Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2 Episode 11 Discussion

animejas said:
Pretty intense episode as a whole, Mushoku Tensei sure does love having an episode like this that would drive controversial conversations after a big action-packed episode, reminiscent of season 1 around this time.

It was really good as a whole but emotionally conflicting. I read this in the books as well and with volume 12 being my favorite, I felt like it was an emotional rollercoaster with the highs, the intense moments, the action but also moments like these that make Mushoku Tensei, Mushoku Tensei. Rudeus being that vulnerable and empty was broken and he had his regrets strike further with how he didn't give his parents a chance in his old life and now he lost Paul and his mother's in an abnormal condition as well. Roxy had her own convictions to save Rudeus no matter what, even if it is using an old-fashioned and quite controversial move that she did, especially knowing that he had a wife and soon-to-be-born kid on the way too. It was an episode that was emotionally conflicting but effective, and with each passing minute, Rudeus seems and feels more and more like Paul (in good ways and bad ones too), and that he has a lot of growing up to do to make up for the mistakes he makes. Whether it is to Sylphie, his family or in the future with his actions, he has to grow and mature as now he's technically the head of their family too. Elinalise also talking about her own values on love and multiple partners helped Rudeus' decision making a bit, since for her, Roxy is a friend she grew close to throughout the Demon Continent journey besides also being Sylphie's grandmother. Ultimately, Rudeus wants to take responsibility for what he did and like how Sylphie saved Rudeus in the past, Roxy saved Rudeus now when he was too broken to call for help and no one else could help him out while at this state.

As far as Roxy's motives go, it was indeed flawed and even though I love Roxy as a character, it was wrong of her to do so. But that's what this series has built up, flawed characters making flawed decisions. Roxy wanted to help Rudeus and in a way, also want to take advantage partly for herself but it shows that even she feels emotionally conflicted about everything and wanted to help Rudeus out while she deals with the struggles of the one person she actually loved and felt like she had a chance with, be taken away already before she had that real chance in the first place. Roxy's been sort of a perfect person that everyone loved early on but this series has built its ground on flawed characters that had to develop, grow from their mistakes and Roxy is a part of that here. I don't condone what she did but as a character, there is more to her than the surface presented early on.

Now, there were details skipped in this episode that sadly got cut due to pacing constraints since there really is not much time left to add what they could, like Roxy's conversation with Geese and Elinalise, or even another detail like Elinalise lying to Rudeus about Roxy being pregnant to force Rudeus to make a move instead of being wishy-washy. It's a shame those got cut but I feel like the episode still did a very effective job as a whole with the various emotions in play throughout the situation. Only one more episode to go, and the conversations at home about this whole ordeal not just with Paul's death, but Rudeus and Roxy is going to be quite the spectacle to say the least. Production was really solid and I did enjoy the episode a lot, just needed a couple more minutes to add a couple more details to be even better. Ironic since they even skipped the opening to add more. At least the additions with the Rudeus POV of his past life and regrets did help out with his characterization and his reflections gave depth that was needed here.

I will say this, the irony of showing the ED with Rudeus and Sylphie after what took place in this episode was unironically hilarious and painful at the same time.