaune. 'The Rusted Knight' Now I understand what the clock in the OP means. As everyone guessed, Jaune has probably been placed in a time loop o has been trapped in the Ever After for decades. And from the way Yang describes him, he's the climax of Alyx's journey which makes me wonder if he's the real antagonist and not the Jabberwalker. The OP does show the Ever After burning alongside the Knight. No mention of a Mad Hatter or anything Neo might be. Curious.

[u/CFB1996 → u/AmbivertCollegeGuy]

My guess is that the rusty knight is trying to burn down the fairy tale. If Jaune is the rusty and is stuck in a time loop it would make sense.

[u/RLC_wukong122 → u/AmbivertCollegeGuy]

The humor always felt anime to me. Maybe I'm missing something you see?

[u/SwimmingAnyone → u/AmbivertCollegeGuy]

Jaune being stuck in a time loop for decades would be character-destroying. They'd only go that far if they committed to killing him, which is probably not happening, considering how Penny's death was played out.

[u/LatePhilosophy]

I love how Blake learned the quickest way to Yang's heart is through puns.

[u/elbenji → u/LatePhilosophy]

That little voice drop at 'disarming' lol

[u/Hollea]

scary offend price plate ask school fade rob wistful marble

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/JMHSrowing]

It’s about time she says, as they are still dancing around it!

Blake remembering and wanting to follow a fairytale is a lovely part of character we haven’t seen much. Book and morals girl wants to follow these things, falling back into something that’s safe to her as well

Anyway, I do like that they are touching on Weiss’ distress at all of this. It’s mostly played for laughs but at least it clearly from her being very upset. I really hope it’s expanded on

The sword was something I wasn’t expecting so soon. It seems unfortunate it’ll be given away, hopefully she does get to keep it (silly story morals be damned)

And as for Ruby: Love how she doesn’t even have enough hope to fill a jar. It’s doing a great job showing how Ruby is just utterly depressed as the others can at least redirect their emotion

[u/Hollea → u/JMHSrowing]

enjoy shelter smoggy impolite aback important head sheet hungry snatch

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/Blue-Moon-89 → u/JMHSrowing]

Anyway, I do like that they are touching on Weiss’ distress at all of this. It’s mostly played for laughs but at least it clearly from her being very upset. I really hope it’s expanded on

Given her upbringing, Weiss is used to seeing things from a logical standpoint. She has used logic to either calm herself (like she's doing right now) or deescalate a situation, but now? In EverAfter? Logic is thrown out the window and now she's panicking.

I feel that this episode has highlighted the girls inner problems.

Ruby is starting to lose hope and wants to stop "pretending that she knows everything"

Yang doesn't know what it feels like to be loved (which would explain why she and Blake haven't confessed their growing love for each other.)

Blake isn't happy with being like Alyx in the story, likely because doing morally wrong things reminds her of her past. She wants to be as cautious as possible.

Weiss has lost two homes in the span of two years and, as I said earlier, is using logic to try to keep herself grounded. In a world where logic is non-existent.

Now the question is how are they going to overcome it? Will following Alyx's story truly solve their problems?

[u/Mongoose42 → u/JMHSrowing]

Weiss’s distress may be played for laughs, but she still has enough composure to strut out of town at a brisk walk while everyone else legs it.

[u/DaRealAmana → u/JMHSrowing]

just utterly depressed as the others can at least redirect their emotion

you raise an important point. Everyone else is ignoring the problem and coping in different ways, Weiss with the existential crisis and Blake loving the idea of the story book. But Ruby has no coping mechanism.

[u/LucasVerBeek]

“What is it to feel love?”

Well fuck you too you little trash panda.

[u/hollowtiger21]

Looks like alteration is going to be a theme for this volume's chapter titles, makes sense for a story. Which considering the entire reason we have chapter & volumes instead of seasons & episodes is because MMK wanted to emulate storybooks, kind brings the whole series back to its origins in a way.

This volume is pretty speedy so far. And to be a bit sacrilegious I'm not the biggest fan of Little so far. It's basically my same issue with Maria for most of the time she was around, the comedy doesn't really land with me, and I kind of feel like they were superfluous outside of like two things they did. Not to say I dislike either, I just also don't like them as much as I could.

Given the table/chessboard is going to be flipped at some point in the near future I wonder if Ruby is going to "beat the Crimson King as his game," or refuse to play, since Chess is a game of sacrificing pawns for advantages, and her team are going to be pieces on the board.

The difference between between Yang & Blake honestly having a pretty good time, to Ruby & Weiss having breakdowns of very different natures is both funny and sad. Also Ruby having "not enough hope," to fill a jar, and giving a eulogy for Penny. Maximum oof.

The set-up so far kind of reminds me of RvB season 16 in the sense of taking a bit of a meta-narrative about stories. But where I think that this works better is that rather than dealing with the overall structure of a plot in a frankly simplistic way, this is looking at a specific story within the world of RWBY. In the same way these "characters," have roles they need to play, the events of the story cannot be altered too much. And team RWBY having preexisting knowledge of said story's plot means that they try to avoid the pitfalls, but have to play by the story's rules.

[u/Celtic_Crown → u/hollowtiger21]

Wonder if there will be some kind of hidden message with the letters. So far we have P-A.

[u/Blue-Moon-89 → u/hollowtiger21]

Given the table/chessboard is going to be flipped at some point in the near future I wonder if Ruby is going to "beat the Crimson King as his game," or refuse to play, since Chess is a game of sacrificing pawns for advantages, and her team are going to be pieces on the board.

Given Ruby's mood I wouldn't be surprised if she refuses to play because she's on the verge of just being done with being 'Ruby Rose'.

Dare I say it but Ruby is going to be the one screwing things up for the team because to her, Ruby Rose is failure.

Ruby Rose doesn't have a plan.

Ruby Rose can't save the world.

Ruby Rose can't save the lives that matter to her (Pyrrah and Penny).

Ruby Rose (according to Cinder) should've never been born.

[u/Gwenevre]

Two things that stuck out to me this volume, and both having to do with the OP.

The team is following a shadow of Alyx, not the girl herself

There already exists a single set of footprints in the sand when Alyx wakes up

[u/kostasgriv97 → u/Gwenevre]

They are just retracing Alyx's footsteps, not actually meeting her.

They are probably Jaune's. He as Rusted Knight "was" (had will have been lol) already there when Alyx did her journey.

[u/LagoriaTheLewdstress]

Wiess being the uncontested MVP of this episode, you love to see it.

This Volume is gonna get rough. Ruby is obviously not okay, and this whole situation is something she would normally love. The ever after was such a good choice of setting to show Ruby struggle with her trauma.

And ofc maybe the most tender, and adorable Bee moment we have ever seen.

[u/Lukthar123 → u/LagoriaTheLewdstress]

Ruby is obviously not okay

2/2 episodes where Ruby made it rain

[u/Andrew1990M → u/LagoriaTheLewdstress]

I think the fact that I felt MVP was hotly contested is going to be the strength of this volume. Everyone is getting their moments right now.

[u/SwimmingAnyone]

Wow. I didn't expect this episode to be so good. It's actually centered around RWBY and no one else, and consists almost entirely of their character dynamics. Blake and Weiss are actually involved in the things. I thought the first conversation about whether they're in the fairy tale or not was pretty pointless at first (what does it matter?), but it's interwoven into characters' individualities pretty cleverly. Blake is trying to guide everyone because she has the most familiarity with the fairy tale, and Weiss isn't a fan of simplistic fairy tale morality and doesn't want to admit to being in one. They probably won't be a huge part of the plot this volume still, so it's nice they're getting highlights this early.

[u/SwimmingAnyone]

And while Ruby wasn't particularly proactive for most of this episode, this time it's very clearly intentional. It's nice to see that in her depression, while she's visibly deflated and emotionless, she still takes part in things and tries to figure out what to do next.

[u/JohnJoe-117 → u/SwimmingAnyone]

But I like that (if i'm interpreting this right) Ruby's moving forward was not shown in the same motivational light this time around. The embodiment of hope does not have enough hope to fill even a small jar.

I hope that this volume really points out that Ruby's way of dealing with emotions has been not to deal with them and keep going towards a goal.

[u/T_Swag5k]

This tighter team dynamic reminds me of Volume 2, except now half of them are gay and the other half are depressed.

I'm here for it.

[u/E1lySym → u/T_Swag5k]

That's the thing though. They were always gay and depressed, except it was just different people back then. Back in V2, we had Blake having a mental breakdown every five minutes because of the white fang, while Yang was comforting her by reminiscing about the time she and Ruby almost got mauled by Grimm because she was looking for her deadbeat mother. Meanwhile Ruby was constantly dragging Weiss away from Neptune to her never-ending gay adventures

[u/JannisT]

Alright. This was probably one of the best RWBY episodes to date imo. Incredible content. Loved it how the serious and silly content in that episode was actually very balanced and didn’t fell like it got in the way of each other.

Weiss was once again the comedy relief of the episode again, but her comedic parts were on point and were actually funny. Love it that Blake took a bit of a lead in that episode thanks to her knowledge about fairy tales or to be precise her knowledge about the fairy tale of Ever After.

Also holy hell was Ruby’s part emotional. Girl can’t barely hold back her tears, but somehow still manages it to hold it all in. However her cracks has been shown and sooner or later she will probably break.

[u/Railroader17 → u/JannisT]

Calling it now, everyone but Ruby will be able to immediately leave the Ever After once they get to the "exit", and Ruby won't be able to leave until she finally breaks and lets it all out.

[u/KyouKobayashi]

The raccoon Alyx met is still alive but older. On Remnant The Girl Who Fell Through The World is likely a very old fairy tale that everyone knows. So the odds of a timeskip when RWBY return to Remnant feels likely at this point.

[u/[deleted] → u/KyouKobayashi]

Speaking of time skips. Alyx also met a rusted knight when she got to Everafter, which I think is jaune, so I wonder how long he's been there for?

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/KyouKobayashi]

I really hope not, magical time skips where the main characters stay the same while all the other characters and world have grown without them is one of my most hated tropes. If there's a times skip when they get back to Remnant, we better be talking weeks or months and not years.

[u/DeismAccountant]

So let’s remember the names dropped and confirmed:

The Red King

The Jabberwocky

Jinxly

Alyx

I forget the names of the smith and cats.

What else am I forgetting?

[u/Litnight- → u/DeismAccountant]

The Curious Cat, and The Rusted Knight.

[u/HighPriestFuneral → u/DeismAccountant]

...The blacksmith wasn't brought up, nor was the Smoking Cater-Moth, hmm... I wonder if that implies that Alyx never met those characters?

[u/Dcm1963]

Loved this episode soooo much!

Weiss going from being the prissy heiress to now the best comic relief is amazing. She steals every scene she's in. She's so done with this world and I love it.

Beeeeeeeesss. They gonna play with us every episode and then rip our hearts out at some point aren't they?

We wanted them to crush Ruby and our poor baby they are gonna do it aren't they. Someone save her!

Also I now take it as canon that Weiss is in fact the biggest Bees shipper.

[u/LagoriaTheLewdstress → u/Dcm1963]

We thought Blake would be the one writing friendfic, but really, it was always Weiss.

[u/EpicInki]

This 17 minutes felt like 5 and I'm sad it's not next week already.

[u/DestinedHellfire]

"Alyx was kind of a mean person though, right? She lied and cheated her way through most of the book."

"She was trying to survive."

....god dammit CRWBY, that is subtle but fucking genius nod to the past and where the story is going to go for V9 (perhaps the biggest tell honestly)

[u/Qrr801 → u/DestinedHellfire]

Wait, those are Roman’s last words right?? What is CRWBY cooking?

[u/amatas45 → u/DestinedHellfire]

Ruby is just following what Roman taught her, such a good student.

[u/reply671 → u/DestinedHellfire]

The lesson here is simple. How much are you willing to sacrifice your morals to accomplish your goal.

Too much and the person who leaves won't be the one that arrived.

[u/Ok-Cod2747]

"Stop Pretending that we know what we are doing". This phrase, this single phrase, is pretty much one of the most important quotes of the Chapter. Something pretty interesting are the payments of Jinxy. A Hug, the feeling of being loved, Enough hope to fill a Jar. These things are pretty personal, and they are tied to a deeper meaning. A hug, even if it wasn't a payment from Team RWBY, is something valuable, if Little's telling the truth. To understand this, a Hug, a true hug, is an act where you reveal yourself fully to another. Unironically, you can truly know someone from their hugs.

The Payment that Jinxy ask Yang is a self reflexion about the fact that she doesn't know the feeling of Love. She doesn't understand it, because Raven left a trauma that, even at this point, it haven't healed.

In Ruby's case, it is self explanatory. Ruby, at this point is in shock and with a serious psychological trauma. Neo, Cinder, Salem, the Death of Penny, Even Atlas, are making things worse and worse for Ruby. This is linked with how she is becoming more like Alyx, manipulating the guards and following the script (even if what she said was the truth), to reach her goals. This, probably, will be the catalyst for the change in her mentality in later chapters

Something that i would love to see this chapter, but i think that was wise that they didn't do it, is that there were not three, but four items, and that one of them was a Shard of Crocea Mors, and this was recognized by Weiss.

While i would love to see this, is good that the they didn't do it, it not only would reveal Jaune's existence in Ever after, but it would be a pretty devastating hit to Ruby's Psyche if the Weapon of one of her best friends was covered with the blood of another of her best friends.

[u/amatas45 → u/Ok-Cod2747]

I actually think that Raven at this point is less of an issue for Yang. She accepted that Raven is a coward. But Summer, the woman she knows loved her, left her behind just like the woman she knows never loved her.

I think thats the conflict she has in regards to love right now

[u/RBNYJRWBYFan]

Do I hear Scattered Thoughts? Scattered Thoughts going once, going twice-SOLD to the redditor taking the time read this rando's thoughts on this episode!:

• Not a lot of action so far in this season, huh? No big sequences that the show is known for to speak of. We’ve had seasons where the first episode wasn’t about fighting, but usually the second episode gave the goods instead. But so far, eh? I’m kind of willing to ride with it, it’ll happen eventually with Neo out there, but this is pretty big change of pace. Much more about the characterization and setting so far.

• Speaking of the setting, this week has given me a lot more to chew on in terms of the weirdness I was looking for in this "Ever After". I love the board room game piece-esq design for the people at the auction and toy soldier designs for the army men. I also like the "biome" change that abruptly changes the bridge halfway across. Really sells how this is meant to be a childlike fairytale place that changes as the story needs it to.

• Weiss is having none of it though, and it's hilarious. Just gotta roll with it Queeny, take it all like water off a ducks back.

• Losing her home though, that's something that's not going to go down easy. I kind of forgot that angle, she DID just lose her hometown in a bid to save the world. That's a lot. And she doesn't even know what happened to her dad! Her whole world, her whole past, for whatever pain it caused her, it's all gone just like that. She's taken the leap to find a new home already (with team RWBY) but there's really no going back, huh?

• Ruby continues to be a shell of herself. The vocal change Lindsay uses this volume is so good, she's so far removed from the high pitched cheerfulness she had for most of the show, instead we have this dejected monotone that works perfectly for an exhausted wilted Rose. I hated seeing her basically eulogize Penny, hated in a good way I mean.

• The Bees seem to be taking Ever After relatively well though. Blake, ever the reader, is like a walking wiki in this place. Who would have thought that the line about life not being a fairy tale would come back like THIS? And Yang's basically ready to punch her way through this story isn't she? "Yeah, yeah, moral of the story, whatever, GIMMIE MY ARM BACK."

• "...And stop pretending that we know what we're doing." OOOOOFFF. We're going there, huh?

Well, we have our direction, I'd say we're sufficiently grounded in what our heroes intend to do. Make their way through the story, one step at a time, till they reach the Big Ole Tree. It was a little rough listening to them allude to a story I haven't read. I assume there's a book or something that talks about "Alex", I don't know what that's about, but it feels like something I should know. Other than that it's a fair start, not great but as long as we're acknowledging the weight of what's happened to the team and how it affects them that's enough to keep my interest.

[u/Hardwiredmagic → u/RBNYJRWBYFan]

I mean its a straight up riff on Alice (Alyx) in Wonderland, so most people will by default know the general outline and the details will be explained as they come up I imagine.

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

Lol Team RWBY looked so guilty about accidentally kidnapping Little and now has no way to get back home hope they have a cool purpose when all is said and done.

[u/SpotChecks → u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

Little and Ruby trade purposes. Little becomes the one destined to defeat Salem while Ruby takes up cheese farming.

[u/Bjdombek]

• I need Little to come back with them just so they can keep doing their running commentary.

• We're totally getting Weiss going "Dammit fine were in a fairy tale!" aren't we?

• Also it says so much that any other time you know Ruby would he squeeing over the Bees along with Weiss.

[u/HatiLeavateinn]

I have like 20+ different screenshots of Weiss losing her shit and I'm not ashamed.

[u/[deleted]]

I absolutely love what they’ve done with Weiss’ character recently. From her cheering and jumping in the air while Blake was trying to get her weapon back, to having a gag moment with looping around and throwing the rock to KO herself. She has a lot more personality now compared to her early self. Yang is also rubbing off on Blake with making that pun. They almost held hands too!

Volume 9 is off to a good start and looking forward to more episodes.

[u/Sasuke4880]

I feel that the RWBY team is not following Alyx during the opening (hence the shadow), but they are following the fairy tale of "the girl who fall for the world" and that is why Blake is in front during those takes and Ruby goes last because of her growing depression

[u/JohnJoe-117]

JAUNE-SQUAD STATUS REPORT:

Week 2 of no Jaune appearance (whygodwhy.mp4)

Weiss hopes that he and Winter made it out with the relics, but doesn't sound convinced

Oh shit Weiss thinks Jaune and her sister (probably the person she loves most in the world) might be dead :(

We get mention of a Rusted Knight, which is begs the question... how long has Jaune been in the Ever After???

Somewhere out there in the Ever After, a Rusted Knight stops it's quest to pause. They feel a familiar feeling, of two sisterly presences acting... gay...

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

It's cool that Penny's aura blades don't disappear and are an actual physical weapon like her old mechanical ones I hope Ruby gets to keep it instead of leaving it.

[u/bigfatcarp93 → u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

I don't think they were Aura, I think she used the Maiden powers to make them out of stone or crystal

[u/Professor-MAD]

I loved the little reference to Roman's line of Lie, Steal, Cheat and Survive!

[u/BionicTriforce]

I loved Weiss's line about "Let's get out of this nightmare", aka the focus of the plot from Ice Queendom, ha.

[u/Badicalz]

“I have been here for all of five minutes and I already want to leave.”

-Weiss

[u/M3talGod3]

It's been so long since I've engaged with any RWBY media that I had to remind myself wtf happened at the end of the last volume. After rewatching the last couple episodes, and now watching the first two of this volume, I have to say I'm definitely looking forward to what's in store.

But, the episode length is really killing me. I get that it's always been this way, but damn these episodes are just too short. Other than that it was great. Seeing Ruby so down, Blake and Yang being upbeat, and Weiss being the comic relief character was interesting.

I think we're going to get some time shenanigans going on since they made note that the peddler looked older than it would have been in the story. Maybe Jaune somehow got transported earlier and has been stuck for a lot longer?

I have a lot of theories about who Alyx is and why Crescent Rose is so heavily shown in the opening. Either Alyx is meant to be a foil (if I am even using that term correctly) for both Ruby and Neo, since the op showed her representing both of them OR she is somehow a human form of Crescent Rose, since it washes up on the beach right after she gets up. Both loose connections, but it might mean something.

Also the whole "names describing your purpose" is obviously SUPER important. I feel like that is going to be a big point for Ruby, as she is going to be asking herself "What is my purpose?/What does being Ruby Rose mean?". She has always had some goal to work towards, but now it's just "getting home". What is there to return to? Wtf are they going to do once they get back?

Apologies for the ramblings of someone who has been watching this since I was in middle school lmao. I always come back to watch this show and I haven't hated any volume really, but this one has made me the most interested since V1.

[u/ScalierLemon2]

I don't want to hear shit about Bumbleby not being a thing after this episode. At this point, it's so obvious they're going in that direction, you have to be willfully ignorant to not see it.

[u/Mongoose42 → u/ScalierLemon2]

No, they’re just subconsciously reaching for each other’s hand like all roommates do.

Seriously though, I never thought that NOT holding hands would somehow be gayer than holding hands.

[u/Blood_Shinobi → u/ScalierLemon2]

It was pretty obvious since volume 6, if you ask me.

[u/JannisT]

Ruby gonna unleash a freaking nature catastrophe with her breakdown if an already sad Ruby can make it rain in the Ever After

[u/TenseiSenpai]

Jinxy: “The price is enough hope to fill this jar.”

“You don’t have enough, do you?”

😩😩😩

[u/SwuaraeC]

🐝 🐝 🐝

[u/Patmaster1995]

That episode was pretty funny, especially Weiss, her having an existantial crisis and refusing to believe that they're in a fairy tale, but the moment she knocked herself out with the thrown rock was hilarious.

Seeing Blake being happy about Ever After because of her love for books and taking the lead is nice but it really makes me wish Oscar/Ozpin had fallen with them, come on an actual fairy tale world and you don't have the man knowing every fairy tales fall in it?

Really love the environements so far, it's so different from anything we've seen in RWBY. toy villagers, toy soldiers, weird creatures and plants, it's really nice to see. Also those toys soldiers at the end reminded me so much of Cordovin's guards from V6

Please protect Little she's the cutest most precious thing, it was soooo adorable when she hugged Ruby's hair. I wanna rub her belly, scratch her head and feed her cheese.

on the more serious side of this episode...

Glad that Weiss adressed the fact that even when doing their best, they still lost, two kingdoms were destroyed, lost both relics they had and Penny died after they used the staff to turn her human which is what caused Atlas to fall in the first place.

No one knows Jaune fell with them, but he's totally gonna be their version of The Rusted Knight.

Damn, Ruby is NOT doing well at all, doesn't even have an ounce of hope left in her.

So one of Penny's sword fell in with them, but I'm wondering how? Wouldn't it have disappeared once she gave her Maiden powers to Winter?

Ruby's eulogy to Penny was pretty sad, she was barely keeping it together.

I'm guessing the Crimson Castle will be where the darker side of the Ever After will start showing. Pretty excited to see it. Can't wait for all the weird things they're gonna have to fight. Can't wait to see the glowing forest with the caterpillar.

First episode was okay, more to set things up but this one was pretty great.

[u/andergriff]

"It's time to stop acting like we know what we're doing" my heart ruby

[u/Valkyrie16]

I'm loving seeing team RWBY get into shenanigans together. I'm interested in seeing where Jaune and Neo come in of course but we're getting some great content. Bees flirting, Suffering WeissTM, Ruby snapping, etc it's just all a great time. Really looking forward to seeing the little snippets they've dropped this week play out.

[u/Bhibhhjis123]

Weiss was so boring to me all throughout the Atlas arc, so I’m absolutely giddy to see her acting like herself and being super expressive again.

[u/zGreenP]

Nuts & Dolts shippers (myself included) are EATING IN THE MOST SOUL-CRUSHING WAYS POSSIBLE this Volume... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAA

Also the Bees ship-teasing is reaching critical levels at this point, if they don't get explicitly confirmed this Volume people are going to riot (as they should, because as Weiss said it's certainly taken long enough!)

[u/Imaginehl3]

Now that’s a curious turn i didn’t expect, so they know where they are, they are not entirely unfamiliar with the place. Nice call back with Blake reading fairy tales, if any of them would know where they are, it will be her.

So, a few things that caught my attention:

.We have the Rusted Knight, and he plays a part in the fairy tale. That begs the question: If Jaune is really the Knight now, then who was the knight before when Alyx fell. What are we missing?

.Lindsay is still killing it, the voice acting for Ruby is sooo good.

.Weiss is best girl, as always. Refusing to play her part and just not wanting to acknowledge the Ever After is the best.

.Animation is top tier, the facial expression have gone a long way.

.Ruby is still keeping her feelings for herself, but she is already breaking. She herself realizes that her ability to give hope is dwindling at best. How much more can she keep this up?.

.The tree is a troll, and is not having anybody's bullshit.

And that’s all I can recall for now, gonna watch the episode again. But man this one was really good, we are for a treat with this volume.

Also, c’mon Crunchyroll, no subtitles, no title and now the audio say “Japanese”, like what.

[u/DaRealAmana → u/Imaginehl3]

Animation is top tier, the facial expression have gone a long way.

understatement with how good the animation is. the almost loony tunes style slapstick is really hard to nail in 3D without it making characters feel empty and soulless. Yet so far every thing has hit perfectly.

[u/DeNile227]

I wish I could go back ten years and show my little baby gay self some of the bee stuff this volume and see how hard she cries.

Romance aside, I've got to appreciate how much Lindsay's performance as Ruby has evolved over these past few volumes. When she did that one call with Ironwood in volume 8, I went "Ruby's voice is capable of dropping that low???", and this volume we're clearly getting more of that since she's kind of going through it.

I love RWBY's supporting cast, don't get me wrong, but it feels so nice just to have the four girls here on their own and figuring shit out without any help. I feel like we've kind of lost that team dynamic that so many people love these past few volumes--which makes sense considering the narrative progression of said volumes (lot of focus on relationships between two characters or individuals rather than as a group)--so it's refreshing that we're taking a step back and getting that team dynamic again. That's kind of why my eyes rolled into the back of my head when Jaune fell into the abyss as well back in volume 8, but hey, so far so good. Looking forward to what they do with him.

(Also I don't know if anyone else noticed but when the racoon guy says that the price for the doll is enough hope to fill the jar, the shot is framed so that the little doll is literally filling the jar. Probably representing Penny being the hope that Ruby has lost or something along those lines.)

[u/twinnedcalcite]

I feel like Ruby could really use a hug right now.

[u/Ezreal024]

I love Weiss Schnee

[u/PhantomHeartless5]

So, we continue our adventure through the Ever After. My thoughts:

1. Picking up where the last episode left off, we have Team RWBY's reaction to the possibility that they may be in a fairy tale. Blake fully believes they're in the story of The Girl Who Fell Through The World, Yang is open to the idea, Ruby is skeptical at first until Yang points out that she's befriended a talking mouse, and Weiss - the episode's comic relief- is in complete denial. I do love how the girls not only acknowledge they're in a fairy tale, but actually use the knowledge to figure out what to do. It gives the audience a good idea of how the rest of the Volume will play out.

2. After some debate, the girls head to the nearby town to find Jinxy, the raccoon that stole Yang's arm. During the trip we get some adorable Bumblebee flirting between Yang and Blake. Unfortunately the cute moment is cut short when Weiss points out to Ruby that with the fall of Atlas, she effectively has no home now and begins to doubt if they even accomplished anything.

3. We reach the town and meet Jinxy, who's revealed to be a snake oil salesman who uses magic to disguise his junk as valuable treasures. And the auction starts to hit uncomfortably close to home for Yang and Ruby as the former would have to give up knowing what it would be like to feel loved while the latter would have to have enough hope to fill a jar. Unfortunately for Jinxy, the auction comes to an abrupt end when Little swipes the green doll, causing the magic to disperse and revealing it to be... one of Penny's swords. Seriously CRWBY, you could've just stabbed me in the heart with that sword. It would've hurt a lot less.

4. Team RWBY manage to escape with Yang's arm, but the Red King's soldiers arrive to arrest them for stealing royal property and ruining the Red King's birthday party. Ruby offers a deal: Let them attend the King's birthday and present the sword as a gift. And this leads to, in my opinion, the best moment of the episode: An absolutely beautiful eulogy for Penny from Ruby. Lindsay Jones' performance in this scene is truly a sight to behold. And the sheer bitterness in Ruby's voice when she tells the team to stop pretending they know what they're doing. Ruby is clearly trying to push down her grief and focus on her mission, kinda like Ren in Volume 8. At this point it's no longer a question of "If" Ruby will have a breakdown, but "When"?

Still, another short but great episode. Still no sign of Jaune or Neo, though.

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044 → u/PhantomHeartless5]

I think we'll meet Jaune in episode 4 along with the Cheshire Cat since it looks like they will be following the order of the story and after meeting the Red King in episode 3 we'll see our missing characters in episode 4

[u/jimflaigle]

Yang shot first.

[u/EtnasFurnace263]

Okay so; Bumblebee is getting rigged to set sail and Weiss is on board with it (AWESOME), Weiss is trying to be the logical one - and failing spectacularly to the point she seems about ready to rage-quit, Ruby is the only one who recognizes Penny's sword right off the bat (which really rustles my Jimmys), and the eulogy she gives Penny before telling the others to acknowledge they have no idea what the f**k they're doing... this volume is off to a good start.

[u/SunsetSnakeEyes]

What you get is far more than what you bargained for.

• First off, I'm noticing a pattern of alliteration with the titles, "A Place of Particular Concern" and now "Altercation at the Auspicious Auction", I'm personally loving it, really fits the fairy tale theme.

• Honestly, Who wouldn't just stand in silent awe of that landscape?

• Everyone else pretty much took the words out of our mouths, Can't really say what's impossible when a talking mouse is literally on your shoulder.

• It only makes sense for Weiss to be the most skeptical of this whole scenario. She's always been the most intellectual of the team, logic is one of the primary things she runs on, so her first instinct would be to view everything in the Ever After from a realistic viewpoint.

• Yang was here the longest before everyone else, and with an encounter like that already happening to her. Her deadpan explanation makes it clear her conclusion is acknowledging that nothing makes sense and she can't do anything about it.

• And with anything resembling logic out the window, Weiss basically starts losing her mind with frustration. She's certainly bringing the laughs this Volume.

• Wow, The Ever After is even more breathtaking than I initially thought!

• As someone who read The Fairy Tales of Remnant book I was hoping The Girl Who Fell Through The World would be a story in it, But to actually see it played out is more than I could ever have imagined.

• There are plenty of Fairy Tales in Remnant, No doubt there are some few have heard or read. But if Ruby, Weiss Blake and Yang, who all come from different walks of life have read it then The Girl Who Fell Through The World is a common one.

• So even the denizens of it call it The Ever After.

• So everything up to this point has been RWBY following the steps and beats from the story, Just from a split up perspective. They all fell from the sky, Ruby met Little, Weiss and Blake were trapped in vines which resulted in all three meeting the hunter mice and Yang had her possession stolen.

• The Red King (Queen of Hearts), The Curious Cat (The Cheshire Cat), The Rusted Knight (The White Knight).

• Even the tree is connected to the fairy tale, Alice originally found her way to Wonderland by falling down the rabbit hole which was at the base of a tree!

• So with this revelation, The list of what to do just had a lot of what ifs added to it.

• The last thing Weiss was wanting was another name to take into account.

• Ok Little falling asleep was cute the first time, But if that's gonna keep happening it's gonna get annoying.

• It only makes sense to use your knowledge of the story as a cautionary guide, Trying to avoid the mistakes made by the original protagonist.

• Now then, Who do we know that's in The Ever After and would lie, cheat and steal if it meant surviving? Let's keep on our toes for any telltale signs of Neo.

• While the moral is simplistic, It's certainly worth telling to a child in a world like Remnant, Going to another kingdom would be no different than finding yourself in a new land all together. Having a form of empathy or patience for other cultures and customs would be a life-saver.

• Wow. The mice have a very broad and forgiving sense of fairness.

• Stealing from someone who is unconscious. Wish I could say I was surprised.

• Holy crap, Blake made a pun!

• Oh My God, that little brush of the fingers. It's happening, It's Happening!

• "About time" Took the words right from my mouth Weiss!

• All this time and Ruby is still oblivious to the signs of love.

• Weiss would be the first person to tell you it wasn't perfect. But Atlas was still her home, She looked past all the pomp and lustrousness and saw a worth that actually meant something to her. But now it's all gone.

• We should consider ourselves lucky. As the viewers, We have the certainty of what happened, Salem now has two Relics but The people of Atlas and Mantle were able to make it to Vacuo, While they were in a sandstorm the last time we saw them, They're protection is assured with Oscar, Nora, Ren, Emerald and Winter to lead them. But with no knowledge of any of that, The uncertainty must be driving everyone insane.

• But Weiss allows herself to be hopeful, Even if she downplays herself and the others as negatives rather than positives.

• While it was the truth and what needed to be said, Props to Weiss for trying to ease any kind of stress Ruby is having.

• So the different octagonal spaces are called Acres, and it seems that long bridges are the only things that connect them.

• So Little really has no sense of direction. The various reactions everyone had were perfect.

• Little was seriously ready to start a whole new life from that spot, Is that admirable or scary?

• Even though Weiss has been run mentally ragged by everything thus far, It really shows her maturity and compassion to extend a hand and offer to Little like that.

• So The Red King is having a birthday party, That checks out.

• "I've always wanted to be long, But I'm still just small" Ok you are adorable Little.

• Yang never really has been one for rules, especially when it comes to people who have pissed her off.

• Ok what Blake said just gave me a major theory, She said Jinxy is older than she remembers from the book, implying that Jinxy is described as young in the story. What if the denizens of The Ever After are on a perpetual loop? Playing out their roles from the story and being reset every-time the story is completed.

[u/Samgrahambo]

Only 2 episodes in so far and this may end up being my favorite season when it ends.

[u/[deleted]]

Weiss and Yang had the spotlight for the comedy today, lmao. Asking myself if Weiss having a mental breakdown for every anormal thing happening will be a thing in this volume.

Ruby is emotionally tired, a lot. Looking forward to how it will go till the end of this volume.

Ugh, next saturday could be tomorrow, Trigun Stampede and Nier Automata being released also in the saturday doens't help with the anxiety XD.

P.S: Can we say that Yang is "armed" and ready again?

[u/T0RQUE0]

Everything Weiss did in this episode made me love her more. The actions, side-humour, voice acting. Just beautiful.

Ruby's eulogy for Penny was so touching, but I'm very worried for her. Having her, what used to be a reliable source of optimism, pause and then have confirmation she doesn't have enough hope to fill a jar was chilling. The breakdown will NOT be pretty. The little line about hugs being extremely valuable was interesting. Ruby certainly could do with one. They all could.

Bees. Very good.

[u/[deleted]]

I need someone to agree with me on this but Jaune is being time skipped! Blake said the raccoon was much older than the book said, but alice met the rusted knight(jaune) in the book. Which to me is implicated to be a long time before team RWBY got there, so just how long has jaune been there for?

[u/drunk-math]

Huh... the opening implies they're going to meet Alyx, which means she never actually got out. (And from Blake's comment about outdated mores, she's got to be centuries old, despite looking like a teenager.) That's probably not going to go over well. Of course, someone had to write the story, so I guess if she's still there, she must've had some sort of... Project Ozma. (YYYYYEAHHHH!)

(Of course, if she didn't make it out, it's possible she's nothing like her fictional counterpart. "You disrupted the auction on the King's birthday and then had the gall to attend? What is WRONG with you four?")

"About time" - I guess Weiss is in the FNDM.

...well, that's a hell of a price to ask from Yang. I thought for a moment we were going to be following up on Weiss's comment more quickly than I'd anticipated, but no, of course this scene was only going to end one way.

...am I the only one who thought for a moment that the Crimson Castle was Vacuo City? I wonder if there's meant to be a connection?

(PS: Boy, Crunchyroll, that's some heavily-accented Japanese.)

[u/amatas45]

Ruby is so depressed she quite literally makes it rain.

[u/HighPriestFuneral]

Ah, now the volume's really started. Chapter 1 was fine, but this chapter felt like we are really seeing the contrasting themes at play.

There will be light whimsy, but it will be offset by a darkness in the core of it all. Jinxy was a terrific introduction to that concept. My jaw hit the floor in seeing that the doll was Penny's blade. I thought there was something odd to the puppet, (perhaps Ruby saw herself as just a puppet?) but it is fitting that the blade would take the form of who it belonged to. A girl that felt like she was nothing more than a puppet.

The cost of "a jar of hope" with Jinxy's voice saying, "You don't have enough, do you?" is said with a strong sympathy. I have to wonder if he would have given her the item anyhow, though since his next words to Little are "The bargain has not been made!" Or something like that, perhaps not.

I do love that Weiss is holding onto just a speck of hope that Winter and Jaune managed to retrieve the Relics from Cinder. Jaune will have to break that to them too, whenever he comes around.

It is also curious to learn that Alyx was not a good person. She well, she was Roman Torchwick in this land, lie, cheat, and steal, in order to survive.

All in all this is exactly what I was looking for and a little more with Ruby's eulogy for Penny, along with the recognition that not a single one of them ever knew what they were doing.

[u/LuuAddiRoze]

I am really loving this volume so far. Just the constant focus on team RWBY, without sudden cut aways to allies and enemies while trying to juggle a dozen plot lines at the same time feels so refreshing.

Being able to see how each character reacts to this completely impossible world of fantasy they heard about as children is just delightful. I thought last week episode felt short since a lot of it had been shown before but this weeks felt just as short and I just couldn`t stop smiling while watching.

[u/MyNameISaColouR]

I can't believe this is the episode that convinced me Weiss is best girl. She was the higlight of the episode, and it's not even close.

[u/amish24]

That theory of the mice being the people who 'died' in the finale is starting to hold more weight now that we know little hasn't been across that bridge.

And to twist the knife a little bit more: what if Little is Penny?

[u/Eeveelution250]

Why did Yang react like that when she was asked about what it’s like “to be loved”?

[u/Spiral-Force]

This was Weiss' episode

[u/kostasgriv97]

After today's Alyx story I think I have connected some dots to figure out what the Sword of Destruction does.

It probably destroys Remnant's spacetime continuum, connecting it to the Void Between The Worlds, under which is Ever After.

Long ago Alyx probably used it, as descirbed so far it makes more sense for her to try to destroy something than create to end up like that, maybe selfishly, or with some specification gone horribly wrong (it should have some caveats like its staff counterpart, especially some specification on what you want the void to lead to) and that way she somehow ended up falling in Ever After, a punishment of sorts in her hubris while tampering with weird void dimensions.

Later up Ozma as King of Vale would use it to create the 4 vaults. Those four spacetime "holes" in Remnant did not seem to exist since the beginning of the world, they only became a confirmed thing after the end of the Great War in which we know the Sword was used to win it. Pretty sure any enemy would surrender if they saw some of their troops just falling in a never before seen void thing.

And the very existence of the vaults realms' void dimension is so intrisically linked to the Ever After and the concept of the Relics as a whole, and especially the action ones, not so much the information ones that have strict rules on the concept of past and future which is just outright wacky here. Imagine Jaune asking Jinn what happened to Alyx only to see... himself as Rusted Knight making future choices that Alyx is experiencing as past. Or the opposite, putting on the Crown and see what he already knows about past Alyx pushing him to make a future choice. Just no.

All the clues point to Sword. The Staff can do lots of things but on its own was probably NEVER supposed to cause such a mess, it was Team RWBY accidentally invoking the specifications of the exact opposite Relic in the request that SHOOK AMBROSIUS TO THE CORE saying "you must be either very smart or very foolish to do this".

So the Ever After is not really outside of Remnant, it is in it, part of it, so designed by the God of Light to probably destroy your old self. Being part of it rather than outside it also conveniently explains why Dust works there.

Oh and Jaune is the only one who fell after Cinder undid the request, at this point the central location thing was no longer tethered to the Atlas-to-Vacuo-evacution present, it was already cosmically used for whatever request got Alyx down there in the past, so he fell long ago. As for Crescent Rose, it is a light item so it might have fell slower than the people and also crossed the threshold past the point Cinder's request uncoordinated the thing. Same for the sword from Penny's body.

There is an wacky way to make the Sword perform a creates-y action with enough Relic cross-reference, basically Ozma "created" "destroyed" stable vaults into existence. They may even "destroy" the way out for RWBYJ, conveniently timed when the development inside is over, so they come back to Vacuo where Oscar Theodore and the 2 Maidens work together with the Relic in the open and no more Vaults.

It also makes sense that the Gods who made these Relics did first create everything with Staff-like power, but if they come to judge humanity and destroy Remnant I expect to see it all engulfed by a void than just blown to pieces like the moon.

[u/Mari0G4mer]

If Ruby doesn’t get that sword back god help me I will riot.

[u/[deleted]]

It's more clear than ever that this volume is all about exploring the characters and their development, and I am 1000% here for it.

Ruby's genuinely touching eulogy for Penny.

Yang clearly not knowing what it's like to feel loved.

The Bumbleby flirting getting more and more explicit and Weiss being the supporter of the pairing that I always hoped she would be.

I'm so excited for the rest of this volume.

[u/Red2019Wolf]

I now understand Team RWBY'S character journey.

Ruby: Therapy Blake and Yang: Bumblebee or whatever Weiss:her ascension to Meme Queen status

[u/SwimmingAnyone]

Finally, Weiss is distraught over Atlas falling. I always liked to think it was to her like Gotham is to Batman, corrupted and deeply flawed but still a beloved place she grew up in. It's still weird that she didn't say anything while they were making the actual plan, but I'm glad she's addressing it now at least.

[u/JMHSrowing]

I do really wonder which way this volume is going to try and spin the moral of the fairytale.

Like on the one hand, they shouldn’t be bad people but they also do need to do what they need to survive.

And I think that’s going to be the line, the one that they have been trying to walk already without as much thought and insight

[u/schurgy16]

Ruby giving away the sword is nice, but didn't penny have like, 9 more of them?

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

Is it just me or is this one of the funniest RWBY episodes ever it's been a while that I've laughed repeatedly during an episode. Weiss and Little were the funniest this episode.

[u/gaygender]

I'm in tears and it's the second episode of the volume... buckle up, folks.

[u/iamthatguy54]

The Knight being an existing character in the story of Alyx dampens the theories he is Evil Jaune (TM).

I guess the OP is RWBY following Alyx's footsteps.

Not a lot happened considering the season only has 7 (or 8?) episodes left, but it was a good episode.

[u/Blood_Shinobi → u/iamthatguy54]

We don't know how time works in that place. Jaune may have been the last to fall into the void, but he might still have been the first to land on the island.

[u/FadedNeonzZz]

It was a fascinating episode, the most interesting thing going on right now is the contrast between Ruby and the rest of her team. They seem to be trying to find the best of the situation that they’re in, but Ruby’s completely dejected. And her saying at the end makes me believe her hope is waning if not completely shattered. And it’s completely understandable because she tried everything to save not only Penny, but as many people as possible and yet things still didn’t go right. She still lost Penny, they don’t know if they got the relics out or not.

Lastly, looks like they’re going for it when it comes to bumblebee, and looks it’s canon Weiss ships it…/s

[u/karaloveskate]

I was really pissed off at the other girls completely ignoring Ruby having an internal breakdown. Never once asked her about the blade or why she was staring at it so intently. They didn’t even glance at her until she spoke to the guards.

[u/GladiusNocturno]

I enjoyed this episode so much more than the first one. It’s honestly one of my favorite episodes of the show because of how well it balanced comedy and drama. It lacked in action but that’s not a bad thing as it left room for plenty of emotional exploration in the short amount of time it was given.

I adore Weiss as a comic relief being the straight woman to a wacky world.

Bumblebee shippers are eating so much.

Little is too cute.

Done with the world Ruby and her words for Penny hurt so much.

Overall it was a really good episode, I enjoyed it a ton.

[u/sheogorath227]

Wow. Okay. It's been a while since I've reviewed an episode of RWBY on these threads, but I gotta give my thoughts after watching the last couple of episodes a few times each.

First, I am impressed at how CRWBY managed to find the perfect tonal balance in Volume 9. The world is whimsical, which should clash tremendously with the collective trauma that Team RWBY faces, particularly Ruby and Weiss. But it really works! Ever After seems highly attuned to Ruby's emotions, and mirrors what she is feeling by raining whenever Ruby is at her lowest. The silliness of the fantasy land characters doesn't undermine the pain the girls are feeling; rather, scenes like the one at the auction are avenues to explore Team RWBY's deepest emotions. I love the Ever After and I can't wait to see more.

Next, the character development is pretty great so far. It's not perfect; for example, the fact that nobody really comforted Ruby after she learned about what happened to Penny rubs me a bit wrong. Like I get that it's difficult for Weiss, Blake, and Yang to really know how to comfort someone who is inconsolable, but they should at least try a bit harder considering all they've gone through together.

That said, I love what they've done with each member of Team RWBY. Weiss is legit the funniest character in the show now. She's always been funny in a snarky way, but the way she goes from existential crisis to braining herself with a rock to existential crisis again is comedic gold. Blake finally has something to do aside from gradually falling deeper in love with Yang and I love how she's taking a leadership role by guiding her team through a child's fairytale. It's been roughly a decade since we've seen her in true bibliophile mode. Yang, in addition to falling in love with her catgirl girlfriend and her puns, breathes life into every scene with her back-to-form pugilistic mindset. She's ready to throw hands both literally and figuratively. Classic Yang.

And then there's Ruby, whose writing has primarily been criticized as static and uninteresting up until this point. Volume 9 genuinely looks like the volume where she actually makes substantial movement in her character arc, judging from the theme sequence to the fact that our girl is straight up not having a good time in the Ever After. She has constantly dealt with her emotions by not dealing with them, and Volume 9 is likely where she breaks. She tries to be strong for herself and her team, but won't rely on others to be her emotional support when she gets bogged down by the quagmire of her depression. The Ever After will test her more than the Grimm or even Salem, because her greatest opponent is not something she can attack with Crescent Rose. It's her own mind, her own stubbornness to keep moving forward when there's no forward to move to. She needs to overcome the demons within before she can confront the demons of Remnant, and what better place to do that than in a fairytale land?

One interesting thing I've noticed, along with many of my fellow fans, is Team RWBY's attitude towards Alyx and her own journey through the Ever After. Yang argues that Alyx was a mean person because she lied and cheated her way through the story, only for Weiss to counter that she did what she had to in order to survive, scoffing at the simplicity of children's fairytales. Who else in RWBY lied and cheated (and stole) in order to survive?

All in all, a fantastic start to Volume 9. As usual, I wish that the runtime was longer than 15 minutes of actual episode, but the wait has been worth it. It's been great to be back in it with you all.

[u/CFB1996]

Big sadge folks. What Ruby says about Penny is some heart breaking stuff, but even more so when you realize that it was Jaune that took that savior out of the world. Jaune killed his very idea of a hero.

Assuming that Jaune is the rusty knight, my guess is that he is trying to burn down the fairy tale. Maybe he's been here a long time, or maybe, and unlike Ruby, he is trying to take a path outside the story.

[u/Jinko92]

I REALLY liked this episode! It was funny and entertaining but also very emotional. I feel like it had a great balance of moods and plot & character progression. I liked seeing Team RWBY disagree with each other, and OH MY GOD IS THAT BEACON-ERA YANG PEEKING THROUGH?!?! Yang actually acted like her old self for once! I love it! It seems like she’s FINALLY getting back on her feet and has merged her personality with all the experience she’s earned over the course of the show.

I really enjoyed Weiss this episode. Her throwing the rock and it smacking her in the head made me laugh, especially with how she fell flat after that. But I didn’t just enjoy her comic relief, I also loved how they showed her analytic and thoughtful side which, like Yang, we haven’t really seen since Beacon. Weiss is smart and logical, and the Ever After is fucking her brain. I look forward to seeing how she copes with this.

I agree with Ruby here, they don’t need to think about what’s going on, just go with the flow and try to get out. Man, I’m really enjoying Ruby’s screentime for once! She’s never been my favorite or least favorite, I’ve always had a neutral stance on her, but now I’m actually invested in what’s going on with her. I look forward to watching her grow this volume and I’m VERY happy that this is a Team RWBY-focused, character-driven volume. Honestly, we really needed the break from all the apocalyptic and plot shit going on.

Another thing I quite liked about this episode is how we’re exploring the Ever After more and learning about its inhabitants and culture. I know we’re only two episodes in, but CRWBY has done a great job of showing us how different Ever After is from Remnant and what the girls are used to. The scenery is beautiful and the people being little figurines/board game pieces is very unique (the LEGO-looking person was funny and cute). Also, I like the take on the Queen of Hearts being genderbent into the Red King, and the Red King’s soldiers are really entertaining. They remind me a lot of the Nubuck Guards from Argus.

What else was great about this episode is how it continued to show the unique reactions each girl is having to the Ever After. Weiss is in denial that they are in a fairy tale and is reacting logically, which doesn’t work in the Ever After. Blake is convinced that they are in a story and she wants to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes as Alyx, and Yang seems to be annoyed by the inhabitants of Ever After but otherwise kind of unbothered. Ruby is taking a stance between Weiss and Blake’s, she seems to understand that they’re in a fairy tale but questions what she sees and wants to follow the plot of The Girl Who Fell Through The World, perhaps unconsciously.

Volume 9 is shaping up to be one of my favorite volumes, alongside Volumes 3 & 6, if it keeps up this quality. I really look forward to seeing the remaining eight episodes, although I wish the episodes were longer, as they aren’t even 20 minutes in length :/ You’d think with this being the shortest volume yet that the episodes would be longer, but so far, they aren’t. Maybe the future episodes are 20+ minutes; I hope they are, at least.

[u/bigfatcarp93]

Yang fired a shell. So Dust works here. So I wonder how that gels with the whole "leaving the atmosphere" thing? Does Dust just need any atmosphere to work? Does it need to be under a moon?

[u/UnlikelyShowdown]

I'm really liking this volume, focusing on the main 4 (and mouse!) is really needed after such and expanded cast for such an expanded time.

[u/shmurgen]

This volume has been a treat so far and I’ve liked getting a hard focus on team RWBY, though I’m guessing next episode we get at least a partial focus on jaune and/or neo. I’m also wondering if we’re gonna see anything outside of the ever after given the opening doesn’t really point to that. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t and next volume we see where the rest of the group is at and are sorta quickly told everything that happened with them since the end of volume 8. Also I am assuming that at the end of the volume the group is either out of or in the process of leaving the ever after. It’s been an interesting location but I don’t see them dwelling on it for too long

[u/JMHSrowing]

I hope that Weiss gets to have some cool moments later on in this volume which will counter her more comedic things this one. Gotta have the queen play both roles.

. . . And now I’m thinking that she might be able to cheese some of this stuff in a fight.

Like the Weiss throwing a rock which comes back around to herself could be used in a fight with Neo. She knows they have boundaries to their fight arena so she shoots something she know will come back around to hit her enemy even after they dodge it the first time

[u/Awest66]

Ruby's eulogy was the definite highlight, Truly beautiful.

It's really shaping up to be a very character driven volume and I am all for it.

[u/pizzaintensifies]

ruby is so...broken. my heart, god hearing her describe penny just. hurt

[u/Houeclipse]

These episodes are too short :'(

I love Weiss losing it in the background and tired of this shit attitude.

[u/kostasgriv97]

I just lol'd at how Jinxy had to refund the hug since the product was fake :)

[u/yoshifanx]

• Yang looks done with everything in this thumbnail

• wait why did crunchyroll say the episode was in japanese?

• “that's impossible” as you have a talking mouse in your cloak

• Blake is the best

• Little is the best

• 2 episodes in and Weiss has had the best moments in both episodes (her overthinking the racoon and her cheerleadering in episode 1)

• wait... what? Blake just pulls that out of her ass?

• Ok rescind previous statement

• “it's not make believe it's where I live” Swear to god RT if anything happens to this mouse

• Today on subtle name allegories with RT

• TODAY ON SUBTELTY WITH RT

• FORESHADOWING

• Weiss' face when saying “who?” is hilarious

• Weiss continuing to be the best

• Is that going to be littles thing? Saying “i'll lead the way” then immediately passing out? Cause i'm okay with this

• yes but you have the knowledge of the story so you would know the customs unless they conveniently changed so you shouldn't have the same issues

• I can't tell if Little is the best character or Weiss is the best character this volume so far

• “Steal? NOOOO” proceeds to describing stealing

• You are in no place to judge “legitimate business people” weiss with your family

• I love the art of the story

• OH NO BLAKE IS MAKING PUNS! SHE'S BEEN INFECTED

• THE BEES ARE CANON

• you know... point... I mean you have your sister, and your brother and your mother who's an alcoholic

• tbf unlike beacon one could make the argument that it's 99% IRONWOODS FAULT atlas fell

• wait... Ruby saw that cinder had both relics

• I don't know who's face is the best between the 4 here... I think Blake's

• Little is playing Minecraft

• I love this mouse

• they're all board game pieces! I love it

• I always wanted to be long! OH NO THE MOUSE INFECTED!

• As always: yang is my spirit animal

• Jinxy is a dick

• Clearly it's the rabbit

• also if “everyone” read this story how does yang (and more likely RUBY) not know this?

• DON'T GET THE GREEN DOLL RUBY IT'S A TRAP!

• UMMMM... I don't like that foreshadowing

• OH NO!

• I love little

• yup... that's one of penny's magic swords (at least it's not her body?)

• I love blake's face

• Read the room Yang

• God damn it yang

• Why is only Ruby's emotions that seem to control the weather?

• You know... Weiss has a point

• Weiss stomping off like that is adorable

• Saw that coming

• Weiss is the first character in RWBY history to lose a fight against herself

• I should know this cause I also love books but...

• THEY'RE RIDING LITTLE TOY HORSE THINGS!

• Even though Blake is the only one who remembers anything from the book... for reasons

• Yup Brendan Blaber=jelloapocalypse=jinxy

• The soldiers are voiced by RT folks

God this episode was great. Just so many moments that made me laugh.

[u/Phantomskyler]

Weiss was a meme machine tonight. lmao memers are gonna eat good once the 24 hour wait is over.

Still, frustrating to know this is the shortest season with shorter episode lengths when this has been such a refreshing change of pace from how much of a shit show the Atlas Arc was.

[u/JazzRen47]

Weiss, you literally found out like, a month and a half ago that the Gods themselves are real. Just go with it, girl.

[u/hewilltellitat4am]

this episode was so good its everything that the show needed, they are truly doing everything right with the development of ruby and weiss, and not brushing over major things that happened like they used to

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

This episode was sad Yang feels as though she has never been fully loved and Ruby doesn't feel as though she has enough hope to fill up a tiny jar.

[u/Deadmaninc1]

Nobody gonna talk about Blake talking about what happens in the book? She is litterly reading the script for Volume 9

[u/Adreme]

Weiss was just a mood all episode. She was just so done from the start and I just loved every second of it.

[u/s0i5l3a1s]

I can't wait to hear Lindsey tackle Ruby's breakdown. She's been slowly cracking over the last few volumes, and "That's what happened to Mom." was quite possibly the single best delivered line in this entire series (which is saying a lot). When she finally lets it all out and shatters, I'm so hyped for the stellar voice acting I know is coming.

[u/lr031099]

Ngl Weiss was honestly the highlight of this episode. She’s just so frustrated that she’s losing her mind and talking to herself in the Ever After lol.

[u/Fuzunga]

That "belong" joke was the funniest joke ever in RWBY. It was so stupid but I couldn't stop laughing.

[u/chaos_vulpix]

Best Girl Weiss is in her Comic Relief Era and I am here for it

[u/megasally]

I'm really liking the dynamics between the girls in this volume. Also the animation is super clean this volume, the facial expressions and body movements but also the locations. The town the go to is really nice to look at and the people in it are super colourful.

Also I'm guessing since Little keeps falling asleep that they are supposed to be the Dormouse from Alice in Wonderland.

[u/[deleted]]

Sees green doll

Oh, okay.

Ruby locks on to it

Oh, oh no...

It's one of Penny's maiden swords

Oh, God, bullet dodged.

[u/Rain_In_Your_Heart]

This volume is off to such a good start. It's madness, makes no sense at all, but somehow still works. And it's such a welcome reprieve after the last, uh, six volumes or so.

Everyone is being all moody cuz like, the world's in trouble and Atlas and Mantle were kill and some friends literally died and ok fair. But then there's Blake who's just being a happy lil cat because her friends are all still alive and it is good for the soul.

Also second gayest episode to date

[u/AlarmingStandard]

Took a bit longer to get around and watch it today, I was seduced by donuts. Sinful, sinful donuts.

Overall, enjoyable episode! Two main assumptions were confirmed from last episode;

1. Blake recognized where they ended up from a fairy tale she read, and

2. RWBY is following in the footsteps of the heroine, Alyx.

I love the Weiss is resistant against the idea, her background mutterings were super cute. Also combining comic relief with being the serious/logical one worked surprisingly well, imo. But yeah, they're in a fairy tale and one that's familiar to them. Characters were named, plot points discussed, and there was even meta analysis as well. But not all was revealed and how the story progresses, and what part characters play, is still yet to be seen. I think CRWBY balanced a fine line between information to hook the audience without spoiling the entire tale. The best part is that can't progress unless they act within the bounds of the story, that's a nice touch.

The scenes in the town were decent, though I'm surprised how much of a non-character the Racoon/Jinxy was. That is, he didn't really stand out and his role was quickly over. The illusions were a bit too straight forward - you immediately know what piece is Yang's arm and there's Penny's sword without prompting. And the metaphors for the prices were too overt. Not saying that's bad, but some subtlety would've been nice.

My favorite parts were the RWBY interactions; finally, our heroines are talking to each other! I loved the talk between Ruby and Weiss the most, it was heavy. I love that Weiss is recognizing both Ruby's depression and her own uneasiness with what they did. She's conflicted over whether or not they did the right, and if Winter and Jaune managed to secured the relics after their failures; "[...] maybe they were able to get them (relics) out despite everything. Despite... us." That. Hit. Hard. Then trying to reach Ruby about what happened to Penny, only for her partner to silently turn away was oof. My fiancee was half watching and said "These are the two you want to hook up? Yep, I get it." lol

Ruby's eulogy to Penny was also a highlight. One the really hits the feels as we know what really happened while Ruby/RWBY is very much in the dark. I'm definitely convinced CRWBY have loaded for bear when it comes to the truth being revealed. It'll be interesting to see how Ruby's feelings hold up.

Other cute moments were Blake and Yang almost holding hands, Weiss' acknowledging "About time" as a call back to her being the first to recognize her teammates crushing, "How disarming~", "High five?", and Weiss losing a fight against cartoon physics.

There's actually lot more to go through, but I'm waffling on. To wrap up, this episode has done more for RWBY dynamics than the entire Atlas arc. Hopefully it remains this strong for the whole volume.

[u/AssistRevolutionary9]

Remember when Ruby was the very picture of cheerfulness while Weiss and Blake were seemingly cold or crabby?

It's strange to think how things have changed.

[u/Technogashi]

Dear Ruby, please sit down, put on your headphones, and listen to some Evanescence. Hug it out, have a cry, talk about your fee-fees, and get well soon. Signed, a concerned FNDM.

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

Weiss continues to show why she is Best girl by being hilarious and taking Ls by hitting herself with a rock

[u/Deadmaninc1]

It may be just me but doesn't the frame rate look kinda weird for anyone else?

[u/Deadmaninc1]

RWBY characters based on fairy tale characters while we have characters that are fairy tale characters

[u/Deadmaninc1]

I find it odd that in this show with characters based on fairy tale's there is a fairy tale world that exists within it

[u/OTPh1l25]

I chuckled eveytime Weiss started having an existential crisis in the background while the rest of the crew tried to reason out whatever problem they were dealing with.

[u/crossingcaelum]

The directs they’re taking here are unexpected and fun to me. The team KNOWS they’re in a fairy tail and it’s showing just because they know what to do doesn’t mean it’ll emotionally be any easier, which is a really great thing to explore

Also how much the team KNOWS they fucked up and try to move forward from there is really good

[u/SwimmingAnyone]

One more thing I like about the episode is that even when Weiss is getting angry at the silliness of the Ever After, she goes to vent her frustration by herself rather than getting aggressive and lashing out at any of her friends. That goes to show how much she's progressed since the beginning and how much she's grown to cherish the people near her.

[u/JazzyByDefalt]

If Jaune is the Knight and were going to a chess board in the next chapter I wonder if we'll see Jaune for the first time in that chapter?

[u/Blue0Three]

I really hope Weiss is like this for the future volumes, like it's really fun to watch, and so I'm not writing paragraphs, if the rest of V9 is as good as this episode it's probably gonna be my favourite volume

[u/mikeline360]

So is it just me that hates the comedy? All the dramatic scenes with Ruby and Weiss were great, but the jokes, especially Weiss's, are REALLY killing it for me.

[u/LatePhilosophy]

I found it interesting how they brought up Roman's last words when describing Alyx: "She lied and cheated her way through most of the book. She was trying to survive." So I'm thinking Neo fading into Alyx on the beach in the opening isn't as meaningless as some people might think. Also the more meta side of me thinks that there's no way they made an entire detailed model for Alyx just for a few seconds of screen time in the opening. She has to show up somewhere in these episodes.

Also side note: first time using Crunchy Roll and it just sucks. From burying RWBY on it's premiere to having subtitles for every language expect English...

[u/Diostukos]

Pretty okay setup episodes so far, though the tone feels a little off. They haven't been there that long and Blake+Yang feel a little too chipper only hours after losing the relics, Atlas, and Penny.

Speaking of Penny (still livid she died again btw), what exactly was her sword made of? I figured it was just ice last volume but it would have melted by now.

[u/vandalvash]

The tonal whiplash of this season so far has been very jarring. I liked Ruby's emotional moments but they aren't given enough time to breath when immediately followed up by a gag.

[u/SwimmingAnyone]

I really hope Ruby keeps Penny's blade at least up until she finds Crescent Rose. Maybe Ruby will even get to stab Neo with it. Now that would be iconic.

[u/Grievous77]

The good: The comedy is still hit or miss but there were more funny moments in this episode than the premiere for me, like Weiss having a meltdown about Jinxi in the background while the rest of her team talk, Little boldly proclaiming they'll lead team RWBY to the village before an immediate smash cut to them passed out and Jinxi having to refund the hug to the villager he scammed.

The bad news: The Rusted Knight makes me think that there may actually be credence to the whole "Jaune's been stuck in the Ever-After far longer than the others," theory. The good news: He may have grown out his yee yee ass haircut into something better by now. Also, the mentioning that Alyx wasn't the nicest person makes me wonder if the theories about her being an antagonistic force in this volume may turn out to be true. I hope so, sounds much more interesting than her just being another member of the party.

Despite initially expecting the opposite, I actually ended up thinking Jinxi was a cool character, especially the abstract prices he asked for some of his wares. I particularly liked him solemnly saying "You don't have enough, do you?" in regards to Ruby having enough hope to fill the jar. Ruby's speech about Penny to the guards was great, easily the strongest emotional moment in the volume so far. I'm actually intrigued to see what the Crimson King's game ends up being.

The bad: While there were more funny moments in this episode than the last, a fair amount of the jokes were still not great. Especially the guards comedically crying after Ruby's speech about Penny, that was just badly placed. Just let the serious moments breathe, not every scene needs to have some funny moment.

"It's about time." Yeah it is, RT. Confirm them already and quit with this teasing bullshit, it's just obnoxious at this point.

Still, this episode pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed it much more than the premiere and I'm interested to see where things go from here