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Jobless Reincarnation Episode 14 Review – Quick Summary
In Jobless Reincarnation Episode 14, “No Such Thing as a Free Lunch,” Rudy finds himself alone and naked in the beast people’s village prison. He was smart enough to at first wait for Eris and Ruijerd to rescue him. But as the days wore on, worry consumed him. Had they abandoned him? Had they gotten into trouble? And what could he do another either situation, since he was alone and in a prison hanging from a tree?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Jobless Reincarnation Episode 14
It was hard to tell if Eris felt happier about Rudy asking about her or of the role she had played! Capture from the Hulu stream.
Eris’ zest for life continues to entertain me. After Rudy’s amazing effort to defeat the Northern Saint Gallus Cleaner (with help from the Fluffy Dog of Doom and Geese Nukadia), Rudy collapsed in exhaustion. He regained consciousness to see a crowd of beast people surrounding his bed. In front of all of them, he saw Eris and Ruijerd. Eris looked ecstatic to see him awake.
Rudy learned that the beast people considered him a hero, which would have sent the younger Rudy into waves of self-congratulation. Now, though, he said that he’d been worried about Eris and Ruijerd. He asked if they had run into trouble.
Seemingly overjoyed that he asked, Eris said with enormous enthusiasm (20:16), “Listen! It was awful!”
It was great seeing her so happy about it!
Best in Show Moment for Jobless Reincarnation Episode 14
Rudy could handle adversity. Kindness, though, was an attack he had not practiced against! Capture from the Hulu stream.
Setup: Masterful Preparation
Do you remember the scenes in the previous episode where Rudy tried to convince himself to kill the kidnapping smugglers? Rudy had wanted to protect Ruijerd’s reputation, because if the Superd went on yet another killing spree, it would further damage the Superd’s collective reputation. Rudy failed in that regard. He lacked the courage to do what was necessary, and Ruijerd had to do the killing. Rudy felt ashamed for it.
Ruijerd didn’t blame him. In fact, it seemed like the Superd might want Rudy to keep his hands clean. At the very least, he wanted Rudy to focus on protecting Eris.
Rudy decided that he could not stand by as the kidnappers sold the beast kids into sexual slavery. Capture from the Hulu stream.
Neither Ruijerd nor Eris were with Rudy in this episode, though. Not when the band of smugglers invaded the village and tried to kidnap more of the beast children to sell into slavery. As he and Geese were trying to escape, Rudy looked down from the rope bridge on a scene of children screaming for their parents, many of whom lay dead. They’d been killed trying to protect their children.
Rudy considered just leaving. These beast people had imprisoned him, and he didn’t have the stomach to kill. Yet, seeing one beast child crying out “Mommy! Daddy!” freed something in Rudy.
“Watching this happen… just makes me sick,” he thought (11:19). So Rudy acted.
Delivery: The Crucible of Personal Morality
Not surprisingly, Gallus Cleaner had been behind the smuggling operation. He was more than just a smuggler. He was a gifted warrior, a Northern Saint, in fact. That meant when it came to swordsmanship, he was all that.
After a confrontation where Gallus demonstrated his power, Rudy almost let him go. We know that even with his new Eye, Rudy doesn’t excel at hand to hand combat. He’s a strategic weapon. Need to wipe out a city? Rudy can do that. Need to defend himself against a single competent swordsman? That’s a problem.
Gallus dragged a beast girl behind him. She screamed for her parents, and Rudy wanted to fight so badly that he shook. Still, he could not act. Then the Fluffy Dog of Doom attacked and wounded Gallus. Rudy, seeing that he could not now avoid a battle, tried to slow his heart-beat. It was so loud that even we viewers could hear it!
Rudy found the courage to do what had to be done. Capture from the Hulu stream.
The fight was as brutal as it was fast. Together, the dog, Geese, and Rudy were able to defeat Gallus. The effort so exhausted Rudy that he passed out. When he came to (see my Favorite Quote, above), he was surrounded by Eris, Ruijerd, and representatives of the beast people. Their chieftain said “Thank you” to Rudy (20:00).
Being naked in a jail cell? No problem. He’d experienced worse in his previous life. Fighting a Northern Saint? A little tougher, but still within his abilities. But dealing with well-earned gratitude? Dealing with the feelings of having done something good and being acknowledged for it? That was new to Rudy. And you know what? He liked it. Turns out I did, too!
What did you think of what happened to Sauros Boreas Greyrat, Eris’s grandfather? What were your favorite moments in this episode? Please feel free to let me know in the comments!
Jobless Reincarnation Episode 14: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: [Discussion] Mushoku Tensei Episode 14
- RABUJOI: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation – 14 – The Dedoldia Redemption
- 100 Word Anime: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Part 2 Episode 14 – False Imprisonment and Fire
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 12: The Woman with Demon Eyes
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 13: Missed Connections
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 14: No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 15: Slow Life in Doldia Village
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 16: Family Squabble
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 17: Reunion
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 18: Separate Journeys
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 19: Route Selection
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 20: The Birth of My Little Sister, The Maid
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 21: Turning Point 2
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 22: Dreams and Reality
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 23: Wake Up and Take a Step
- Jobless Reincarnation Episode 24: Eris the Goblin Slayer
I’m fairly certain bringing up Eris’ family at that point in the narrative was no thematic co-incidence. There’s scum who’ll pay an arm and a leg for such slaves? Hmm…. I wonder if we’ve met such people (potentially) in season one? I’m fairly sure Rudy made the connection, and there was quite some hidden double entendre in him telling her Eris would have a hell of a story to tell. (I do wonder if Rudy has some questions for Ghislaine if/once they re-unite.)
I do really like this show.
I’ve gone on about how this show gets world-building right — and I completely missed that!
When I watch an episode, I routinely pause it to take notes. I’ve been wondering if that’s a mistake, because it breaks the flow. Thinking back over the episode with your insight in mind, I can see it now.
And I really hope he has a chance to ask Ghislaine, because I want to know a lot more, too!
This show is doing a fantastic job with fundamentals like world-building. Makes it even more fun to watch.
That’s probably why Rudy has to level up a bit before he returns. He will be walking into all kinds of trouble when he gets home.
He still has the inner perv going. I think he was enjoying the nakedness. He was actually teasing Geese with his body. He even worried that he might develop a new fetish. Potentially problematic content but nothing happened.
I don’t think it was courage he needed to kill the bad guys. He needed to overwrite his most basic belief that killing was always wrong. He had objected to Ruijerd’s willingness to kill earlier. He was basically a nonviolent and inexperienced person who had never killed before. That’s a heck of a barrier to get over. Now he is over it and the next time he or his friends are in mortal danger that barrier won’t be so high.
There can also be danger if that barrier disappears entirely.
It does seem that Rudy has a ways to go in terms of his power. That’s sobering to consider in light of what he can already do — and it’s not enough! Leveling a city is not enough power for what faces him…
It’s no wonder I like this so!
I think I used “courage” in a slightly different way — as in, courage is the testing point for all morality. He intellectually knew that killing was necessary, given his goals. He knew his goals were appropriate. He even knew that the targets were so reprehensible that something needed to be done.
In that situation, you’re right — he thought that killing was always wrong. In my thinking, he lacked the courage of his conviction that they _needed_ to be killed to protect innocents.
It’s a fine point, and I think it’s that I’m up against my knowledge of English, even though it’s my first language.
I think you make a good point about there being a danger if he ever becomes casual about killing. The dude is a walking strategic military asset. He can’t just lash out on a whim! I think the show is doing a good job dramatizing that situation through his slow process of coming to grips with his power and its responsibilities.
Leveling a city with magic but not being able fight one on one is like having an atomic bomb at your disposal but not knowing how to shoot a gun. He’ll learn, once his resistance to one-on-one violence drops a little. Maybe even learn some less than lethal disabling techniques for the small fry.
Some people just need their balls kicked.
Another great episode! I wonder how Eris will react to her Grandfather’s execution? Since it was a order from someone higher up in society; will she fight against them and make an enemy of this caste system? or will she calmly think of a way to pay them back?
Good questions!
I can’t see Eris “calmly” thinking anything in that situation! Though, that’d be a great character development moment. The idea of Eris, with her temper and combat prowess, discovering cold deliberation is terrifying!
In a good way.
I’m glad that the show is taking both personal-level interactions and macro-level political machinations seriously. The craftsmanship that has gone into this is awesome!