It is hard to end a season of anime. Particularly when so many stories aren’t finished in one season and are either hoping you’ll explore the source or hold out hope for another season. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation doesn’t deliver us any answers about the gods or Rudeus’ purpose but instead focuses on whether Rudeus has changed as a person from one life to the next as well as on checking in with so many of the other characters and what they are currently up to.
The end result is a bit of a hodge-podge of scenes all kind of held together as we cut between the events in Rudeus’ life before being reborn that lead to him being a shut in and the now where he can’t muster up the energy to get out of bed. And Rudeus’ story was definitely the only thing that was really compelling viewing here and hit all the right notes.
Or maybe I just really empathised with Rudeus (a rarity for me while viewing given I kind of don’t like him) because I know myself that when things get too overwhelming shutting down and shutting out the world seems pretty appealing. Only problem is, the longer you do it the harder it is to get back out there.
So as much as I wanted Rudeus to do something this episode, I kind of got where his character was emotionally this week.
As for everyone else, I was kind of indifferent.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation kind of sputters to a halt.
The rest of episode 23 for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation was kind of drifting around as we checked in on Ruijerd who is still out killing monsters and slowly connecting with others, Eris who has resolved to get stronger and not lean on Rudeus (really think she could have explained herself to him first), Roxy, Rudeus family and a whole slew of other characters (some of whom I couldn’t even remember).
While it does leave us knowing where everyone is at season’s end it isn’t exactly a satisfying place to leave this story as they still haven’t accounted for people after the mana explosion and all the characters are still mid-stride in their stories.
Of course it was never going to be possible for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation to wrap things up but there was one thing I was genuinely disappointed about.
The Man-God guy who has appeared periodically during this season does not make an appearance this episode. No advice or mocking for Rudeus. Nothing at all. The silence was deafening.
I kind of feel that was what I needed to really feel this season had come to some kind of close.
Then again, I can’t deny that the episode of Jobless Reincarnation at least ends in the perfect spot. As I mentioned before, the most compelling part of this episode was seeing Rudeus wrestle with his feelings, understanding the parallel to how he feels now to how he felt in his last life. And watching the end of the episode where he finally stands and leaves the tent ready, perhaps, to take the next step on his journey, was a richly rewarding experience.
Unfortunately it means sitting through a whole bunch of other scenes that feel largely inconsequential to get to that moment.
So a bitter-sweet farewell to Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Part 2 and you can read the full review of the season here. I really kind of hope we get another season for as much as this anime continues to give me mixed feelings there are some strangely compelling moments along the way.
Images from: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Part 2. Dir. M Okamoto. Studio Bind. 2021
Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James
2 thoughts on “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Part 2 Episode 23 – People Don’t Change: At Least Not Quickly”