by: @arkd3v

I liked this episode. RWBY continues to show fun character interactions with a creative direction that makes up for its faults. We also get to see different varieties of Grimm, but we’ll get to that later.

This episode shows the other characters finding their partners as they move closer to getting their relics. We had Ruby/Weiss and Jaune/Pyrrah from the last episode, but we also see Yang/Blake and Nora/Ren from here. The pairs are great, taking two characters that bounce well off each other and slapping them together. Ren and Nora are as funny as in The First Step, and Yang’s hotheadedness pairs well with Blake’s stoicism. 

Yang gets fleshed out some more as she battles some Grimm with a big smile. That is until one messes up her hair, and she goes ballistic… See what I did there? Because she has shotgun gauntlets. Anyone? Her weapons are cool, but I wonder how she keeps her arms safe from the recoil, as those are strong enough to propel her through the air. Maybe that has something to do with Aura, introduced here, but I’ll touch on that briefly. Still, I like these details in her character, making her more human. Her partner, Blake, doesn’t say much, but she does have a neat weapon. Also, she has no issues working with Yang, implying some experience and maturity under her belt.

Ruby and Weiss have the most interesting dynamic. In her monologue, we see another side of Weiss while staring down the Grimm. She talks about her training for this in a way that isn’t bossy or snobby. Later, in an argument with Ruby, she admits she isn’t perfect. We have yet to see every side of Weiss; she is more than a snobby princess. Sadly, she is still one since she says mean things to Ruby and refuses to work with her. Progress is progress.

Ruby continues standing up to Weiss’s insults but still has room to grow in her maturity. While she saved Weiss from the Grimm, her recklessness forced Weiss to misdirect a fire spell and set part of the forest on fire. I like how the situation isn’t entirely one side’s fault. While they both got away because of the fire, Weiss almost killed Ruby. They make these mistakes naturally, and trying to reconcile but failing is a good way to start their relationship. I want to see more of them.

I have one worry, though, and that’s Jaune. Despite Ruby being the main character, Jaune’s actions and development are more integral to the plot in this episode than Ruby’s. His desire to appear strong and capable brings the wrath of a massive scorpion, Grimm, upon the other characters. I like how it plays off his character’s weakness, but I would rather that be Ruby’s fault because she hasn’t been doing anything to drive the story forward in a bit. That’s what a main character is supposed to do.

On the subject of Grimm, I like how there are different kinds. There are the werewolf-like ones that Weiss fought but also giant scorpions, twin snakes, and we get foreshadowed a giant bird. Having a wide variety of species, especially multiple giant ones, help make sense of why humanity hasn’t been able to exterminate these things already. I also like how Ozpin is watching this whole thing astutely, especially Ruby. It makes me more curious if the silver eyes from episode one mean something. 

Lastly, there’s Aura, a new concept Pyrrah teaches to Jaune. People in Remnant can channel their souls to increase their physical abilities. I love how as she explains this, we see Ren fight two snakes with his aura and break their fangs with his bare hands. It’s an interesting concept, and I wonder how it pairs with Dust. Still, I feel it should be Ruby getting this explanation. It makes sense how she doesn’t need it since her super speed makes it obvious she’s already using it, but I would like her more involved in the plot than being Weiss’s comedy partner.

I like this episode and am excited to see how the characters will beat the Grimm next time.