Mushoku Tensei II: Jobless Reincarnation (Episode 23) – Let’s Go Home
Rudeus is struggling to come to terms with the death of his father and the state of his mother. He can’t help but focus on his past life when he wasn’t there for his parents. Has he made the same mistake again?
Mushoku Tensei II: Jobless Reincarnation (Episode 23) – Let’s Go Home
What happened?
Rudeus compared his failing in his past life to those in his present life. He gave up on his parents despite them looking after him and allowing him to live with them despite his condition. And even though they never abandoned him, he failed to even show up to their funeral. He resented himself for that and now, he felt like he was going through the same thing. Paul died saving him and all to save Zenith who had no memories. At least, she wasn’t physically hurt, however, the chance of her memories returning was practically zero. He’d lost everything again and this time he understood.
Roxy came into his room to attempt to talk him into moving on. She tried to sympathise with him, but her parents were alive. What could she possibly know of his loss? She told him that Paul and Zenith were like a second family to her and that her time with them was the happiest moment of her life. She may not understand what he was going through, but she mourned their loss too. Rudeus tried to walk away from her, but she caught his hand and pulled him onto the bed. Then, she climbed on top of him and kissed him. Maybe this would break him out of his funk.
The next morning, Rudeus went to see Zenith and offered to help Lilya in any way he could. However, she told him that he needed to focus on his life. He had a family and that was what mattered. She would do her duty to look after Zenith as that was her role. He understood what she was saying, but that didn’t make any of it any easier. He decided that they should head home. They trekked across the desert where Rudeus and Elinalise took them through the teleportation portal, although they had to be blindfolded and were made to promise not to say anything about it.
That night, Elinalise stayed up with Rudeus talking. She told him that he should marry Roxy too since they were not followers of the Milis religion. There were no rules about marrying more than one person and she desperately wanted to see her best friend happy. She knew that it was not an easy thing for Rudeus to consider and the fact that Sylphie was her granddaughter obviously made things that much more complicated, but Elinalise wanted to see everyone happy and this seemed like the only way forward. Rudeus agreed but didn’t know how to approach it. Luckily, Elinalise went and got Roxy forcing his hand. She was delighted but told him that he needed to talk it over with Sylphie first. It would appear that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
What did you think?
Where to begin with this episode? Well, my first thoughts are that as an anime-only viewer, I smell a rat. This episode seemed to go out of its way to paint Roxy as some sort of wicked temptress. It showed us that she knew Rudeus was married and expecting a child. It told us that Elinalise and Geese wanted to just leave Rudeus to get over it on his own and that she decided to sleep with him despite all these to get him out of his funk. However, then it told us that Elinalise wanted Rudeus to marry Roxy which considering he’s already married to her granddaughter doesn’t really line up with what we saw before that. Whether you agree with polygamy or not is beside the point right now. The fact is that they deliberately made her out to be the bad guy!
Amazingly, a quick search reveals that this is the case and that in the light novels, it was Elinalise and Geese who convinced Roxy to do it and also got her drunk to make it easier for her too. Now, the stuff about her loving him is true, but the act was not all her. Now, there is some blame here for Rudeus, although having effectively just lost both his parents, I think he’s entitled to make a stupid decision here, especially as he didn’t seem to have the strength to fight her off even if he wanted to. Of course, there is also the undeniable truth that he cheated on Sylphie. It’s going to be interesting to see how that conversation goes when he tells her and asks if he can marry Roxy too. I’ll be disappointed if she instantly acquiesces to his request, but I also don’t see her ultimately turning it down.
While this episode was impactful and set some things in motion, I felt it was a little rushed and I don’t like how they have deliberately changed things to make her the villain. And for the record, while I couldn’t imagine ever being in a polygamous relationship, I don’t see the issue with it as long as everyone is in agreeance. The next episode should be a tense encounter!
Episode highlights
Series Information
| English Title | Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation |
| Japanese Title | Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu |
| Genres | Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Isekai, Magic |
| Demographic | Seinen |
Anime
Season One – Part One
Season One – Part Two
Season One – Side Story
| English Title | Eris the Goblin Slayer |
| Japanese Title | Eris no Goblin Toubatsu |
| Released | Winter 2022 |
| Animation Studios | Studio Bind |
Season Two – Prequel
| English Title | Guardian Fitz |
| Japanese Title | Shugo Jutsushi Fitz |
| Released | Summer 2023 |
| Animation Studios | Studio Bind |
Season Two – Part One
Season Two – Part Two
| Season | Season Two – Part Two |
| Released | Spring 2024 |
| Animation Studios | Studio Bind |
| Episodes | 12 |
| 13 | My Dream Home |
| 14 | Wedding Reception |
| 15 | Afar |
| 16 | Norn and Aisha |
| 17 | My Older Brother’s Feelings |
| 18 | Turning Point 3 |
| 19 | Desert Journey |
| 20 | Into the Labyrinth |
| 21 | Magic Circle to the Sixth Stratum |
| 22 | Parents |
| 23 | Let’s Go Home |
| 24 | Succession |
I don’t think the show went out of its way to make Roxy the villain. Not precisely. More like, it went out of its way to try and make what she did look like a good thing instead of a bad thing. Which is even more warped.
Though, hearing that the source material had Paul’s best friend and Sylphie’s grandmother encouraging a timid girl into Rudy’s bed, rather than having the timid girl assert herself into the same position, I’m not sure which version is the more twisted. The one leaves her weak but more innocent, while the other makes her strong but more guilty.
The best scenario would have been her not knowing about Sylphie and making the move of her own volition. Rudeus is going to be in the wrong whatever the scenario so, he might as well take it all on.
I don’t like that she knew and went for it anyhow. At least being egged into it by the others while drinking would have excused her a little, but it’s not a great situation however you look at it.
Like father, like son?
You are not wrong!