Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2 Episode 10 Discussion

Akaseaka said:
For whatever reason, this episode failed to trigger me. Maybe I should, really, abandon the anime and read the novel instead.

I want to know how the novel framed the situation. As adventures, it was not unexpected for anyone of them to die at any battle or encounter. Paul said he won't retreat simply because he faced a strong opponent. I assume these two points are probably what the novel wanted to express?

However, in the anime, as least from what I felt from the anime: Everything was going so smoothly. Even the strongest retaliation of the hydra was defended using opposite magic. And then suddenly Rudy spaced out for a second, and Paul covered for him and expired. It kinds of undermined what was supposed to be about. It now felt like Paul died simply because Rudy got distracted by his thought in the battle.

On this note, it was weird that even this would happen. First, if anyone, Rudy was the person here that had the best situation awareness. He could foresee hydra was about to breath fire to attack and regrouped everybody in time. Second, if anyone, Rudy was the person that definitely won't get hit by a surprise attack. He had the Demon Eye and he was actively using it in the battle, as seen in, for example, 3:55. Third, at this point in battle, everyone else such as Elinalise was free and on look out. From the perspective of somebody watching the show, this was something that went wrong on the most unexpected character in the most unexpected way at the most unexpected moment. It really felt abrupt, in a bad way, and forced.

karrotStick said:
@Akaseaka Here's what happens in the novel,

SentiOnikawa said:
@Akaseaka First and foremost, we know that canonically the demon eye only gives Rudeus a few seconds of foresight, and it isn't effective against anything substantially stronger or significantly less predictable. The hydra was on its last two heads and clearly desperate, which if you know anything about injured animals, is the most dangerous point for them to be at. A wounded bear isn't going to curl into a ball like in the movies. It is going to do everything to protect its injury and ward off potential threats, even if it ends up hurting itself more. Now, you have 9 giant whips, 2 of which have brains attached to them.

The second thing is, this is Rudy's second dungeon, at best? He's been on adventures, sure. Most of those were in settings with controlled elements such as difficulty ratings and the presence of other groups. He's only been in one other situation where the threat level was far above his capabilities and he had the benefit of another, more experienced group being nearby. His reaction speeds, ability to predict boss actions, etc isn't as refined as everyone else's.

The group was struggling against the hydra. I know for what we got it didn't seem that way, but it's true. You have at least 4 S-rank adventurers, one of the strongest mages in the world, and Rudy, whose contributions while significant, aren't exactly winning the fight on their own. Paul was the only one who could do any real damage. Everyone else was a support role, which is already a huge disadvantage for a party. That Paul saved Rudeus twice is indicative of how dire the situation was. No amount of situational awareness was going to keep Rudeus out of harm's way long enough to prevent Paul's death.

Finally, yes, it was unexpected. The hydra going berserk out of desperation isn't rational. It's not a rational being, clearly. It thought of the idea to try and open a new wound to grow a new head when it was already fighting at a disadvantage. Using its necks as whips wasn't something expected, even for experienced fighters. Especially for Rudeus who can disassociate and evaluate as well as he can, there isn't any reasonable explanation for such behavior. Him having decision paralysis isn't unreasonable. It's that his inexperience trumped his ability to evaluate a situation and devise a strategy. It cost him significantly in the end.

Zorosuke_ said:
PAULO-SAN IS KILLED ON FATHER'S DAY. 😢
The horny, scum, annoying and caring father of Rudeus-kun is dead. Happy father's day! 🥲

Also Rudeus-kun's mother Zenith-san unable to speak properly she lost her memories?

What a devastating episode. 💀

I will miss Paulo-san.

Everyone is mourning on twitter.

TsutanaiFuun said:
did zenith become retarded?

i knew when they went to fight it the second time that someone's definitely gonna die. i had no idea who but when i think about it now of course it has to be paul for the extra suffering and trauma. not to mention retarded zenith. i think if not for sylphie and his oncoming kid he would have definitely had suicial thoughts. add that pual died trying to save a distracted rudy. very sad.

i wonder where that regret thing fits into all this. rudy visited the continent which enabled them to reach to where zenith was trapped and help her but it also lead to paul dying. i wonder if rudy had stayed at the university they never could have gone that far plus (even though they would have never known it) zenith is retarded so no use saving her. staying at the academy as said my hitogami was truly the best choice of action. now we just need to know what rudy missed by not being there. seems like next episode is travelling back so maybe we'll know then.

but still imagine the amount of trauma and fright zenith must have faced to become like that. not to mention she was naked and trapped in that ice? how did that just happen? i don't think there's any spell that makes you lose your mind. its got to be some severe trauma and fright that pushed her mind to the limit of breaking it. anyway we don't know the full scope of her conition just yet. next episode will probably tell how bad it is. so sad its episode 10 already. not many episodes left :( and i'm expecting to wait 2 more years until another 2 cour season. so much waiting :((((

when i tried to think what could be going through paul's mind in his final moments all i can think is of him thinking glad i saved my son, rather me dead than my son, who's better than me etc. all that sad shit and maybe a little sad thought passed through his mind about his wife he will never get to meet and the daughters he is leaving behind.

bet that previous life trauma is feeling like child's play to him now after all he's been through.

CognitiveFactor said:
Does anyone know what Zenith's condition would be called? Not memory loss, amnesia or dementia because I dont think they completely lose language like that. Like reset to baby state