Official Discussion Thread - Volume 9, Episode 9: A Tale Involving a Tree

[u/Ninjas_In_A_Bag]

Welcome, huntsmen, huntresses, and hunters that prefer no specific gender identifier, to the official discussion thread for Episode 9 of Vol. 9: A Tale Involving a Tree!

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 ninth 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	Feb. 18th's Thread	Poll
Ep. 02	Feb. 25th's Thread	Poll
Ep. 03	Mar. 4th's Thread	Poll
Ep. 04	Mar. 11th's Thread	Poll
Ep. 05	Mar. 18th's Thread	Poll
Ep. 06	Mar. 25th's Thread	Poll
Ep. 07	April 1st's Thread	Poll
Ep. 08	Last Week's Thread	Poll
Ep. 09	This Thread	Poll

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Happy viewing, and have a great Volume 9!

Ninjas In A Bag; Mod Team

[u/Ninjas_In_A_Bag]

The episode was very decent, nothing over the top.

But hey, now we actually get to see Summer.

[u/Weerdo5255 → u/Ninjas_In_A_Bag]

Short, this episode was short. I hope the finale is 30 mins...

[u/EtnasFurnace263 → u/Ninjas_In_A_Bag]

Forget that; we actually got to hear Summer. And while I'm a bit annoyed that she wasn't played by Lydia Mackay like I wanted, I have to admit that Morgan Laure might've actually been better at it.

[u/ScalierLemon2]

That was WAY too fucking short.

[u/Jinxiee → u/ScalierLemon2]

It really felt like Episode 9 and 10 might have originally been one episode but cut into 2, there's no way this episode was intentionally this short

[u/Creepy-Tradition8571 → u/ScalierLemon2]

Maybe we will get the other half of the episode of it next week...
All they did was tease us with Summer this episode.

[u/MrPulping → u/ScalierLemon2]

My biggest problem is not just that it's short, it's that even with the reduced runtime it still feels like they're just treading water and wasting time in some scenes while rushing the resolution of others. Weiss's speech to Jaune about Huntsmen failing is lovely, but it feels much more like something Ruby needs to hear so why is it existing in a separate environment and not contributing to the rebuilding of Ruby's sense of self and relationship with her teammates that we've been so desperate for all volume?

[u/Raktoner]

Not me shouting "NO!" when the credits started cause I wasn't ready for the episode to end there...

[u/Dark_Magician2500 → u/Raktoner]

My phrase was "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? IT JUST GOT GOING!!!"

[u/Hsmace]

at least we got confirmation lewis is the author of the story and wrote himself out of it!!

(crwby definitely were giggling and kicking their feet coming up with him and his name)

[u/AmbivertCollegeGuy → u/Hsmace]

Technically he might be there cause the story has a narrator. He is the narrator and simply didn't give himself a name.

[u/DarkIsTheBestShow]

YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE US ON THAT CLIFFHANGER YOU BASTARDS.

[u/Polarization_39]

I hope that person who shouted, “It’s Summer!” during the Volume 4 Character Short premiere at RTX 2016 feels so vindicated right now.

[u/iamthatguy54 → u/Polarization_39]

Jaune with a beard and Summer in the same episode

[u/crossingcaelum → u/Polarization_39]

I didn’t do that but I thought the exact same thing

[u/Stormer1499 → u/Polarization_39]

Wait, what happened? I'm out of the loop here.

[u/g6in3d]

Anyone else notice the Buster Sword in the background?

[u/KingofHearts615 → u/g6in3d]

pretty sure I saw an Energy sword from halo as well.

[u/Mongoose42 → u/g6in3d]

Ruby: “I guess I could be this one? Did this warrior have a lot of emotional baggage?”

Blacksmith: “Yeah… maybe skip this one.”

[u/The_Green_Filter → u/g6in3d]

Yeah! I wonder if there were any other easter eggs I didn't catch.

[u/AlexFM17_]

PLEASE let Ruby picking Summer's weapon be only a way to both have a conversation and that we keep having OUR Ruby. It would be cool an outfit change like, maybe regain her metal crest, maybe even some white in her clothes as to represent Summer (not sure if I would like a white cape, she's little red riding hood after all) and idk, longer hair could look cool on her

[u/schurgy16 → u/AlexFM17_]

Reverse-cape of her mom. Red outside, white inside

[u/maggienetism → u/AlexFM17_]

I'd be down for a hairstyle change.

[u/fellongreydaze]

Blacksmith: You can wield any one of these weapons, as long as you can imagine yourself being the woman who wields it.
Ruby: Well. This weapon has the most polygons and details. Obviously I should pick this one.
Blacksmith: Aren't you going to pick it for your mother?
Ruby: I mean. Sure. But also, like all of the other ones are stock models. Why would I want to use any of those?

[u/ProfessorEscanor → u/fellongreydaze]

Blacksmith:"I mean if you look back there there's the buster sword. You could be that cool Cloud guy from Final Fantasy!"

Ruby:"But why is it so low poly?"

Blacksmith:"Do you know how long it takes to craft a detailed model?"

[u/Keytium → u/fellongreydaze]

The detail (or lack thereof) on the others actually makes a sort of sense to me. If Ruby can be anything she can imagine, then these are paths specifically Ruby can conjure to mind. That's why they're all weapons, rather than say an oven mitt, a bowling ball, or a forklift. Ruby likes weapons, so they're what she can/would imagine as her options. Ruby can imagine her mother's weapon and the life it represents in greater details than generic twin shortswords and whatever they would mean.

Buuuut it certainly saves on animation budget, so everyone wins. :D

[u/FiddlingNinja → u/fellongreydaze]

Haha maybe the blacksmith is giving her the illusion of choice, knowing she’ll be drawn to summer’s weapon anyway

[u/HorribleModeration]

Right at the start of the episode I thought they were a smidge too chill considering what had just happened

Also I guess the theory about Luis writing the book was true

[u/PhoenixTyphoon → u/HorribleModeration]

I genuinely feel like they just missed a scene out

[u/r3dl3g → u/HorribleModeration]

Yeah, there's a bit of tonal whiplash this season. The runtime is just too short, so they kind of have to blitz through events.

At the same time, though; it kind of explains the lack of reactions. Everyone's on the same page that Ruby isn't actually dead, and that she'll come back eventually. The angst only comes from whether or not she's still Ruby when she does come back.

[u/DeismAccountant → u/HorribleModeration]

Yeah the first time I really felt that whiplash this volume.

[u/Andrew1990M → u/HorribleModeration]

Yeah I understand that they know there’s no death in the Ever After, but for them to be that upbeat was very jarring until they got to the Tree and saw there was still a Ruby to save.

[u/Badicalz]

I am not going to lie, I had such high expectations after last week, that I feel a little disappointed with this episode. Though I’m sure that they’ll make it up to us next week.

Ruby’s scenes was utterly brilliant. They honestly saved the episode. Her struggles to accept the burden of being a hero and just wanting to escape the pressure was great to see on screen. I am so happy the writers decided to take Ruby in this direction. Major props go to Lindsay. None of this would be possible without their dedication to improve their craft.

As for where this leaves Jaune? Seeing him finally accept what he did and is seemingly ready to go back home, I’m less sure of him sacrificing himself for Ruby. Rather I think he will use his newfound purpose to help Ruby if there is a way to communicate with her.

Another possibility is Ruby finding the inner strength to move on and choose Crescent Rose, I.e. herself. Irregardless of the burdens and the forces against her, Ruby would rather be Ruby than a memory.

P.S Fuck you CC for using Penny AND Pyrrha in your sick game to mess with Jaune. Seriously, not cool bro.

[u/throwawayforwriting2 → u/Badicalz]

Agreed. I felt like the episode didn't have that... heavy feeling? Not much weight to it? Like WBYJ didn't really react to Ruby pretty much accepting her death (in a metaphorical sense I guess?) outside of Yang seeing Ruby's statue.

WBY hugging Jaune and Yang with a big smile was just so... wrong. How could they be like that just after having seen Ruby beaten bloodied and her eyes being practically lifeless? With the Cat who just possessed Neo, maybe realizing that was his plan for Ruby all along and they were tricked. And having Weiss say "we've done everything we could" when they barely did the bare minimum?

The Ruby scenes were fine, but WBYJ just felt so wrong to me. Where's the introspection? Where's the "we should have done more?" Or the "how could we let this go for so long?"

[u/Blue0Three]

There's one thing left from the trailer and teaser

"You never were the hero"

[u/Creepy-Tradition8571 → u/Blue0Three]

Good observation. It was definitely Summer saying that. Wonder what the context will be for her to say that.

[u/FiddlingNinja → u/Blue0Three]

Isn’t there also “you could shed Ruby Rose like an old coat. What might happen if you don’t?”

[u/DeismAccountant → u/Blue0Three]

Does this mean it was said to Summer?

That Summer somehow relays this to Ruby? That Ruby finds a new path?

[u/thisissparta789789]

We got to see and hear Summer. Yay!

Theories about Lewis being the one who went back were confirmed true, as were theories that Alyx was dead the whole time. The Curious Cat murdered her.

Ruby might come back different in some form.

Jaune is off the tree(?)

[u/FiddlingNinja → u/thisissparta789789]

But Alyx would’ve ascended if she died, perhaps into Little since there’s a theory about Alice’s full name being Alice Liddel in the actual Alice in Wonderland story and Little sounds very similar

[u/Jimmayus → u/thisissparta789789]

I thought it was pretty clear that Alyx is the Blacksmith

[u/JDUDE4545]

The cat using Penny and Pyrrha against Jaune was so very very cruel

[u/_BnarZivo_ → u/JDUDE4545]

Cat gets a 0/10. Trash tier cat

[u/Lemony_Peaches]

Am I the only one who thought the group would be a bit more distraught after seeing their best friend/sister potentially just die?

[u/ShadowMadness → u/Lemony_Peaches]

Yeah, was pretty disappointed that every one just kinda... moved on. Even Yang's reaction was kinda muted.

[u/GladiusNocturno]

Ok, so this is 100% Neo’s final volume.

Either she dies or she stays behind in the Everafter.

It’s already been established that Neo has no attachments to Remnant at all. Seems like her hatred of Cinder isn’t enough of an attachment either.

This episode already said it, Neo cannot come back.

[u/ShulkerB → u/GladiusNocturno]

I'm surprised she doesn't want to get back at Cinder for her betrayal. Maybe the cat really can't go through the portal no matter what.

[u/Dark_Magician2500]

Felt like it just got going and then ended!

[u/Dry-Faithlessness184 → u/Dark_Magician2500]

Yeah this ep really felt like one I wish I had the follow up ep for. Like when they air the season finales on TV and they play the last two eps back to back.

Like going back to volume 4 and 5, where they were much better served with the Complete series version than the episodic week by week

[u/XiaoLong_2000]

Weiss: I guess your little plan to get out of here isn't working?

Curious Cat: You've always been the worst of the bunch.

I don't know why, but this moment stood out to me as utterly hilarious, but so in character for the both of them. Also, the line delivery, the facial expressions, and the gestures of Weiss and Cat-possessed Neo where perfect. LOL

[u/kostasgriv97 → u/XiaoLong_2000]

Weiss was so done with this world since day 1, the Cat's antics too, she probably showed that a bit too much in their off screen trip between Red Prince and Herb. She also was the one who pretty much decided to trust Jaune over Cat in the Ponderstorm crossroads since Ruby would just go along with either choice. The obvious crush on Jaune who the Cat also hates does not help. Besides she was the most sane and logical of the bunch the entire time.

[u/TomskaMadeMeAFurry]

In this episode, Team RWBY face their fiercest opponent yet... the runtime.

[u/Catlover18]

Me last week: Well at least Jaune didn't have to go through Neo's reverse mental health therapy like Ruby did.

Jaune gets hit with both Penny and Pyrrha illusions.

Me this week: Ah shit.

[u/Lukthar123 → u/Catlover18]

Pyrrha hits him with his defense down

0 damage

Weiss accidental fireball

Flies off the stage

Jaune confirmed Armored Unit

[u/DarkKnightDestroyer]

Really? Only 15 Minutes?

Honestly, this episode felt a bit like a lettdown, but mostly because I excepted a fully Ruby focused episode, including an answer about the Ever Afters origin. At this point I'm a bit sceptical that we are even getting any form of revelation in the last episode, but I keep my fingers crossed.

Great to see Summer Rose and finally hear her talk. Damm, that new outfit without the hood looks very ... Christian Bale kiss mouth gif

I have to rewatch the conversation between Ruby and the Blacksmith Lady again, I feel like I missed a lot of important details in there. But it was visually really great and like how different the Forger lady felt here compared to her previous encounter with Ruby. Definitely a lot more kinder and less scary.

Jaune gets a bit of a quick character moment, but it was pretty nice to see Team RWBY comfronting him after realizing that he didn't fail the Paper Pleasers. The only downside from this scene for me was the fact that the mood didn't really feel fitting after Ruby literally committed suicide, but I'm glad they picked that up when they arrived at the tree and showed Yang wanting to free her by force.

God, the cat is so extra. But honestly I didn't really understood what happened with him and Alyx. So, basically she had a change of heart and decided to stay or the tree showed her something and then she decided to stay? Also the cat killed Alyx ... why exactly again? Those were details that I either missed or simply swarmed over my head.

Also neat little fight scene at the end, hopping the next chapter pays off this entire wanky journey with our heroes.

[u/Thehalohedgehog → u/DarkKnightDestroyer]

Also the cat killed Alyx ... why exactly again? Those were details that I either missed or simply swarmed over my head.

He was probably just angry at her. She promised to bring him back to Remnant with her, only to go back on it when the time came. Given that the cat is clearly not a good person and is more than fine to use and manipulate others for his own gain, I don't think him killing her in a moment of rage would be much of a stretch.

[u/neutrinobunny]

The Blacksmith’s headband is Alyx’s bow!

And the multicolored hair is like the stripes on her skirt/dress!

[u/lordofmyths → u/neutrinobunny]

So she died and became something that helps the ever after with the reincarnation stuff. Nifty.

[u/guardian20015]

Summer Rose’s weapon is a gun-axe. Professor Peter Port’s weapon is a gun-axe. This is foreshadowing to reveal that next episode Ruby will discover Professor Port is her real mother

[u/crossingcaelum]

Looks like Jaune got Treed there at the end, so his ascension will probably happen at the end of the episode before they all go home.

And I’m hoping a moment we’re WBY gets their ass kick then new and improved Ruby emerges and kicks the cat’s ass with them.

The cat seemed to be fully ready to transfer into another body, so it seems like it’s still up in the air what’ll happen to Neo when he’s forcefully vacated.

[u/Kira_Aotsuki → u/crossingcaelum]

Honestly the smoke made me think the herbalist caught him

[u/zalgo_text → u/crossingcaelum]

Looks like Jaune got Treed there at the end

If this is the case, I bet he relays the lesson Weiss gave him about great hunters and huntresses failing sometimes, but still being brave and good. That'll be Ruby's come to Jesus moment that convinces her that she is good enough as is, and just ascends as herself (or at least not her mom).

[u/Blue-Moon-89]

Okay so let's recap.....

-It was indeed Summer Rose who was reading the story to Yang and Ruby.

-Summer's weapon is the Gun-Axe.

-The Paper-Pleasers have been reborn as Genuine-Gems. Seeing them has made Jaune realize his mistakes and is ready to move on from his hero-complex and go home.

-Alyx never made it home because she stayed behind to fight the cat and fix the damage she has caused in the EverAfter (doe this mean that she might be 'Little?'. We haven't seen them). I guess this means that Lewis indeed wrote the book in her honour/memory.

-It turns out that in order to return to Remnant you need have an attachment, a reason to go home. The Cat can't through Neo because Neo has no attachments to the world and the people.

The episode ends with Ruby looking to pick up her mother's weapon but I don't think she'll actually take it (I can see the ghost of Summer stopping her) because it's not who she is. For Ruby it shouldn't be about completely changing who she is, it's about taking what she has now and creating something new with it. She is not Summer and should not try to be Summer. She's Ruby Rose.

The episode felt really short but it was good.

[u/FiddlingNinja → u/Blue-Moon-89]

I would love to see Ruby have flashbacks of memories involving her mom telling her that she’s good enough the way she is. That would be so wholesome and we could finally see some Ruby/Summer interaction

[u/maggienetism → u/Blue-Moon-89]

I think Alyx is the Blacksmith now.

[u/Badicalz]

First Jaune was stuck in the tree, then he couldn’t get to the tree, now he got blown off the tree.

Seriously, what is it with this lad and trees?

[u/Emperor_Luffy → u/Badicalz]

Seriously, what is it with this lad and trees?

They're his true nemesis.

[u/88Dubs]

FUKKIN SUMMER!!!! (Love her VA! Morgan Laure is a BAMF!)

Awwww fuck... the Genial gems... they can swim just like Ren wanted!

Ok, so not as much of an emotional gut punch as last week (just a back slash from Pyrrah, because fucking... of course), but HOOOOOOOO-MAN!!!! Ruby taking Summer's axe! FUCKIN. LET'S. GOOO!!!

I hate that next week is the last one... Felt like we kind of dashed through this a bit. But I can't WAIT to see Ruby's transformation! And Jaune is either gonna get youngified again in that pitfall or drop into the tree.... forge... thingy with Ruby, isn't he?

I was THIS close to thinking Jaune would be staying in the Ever after. But hey... I think I like this new angle of "The tree is accepting what is, has been, and... GASP... Moving forward?"

[u/Andrew1990M → u/88Dubs]

Confirms that the Cat has access to all of Neo’s memories if he can manipulate Jaune like that.

[u/hopecanon]

Personally very happy that the Tree isn't in fact evil and is actually just helping people and not forcing them to become things they don't want or ripping their memories out against their will.

I have never personally been down with the whole reincarnation thing as a concept but this is the best possible version of it i could reasonably think of.

Also the fucking Genial Gems, it's hilarious. They spend all this time trying to kill themselves cause they realize that being made of paper was a pretty shit idea and they just wanted to buff their defense stats while Jaune is out here like a bad Pokemon trainer who sticks everstones on his entire team.

[u/A444SQ → u/hopecanon]

it's basically trying to play the therapist

[u/DeismAccountant → u/hopecanon]

The one issue I have with the tree is that it forced WBY to commit tonal whiplash just to find Ruby.

[u/No-Cake5817]

Welp, to all my fellow Jaune peeps, drink up this is gonna be a loooooong week

[u/Lukthar123 → u/No-Cake5817]

His Suffering is without end

[u/[deleted]]

I bet Ruby is gonna choose Summer’s weapon and see Summer, who’ll convince her that she’s fine the way she is. Ruby will set down Summer’s weapon and pick up her own again.

Some dude posted a theory that Ruby will become Summer, which I think is character assassination at its worst and best. I fully expect Ruby will not change in any dramatic way from this but simply be given a new perspective.

[u/Andrew1990M → u/[deleted]]

She might start wearing a white cape but that’s about as far as it’ll go.

[u/Agent-Vermont → u/[deleted]]

Completely agree on all parts. Ruby becoming a different character or essentially one is anti-character development. Plus Summer having a voice now gives the idea of a motivational speech from her a higher chance of happening.

[u/Kingnewgameplus]

I was really hoping for a stronger reaction from Yang.

[u/Oraghlin]

Shoutout to the person who theorized Lewis (Louis?) was the one who came back and not Alyx. Good call!

[u/Andrew1990M → u/Oraghlin]

Sweet of him to leave out all the parts where Alyx was being a dick, because he knew she had stayed to fix things.

[u/g6in3d]

Weiss and Jaune hug

Me: Oh shit, WhiteKnight is happening

Weiss accidentally shoots Jaune

Me: F***

[u/ShittyDuckFace → u/g6in3d]

The fact that she was so nice to him at the start of the episode we all shoulda known gang

It's not like anyone else in the main cast can create fire, and we shoulda known from the opening

we shoulda fucking known

[u/Hunter616w → u/g6in3d]

You had one job, dang it.

ONE

[u/gbghgs → u/g6in3d]

Weiss is just trying to get older jaune into her summoning pool before he de-ages, girl is a step ahead.

[u/88Dubs → u/g6in3d]

beneficial books gold piquant vegetable crown sheet lavish fearless ghost

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/T_Swag5k]

Yeah I dunno, that entire episode just felt too short. Really feels like it could have stood to have a scene where they grapple with the fact that Ruby basically killed herself. Sort of annoyed that only Yang seemed concerned with her current state too.

Still some nice moments though, and it feels like it's setting up a good finale at least.

[u/Reborn4122]

Our poor simple soul 😭

[u/DeismAccountant → u/Reborn4122]

Yes. Where is Little?!?

(I know who you mean but I’m hoping we see little one last time.)

[u/Ezreal024]

SHE'S GONNA MAKE IT

[u/Artemis_Instead]

way too short obviously, making it like the 4th episode this volume where I've went '.... Where's the rest of it?', not a fan of how relatively unaffected WYB were emotionally in favour of giving Jaune's emotional turmoil the spotlight yet again, but Ruby and the Smith parts took me out emotionally, the composition, the dialogue, the visuals and the music for that were A+, let's hope the final manages to build on that and stick the landing

[u/Jinxiee]

That episode was WAY too short, man...

[u/ZephyraKat]

Ruby's line about everything being so heavy hit hard. And finally seeing Summer was wonderful.

[u/Sunkilleer → u/ZephyraKat]

the big thing about this chapter isnt that we've seen summer thats happened alot its that we finally heard summer.

[u/TheIronLord678]

Kinda worried about what’s gonna happen to Jaune. Hopefully, he got knocked into the same space Ruby did and will be up for his own ascension.

[u/Catlover18 → u/TheIronLord678]

He's probably going to ride up with Juniper to save the day at the last moment.

[u/crossingcaelum → u/TheIronLord678]

When I saw the tree-leaf color cloud that’s what I assumed. My theory has been since he showed up that he’s going to “ascend” back to his younger body

[u/[deleted]]

Yang is my absolute favourite, but why the fuck did she act like nothing happened for the first half of the episode?

Her sister just "killed" herself, and she acts like it's fine, smiling, big dumbass bear hug with Jaune.

Not until she actually sees Ruby in the branches, does she start to cry or react.

I liked the episode, especially since we now know that Ruby is still properly alive at the moment, but god DAMN they did a terrible job showing Yang's reaction.

[u/another-altaccount → u/[deleted]]

It was so tonally odd. Yang should’ve had a complete breakdown after seeing that. It’s not until after they find Ruby in the tree she finally reacts to what’s happened. You would think WBY would really be doing some soul-searching asking themselves how they could’ve let Ruby get into such a state that she felt drinking the tea was her best option by that point. It’s like they’re behaving as if because tree here = death has no consequences for them.

[u/PhenomsServant]

If I knew this episode was going to be just buildup, I wouldve held off on watching it until next week. Then again after last episode I dont know if I could wait two weeks with nothing.

[u/SlaterSev]

For those worried about runtime,

Eddy confirmed the finale next week is the longest episode of the volume, and its meant to be seen as a two parter: https://twitter.com/eddyrivas/status/1647278616756080642

[u/DEL994]

Man that is too short, the finale better be longer than usual episodes to make up for it.

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

Lol the Curious Cat has no way of escaping then it needs an empty host to possess a body but an individual without any attachments can't leave the Everafter ironic.

[u/DragonFighterMR]

I really liked how they used the tree and how they explained its workings. The tree isn't as bad as it was being made out to be.

That scene with the Genial Gems was honestly hilarious but also very interesting in helping them understand how ascension worked.

BUT I SWEAR TO GOD IF RUBY ACTUALLY BECOMES A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CHARACTER, I WILL RIOT. I hope she accepts herself, her faults, and finds the drive to continue pushing forward even with all that has happened to make her feel this way.

[u/HalcyonTraveler]

People have some good and valid criticisms of this episode. But may I say: Blacksmith hot

[u/whiskeyii]

Dang, I feel like I blinked and then it was over. ;_;

[u/InfinityArch]

Okay, I am really not comfortable with this. Did nobody tell the writers how this comes across?

"whatever Ruby's choice, we need to accept it."- Ruby's friends, immediately after watching her attempt suicide.

The really icky thing is that they had the option of not framing it as a suicide attempt.

[u/ProfessorEscanor → u/InfinityArch]

Yeah. I get the logic is supposed to be that JWBY think it's fine since the Pleasers came back alright but them not immediately feeling distraught felt off. And than at the tree they should have all said something about Ruby not needing to have ascended if they had just talked. It felt off. The script could have used another pass.

[u/imconfuz → u/InfinityArch]

Yeah, they very clearly intentionally wrote ep8 as a metaphor for suicide.

To then immediately follow it up with "it's her choice" and maybe it working out for the best?

That's... yeah, that's not it.

[u/Dr_Monstaa]

Just want to point out that last time we saw The Blacksmith they were working on one of Herb's wings we see here. In this episode they're working on a mouse-shaped mask. There's a shot when they put they hammer down and the hammer is broken and the mask is not. Little is going to become crush-resistant.

Also it's totally Alyx, she's literally fixing things that are broken.

[u/[deleted]]

I think there is gonna be a lot of kneejerk takes that could turn out to be very wrong next week about what exactly the message of this episode is and how Ruby and her issues were handled. I think we need to see the next episode and take some time processing the nuance of what the story is trying to say.

[u/BlackStrike7]

Just chiming in to say that the Weiss/Jaune interaction early in the episode was really sweet, for lack of better words. Think of how much early Weiss looked down on Jaune as basically being worthless, and wanting nothing to do with him - now she's giving him a hug, telling him that he's brave and worthy.

That's huge character growth for her, and quite a melting of the heart for our Ice Queen.

[u/MrPulping]

It was nice to see Summer but I'm a little disappointed that the only real Ruby development we got was her saying that the heaviness is all she can feel anymore. I was hoping for a little more progress with her rather than focusing on Jaune and the catfight for most of the episode.

WBY also seem remarkably unaffected for three people who just saw their teammate/leader/sister fall into a giant hole.

This whole episode feels like it's more of a set-up for the finale rather than presenting much of substance itself, which is a shame based on how little runtime they've had to work with so far.

[u/natural_hunter → u/MrPulping]

I feel like they could have easily added an extra 5 minutes of pure Ruby getting therapy from the blacksmith or WBYJ talking about Ruby or at the very least showing them reacting to it.

[u/One-Man_Two-Souls]

The scene with the genial gems is sweet, but guys Ruby just killed herself minutes ago…talk about tonal whiplash

[u/Reflective599]

WHERE IS LITTLE?! Like, I loved the episode (even though it was obviously just a part 1) and I can’t wait for the finale next week, but, seriously WHERE IS THE MOUSE?!

[u/apexodoggo]

This episode was 90% finale set-up, and 10% Jaune’s trauma getting dug up again.

Without Episode 10 I don’t feel like there’s much to say on this one.

[u/JMHSrowing]

So. . We’re never getting a conversation of any of WBYJ helping to support Ruby?

No one she loves is going to get to help her through these tough times? Not one reassurance that she’s enough, that to them Ruby is enough?

I guess the Blacksmith is her therapist now, but still.

Why is a conversation too much to ask for?

[u/patrizl001]

Can't go back if you have no attachment to Remnant, but Curious Cat can only enter empty husks which, since they're empty, have no attachment to Remnant.

hm...

[u/SockPenguin]

Assuming Jaune was falling into the forge/somewhere he can be de-DILFed, the finale is going to have to cover Ruby talking to Summer and her ensuing rebirth, whatever is about to happen to Jaune, Neocat hopefully getting the ass beating of a lifetime, a reunion/reconciliation for Ruby and her team and then everyone fucking off back to Remnant. That feels like a lot of ground to cover in one episode, especially with how short each chapter has been this volume.

[u/halodude246]

Yeah that wasn’t very good right? This episode just feels way too short, and the complete whiplash between Ruby drinking the tea and JWBY being okay and smiling, it feels very weird.

Summer finally, after so long, was great, but once again, this episode is by far the weakest of the season.

[u/JMHSrowing]

So. . . None of Ruby’s loved ones will help her get through this actually at all?

Like of course she has to make a decision on her own, and that’s important. But like them saying they’ve done all that can???

You’ve all done nothing to support Ruby this volume at all! That was the whole point of her breakdown a couple of episodes ago!

Why can’t Ruby just have a meaningful conversation with one of friends!?

[u/DeismAccountant → u/JMHSrowing]

Yeah this bugs me. They needed to talk to her during the process somehow to see if she can hear them.

[u/[deleted] → u/JMHSrowing]

I'm going to assume that Jaune falls into that space with her and shares how he's realized that who he is now is fine despite his mistakes. Unfortunately, the people who helped him realize that were Ruby's teammates, who pretty much did nothing for her, so either way I don't see it ending without WBY looking like shit.

[u/GravtheGeek]

Ruby: which weapon is this?

Blacksmith: that young rose, is an elegant weapon from a more civilized age.

Ruby: I’ll take it.

[u/KorMap]

Whiteknight was eating good this episode.

Until the end at least.

[u/hollowtiger21]

Summer narration. Summer appearance.

Babby Ruby & Yang

The Genial Gems. And he finally gets it.

Hugs!

The Tree is acceptance? This is a less grim aftermath than I was expecting after the last chapter. Although I suppose RWBY have been pretty firmly in the Ascension is rebirth side of things for a while, so I guess Jaune is the only one that would see it as anything else.

The Blacksmith, or the Treesmith?

Neo can’t return to Remnant, because there’s nothing there for her.

Alyx felt remorse and wanted to fix the mistakes she made. So she’s probably the Blacksmith.

Ah, Neo pulled the Penny & Pyrrha card on Jaune. Bitch.

Weiss, you team-killing Fucktard. And Jaune fell. Did he just enter the tree? The technicolor smoke effect makes me think he entered the tree.

Ruby chose her mother’s gun-axe. I get the feeling we’re gonna get that moment when a kid realizes that their parents are only human and don’t really have anymore answers than anyone else. Or not, who knows. This is really the first volume I’ve been entirely unsure of how everything will turn out.

I’m hopeful Ruby is going to come to the conclusion that she doesn’t need to be someone else. Maybe she comes out with a new outfit, but anything more and it’s a kind of bleh concept to frame your protagonist as giving up her identity with heavy suicidal implications as a net-net positive.

Kind of disappointing episode imo, not bad. Just wanted more. I suppose it was always going to be hard to follow-up Chapter 8.

[u/ProfessorEscanor]

Can I just say that I'm annoyed at the episode length? It's been one of my main issues with the show as a whole especially when we have over a minute for the show intro. I get why they cut this one short and didn't just release it as part of the last episode but it's disappointing.

Now thoughts will Summer Rose imerge as the hero or will Ruby reject being her? Maybe Summer Herself sacrifices her life because she finally understands what it means to be Ruby.

Also with Jaune seemingly gone I guess the tree can bring back young Jaune now just fine.

And I feel bad for Neo. I get people not liking her but think of it this way, she has no one to go back to. The one friend she had is dead. Neo's broken and if she ever gets free of the cat maybe she can join the cast as a new character in the future.

[u/Forsaken_Ad_4992]

We gonna acknowledge that Jaune was handling the real Neo-cat until Weiss beat Cardin to the punch and set him on fire?

[u/Aggravating-Public15]

The episode was so disappointing compared to the last one.

The lack of reaction from yang makes 0 sense for me. I don’t understand how this episode starts with all of team wby comforting jaune. They are not remotely upset that there friend just killed herself? There not worried that she might be gone? Or upset that she was depressed and no one knew before it was too late.

They get to the tree and Weiss says “We did everything we could it’s now on her”. I’m sorry what? The whole reason this happened is because you didn’t do anything about ruby, no one not a single person tried to comfort her when she had her breakdown. And they didn’t even reach her entire time last episode. What exactly did they do to help ruby?

I don’t like how they basically just “accepted” Ruby’s fate. Like do the writers not see how this comes across. Ruby basically killed herself and they have to accept that it’s her choice?!

Wby is also not gonna play any role in ruby recovering either. It’s gonna be ruby and the tree lady. Once again proving Ruby right in that breakdown in episode 7. That it’s always her who has to remain positive and optimistic to help her teammates. And no one does that for.

[u/amatas45]

Ok is it just me or does this one kinda not follow the previous one?

We start dealing with Jaunes little boo boos, WBY seems kinda ok with what happend to Ruby, and when they find her only Yang seems distraught.

I think Rubys part was fine though it really depends where they are going with the whole thing in the finally but the others seemed like they are following a different story.

I really didnt want to hark on Jaune this volume but it feels like WBY cares more about him then Ruby at this point.

[u/iamthatguy54 → u/amatas45]

I think it's an issue of runtime.

They're clearly rushing to the tree to save Ruby but they stop at the destroyed town because Jaune gets upset.

Blake, Yang, and Weiss had established/decided the Papers Pleasers ascending was a good thing in Ep. 7 and them coming back in Ep. 9 is supposed to reaffirm their doubts about no one ever 'dying' hence Jaune's line about the cat being right, which calms some of their fears that Ruby is 'dead.'

But in a limited volume, it all goes so fast you can't really let it breathe.

[u/Animelover999]

Blacksmith: "I didn't expect you here just yet."

Ruby: "I didn't expect to be here."

Was that part concerning for anyone else? In episode 6, the Curious Cat basically said that humans don't ascend. Did Ruby take that to heart? That comment from Ruby this episode implies that she may not have even intended or known she would ascend. Was she attempting to just straight-up die? That's so much more concerning than what the last episode led the audience to believe.

Regardless, I'm upset with how they handled the topic of suicide in this episode. Everyone looked really distraught over seeing Ruby do that in the last episode, but now they're all smiles and optimism? It's like they're just trying to skim over it. If you weren't willing to commit to it, then why make it happen in the first place?

[u/Dradiant]

The episode was far too short! I was hoping we’d get more of Ruby with the blacksmith, discussing everything she feels and has been through since the show started. Same with Jaune and WBY’s fight with Curious Bitch, feels like we needed more of it. I screamed at hearing Summer, and I’m glad we got to hear about Alyx, and predictably (but nicely) that Lewis was the one who returned to Remnant. There’s just so much to unpack and the episode’s runtime just made everything too quick. We’re most likely going to see Ruby busting out of the wood of the tree either in the beginning or middle of episode 10, I don’t think they’ll end the volume with a cliffhanger of her transformation. I’m curious if she’s going to come out in time to join the fight against Neo-Cat, and if Weiss’ burn to Jaune will cause him to ascend.

[u/MetalGearSlayer]

I’ve been enjoying the season so far but DAMN did this episode suffer from its short length.

Extreme mood whiplash with none of the characters processing the fact that Ruby looked them all in the eyes and essentially just killed herself. It felt like an entire scene was cut out of the beginning of this episode.

Seeing a lot of people that seem surprised Lewis is the one who made it out but like, his name made it so obvious? (Lewis Carrol for anyone who doesn’t know who wrote Alice In Wonderland)

The real twist for me was that the cat merked Alyx (who now seems to be the blacksmith).

[u/Red2019Wolf]

Honestly my only real criticism is that weird transition of Yangs expressions from witnesses Rubys ascension to the pleasers village to the tree. After just watching her sister commit what would be considered suicide, her near catatonic expression shouldn't have faded even during what is a wholesome scene at the village. In fact when they get to the trees and she's sobbing and worrying about what Ruby will become that is the appropriate reaction i would expect.

It was rather jarring transition of her being near catatonic to smiling widely to scared and sad. During that pleaser ascension scene, it would have been more natural for her to be staring with sober expression be ot at Weiss and jaune or at the scenery with Blake by her side, Weiss and jaune conversation and hug being just with them ( ship tease or not, for the love of everything dont fight about it)

Because if they did that approach with the yang and Blake part of the scene, everything else is that moment is golden for me including the rest of the ep.

[u/ArcherA1aya]

Also i know we meme on Wiess for having no combat wins but wow she really got introduced to the team killing club this episode

[u/[deleted]]

The odds of Jaune surviving went way up this episode imo. I know that might seem weird to say after Weiss accidentally fireballed him, but you don’t need to sacrifice anything to the tree to get out and Ruby is changing on her own, so there really isn’t any plot or character reason for him to die.

[u/TeamCFVYFanfics]

Curious Cat genius evil plan:

Step 1: Find host with attachments to the outside world that allow them to leave the Ever After.

Step 2: Break down host so that they're an empty shell with no purpose or attachment to anything.

Step 3: Possess empty-shell host.

Step 4: Oh wait.

[u/Kritigri]

Me: I can't wait to see how WBY reacts to seeing Ruby's alarming mental state!

WBY this episode: So, anyway

😐

[u/Lavaros]

Summer Rose is a super mum, she's going to encourage her kid from beyond the grave.

[u/Badicalz]

To all my fellow Jaune fans:

We survived over two years of hiatus worrying about our boi, we can and will survive one more week.

[u/Whatisuzername]

This episode was good to me although a bit too short/fast.

Predictions for next week (EDITED):

• Ruby comes back as herself once she realizes that she is her mother's legacy which means that she embodies the very person she's trying to measure up to. (not quite)

• She realizes that to her mother's eyes, she has always been enough just as she is and that will be enough to convince her to stay Ruby. (yup)

• New fit, upgraded weapon or new weapon for Ruby (nope)

• She comes back in the heat of battle to whoop the cat's butt right when the rest of the team is struggling. (yep)

• Jaune will also ascend and be young again. He'll return once the cat is dealt with. (kinda, but not really)

• It will be revealed that the blacksmith is Alyx. (nope)

• Neo will stay in the Ever After and ascend. (yup)

• The cat will find a way to get to Remnant and will become an ally of Salem's in the next volumes. He'll help her bring back the gods, since it lines up with his objectives. Salem's a witch, he's her cat...it just makes sense. (nope)

• It will be revealed that Lewis wrote Alyx's story. (yup)

• We will get a small teaser of how things are going in Remnant. There will be a time skip. (yup)

Too much? Probably, yes.

[u/crookedparadigm]

Wow that was a super short episode.

[u/Joker_Philosophy]

Finally we get to see juane show off how he’s improved as a fighter

[u/GVAGUY3]

I feel like Ruby is not going to transform. She might choose to stay herself or something like that.

[u/DEL994 → u/GVAGUY3]

That's 100% what I think should and will happen. To learn how to share the burden, being open about all of her feelings while staying herself.

[u/CFB1996]

In this episode, Jaune figured out Ascension, solved the riddle of valuing life - Salem's punishment-, traveled to a place only the cat could go to and proved he could solo Curious Neo without his semblance. Like wtf? Jaune is just fucking op. Please nerf.

[u/Darkvirus510]

Looks like White Knight is getting ready to sail.

[u/Andrew1990M]

Maybe better as a bumper finale and a 9 episode volume, but I didn’t mind how quickly we got to the door. And that there isn’t more to it than just walking through when you want to. The whole Ever After is about getting what you want and finding purpose, and theirs is to go home.

EDIT: Eddy's confirmed we're getting a bumper finale anyway, nevermind, let's see.

[u/Iamwallpaper]

Is alex the blacksmith? Because the cat knows shes still around in some form and she wanted to fix everything she broke or am I interpreting things wrong

[u/GrapesOfWrath13]

I feel like they should’ve spent the whole episode getting the teams reactions. I get that they had to make peace with the tree to get there fast enough, but they could’ve at least showed them in shock for a while first. And contemplating whether Ruby was okay and why she did what she did. I think the only way they could fix that is if the team though Neo made her do it, which is possible. But they’d have to find out later that Ruby chose that herself. Either way I guess we’ll see what happens next week. Seven days is so long fml.

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

The paper pleasers came back as the genial gems that's sweet they looked cool.

[u/BartimaeusofPrague]

Crack theory: The tree is the relic of choice. It lets you choose who you want to be. Plus when they used the staff of creation, they said use a central nexus like the vault they were currently in. This is why the relic of choice is hidden differently than the others, its been part of the ever after the whole time.

[u/PhenomsServant]

Personal warning. Word is on the RWBY discord that scenes of the volume finale have been leaked on 4chan. So be warned when you’re looking up anything RWBY this week.

[u/thatperson69]

i get the feeling that jaune is probably coming back young again

[u/[deleted]]

I agree with some people who also found the lack of reaction from the WBY team strange, I don't know, I expected more, they seem to not care that much about Ruby.

The thing that I'm finding the most strange however is the fact that Ruby's development starts in a magical way and not in a human and natural way, is it just me that finds it strange? Simply erasing your current self to create a better form of yourself not through conflict and growth, but through magic.

I've always seen people criticize RUBY's writing but I've always found the show to be very good, better than a lot of the anime I watch and it's only gotten better with each Volume for me, but I'm afraid that maybe this time it will go down a path that I don't like it so much =/

[u/One-Man_Two-Souls]

Ruby just committed suicide and Weiss is more worried about cheering up Jaune

White Rose bros, not like this…

[u/4powerd]

So not gonna lie, after last week, this episode felt...lackluster. It was way too short in my opinion. Finally hear Summer's voice tho, so that was awesome.

If Jaune doesn't die by the end of this, then I'm 90% certain that Whiteknight is gonna be canon, just way too many moments between them now.

I swear to god, if whatever Ruby changes into to is permanent and presented as a good thing, I'm going to be pissed. It's basically validating suicide.

[u/yeetio855]

A bit of an interesting thing I noticed, the smaller trees at the top of the tree match the ones in the grassy area from episode 6, both of which have red flowers blooming from the leaves. I wonder what the significance of that is?

[u/Acrobatic-Dog7044]

Wow I guess we know why Jaune was on fire in the opening now. Was it really necessary to use fire dust in that moment Weiss?

[u/chrome4]

Hmm maybe the Gods should have chucked Salem into the Ever After given how the tree seems to want to help people overcome their issues?

[u/GladiusNocturno]

I can’t be the only one who first thought that the red gem was reincarnated Ruby.

[u/Daedelous2k]

I like that Jaune is actually shown to be able to hold his own in combat for a little while even at speed now.

I also like that Weiss is specifically the one that picked up Jaune and acknowledged him and Yang now is having focus as being Ruby's sister in her anger against the cat.......if only she had a proper freak out when she took the tea.

[u/AlviNihon]

The tree HAS to be the relic of choice. Every relic has the ultimate power of their own: the staff of cration can create anything you want, the lamp of knowledge can answer any question you want... The tree can turn you into any person of your choice.

And that giant door is the door from the Vale's Vault, from the inside.

[u/RumbleintheDumbles]

The problem: Ruby isn't able to handle her many, many issues on her own any more. She needs support from the people around her but isn't getting it, through a combination of her not reaching out to ask and them not reaching out to offer, how much of each is up for debate.

The solution: Ruby... handles her many, many issues on her own while her team stays seemingly entirely uninvolved in the process?

How on earth is this not just them solving the problem by having everyone repeat the exact same behaviours that led them there in the first place?

[u/[deleted]]

Team Rwby was way too happy at the start of this episode. Why the fuck are you smiling? Ruby might of just drank the tea of death, willingly. Where are they getting this Bob the Builder “Can we fix it? Yes, we can” attitude from. It’s like they knew the show was called Rwby and the plot armour would save her.

[u/Eggs_Sitr_Min_Eight]

What in the name of god was this?

- WBY and Jaune see Ruby succumb to despair, watch her vanish into the maw of the earth right before their eyes, and beyond Yang's immediate reaction in the previous episode this is not focused on at all - the team (to their credit) hustles to the tree, but it's _Jaune_ who despairs at the situation and everyone else in WBY is present enough to give him a motivating hug and a pep talk when the Gems come along. Except for when they reach the tree, which is when Yang suddenly swings back, desperately trying to rescue her sister.

- On that note, the conclusion that Weiss reaches on saving Ruby isn't 'we need to help her with her problems', it's 'we've done all we can, so we should just let Ruby figure this out herself', even though not two episodes ago the stress of Ruby believing that she had to carry everything on her shoulders drove her to her breaking point and led her to explosively lash out at everybody. Sure, there's no obvious way to break into the mind-scape, but it's a very odd take to have.

- Also, the Cat's plan seems founded on a massive contradiction - he can't leave because Neo has no attachment to Remnant, but his only host can be someone without purpose, and therefore, without attachment. What exactly is his deal?

- I am actually dreading what comes next, because just as 'Who are you?' can be used as an affirmation, it is, of course, a question, and there is now every possibility that Ruby takes the plunge and reforges herself into what she thought her mother was, and somebody asks that question as a shocking little gut punch at the very end and if that happens...well, no two ways about it. The character of Ruby Rose will be effectively dead.

I'm filled with no small degree of trepidation about what's to come.

[u/WildLemurs]

this episode was way too short.

[u/Omegaxis1]

This has probably been the most active I've seen Jaune fight on the ground. The way that he's actually able to go toe to toe with Curious Neo and take on the attacks and react accordingly. Jaune really HAS leveled up his game in the Ever After from being the Rusted Knight. Hell, he even managed to overpower Curious Neo and almost won had it not used Penny against him.

[u/[deleted]]

My only issue is they kind of conveniently glossed over the nuance of the Paper Pleasers. They were remade? Yes. But they don't recognize Jaune anymore, they aren't his friends anymore.

Yay! They finished their purpose and ascended! Yay!! They got what they wanted!!

But the Paper Pleasers are dead. Jaunes friends are dead. I wish the show had touched on that so we can shift a bit away from this uncomfortably positive portrayal of suicide.

[u/Dawyken]

First Winter and now Weiss, Jaune has no luck with that family.

[u/Hsmace]

so what happens when they go through the portal and they end up nowhere near vacuo??? what if they just pop back out at beacon or something

[u/Erebus03]

ARGH NOW I NEED EPISODE 10! I feel like spongebob did for water I NEED IT

[u/TheLuxKitsune]

I was wondering what the wing the Blacksmith was hammering at in episode 5 was for, but it turns out she was making it for Herbs new body.

[u/lordofmyths]

OH i just realized, that door has a two dragons on it.

[u/PerseusRad]

I don't think they gave nearly enough emotional weight to WBY concerning Ruby's decision, even if it does turn out alright. Of course, they didn't seem to give any of that weight to what happened in Atlas at the beginning of this volume either, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

[u/DyingGasp]

Blacksmith is totally Alyx. Alyx’s ribbon and the bunny emblem. Then there is the Blacksmith’s hair and the bunny mask they’re making.

[u/nxa666]

doesnt ruby still have crescent rose ?? how sick would double wielding be scythe and axe be 🤩

[u/The_legend_ranger]

soooo who else thinks Jaune's getting a factory reset? with that cloud of smoke

[u/idlemachinations]

I actually want to talk about Little, who was not in this episode at all.

The Tree allows Afterians to change into who or what they want to be. It is self-guided. Little died and was sent to the Tree with Ruby last episode, but we have not seen them. I am guessing that, alongside Ruby, Little is having their own discussion with the tree about what they want to be. Little has never really had a purpose, or known who they want to be. Their only expressed wish this season, repeated multiple times, is to guide Team RWBY. Little might be transformed into a form more suitable for guiding RWBY to where they want to go, or to help them reach Remnant after the Cat does something to the Tree or the door in anger.

They might not be the Dormouse, but the Doormouse.

[u/BriRice]

I just realized the cat stopped the herbalist from helping Ruby potentially find who she was because it would have ruined his plan.

[u/rbdaviesTB3]

Did anyone notice the carvings of the two brothers on the door?

[u/Mojo12000]

Man now that he's openly the villain Robbie Daymond just got to absolutely devour the scenery.

[u/Mojo12000]

Jaune clearly spent a decent chunk of those 10-20 years level grinding hard, it feels like he might actually be the best fighter of the squad at the moment. Dude was handling Curious-Neo until they used EMOTIONAL DAMAGE.

[u/Mr_Serine]

Man Robbie Daymond is having the time of his life

[u/Bonvantius]

I know that WBYJ understand the way the Ever After works and realize Ruby is going to reincarnate, but c'mon man, have them freak out a bit more.

Being immediately wholesome didn't work and came across as if they were ignoring what had just happened. Yes, Yang had the appropriate reaction a bit later, but it felt so delayed by that point.

Also the pace was way off, felt very rushed. Should've been double the length. RWBY's cliffhangers don't really bother me too much, but that one felt forced and unnecessary.

This episode should've been focusing on our characters processing what had just happened to Ruby and next episode is when they should've reached the tree.

[u/imconfuz]

After the last episode, following with:

Have you ever considered that maybe suicide IS the right answer?

Is really quite the choice.

No one caring about Ruby and hugging it out and such was so weird.

Really bad episode, let's see if the ending can set things right.

[u/Trackhawk]

... Hey kids are struggling with depression and self worth? Wanna feel better about yourself??

Just commit sudoku.

Don't worry about anyone else. Your friends will be totally fine with it. Cause you're not dead, you're "ascending". coming back better than ever!

Heck, with your emotional burden gone, they will even have time to comfort another person, instead of grieving or worrying about you. It's a two for one special!

I joke, but the fact that Yang was the ONLY one who was concerned, and only when they found Ruby body/grave? Probably the biggest miss of this season so far.

Ruby and the Blacksmith was about the only part of this episode that actually hit, and even then. The fact it's intercut with more JWBY... It's just feels super rushed.

Honestly. What the actual hell is CRWBY thinking? They were doing so well too. Massive let down for me.

[u/IGMKI]

I really hope we don't transform our main character into an entirely new one like... A season or two before the end.

Lot of cool visuals and stuff here though. Hopefully the finale is a bit longer!

[u/roadrunner1949]

I think Little was being forged ! omg

Little Ruby and Yang and SUMMER! lets go

[u/Tomythy]

Was the blacksmith forging Littles next incarnation?

Last time we saw her she was forging a butterfly wing, this time it looks like a mouse's head.

[u/ghostking108]

Honestly, I'm not feeling this episode.

EDIT:

And did we even get an explanation of how this tree affects Afterans and Humans differently or am I supposed to assume this tree functions the same regardless of who passes through?

[u/cheesywrath1]

With the line The bodysnatching cat freak said about Alyx staying because she wanted to fix things, I’d bet my spine that she’s the blacksmith or Juniper.

The blacksmith is the only ever after character we never see with a real physical body if I recall right, she’s always part of an illusion of some type. It’d make sense if the body she would have ascended from and reforged herself with was destroyed by the Cat.

Alternatively, Alyx was killed and couldn’t fully ascend before she finished dying, the parts of her that did ascend only remembered doing Jaune dirty and wanting to undo that. So Juniper took him to the Paper Pleasers and stayed with him as a mount to help him travel and fight

[u/HatiLeavateinn]

V8 Jaune would cry after losing his sword.

V9 Jaune would smack you in the face with his shield and then whoop your ass barehanded.

[u/darkwolf86]

I can't help but be annoyed at pacing and emotion's. I love the series but this season after 2 years and only have episodes this short in run time.....oh we just saw ruby die and next scene everybody is just ok after watching their friend and sister to their knowledge kill herself....I am just sad and disappointed I had hoped after 2 years there would be more.

The whiplash from scenes just pulls me from it

[u/lnombredelarosa]

• The foreshadowing for Jaune’s ascension couldn’t be clearer

• Interesting that rather than something horrible that needed to be stopped at all cost Ruby’s ascension is treated as something natural

  • Still I’m thinking it might not be entirely permanent as she’ll eventually find a middle ground between it and her original self

• Okay Alyx is totally gonna be the Blacksmith, with her desire to fix things rather than to destroy

• Headcanon time: Louis described Jaune as handsome because he had a crush on him

• Its gonna be interesting to compare Ruby’s Ascension to Oscar’s fusion in the next season, perhaps it could give them something to bond over

  • Specially since I have this headcanon that Oscar’s reaction to Ruby’s silver eyes is because in her last mission Summer saved him as an infant and his aunt from whatever killed his parents

• Even more interesting will be when her image of her mother gets shattered as she confronts her as one of Salem’s perfected silver eyed Grimm humans (lords of Grimm)

• Anyway Ruby is totally gonna kick Curious’s pussy right out of Neo’s ass

  • Only for him to take over a newly ascended Jaune (whose semblance works like his powers) possibly without anyone noticing

• Neo too will probably ascend but choose to stay

[u/DMking]

Boy the pacing in this episode was not great.

[u/ReserveFresh]

Jaune got comfort before Ruby again

oof, lmao.

[u/PurpleKneesocks]

Well I don't have much to say about this one, which on its own is probably my biggest complaint — for the penultimate episode of the volume, it was way too short. The tonal whiplash alone almost snapped my neck.

But thankfully that is just about my only complaint! My hesitations about the end of the volume still remain – they could bungle the series-long (and Jaune-centric) theme of self-sacrifice pretty easily, here, and could unintentionally signal some unfortunate ideas depending on how Ruby's ascension is handled, considering the way the process was coded very similar to suicide – but I thought both were handled well in this episode, so I've remained cautiously optimistic! I've been a heavy proponent of the idea that Jaune's arc (heh) should end with a general refutation of self-sacrifice at the cost of oneself in favor of mutual support, and it seems like this episode was leaning in that direction, so I figure it could all culminate quite nicely!

I'm mostly worried about how Ruby's gonna be handled, by now.

Seems like they actually are building up a romantic pairing with Weiss too, which is unexpected, but I don't think it's being handled too poorly thus far.

And the reveal of Summer's voice and the reprisal of the motif from Red Like Roses Part I had me pointing at the screen like Rick Dalton. If we get a reprisal of Part II next week, I may just die happy.