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Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 20 – Quick Summary
In Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 20, “Into the Labyrinth,” Rudy and Elinalise arrived and found Geese right away. He took them to see Paul. Expecting things to be bad, they asked about the search for Zenith. Turns out, their expectations had been optimistic. Not only was the search going badly, but the party has lost a key member – a member whose status hit Rudy particularly hard. As quickly as he and Elinalise arrived, are they too late? Is Paul too far gone to help? And will Elinalise ever forgive Paul – whatever he did?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 20
Rudy reacted with shock to his father’s admissions. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
If you’re a fan of character-based drama, then this episode had to hit you hard. It did me – and I’m a cynical old man! I think the reason this show conveys such emotional power is its authenticity and honesty. My favorite quote is a great example.
When we first met Paul, he was an incurable womanizer. He was also an S-class adventurer, and we saw enough of his skills (for both attributes) to know he wasn’t all talk.
Fast forward many years – and a mass teleportation disaster and its aftermath. He had been trying to rescue his wife for over a year and had almost nothing to show for it. Things had gotten so bad that Geese had asked Rudy for help.
When Rudy showed up, did Paul react with joy and relief? No. Rudy’s arrival reminded Paul of all the ways he had failed. To Rudy, he said (04:35), “Rudy, your old man’s no good. I can’t save your mom, I can’t keep my word, and I can’t do anything for you. I’m hopeless.”
Seeing where they had started and where they were now, aware of the weight of those admissions, I couldn’t help but feel for the guy. But dispute it all, I’ll say this: the dude was honest. That counts for a lot.
Favorite Moment from Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 20
I think Roxy will look at Rudy differently after this moment. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Roxy Had Been Missing a Month
Is there any doubt what I’ve chosen as my favorite moment?
When Geese said he’d take Rudy and Elinalise to see Paul, I felt excited. I wanted to see how that reunion would play out; I wanted to see what time had made of Paul. But that was nothing compared to what I felt when Rudy stopped to look at the wall.
I’m an anime-only viewer, and even I knew what was happening. Somehow, he sensed Roxy’s presence. Then we switched to Roxy’s point of view.
Earlier in the episode, Geese said she’d been missing for a month. And, by the way, what did you think of the animation work in that scene (around 09:19) — when the camera pulled back and the room became difused around Rudy? Was that emotionally effective or what? The way the unfocused look contributed to Rudy’s sense of unreality pulled me into the scene. And the way Elinalise brought him back to the present by simply placing her hand on his shoulder (09:48)? That’s good stuff.
Elinalise pays attention. She’s a great addition to a dungeon party. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
But she’d been missing for a month. Somehow, she’d stayed alive. But she was almost out of magic power. She had exhausted her reserves. Clearly, she was close to collapse. She didn’t give up. Roxy conjured an earthen barrier. She froze the next wave of enemies. But each spell took a little more out of her.
Finally, her back literally against the wall, she faltered. A spider’s web-throwing attack disarmed her. Knocked onto her backside, she knew she had no means to fight back. Several monsters tested her defenses. Finding no counter attack, they surged forward.
Now I want to address a detail that I think likely concerning – the show clearly showed that Roxy lost control of her bladder. I didn’t like that – but I didn’t like it because it was realistic; because what it said of her state. She was on the brink of death, and she knew it.
I don’t like fantasies that gloss over impolite details. It’s one of the reasons I like Delicious in Dungeon so much. If you watch that show for very long, you’ll see that it’s dark – and not just a little dark.
Delivery: Rudy Re-enters Roxy’s Life
Jobless Reincarnation is the same way. Roxy didn’t just feel scared. The terror affected her down to her bones. Of course she’d lose control of her bladder. Adding that detail just made her fear more visceral.
Roxy’s been one of my favorite characters since episode 18. As the father of a deaf son, that episode put me through an emotional wringer. And now, I was about to see her die.
Of course, I knew Rudy would get there. I knew he could show up in some way and save Roxy. What I didn’t know was how. I could imagine the old Rudy try to manufacture a Cid-like moment of chuni-fueled imagination.
But this arc has been all about Rudy’s maturation. And that’s exactly what we got.
The instant before the monster struck, Roxy closed her eyes against the horror. When nothing happened, she risked opening her eyes. The monster had been frozen – literally – inches from her face. Looking around, she saw the entire monster horde encased in thick ice. She could not believe her eyes.
Roxy had come very, very close to losing her life. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Then she heard the soft crunch of footsteps on ice.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Rudy said (21:48). He smiled at her, his relief evident as evident as her blush. Understatement can be a dramatic super power, and this show just – once again – demonstrated it understands that.
That’s how you do a reunion. And do you know what’s even more cool? Roxy had described what she wanted out of such a meeting all the way back in season 1 episode 13 (09:02). It unfolded just as she had hoped. That’s yet another reason I really enjoy a long-running series!
What did you think of Paul apologizing to Elinalise? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 20: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Mushoku Tensei Season 2 – Episode 20 Discussion
- The Otaku Author: Mushoku Tensei II: Jobless Reincarnation (Episode 20) – Into the Labyrinth
- RABUJOI: Mushoku Tensei II – 20 – A New Hope
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
Roxy lost in a dungeon for a month and Zenith for at least a couple of years, possibly longer. I get that we needed to see Rudeus grow up but this feels like way too long on both accounts.
It is nice to have them back on an adventure again though so I’ll ignore the passage of time for now.
I wondered about that, too. I can almost talk myself into accepting Zenith’s situation, but Roxy? She was fighting a running battle. I can’t see her lasting a month like that.
Maybe there’s an explanation. And I agree — it’s nice to see them fighting their way through a dungeon! Elinalise is even better at it than I’d hoped.
Wonder how Sylphie is going to feel about this.
We’ll see how it goes, but regardless of what one thinks of Mushoku Tensei, it’s still a power fantasy, so I don’t think it’ll take too to convince Sylphie to share Rudeus with Roxie.
It didn’t take much effort for all of Rudeus’s harem to become into Rudeus, so I don’t expect it will take much for Rudeus to have his desired harem ending.
take much*
I’m anime-only, so I’m curious what role Eris will play. I can’t see her being comfortable in a harem.
I could actually see Sylphy and Roxy get along, and get along well.
I have a feeling there’s going to be her public reaction, and her private reaction. Now that I think about it, I have no idea how common polygamy is among the elves. I think grandma Elinalise is probably an atypical example!
I have been reminded that Roxy once said these words to Elinalise, who laughed them off: “One day, a tall, slim, young man who’s manly but still makes childish expressions will save me by chance in the depths of a labyrinth. Then, we’ll team up, and as we work together, love will bloom between us. By the time we escaped the labyrinth…”
Looks like her ideal fantasy came true.
I referenced that quote above (“season 1 episode 13 (09:02)”). Being able to pull off something like that is one reason I love long-running series!