Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2 Episode 5 Discussion

There’s actually no reason to empathize with Norn tbh. So they could go and try and write all kinds of familiar scenarios saying how much her current self matches with that of Rudeus’ past self, or how much is she suffering just because people are kind of complementing or comparing her with her “virtuoso” brother. This is absolutely no reason to hate someone lol.

She was being an absolute nuisance just because the author wanted so. She hates her and people just can’t stop talking about him, so of course getting yourself shut inside your room is the only course of option there is right? It isn’t like Rudeus did anything different from what he was doing from the time she arrived here, but just because we watched her flashback and got to know life is hard even for kids, things went normal… as simple as that lol.

best episode so far not only in this season, but in the anime in general, it's incredible how much the trauma of the past follows you everywhere, and facing it is the hardest, norn achieved a feat release the sorrows, and in itself also coincides with rudeus, this episode was beautiful, melancholic and moving. 5/5

@Softhenic03 This is my first post on site and I have been a member for years. I am doing so because I vehemently disagree with your characterization of Norn. Specifically, 'There's actually no reason to empathize with Norn,' 'This is absolutely no reason to hate someone,' your premise that her suffering over people's perception of her brother is unrealistic, and that Norn's struggle is an author's tool that lacks foundation.

Norn is a very complex character, which is not uncommon for MT and one of the many reasons it is highly regarded. Children are not equipped with the ability to process adult emotions yet Norn was forced to for her entire life. She grew up in household filled with love and disfunction. Specifically, a mother dealing with betrayal, her adulterous father, their maid (object of her father's desire), a half sister from the above affair, and her family's perception of an overachieving brother that she has never met. Her family was tragically torn apart, in a cataclysmic event, and she was left alone with her father, Paul. Paul is an imperfect man living with grief, addiction, hopelessness, despair, and an understanding that he lacks the ability to save his family. He is driven by a desire to save his wife and atone for all the pain he has caused her.

Paul, despite all his faults (and there are many), cares deeply for his family. He is Norn's Knight, the rock in her life that has stayed constant, and the only one there to protect her from a world (from her experience) that will literally explode and destroy everything that she knows. What do you think psychologically happens to a child raised in this environment? Norn is being raised and dependent on a man that is controlled by his own demons and falling deeply into alcoholism as he processes them. You lose your sense of self and your individuality. Your whole purpose becomes survival, maintaining stability in a chaotic world, and managing a relationship that is protecting you but filled with emotions that you are incapable of understanding.

Rudy's confrontation with Paul was not just her brother beating up her father to Norn. It was an annihilation of her world. Everything that was protecting her, everything that she had learned to manage and value. It laid bare all of the disfunction. It was personal. It was traumatic. In that moment Rudy destroyed everything, and understandably so she resented him for it.

Fast forward to this season. Displace Norn, who is lacking self identity and put her into a world dominated by the person that has caused her trauma. Norn is alone and away from the relationships that have demanded all of her focus and dominated her life. She is probably dealing with a level of depression that only people with a clinical diagnosis or family history of dependency can experience. Add that EVERY peer, senpai, and teacher highly regards, praises, and admires the person who has caused you injury. It is not difficult to sympathize with how distorted Norn's world view must feel and why she would reject that.

This episode featured major character growth from both Rudy and Norn. First, Rudy attempted to help Norn and mend their relationship by relating to her. He also expressed sympathy and learned from regrets with his own family. Secondly, about Norn. I will began by absolutely REJECTING the conclusion of the post I am reacting to. WE DID NOT LEARN that "life is hard even for kids," and by the end of the episode "things went normal… as simple as that lol." What we did learn about Norn is that Rudy saw her true self and was sympathetic to her plight, despite her not vocalizing it. This resonated with her and changed her perception of him. Norn was also able to release a lot of the pain and emotion she was holding in onto his shoulder. She was able to take her first step towards healing and reclaiming her individuality. Rudy saying, "I see you for who you are" was a beautiful and very deliberate line.

Great episode 10/10

I loved this episode. LN readers, Will we have more about Norn and Rudeus relationship in the future or it's Just this?

Idk if it is bots again but how is an ep as character-focused and controversy-less as this one for this franchise have 7% 1s and rising lmfao. Even most of the forum comments are mostly positive. Shame episodes like these might have scores and averages lower than it seems because of these.

another amazing episode
understood a lot about Norn and why she was the way she was
the writing is amazing
cant wait for the next episode

next episode is turning point 3
wtf
this is gonna be huge
wtf
cant wait

Some LN Extra Details (Volume 11 Chapter 4-5)

- Rudeus went into panic state at first when he heard Norn is shutting herself.
- Rudeus asked Linia and Pursena to follow him to make him looked more intimidating
- Linia mentioned Ghislaine when they were asked if they have a sibling/relative that has a lot more talent than them and often being compared to
- When Rudeus explained to Ariel on the situation, she immediately agrees to help him
- Rudeus remembered his brother used to often went to see him into his room, but he kept ignoring them. Then, he stopped coming after some time and his friends came next. Maybe that was arranged by his brother as well.
- Back then, Norn just hated Rudeus, but not scared of him.
- Norn hated her grandmother that insulted her father and mother when she did not met her expectations.
- Norn was jealous of Aisha who was able to lead two adults when travelling to Rudeus while none of them are listening to her.
- She think she might started to get scared of Rudeus when Ruijerd was telling her about him when they are travelling. The Rudeus he is telling and the one she saw did not match at all.
- Rudeus cold tone caused a fear on her when she was arguing with Aisha on taking the exam.
- She thought Rudeus might be angry or even hit her when she asked to stay on the dorm.
- Norn stayed with a demon girl named Marissa as dorm-mate. If she didn't met Ruijerd, she might have believed her grandmother that said demons were evil. She helped Norn alot in studies since she is joining in mid-semester.
- Rudeus had a different opinion on Norn now that she managed to got over the shut in incident herself, unlike him in his past life.
- He thought that if he was half as strong as Norn in his previously life, he might not get punched by his kind-hearted brother back then.


Differences from LN
- Sylphie is not there on the conversation after the classroom
- Rudeus was sitting at a chair when meeting Norn in her bedroom

I loved this episode. LN readers, Will we have more about Norn and Rudeus relationship in the future or it's Just this?

Who is this other girl who was hanging around with Ruijerd, Norn, and Aisha?

Who is this other girl who was hanging around with Ruijerd, Norn, and Aisha?

@xZabuzax Ginger she is Zanoba's Royal guard

@xZabuzax Ruijerd mentioned it last episode that Ginger went with him so she could go back to her prince (Zanoba). If you forgot, Ginger was that female soldier back in Season 1 Episode 20 who was a guard of the Shirone Palace.

@Benedito29 It's like the saying, "wherever you go, there you are" but this time Rudeus has learned from his past. It's a massive leap in character growth both for him and for Norn. It was beautiful. I think in that moment both of them finally released themselves from their self-imposed shackles.