Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 8 – Quick Summary
In Jobless Reincarnation II episode 8, “The Fiancé of Despair,” Rudy had a problem. It was fall now, and the beast folk fought duels to decide who would be heads of household. Both Pursena Adoldia and Rinia Dedoldia and were highly sought after, and they didn’t want to deal with all of the challenges. So, they made it Rudy’s problem. Now, Rudy would have to fight duels to maintain his position as their leader and to prevent them from having to marry someone unsavory. Will Rudy step up? Will he find a convenient excuse? And what does Fitz think about all of this?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 8
Rudy’s perceptions aren’t optimized to solve this kind of situation! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
My favorite quote would be a candidate for a Caw Out Award for Highest Ascent up Mount Clueless. If I still did Caw Out Awards. Which I should, because they were random and run. Maybe after I retire…
Anyway, Rudy asked Fitz for romantic advice. At first, Fitz panicked: Rudy said he was asking for a friend but was he really? But she relaxed when Rudy confided that he was asking for Cliff. It was a darling scene – Rudy and Fitz get along so well, and we have the added dimension of Fitz just basking in Rudy’s presence. I hope she gets to show him her true identity soon. I’m feeling guilty for enjoying the situation too much!
Though the conversation, Fitz mentioned that there was someone she was interested in, too. Rudy was immediately curious. He thought (06:47), ““Mister Fitz has a crush? I wonder who it is. I guess Princess Ariel would be the safest bet.”
You know, most folks who aren’t Rudy would have begun to suspect something was up by now. As it is, Rudy’s just wondering if he’s gay. Yeah, Fitz’ reveal is going to be something!
Favorite Moment from Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 8
Rudy doesn’t want to kill. And he doesn’t want to stick out too much in school. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: The Perils of Storytelling with an OP Character
There’s a danger with portraying Overpowered (OP) characters. Their battle can become kind of dull. To keep things interesting, the show has to add a different dimension – like over-the-top humor in The Midfit of Demon King Academy, or well-constructed character drama like in this show.
I thought it was hilarious when Demon King Badigadi showed up and jumped to the head of the duel queue – by eliminating everyone else in line. He’s engaged to Kishirika Kishirisu, and he had come to challenge Rudy.
So I’m thinking, “Huh. How powerful is this guy? How’s he compare to Orsted? And how’s he going to compare to Rudy?” Well, guess what? We found out! Mostly.
Yeah, Rudy’s OP. But Badigadi is a Demon King. Just based on his bulk and sheer number of arms, the guy’s no pushover. I really wanted to see what Rudy could do against him. So I was a little bit bummed that Rudy appeared to wimp out – he asked that if he lost, the Demon King not kill him.
Rudy asked that “Badi” not kill him outright. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Really, that makes sense. Rudy’s not really aware of how he compares in terms of power. He heard Badigadi say that Kishirika bragged that Rudy’s mana exceeded even that of Laplace, but it didn’t click. Rudy could only think (15:59), “Maybe the Man-God hooked me up with some hacks or something.”
Also, he’s on a mission: cure his erectile dysfunction and then rescue Zenith, his mother. Yes, in that order. It’s a long story. Or a short one.
Anyway.
Badigadi said sure. They would exchange a single blow. If Rudy could harm him, Rudy would win. Rudy agreed.
Delivery: Talk about Not Knowing Your Own Strength!
I had to remind myself: Rudy could not go full out. He has spells that have wide area effects – and I mean wide area. He could flatten the school. Instead, he decided to go small. He conjured a conical projective. He hardened it, and he spun it – fast.
Rudy even had the courtesy to confirm Badigadi was ready.
In that instant, I honestly had no idea how this would go. Would the Demon King be so absurdly powerful that Rudy would look weak? Would Rudy obliterate him? Or would some external threat maybe interrupt the fight?
Nope. Rudy fire. The impact looked like it tore Badigadi in half. It certainly left him at the end of a long furrow in the dirt.
Did Rudy celebrate? Nope. “No way,” he thought (19:32). “He’s dead?”
Rudy panicked. He looked back in horror at the student body, who had just witnessed one of their own, someone they knew as Quagmire, strike down a mythical being with apparent ease. No one spoke.
That is, no one spoke until a much shorter Badigadi jumped up, laughed (in a much higher pitch than before), and announced (19:49), “I have returned!”
He was a lot taller before. Even his bracelets seem loose! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Rudy’s OP, but his personal situation made that scene way more than it might have been. It showcased his emotional development while at the same time giving us insight into his raw power. Not only because of what he did to Badigadi, but because of Kishirika’s comparing him to Laplace. That’s effective story-telling, and I’m taking notes every episode!
What did you think of Rudy introducing Cliff to Elinalise Dragonroad? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 8: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Season 2 • Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 – Episode 8 discussion
- DOUBLESAMA: MUSHOKU TENSEI: JOBLESS REINCARNATION SEASON 2 EPISODE 8 REVIEW
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 0: Guardian Fitz
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 1: Brokenhearted Mage
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 2: The Forest in the Dead of Night
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 3: Abrupt Approach
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 4: Letter of Invitation
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 5: Ranoa University of Magic
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 6: I Don’t Want to Die
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 7: The Kidnapping and Confinement of Beast Girls
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 8: The Fiancé of Despair
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 9: The White Mask
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 10: These Feelings
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 11: To You
- Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 12: I Want to Tell You
It was hilarious how Rudy failed to realize that 1) he was now the pack leader for his two beastgirls, whose skirts he apparently tries reaching up under, and 2) the mating challenger was challenging him to get the girls, not to mate with Rudy.
I, too, was interested in the part where one challenger was female, and was immediately wondering if she were interested in Rudy or in his girls. But either way, he just validated in Sylphie’s mind the idea that he probably won’t keep it in his pants if they ever get together.
The entire sequence with the Badi was riveting. He either doesn’t know about this Man-God or put on a more convincing front than I would have expected from such a man of action. I wonder why Rudy having survived his encounter with the Dragon-God convinced him to change their challenge from a straight up fight to the exchange of a single blow, but it’s interesting that the tiny demon queen sees Rudy as having more raw mana than Laplace.
And, of course, the moment Rudy mentioned not having to see Badi again, one knew that he was coming back immediately, though I was still surprised to see him in uniform, of all things.
I imagine Elinalise wants little more, at this point, than to simply settle down with a single good man. Cliff seems to qualify as good, judging by how he refused to believe anything unsavory about her, though that may point to a bit of naive innocence as well. I’m guessing we’ll see whatever her curse is in action soon enough, and hopefully see it come to a head and be resolved as well. What a shock that would be for Roxy, to hear of Elinalise sticking with one man! 😉
In terms of Rudy’s denseness, I think I read in the Reddit thread where a commenter said that Rudy thought he was playing checkers, but the beast girls were playing chess. Seems that commenter was right!
I’m curious about the blue-haired girl, too. I hope we’ll find out more about her! Though it seems like Fitz wasn’t too keen on her!
Badi was awesome. I like both him and Kishirika Kishirisu. They seem so full of life and energy!
Elinalise’s arc is very interesting — and I don’t mean that in the obvious way! I’m curious to know more about the curse. Is it real? Who gave it to her and why? How could Cliff possibly break it? What’re the downsides to her trying to stay monogamous with him?
And like you said — how will Roxy react?
When I find myself asking so many questions, it shows me how much I enjoy the show!