Jobless Reincarnation really does live or die by its character work and this week the episode is squarely focused on Roxy and her facing a past she’d rather not giving her a chance for an emotional reunion. For fans of Roxy’s character this is a solid gold episode only hindered by a general lack of screen time for this character. For me, not really caring much about Roxy’s character, it was more a diversion from the story I’m really interested in and a breather from the heavier emotions experienced while watching the last two episodes.
While we do get a brief glimpse of Rudeus and team onboard their next ship, with both Eris and Rudeus down with sea-sickness in the rough conditions, Jobless Reincarnation devotes the rest of the episode to Roxy.
We knew she was on the demon continent and that like two ships passing in the night she had missed Rudeus by a hair’s breath. This week we have Roxy more or less walking back along Rudeus’ trail and ultimately we see Roxy return ‘home’.
Jobless Reincarnation asks what is home as Roxy returns to her parents’ house.
It was interesting enough finding out more about Roxy this week. Her past was a little mysterious and honestly this episode does fill in some of the missing pieces for her character.
Jobless Reincarnation doesn’t rush this one. Instead we see Roxy talking with another adventurer who more or less lectures her about her decision not to return home and while it is clear Roxy isn’t keen on the idea, next seen we see her small, lonely figure walking a dusty road into a village.
It quickly becomes apparent why Roxy left the village.
With the rest of the town communicating telepathically and being unable to understand them the feeling of being an outsider would be ever-present for Roxy here. Much like arriving in a country where you don’t speak the language it would be exhausting as every interaction becomes a struggle. However, unlike in that analogy, Roxy can’t learn telepathy even if she wanted to so can never find a way to integrate or at least minimise the barrier.
The first exchange with her parents is awkward to say the least with both parties trying so hard to be stoic and polite that ultimately the things that need to be said aren’t and the emotions that need to be conveyed are bottled up. Fortunately, Jobless Reincarnation doesn’t make us wait until next episode for the resolution to this situation.
Roxy’s mother opens the floodgate, breaking down first as she realises Roxy intends to leave and not come back. While I wouldn’t say everything is all healed and forgiven here, there’s every chance now Roxy will return and the very photogenic moment where both of Roxy’s parents embrace her, all three with tears in their eyes, more or less sums up the episode.
Though despite learning that Rudeus passed through the village and is in fact in the party Dead End, Roxy decides to keep travelling the demon continent looking for other survivors rather than try to meet up with Rudeus. Which is probably why this episode really felt detached. Sure there’s parties all over the place looking for people but if we start trying to follow all of them this story will end up quite fragmented and from the beginning Jobless Reincarnation has been Rudeus’ story.
So while I did enjoy this well enough and I’m glad Roxy fans got more Roxy, I’m kind of hoping next week we’re back to Rudeus and Eris and finding out what their next steps are for their journey.
You can read the full review of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation part 2 here.
Images from: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Part 2. Dir. M Okamoto. Studio Bind. 2021
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Karandi James
Always thought that Roxy was the more interesting of all the females so far.
Makes a kind of sense she wouldn’t follow Rudy. She now knows he’s ok and is in strong company. I think she has heard about their reputation. Other people she cares about might not be so lucky. As she is very long lived, another year or two might not seem such a long time to wait for a reunion.
Roxy is definitely one of the more interesting female characters. Too bad she hasn’t been around for so long.