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Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 18 – Quick Summary
In Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 18, “Turning Point 3,” Rudy gave thought to how he would help clear the reputation of Ruijerd and his people. Norn offered her help, because she had come to respect Ruijerd when he escorted her to Rudy’s house. Sylphy had news that overshadowed those plans, which seemed like a good thing. But then Rudy received a letter that changed everything. Who wrote the letter? What’s it ask of Rudy? And how will Rudy respond?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 18
Rudy didn’t forget his promise. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
It’s cool that Rudy didn’t forget his promise to redeem the reputation of Ruijerd and his kind. In fact, he started coming up with ideas on how to approach the problem. He knew he wanted to write a book; he just didn’t know what style.
Rudy considered a straight documentary. He considered using a diary form. But he couldn’t settle on anything that seemed like it would work.
Finally, he thought about trying something that he saw work back on Earth.
“How about a cheap pamphlet, say ten pages, packaged with a figure?” he asked himself (00:57).
I don’t know – I think that might actually work!
Favorite Moment from Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 18
Norn went to great lengths to get her point across. I’m not sure this part was intentional. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Rudy’s Life Was Worth Protecting
I thought his relationship with Norn was the last piece of the puzzle – the puzzle of Rudy’s happy life. I thought that the last episode more or less fulfilled Rudy’s life, so in this episode, I expected something to blow it all apart.
Well, it appears that I miscalculated. There was one more thing that had to happen to give Rudy the life he’d always dreamed of. Sylphy gave him the greatest gift he could ever hope for. He now has innumerable reasons to stay where he is – in fact, his responsibilities strongly encourage him to do so.
And into the middle of this bliss dropped a letter from Geese. The expedition to rescue Zenith had run into trouble. Geese asked Rudy to send help.
Rudy’s life was full and complete. So of course something had to disrupt it! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Imagine you’re in Rudy’s position. I can imagine fewer more difficult decisions. Should he stay by the side of his pregnant wife and dependent sisters? Or should he help his father rescue his mother? That’s a tough call, especially for someone newly introduced to a happy life like Rudy has been.
Rudy spent a lot of the episode asking for advice from people he trusted. Even at the end, he couldn’t decide. Or rather, he thought he had decided, but he was miserable with the decision. That is, until my favorite moment.
Norn doesn’t have a head for politics. Nor does she have the take-charge capabilities of her sister Aisha – who, by the way, is going to be a formidable negotiator! But Norn is loyal to her father, and she has a simple way of looking at the world.
Delivery: Norn Gave Rudy the Key
As Rudy sat on the front porch, feeling terrible about the decision he was trying to make, Norn opened the front door. She was mostly dressed for a long journey. A huge backpack perched on her shoulders; she had a bedroll, too.
Rudy asked where she was going, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she marched down the steps as if she were setting off. Until she hit the last step. That’s when her ankle gave out. Norn ended up face down on the sidewalk (22:08).
What was Norn trying to do? “I thought, if you won’t go, I will,” she said to Rudy (22:10).
Little Norn, the girl who must know she has zero combat capability, who knows the world will chew her up and spit her out, so much wanted to save her mom that she was willing to head off on her own.
Norn could not understand why Rudy wouldn’t go help mom and dad. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Or maybe she learned a lesson from Aisha and knew her pathetic attempt would convince Rudy to go? She explained mom and dad were in trouble. “Why,” she said (22:25), “Why aren’t you going to help them?! You’re really strong! You can travel!”
That was the argument Rudy needed to hear. Norn’s view of the world clarified the situation for Rudy, and it gave him permission to help his dad find his mom. I have a feeling that with people like Zanoba around on the home front, Sylphy, Norn, and Aisha will be fine. I think Rudy’s strengths are needed elsewhere.
And now I’m looking forward to seeing why Hitogami is so desperate to stop Rudy from going.
What did you think of Rudy’s latest meeting with Hitogami? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 18: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Mushoku Tensei Season 2 – Episode 18 Discussion
- The Otaku Author: Mushoku Tensei II: Jobless Reincarnation (Episode 18) – Turning Point 3
- D&A Anime Blog: ‘Turning Point 3’ is the Biggest Change In Rudy’s Life Yet
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 13: My Dream Home
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 14: Wedding Reception
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 15: Afar
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 16: Norn and Aisha
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 17: My Older Brother’s Feelings
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 18: Turning Point 3
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 19: Desert Journey
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 20: Into the Labyrinth
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 21: Magic Circle to the Sixth Stratum
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 22: Parents
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 23: Let’s Go Home
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 24: Succession
I’ve never trusted Hitogami. He may have helped Rudeus in the past, but I get the feeling there’s always some ulterior motive. I think he doesn’t want him to go there because he will discover something that will shatter their relationship. Was he behind Zenith’s imprisonment or something similar? Will he run into Orsted again? This could be the most pivotal moment in the series.
I hadn’t considered the possibility of Hitogami being complicit in Zenith’s capture. Wouldn’t that be something? And I’m convinced we’ll see Orsted again.
I wonder how he and Rudy will get along?
One good thing about this season: it clearly lays out what Rudy has at stake.
I have to admit I’m optimistic about the next several episodes!
I did come across a spoiler of future things, but even without that, this would be where I began to be suspicious of Hitogami. That detail with the waters suddenly rising and coming at Rudy from where Hitogami vanished was off-putting, but the way he behaves and the advice he gave this time around would certainly put me on edge.
He reminds me of a certain piece of wisdom: what he says may be true, but that does not mean he is honest or trustworthy. He has directed and assisted Rudy without any clear benefit for himself, which is how you gain the trust of someone you want to control, mislead, and betray at an opportune time.
I believe what he says, Rudy will regret something that happens on this other continent, but if Hitogami had Rudy’s best interests at heart, he’d have been less forceful and merely advised him to choose which regret he could live with better, as adults often must. He also really played up the reasons Rudy is supposedly vital at home, where his family and friends can step up for him as family and friends are meant to. We’ve seen he has a community around him, and they’ll look after Sylphie and the baby very well while he’s gone, all of which this god supposedly overlooked. Finally, and most suspicious of all, Hitogami appealed to Rudy’s more base urges, which used to rule him much more than they do now, suggesting that he not be true to his wife and get it on with either of the beast girls. That’s straight up manipulation and bribery, making it seem like Rudy was doing the right thing by abandoning his parents while also reveling in a carnal reward that could not possibly fail to hurt Sylphie but which he ought to have been “owed” for his putting her first, right?
Yeah, Hitogami’s full of it, which now puts everything he’s thus far said in a very different light.
I think you’re right — in this episode, his attempts to manipulate Rudy were much more obvious, for the reasons you stated. Makes me think maybe he’s getting desperate.
I had already made up my mind, but trying to tempt Rudy with one of the beast girls reeked of desperation. It also showed Hitogami hasn’t been paying attention. As you noted, that’s not who Rudy is anymore.
I’m ready for this arc — I want to see what’s up!